Featured post

23rd September 2023- Championship, Leeds United 3 Watford 0

https://www.skysports.com/football/leeds-united-vs-watford/teams/484789

BBC: The Whites dominated the 90 minutes with Georginio Rutter having a goal ruled out for offside and Daniel Bachmann keeping a muted Watford on level terms with a string of excellent saves during the first half.

Sky: Piroe gave Leeds the lead midway through the second half as he volleyed home to finish off a fine move by Daniel Farke’s side. Byram capped his return to the side as he headed in from a corner and Anthony’s late goal moved Leeds up to fifth in the table having seen off a Watford outfit who rarely threatened.

Watford Observer: Live Feed

Gulf between teams finally reflected in result after Watford hung on for an hour

Ismael disappointed Watford did not force Leeds to work harder

Skipper says some of the Watford players were ‘a bit scared’

Fran’s Watford Blog: Bachmann was the first player to come over to the travelling Hornets, he looked very shame-faced but, without his saves, Leeds would have scored 7.  We were glad to get out of Elland Road and decided to avoid the bus and walk back into the City.  It was a beautiful afternoon and the walk was very pleasant indeed.  There was time for another beer before I caught the train home.  The post-match analysis was brief.  Watford had been absolutely awful, creating almost nothing.  They couldn’t string two passes together for large portions of the game.  Bachmann had been superb and had prevented the score being embarrassing.  Ironically, the Hornets had been marginally better in the second half, particularly after Asprilla came on.  But the fact that the first shot on target came in the 94th minute tells you everything about the game.  The atmosphere at Elland Road was typically unpleasant and our position at the front of the top section meant that we spent much of the second half having to peer around security staff and police officers who were there to keep the fans apart.  A horrible set up.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/championship/scores-fixtures/2023-09?filter=results
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/championship/table
Featured post

23rd September 2017- Premier League, Swansea City 1 Watford 2

Leave a Reply
Watford programme cover
Scan 51
Scan 52
Scan 53
Scan 54
Scan 55
Scan 56
Scan 57
Scan 58
Scan 59
Scan 60
Scan 61
Scan 62
Scan 63
Screen Shot 2017-09-28 at 08.40.50
Screen Shot 2017-09-28 at 08.42.42

screen-shot-2016-09-12-at-23-36-22clips of Jon Marks BBC 3CR commentary  Goals:1   2

Watford Observer

RELIVE – SWANSEA CITY v WATFORD: Richarlison’s 89th-minute winner ensures Hornets set record-breaking run on the road

Richarlison scores 90th minute winner as Watford overcome Swansea City in Premier League clash

GALLERY: A selection of images from Watford’s win at Swansea City

Marco Silva praises match-winner Richarlison as Watford make history with Swansea City victory

WATFORD RATINGS: Adrian Mariappa’s warrior-like showing typifies win at Swansea

Adrian Mariappa wondered if Watford would crumble after Swansea City equaliser at Liberty Stadium but says ‘fighting spirit’ earned Hornets victory

WATFORD FAN’S VIEW: We learned how Hornets respond to being under pressure at Swansea – and they did just fine

BBC SportRicharlison struck in the 90th minute as Watford survived a Swansea City fightback to claim a dramatic win at the Liberty Stadium.

skyRicharlison’s late winner helped Watford edge past Swansea 2-1 and record a third successive Premier League victory away from home.

guardianPaul Clement blamed himself for Swansea’s third straight Premier League home defeat against Watford.

IndependentBrazillian Richarlison scored an 89th minute winner to deny Swansea a point after Tammy Abraham had scored his first goal at the Liberty Stadium.

FranThis week, the Watford family lost someone very special. Stephen Todd, known to his football friends as Toddy, was a lifelong Watford fan. He regularly travelled to away games and was a stalwart at club events. He was an enthusiastic member of the Norfolk Hornets and a regular contributor to various fanzines over the years, where his quirky sense of humour shone through. More than that, he was one of my closest friends, someone who always added laughter to a social occasion. Sadly, he has had a number of health issues over the past year, but has bravely soldiered on and travelled to see the tremendous game at Southampton before his final appearance at last week’s defeat to Manchester City. As the news of his passing reached the club, I was very moved to see a tweet from Troy on how much he would be missed. Similar sentiments were expressed on social media by Luther, Gibbsy, Nick Cox, Ross Wilson, Dave Messenger and Jon Marks. The kind words from the great and the good were echoed by many fellow fans and this outpouring of love has bought great comfort to his family and friends. I will miss him terribly.

