Memries of Watford

[grafikhaus]

Billy Sharp returns to contention for this Saturday’s clash at Vicarage Road, however it’s highly likely that Troy Deeney will not face the Blades, having missed his seventh consecutive game in the defeat at Wolves on September 28. Here’s the Hornet’s line-up for that game which saw a return for Danny Welbeck. Also featuring at Molineaux was Watford club-record signing Ismaïla Sarr, a Senegal international who was signed from French club Rennes for £27m on transfer deadline day.



Our last meeting against The Hornets was over eight years ago – a 0-3 defeat at Vicarage Road in The Championship. The Blades were in turmoil, had four managers that season (Kevin Blackwell, Gary Speed, John Carver as caretaker and Micky Adams) and would be relegated to League One at the end of the season (Watford finished 14th).

Although officially founded in 1881, Watford spent many years in the lower leagues, only beginning to rise up the pyramid when Elton John became chairman in 1976. This Saturday is only the 35th time the Blades have met Watford in the league.

Our more recent games against Watford



Full history Sheffield United v Watford

Full League Record v Watford:

Home: P: 17 W: 7 D: 5 L: 5 F: 26 A: 18

Away: P: 17 W: 7 D: 4 L: 6 F: 19 A: 20

My first ‘Memrie of Watford’ came on a sun-kissed Saturday at Bramall Lane on the last day of the 1970-71 season (1st May). The previous Tuesday (April 27th) United had crushed fellow promotion-contenders Cardiff City 5-1 in front of 42,963 at still-three-sided Bramall Lane. Against Watford, 38,857 saw United win 3-0 and gain promotion to the top-flight amid delirious scenes:



A few days later, we signed Watford’s Stewart Scullion.

I also went to the FA Cup 4th Round replay at Watford on 30th January 1990 where goals from Brian Deane and Paul Stancliffe saw Dave Bassett’s Blades win 2-1 after drawing 1-1 at Bramall Lane:



This win continued a cup run that would end with a 0-1 home defeat to Manchester United in the 6th round.

There are very few YouTube videos available of United games v Watford – and most are of poor quality. Here’s our 2-0 home win in The Championship on 15th August, 2009:



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[grafikhaus]

Premier League Table: (*Not too affected by Man. Utd. V Arsenal on 30th September). The Blades are in 12th place and Watford are rock-bottom - 20th.

Full Premier League Table

Form Guide: (*Not too affected by Man. Utd. V Arsenal on 30th September)

Without a win this season (two draws, fours losses), Watford are bottom of the 2019-20 form guide.

Full Premier League Form Guide

Top Scorers:

Watford’s poor start to the season is reflected in their lack of stand-out goalscorers:



Men to Watch:



From left, Gerard Deulofeu, Troy Deeney and Andre Gray.

The Manager:

Quique Sánchez Flores returned to Watford on 7th September, replacing Javi Gracia. Flores is Watford’s fourteenth new managerial appointment in the last eleven years.

Significant Others:

In the (fairly) recent past, many players have joined United directly from Watford. These include:

Danny Webber Tony Currie Steward Scullion Keith Eddy Rob Page Glyn Hodges Colin Franks Tony Agana and Barry Hartle.

and, moving the other way

Leigh Bromby.

But possibly the most significant person to move from Watford to the Blades was Dave Bassett.

​

Dave was in charge at Vicarage Road for just 28 games and Bassett was sacked in January 1988 with the club bottom of the First Division and relegation to the Second Division looking inevitable. United had just lost 0-5 at home to Oldham on 2nd January 1988 in the Second Division with the shockingly-bad Billy McEwan ‘in charge’. As I trooped off the kop, I said to a bloke next to me ‘That could be the best result of the season if it means that t**t McEwan is sacked’. McEwan was sacked that evening and I still remember looking at Ceefax later that week where it was announced that Watford had sacked Dave. I said to my dad that ‘it could be very good news for United.’ Bassett became United’s manager on 21st January but couldn’t prevent an extremely poor Blades team getting relegated to the Third Division (via relegation play-offs to Bristol City.) The rest, as they say, is history.

