Two random thoughts today, one interesting and one gobsmacking (IMHO)... Thought #1 Assuming that I can indoctrinate at least one of my 3 grandchildren to support Watford FC, that'll make 5 generations that have followed the Golden Boys!!! Thought #2 Each and every one of those individuals across the 5 generations was born 'Oop North!!!' Keep the Faith SCG
Doesn't matter if your born in Sheffield, Watford or Australia, if you latch on to football and take a likeness to following Watford, they will your team for life. There are Watford fans' all over the globe, as all teams have pockets of fans in far distant lands who have probably never been to a game, but follow them with all their heart. A true fan doesn't have to own a ST and go to 46+ games a season. Everyone who supports Watford, through the good and the bad ( a lot of that lately), and knows we all are the heart and soul of the club not Gino and his cronies, then every single on of them are true fans.
You must be new here. 99% of posters on this forum are Arsenal or Liverpool fans (or both, probably).
I’ve never understood that, like back in the day people who lived in Watford had a “premier league team” or still have a “Spanish team” I’m a Watford fan end of…. There isn’t another team in the land including England that I give even 10% as much of care about.
I presume it's people who don't have much joy or success in life wanting to experience some crumbs of pleasure vicariously through supporting a better team than Watford. But that leads to the question of why would anyone not born in Watford choose to support Watford! I very definitely wouldn't, I hate us!
My son was born in Australia and has been cursed with the "Watford for life" commitment, thanks to me. There was a taxi driving guy I met out there who was a Watford fan because he liked the way we played back in the eighties. Never been to a game. Never even been to the UK. But Watford til he dies! It's madness really but I do love that random loyalty.
I wasn't born in Watford and never lived near it either. Had the chance to see them play when I was 13 and the whole live footy thing stuck with me and I was hooked. Of course it helped that GT took over a few months later so the next few years were the best
I think there are degrees of this and different circumstances dictate how fans come to be Watford fans. Most presumably born in Watford but anyone who supports Watford, for whatever reason, is a Watford fan. Pre the mid 70s when the club had only spent 3(?) years in the second tier, there was no prospect of anything other than Div 3/4 football so it was common I guess to pick a team you saw regularly on MoTD as your favourite club on TV. "Where you were born" can't be a strict rule. I was born in nth London so supported Arsenal til I was 8 and moved to Watford and I've been in this area ever since. Am I required to support Arsenal forever despite never having seen them play (except vs WFC) and holding season tickets at Watford ?
My strongly held opinion has always been there are only three legitimate reasons for supporting a particular club: where you were born, where you live, or family tradition (but that has to be instigated by one of the first two).
I'll add a 4th. You were on the books of a club for 4 years plus as a player or coach and so became affiliated with it.
Credentials: Me: Moved to Bushey aged 6; started going to Watford games in my early teens, funded by my paper round money (are paper rounds still a thing???). Parents: Season ticket holders from the early 80s until their demise. Grandfather: Came to live with us when he was in his 60s; worked at the Club part-time. Extended family: Pretty much all Watford. Daughters: Watford. Grandchildren: Work in progress. Uooooooooooooooorns!!!
I’d argue that the first team you see in the flesh, at a young age, can be a major factor. I still remember the first game I saw, more than 50 years ago (vs Southend). Until then I had a passing interest in football, afterwards I was hooked. A sort of football “imprinting”. Ofc, for most people, that experience is likely to be at a local club, but not always.
I think this is true, but it’s likely to be connected to one of the other factors. I qualify through Willis’ third factor and as such WFC v Man City was my first professional match.
Grew up in the NW of England in a town which was all rugby league. Didn’t really have a football team. Moved down in 1996 and started going to Watford games - been a fan ever since. (Still love rugby though)
Having moved to just outside the steel city, I fear it will be a struggle to get my 2 lads to support and come to watch Watford when they're old enough to care about football.
It works like this, Horace: Let them tell you who they support. This usually happens towards the end of primary school. Let them tell you who they really support. This usually happens in about the second or third year of secondary school. Take them to a Watford game within a year or so of this announcement; an away game is good for the passion; a home game for the occasion. Perhaps just take the oldest first, then both of them a season or two later, depending on the age gap. Fork out for Sky or Hive, and let them hear you shout, scream and (hopefully) roar with delight at the TV/laptop. Doesn't matter where they are in the house. Patiently wait for the moment when they come home from school and tell you that they told whichever Blade/Pig/Manc/Scouse/Citeh-supporting brat to fcuk right off, because they supported Watford, and always had done. Start buying replica shirts for them for Christmas/birthdays. Start planning away days and home games for the 3 of you. Keep me posted of your progress...
Haha - some solid advice there Steel! They are 3yo and 3mo so definitely still too young to really know much. I already buy the shirt every year (3 for no. 1 and just last year's so far for no. 2) just in case when they are older and ever do choose Watford then they'll have a shirt for every year of their life! And I do already scream and shout at the TV during every game I don't actually go to and all other games. The 3yo doesn't really seem that bothered do far. The 3mo seems obsessed with any sport I have on and just stares at the screen intently. Especially the Hundred. Guess he likes all the colours!