Screen Shot 2017-09-28 at 09.08.48
Screen Shot 2017-09-28 at 09.08.22
Featured post

23rd September 2008-League Cup Third Round, Watford 1 West Ham United 0

Leave a Reply
scan-106
scan-107
Scan 65
scan-108
scan-109
scan-110
scan-111
Scan 66
scan-112
scan-113
Scan 67
Scan 68
Scan 69
scan-114
Scan 70
Scan 71
Scan 73
Scan 74
Scan 75
scan-115
scan-116
scan-117
scan-118
Scan 76
scan-119
scan-120
scan-121
Scan 77
scan-122
scan-123
Scan 78
Scan 79
Scan 80
Scan 81
Scan 82
scan-124
Scan 83
Scan 84

BBC report

Guardian report

BHappy image report:Admirable, inspiring, gutsy, competent, solid, neat and tidy stuff. Terrific.

http://watford.fcdb.info?id=4823
Screen Shot 2016-09-22 at 19.31.01.png
Featured post

23rd September 2006- Premier League, Wigan Athletic 1 Watford 1

https://watford.fcdb.info/index.php?page=matches

BBC: Goals from Henri Camara and Hamuer Bouazza earned Wigan and Watford a point each in an entertaining draw.

BHappy: Today’s one word match report is: Offside.

Independent, 24 Sep 2006
Observer, 23 Sep 2006
Guardian, 25 Sep 2006
Daily Telegraph, 25 Sep 2006
Independent, 25 Sep 2006
Featured post

23rd September 2003- League Cup Second Round, Bristol City 1 Watford 0 (After Extra Time)

https://watford.fcdb.info/index.php?page=matches

You Tube Video: https://youtu.be/AQGvTDrJRTI?si=_mshVetm3xhJu56E&t=1216

BBC: Lee Miller struck in extra-time to send Bristol City into the third round of the Carling Cup. Miller headed home Mickey Bell’s cross four minutes into the extra period to give Danny Wilson’s Second Division side victory in a dour game.

BSAD: The Lord of the Rings exhibition at the Science Museum kicks off imminently… this features one of Peter Jackson’s now famous distorted sets, which create the illusion of diminutive stature by abnormally scaling the environs to fool the camera. It’s not inconceivable that Jackson came upon this idea on a visit to the away end at Ashton Gate, from where it was impossible to assess the geography of play in the opposite half by any other means than a rough inferral from player sizes. Even this method wasn’t foolproof… “so was that Bruce Dyer on the edge of the box, or Ashley Young on the halfway line…?”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003–04_Football_League_Cup

Featured post

23rd September 2000- New Division One, Stockport County 2 Watford 3

http://watford.fcdb.info/index.php?page=matches

BBC Sport: The Hornets were cruising at 2-0 when Mooney needlessly got himself sent off in the 53rd minute.

Daily Telegraph, 25 Sep 2000

BSAD: It’s a great result, obviously, and annoyance at certain aspects of the performance doesn’t change that. They might’ve been tipped for relegation by Mr Rowson and their league position might back that theory up…but Stockport looked much better than that. The home fans who were virtually unanimous in blaming the defeat on the referee really ought to look closer to home – their team did enough to have got something out of the game without the help of the officials. We did enough to help them, too.

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=2000-09-23
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-1/23-september-2000/
Featured post

23rd September 1997- League Cup Second Round Second Leg, Sheffield United 4 Watford 0 (Sheffield United win 5-1 on aggregate)

BSAD: A last word on the support last night. You couldn’t hear the United fans hardly at all. There was supposedly over 7,500 people in the ground. But it didn’t look it. We out sung them most of the night. And even in the dying seconds, when even the most hardened Watford fan would admit that we were going out, we were singing our hearts out. GT said he wanted to hear all the singing even when things aren’t going right. I hope last night he realised that he will hear it.

Evening Standard, 24 Sep 1997
Independent, 24 Sep 1997
Featured post

23rd September 1995- New Division One, Watford 1 Birmingham City 1

Leave a Reply
Scan 35
Scan 36
Scan 37
Scan 38
Scan 39
Scan 40
Scan 41
Scan 42
Scan 43
Scan 44
Scan 45
Scan 46
Scan 47
Scan 48
Scan 49
Scan 50

BSAD imageBSAD report: The pattern of recent Watford performances has been somewhat mediocre – I’ve struggled on occasions to pick out a star player from those in yellow shirts. Not so with this game. Although certain individuals (hi Gary!) were way below par, others – namely Miller, Foster, Millen and Moralee – were absolutely outstanding and earnt a point we arguably didn’t deserve.

http://watford.fcdb.info?id=4153
Screen Shot 2018-09-22 at 22.06.03
Screen Shot 2018-09-22 at 22.05.37
Featured post

23rd September 1980- League Cup Third Round, Sheffield Wednesday 1 Watford 2

Leave a Reply
http://watford.fcdb.info?id=3351

Watford Observer match report

Daily Mirror, 24 Sep 1980
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980%E2%80%9381_Football_League_Cup
https://oldwatford.com/2004/11/30/30th-november-2004-league-cup-quarter-final-watford-3-portsmouth-0/
Featured post

23rd September 1975- Division Four, Cambridge United 4 Watford 1

http://watford.fcdb.info/index.php?page=matches
Guardian, 24 Sep 1975
Cambridge Evening News, 24 Sep 1975

Watford Observer match report

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=1975-09-23
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-four/23-september-1975/
Featured post