 

[Revolution]

I used to live near Vicarage Road so have been there a couple of times for games not involving the Blades. Watford for me are in a group of "likeable" clubs that we play a fair amount but don't have any hostility towards. It's a good day out and their fans seem a decent bunch: Charlton also fall into this category.

My experiences down there:

1997-8 - League Cup 2nd round first leg. A United team full of reserves draws 1-1. Andy Scott gives us the lead but Peter Kennedy equalises in stoppage time with an excellent free kick. We won the 2nd leg 4-0.

1998-9 - United on one of those lengthy runs where we fail to win away for months on end. Another 1-1 draw, but this time we are second best and Nicky Marker bails us out with a late equaliser. Cue Blades fans singing "If you can't beat us you must be shit". My most vivid memory of the game is ducking to avoid a wayward shot from Tri Dellas, which would have killed me had it hit me.

2001-2 - a young United side, shorn of Brown, Ullathorne, Suffo and Santos after the Battle of Bramall Lane, beat a poor Watford side easily in an end of season contest between two mid table teams. Steve Lovell and Jean Phillipe Javary score their only United goals: Jags grabs the other.

2002-3 - 2-0 defeat in the last game of the season. United mail it in as 3rd place is already assured. Only game Paddy Kenny missed all season. Gary Kelly, Alan's brother who is with United on a short term contract, makes his only league appearance for us. Despite the bright sunshine it was freezing under cover.

2007-8 - 1-0 defeat in the first away game after relegation. A team less than the sum of its parts gives a turgid display. Good pre match session in the Moon Under Water with the old "Barrel of Money" crowd.

 

[Silent Blade]

FA Cup 3rd round, January 1968. Tony Currie was a regular for the Watford team that season but he was left out of the side playing against us. He wasnt aware that Watford had already agreed a deal with us that he would join us for a fee of £27,500 after Watford had been knocked out of the cup. We won with a Mick Hill goal and TC joined us a few days later

 

[Paisley Blade]

Two 3-0 games stand out for me , joyous at Bramall Lane in May 1971 , beyond cack at Vicarage Road in March 2011.

 

[Tony_Kaufman]

I remember a dull as hell cup game in our last promotion season under Warnock which went to penalties as clearly neither side wanted to go through.

 

[Superblades]

3-2 in the promotion season with Warnock, came back from 2-0 down as well.

 

[Rochdaleblade]

I just remember the long walk around the allotment whilst dying for a slash. Hertfordshires finest keeping you under close observation. It was like being in a Japanese game show.

 

[Bath Blade]

2001-2 - a young United side, shorn of Brown, Ullathorne, Suffo and Santos after the Battle of Bramall Lane, beat a poor Watford side easily in an end of season contest between two mid table teams. Steve Lovell and Jean Phillipe Javary score their only United goals: Jags grabs the other.

I remember being at that match and being really impressed with Javary and thinking we’d got a fantastic player on our hands. Hadn’t he been French U21 captain? Whatever happened to him?

 

[pesch the mini genius]

14 managers in 11 years ! not really surprising that they are botom really even with the good players they have !
how the hell can players have any idea whats going on and whats going to happen next !

still a very tough away game but with our form away this season, you have to fancy us to pick up atleast a point

 

[Tickhill Blade]

 

[Tickhill Blade]

2007-8 - 1-0 defeat in the first away game after relegation. A team less than the sum of its parts gives a turgid display. Good pre match session in the Moon Under Water with the old "Barrel of Money" crowd.

Interestingly the Watford team that day had 4 future Blades in it. Another future blade came off the bench and another was an unused sub. Must be some kind of record!

 

[Rufus Smalls]

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Guessing that was the 5-0 thrashing in the FA Cup third round down at Vicarage Road about mid 80’s. ? I went down for that one and can honestly say one of the worst away performances of my 40+ years watching the Blades.

 

[Revolution]

Guessing that was the 5-0 thrashing in the FA Cup third round down at Vicarage Road about mid 80’s. ? I went down for that one and can honestly say one of the worst away performances of my 40+ years watching the Blades.

Luther Blissett scored 4. Has anyone scored 4 against us since? Can't think of anyone off the top of my head.

