Chapter 10 – After Ninety-One Years

Chapter 10 – After Ninety-One Years

‘I hope the people who weren’t there the night we made it felt a part of it’


The Hornets make history, reaching the top flight for the first time. The 1981-82 season had gone almost perfectly. They were in the promotion hunt throughout the campaign, despite the fact local rivals Luton Town were ahead of them. There was the customary wobble in spring time but victory over Wrexham at Vicarage Road got the job done with a couple of games to spare.


There was also a memorable FA Cup third round win over Manchester United – and the club's youth team followed in the footsteps of the seniors beating United in the FA Youth Cup final. The Hornets were on the up and Graham Taylor and his style of play was already attracting plenty of attention.


Note: At the time, it was thought the club had been founded in 1891. Ten years later, when Oliver Phillips and Terry Challis were researching the origins of the club for the official centenary book, they discovered that the club had in fact been founded in 1881. Therefore promotion to the First Division was achieved in the season marking the club's 100th anniversary.


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

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Avsnitt(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 22 – The Battle of Highbury

Chapter 22 – The Battle of Highbury

'I hated playing on the wing. I absolutely hated it' – David BardsleyGraham Taylor's gradual evolution produced arguably the finest team of his ten year reign in 1986-87. Tony Coton was the best uncap...

12 Okt 202312min

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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