23rd September 1961- Division Three, Watford 3 Queens Park Rangers 2

Leave a Reply
http://watford.fcdb.info?id=2383
The People, 24 Sep 1961

Watford Observer match report

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=1961-09-23
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/23-september-1961/

18th September 2026- Championship, Bristol City 1 Watford 0

Watford Observer: Dionisi hopes a proper week of training makes the difference at Bristol City

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY AS IT HAPPENED: Bristol City 1-0 Watford

Match Report: Injury-hit Watford lose third straight away game at Bristol City

WATCH: Immediate reaction to Bristol City 1-0 Watford

Dionisi: ‘We played to our maximum but this is how it is’

‘I watched it back and probably it should have been a penalty’

Dionisi not happy with Watford attackers except Nabizada

Dionisi explains tactical approach with makeshift full-backs

Sense of inevitability is the most damning thing for Watford

BBC: Dom Ballard scored the only goal of the match as Bristol City bounced back from successive defeats to beat Watford in the Championship at Ashton Gate.

Sky: Watford, meanwhile, who have an injury-ravaged squad under Alessio Dionisi, remain in the bottom half of the table. They have picked up just a point on the road all season.

From the Rookery End: Another defeat before the international break — but what have we actually learned about Watford so far this season? Jon, Jordi, Charlie and Mike look back on the defeat at Bristol City and take stock of where the Hornets find themselves.

17th September 2026- RIP Kevin Miller

Watford Observer: Double Watford FC Player of the Season winner Kevin Miller dies aged 57

‘Fantastic keeper and even better person’ – Watford teammates pay tribute to Miller

BBC: Ex-Exeter, Palace and Watford keeper Miller dies

Exeter City: Kevin Miller: 1969-2026

Crystal Palace: Palace mourns passing of Kevin Miller

Wigan Athletic: IN MEMORIAM | KEVIN MILLER

12th September 2026- Championship, Watford 1 Stoke City 2

Watford Observer: Boadu could feature before international break, with others to be assessed

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY AS IT HAPPENED: Watford 1-2 Stoke City

Match Report: Watford fall to bleak 2-1 Stoke defeat

Dionisi: ‘I speak for my players – to be clear, this is a very difficult moment’

‘We have a good team with all of our players – I am working for the future’

BBC: Stoke City produced a dominant display to beat Watford at Vicarage Road and extend their unbeaten Championship run to four matches.

Sky: McGlynn opened the scoring for Stoke on half-time with Eric Bocat doubling the lead 13 minutes into the second half. Amin Nabizada’s reply came too late for the Hornets.

Fran’s Watford Blog: It was a poor performance by the Hornets. Stoke were fast and strong and spent most of the game on the attack, but any time the Hornets got into their half, they had 10 men behind the ball. Bravo and Maamma who had shone in midweek did very little in this game. The brightest spark was Nabizada who scored another gorgeous goal.

From the Rookery End: Watford’s injury-hit squad struggled to get going as Stoke City left Vicarage Road with a deserved 2-1 win. Jon, Kieran and DCW pick through a disjointed performance, the growing injury list and a midfield stretched almost to breaking point. There’s also discussion about which of Watford’s attacking options can make a position their own, whether the international break will really solve anything, and the difficult hand Alessio Dionisi has been dealt.

8th September 2026- Championship, Watford 2 Preston North End 1

Watford Observer: ‘We’re Watford, we’ve got to be pushing to win these games’

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY AS IT HAPPENED: Watford 2-1 Preston North End

Match Report: Doumbia header seals Watford comeback win over Preston

Dionisi hails ‘big, big result’ as Watford battle major fitness issues to win

Dionisi: ‘Fantastic Kayembe is an example every day’

Excellent Ravaglia is keeping Watford in every game

Doumbia: ‘I tell the wingers before every game, make the cross’

Match-winner Doumbia: ‘Dionisi tells me he loves me’

BBC:Watford came from a goal down to beat Preston North End 2-1 at Vicarage Road to bounce back from two successive Championship defeats.

Sky; Callum Lang had shot the visitors ahead in the sixth minute as the visitors threatened to overrun the Hornets, who hit back with two second-half goals in seven minutes from Edo Kayembe and Mamadou Doumbia.

Fran’s Watford Blog: It had been a terrible first half of football, but the changes at the break made all the difference and it was a decent performance in the second half. Bravo made all the difference as, finally, we had someone in the midfield battling for the ball and launching attacks. His cross for Doumbia’s goal was perfect. He was my man of the match, but praise should also go to Ravaglia without whom we would have been further behind when we scored. Maamma was another bright spark. He has struggled in recent games, but was back to his best, powering down the wing and making the goal for Kayembe. He was also seen on more than one occasion tracking back and making important tackles. Kayembe gets a hard time from a section of the fan base, but he worked hard and I was glad that he scored and received the adulation from the fans. Similarly, Doumbia, who worked hard all evening and was rewarded with a goal.

From the Rookery End: Watford came from behind to beat Preston North End 2-1 at Vicarage Road – but it took a dramatic half-time intervention to turn a pretty grim evening around.