 

[Rufus Smalls]

If I remember correctly weren’t we 4-0 down first half ? Budgie ended up our man of the match or it could have been double figures.

 

[diplomat]

I remember being at that match and being really impressed with Javary and thinking we’d got a fantastic player on our hands. Hadn’t he been French U21 captain? Whatever happened to him?

Agreed I was quite excited by his potential. Seemed to have a goal in him. A quick check on wiki shows he just went to Scotland and barely played then to a couple of other clubs but no appearances show.

 

[Silent Blade]

 

[Boxer Blade]

FA Cup 3rd round, January 1968. Tony Currie was a regular for the Watford team that season but he was left out of the side playing against us. He wasnt aware that Watford had already agreed a deal with us that he would join us for a fee of £27,500 after Watford had been knocked out of the cup. We won with a Mick Hill goal and TC joined us a few days later

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I went to the game, behind the goal, didn't Bob Widowson play in goal and Stuart Scullion play against us, 0-1 win.

 

[Speedracer]

May '71 is my first memory of Watford, & what a glorious day that was, I can remember it like it was yesterday. Brilliant weather, champagne football & a terrific atmosphere, the dreams I had of what we were about to go & achieve!

 

[Revolution]

I remember being at that match and being really impressed with Javary and thinking we’d got a fantastic player on our hands. Hadn’t he been French U21 captain? Whatever happened to him?

He ran out of clubs prepared to employ him. A difficult character apparently.

 

[Sheffsteel]

14 managers in 11 years ! not really surprising that they are botom really even with the good players they have !
how the hell can players have any idea whats going on and whats going to happen next !

still a very tough away game but with our form away this season, you have to fancy us to pick up atleast a point

That’s exactly what I though.....they appear to be a badly run club

But guess what just before they played the FA cup final last year their Chief Exec was interviewed for a good 20 minutes on Talksport.
The radio presenter was building them up as a brilliantly run forward thinking club......I was thinking they’ve been lucky to be doing so well.

The Chief Exec came on saying how Watford are a big club and even though they are in the shadow of London, still have big potential.
I thought what? He was saying how they’ve plans in place to increase the stadium capacity and they really need a 30K capacity to start with.

He also defender their policy of sacking manager every year......saying how they are a special club chasing excellence.
He also said that they already have the director of Football and structures in place.. so the manager are only responsible for coaching.
He also praised Gracia... .saying how fantastic he is and how he can see him being at Watford for many years.

Since that interview Watford have gone into a incredible slump in form.

It made me think that there’s no such thing as a well run club and poorly run club.
Every season 3 teams gain promotion and regardless of how they are run they are always classed as well run clubs.
Also every season whoever is relegated are always classed as a poorly run club.

 

[Oreyt]

"Shit suit from Matalan" at Antonius Coteeteee. I think.

 

[Silent Blade]

I went to the game, behind the goal, didn't Bob Widowson play in goal and Stuart Scullion play against us, 0-1 win.

Correct

 

[Silent Blade]

May '71 is my first memory of Watford, & what a glorious day that was, I can remember it like it was yesterday. Brilliant weather, champagne football & a terrific atmosphere, the dreams I had of what we were about to go & achieve!

 

[BushBlade]

That’s exactly what I though.....they appear to be a badly run club

But guess what just before they played the FA cup final last year their Chief Exec was interviewed for a good 20 minutes on Talksport.
The radio presenter was building them up as a brilliantly run forward thinking club......I was thinking they’ve been lucky to be doing so well.

The Chief Exec came on saying how Watford are a big club and even though they are in the shadow of London, still have big potential.
I thought what? He was saying how they’ve plans in place to increase the stadium capacity and they really need a 30K capacity to start with.

He also defender their policy of sacking manager every year......saying how they are a special club chasing excellence.
He also said that they already have the director of Football and structures in place.. so the manager are only responsible for coaching.
He also praised Gracia... .saying how fantastic he is and how he can see him being at Watford for many years.

Since that interview Watford have gone into a incredible slump in form.

