Chapter 22 – The Battle of Highbury

Chapter 22 – The Battle of Highbury

'I hated playing on the wing. I absolutely hated it' – David Bardsley


Graham Taylor's gradual evolution produced arguably the finest team of his ten year reign in 1986-87. Tony Coton was the best uncapped goalkeeper in the country. John McClelland led the defence with an understated sense of calm. Kevin Richardson added silk in midfield. John Barnes had developed into an international-class winger and Mark Falco and Luther Blissett formed a subtle version of the little-and-large strikeforces the manager liked so much.


The team had a solid league campaign and made their way through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, where they faced Arsenal at Highbury. It was a fiery game that ended in controversy and left the Hornets just ninety minutes from a return trip to Wembley.


Enjoy the game by Lionel Birnie. Read by Colin Mace. Produced by Jon Moonie.

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Episoder(26)

Chapter 26 – Everything Changes

Chapter 26 – Everything Changes

Every fairytale has to come to an end sometime. After the shortlived Dave Bassett era, Watford turned to the continuity candidate, Steve Harrison, who had been part of Graham Taylor's coaching staff t...

12 Okt 202338min

Chapter 25 – Call Me Harry

Chapter 25 – Call Me Harry

'It was a monumental error but I didn’t see it and neither did Elton' – Dave BassettSummer 1987Meet the new boss, very different to the old boss. Elton John wasted little time lining up a successor to...

12 Okt 202317min

Chapter 24 – The End of an Era

Chapter 24 – The End of an Era

'No one got Elton and I together and asked if this was what we wanted' – Graham TaylorJust after the season had ended, with the disappointment of the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Tottenham still fresh ...

12 Okt 202327min

Chapter 23 – From a Wine Bar to Villa Park

Chapter 23 – From a Wine Bar to Villa Park

'Never in a million years did we think we’d need him'Watford's build-up to the 1987 FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur was plagued by misfortune. First Tony Coton got injured. Then his goalke...

12 Okt 202348min

Chapter 21 – Cally

Chapter 21 – Cally

'Right foot or left, Cally could drive it in, float it in or curl it. Brilliant'A portrait of an icon, one of the most mercurial homegrown talents in the club’s history. Nigel Callaghan was often not ...

12 Okt 202340min

Chapter 20 – An Extra Pass

Chapter 20 – An Extra Pass

'You’re turning me into a Watford player now' – Brian TalbotAs Graham Taylor continues to refresh the team, not every player fits the mould. Watford move into the transfer market again to add Brian Ta...

12 Okt 202338min

Chapter 19 – The Family Club

Chapter 19 – The Family Club

English football was in the doldrums in the 1980s. Hooliganism was thought of as 'the English disease'. English fans caused trouble at home and abroad, culminating in the tragic violence that marred t...

12 Okt 202311min

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