It made me think that there’s no such thing as a well run club and poorly run club.
Every season 3 teams gain promotion and regardless of how they are run they are always classed as well run clubs.
Also every season whoever is relegated are always classed as a poorly run club.

Perhaps you’re applying the wrong criteria. If they are a well run club, they’ll be able to cope with being relegated. And bounce back. And just because their owner says they’re a well run club, it doesn’t mean it’s the case. I’d guess all owners think their club is being well run.

Having the right infrastructure in the club is one part of it, getting the right people in the important positions is the other.

 

[grafikhaus]

Since that interview Watford have gone into a incredible slump in form.

It made me think that there’s no such thing as a well run club and poorly run club.
Every season 3 teams gain promotion and regardless of how they are run they are always classed as well run clubs.
Also every season whoever is relegated are always classed as a poorly run club.

It begins and ends with the manager and his staff. With countless funds available, a piss-poor manager will destroy all that (Watford, Wednesday, Everton, Newcastle).

I think it’s a bit harsh on the Cowleys, even if it’s correct. They’ve never earned decent money from football, they’re not ex-pros. I think they’ve made the wrong decision but can you blame them for turning down life changing money?

Imagine being offered a job and knowing that even if you fail spectacularly, you’ll have earned a couple of million.

Seriously, I could do without the money - some things in life are more important. The Cowleys ought to realise the responsibilities that come with managing a team. Not only have they lined their own pockets, they've destroyed what they were building at Lincoln and pissed off the Imps fans.

Sure CW would have 'kissed the badge' at Northampton and Oxford, but this is different. CW was always 'coming home' and us fans' patience has been rewarded. To simply 'walk' to a shit, middling club like Huddersfield shows a 'money trumps everything' attitude and - if they somehow save Huddersfield from relegation - they'll do a Steve Bruce at the earliest opportunity.

 

[Corazon]

FA Cup 3rd round, January 1968. Tony Currie was a regular for the Watford team that season but he was left out of the side playing against us. He wasnt aware that Watford had already agreed a deal with us that he would join us for a fee of £27,500 after Watford had been knocked out of the cup. We won with a Mick Hill goal and TC joined us a few days later

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I was at that game too. Brings back good memries of my dad who took me and two of my friends down in his Ford Anglia (I think it was - not great on cars!)

 

[Geordie Blade]

In the 1-1 draw at home in 1990, Glyn Hodges put in a sublime cross/pass for Watford (very much like Fleck's to set up Clarke on Saturday). I remember my dad saying "why don't we ever have anyone with that sort of quality?" The next season, my dad raised about £400 selling SUFC raffle tickets at the school where he taught, which contributed towards the fee for buying Hodges.

 

[N20 Blade]

In the 1-1 draw at home in 1990, Glyn Hodges put in a sublime cross/pass for Watford (very much like Fleck's to set up Clarke on Saturday). I remember my dad saying "why don't we ever have anyone with that sort of quality?" The next season, my dad raised about £400 selling SUFC raffle tickets at the school where he taught, which contributed towards the fee for buying Hodges.

Forgot about the raffle tickets! I sold some as a sixth former in a North Yorkshire grammar school! Most of the buyers were mates who supported Boro, Sunderland and Newcastle but I remember selling some to a girl I fancied and promising her she’d win a special prize. She fell for it and a few days later, told her she’d won a £20 voucher for two to our local pizza place in Northallerton. Working with on the basis she’d take me I was made up. Needless to say she chose someone else, luck bugger got more than an espresso after the meal.

 

[Guesty]

3-2 in the promotion season with Warnock, came back from 2-0 down as well.

That was my one and only visit. I think our dear old Darius Henderson did the damage at first, absolutely bullying poor Leigh Bromby for one of his goals.

I forget how the fight-back started - was it Morgan or Jags who got the goal? My mate and I had seen the warm-up, and Paul Ifill's shooting on his left foot had been dismal. So when he cut inside and shaped to shoot, my friend cried 'not with your left!' as Ifill buried the equaliser.

The winner was a funny goal. I remember the ball bouncing around for ages with several miscues from Blades (Jags, Monty) before Clark Carlisle put through his own net.

The other thing I remember from that day is the stewards being unusually friendly and cheery.