Tag Archives: Apr28

28th April 2012- Championship, Watford 2 Middlesbrough 1

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Final programme notes from Sean Dyche and Laurence Bassini

http://watford.fcdb.info?id=5015

Middlesbrough missed out on the play-offs with a defeat at Watford. The visitors needed a win and Cardiff, to lose in order to sneak into the top six.

 As you always do on the final day, you look around the pitch for signs of what next season might bring, for the points that need addressing, for the players who need tying down lest they fly away. One last look before a summer of idle discussion and speculation…and we’ll mostly leave all of that for the footie-less weeks.

28th April 2001- New Division One, Watford 1 Tranmere Rovers 1

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GT’s last home game in charge.

http://watford.fcdb.info?id=4451

BBC Sport Allan Nielsen, Graham Taylor’s most expensive signing at £2.3m, spared the former England manager’s blushes at his Vicarage Road farewell.  The Danish international popped up in the last minute to head an equaliser but the point salvaged is not enough to keep Watford’s play-off hopes alive.

BSAD image Long ago, the script was written for Graham Taylor’s last match at Vicarage Road. One final wave of galloping attacks to see off already-relegated opponents. One last thumping victory, in the thrilling style of so many before it. Hat-tricks for Tommys Mooney and Smith to celebrate their end-of-season awards for best player and young player respectively. And, in the final minute of injury time, the seventh goal to crown it all, an astonishing, crashing-off-the-crossbar blast from thirty yards by the returning Richard Johnson.

BSAD image He was more what we came to see than a relegated bunch of fighters, and an unquantifiable bunch of mid- to upper-table wanderers who represent what, if not why, he’s leaving behind by retiring. His direction was where we were looking, as a game that barely registers in the mind even this soon after its conclusion played itself into oblivion. When he showed up in the dugout, we asked for a wave, since chanting something along the lines of “Graham, give us a year or two more, we’re worthy, and by the way, thanks for making us all stand apart from whatever crowd we’ve found ourselves in from the age of [your age in 1977] to now” is just unfeasible.

English Division OneTable »
Barnsley0-1Bolton Wanderers 
Birmingham City1-0Grimsby Town 
Crewe Alexandra1-3Preston North End 
Crystal Palace0-2Wolverhampton Wndrs 
Fulham1-1Wimbledon 
Norwich City1-0Sheffield Wednesday 
Nottingham Forest0-1Gillingham 
Queens Park Rangers0-3Stockport County 
Sheffield United2-0Burnley 
Watford1-1Tranmere Rovers 
West Bromwich Albion1-1Huddersfield Town
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28th April 1998- New Division Two, Watford 2 AFC Bournemouth 1

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The game where Steve Palmer wore the number one jersey and started in goal.  He swapped with Alec Chamberlain (who was no.4) after the first few seconds.  In the final fixture away at Fulham Palmer wore the number nine shirt meaning he became the first and only player in Football League history to have worn every number from 1-14 during a season.

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http://watford.fcdb.info?id=4306
Daily Telegraph, 29 Apr 1998

The atmosphere was tremendous throughout, combining encouragement as the team made strides towards the Championship and celebration of what has already achieved. Graham Taylor was indeed having a party and he laid on some fine entertainment – not least, the hilarious appearance of Steve Palmer in goal at kickoff. Palmer’s bid to wear all fourteen shirt numbers in one season now looks unstoppable – he only needs to don the number nine at Fulham on Saturday – and he seemed to enjoy his new role as much as everyone else, grinning widely as the players lined up to take warm-up shots at him while the fans chanted “dodgy keeper”. Richard Johnson belted the ball into touch immediately, allowing Palmer and Chamberlain to swap back to their more accustomed positions. It’s reassuring to see that Graham Taylor hasn’t lost his sense of fun over the years

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Who Ate All The Pies: STEVE PALMER WEARS EVERY SINGLE WATFORD SQUAD NUMBER IN SPACE OF ONE SEASON

28th April 1984- Division One, Luton Town 1 Watford 2

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Our first win at Kenilworth Road in almost 20 years was completely overshadowed by referee Keith Hackett sending off Wilf Rostron which meant the Watford captain would miss the FA Cup Final.

http://watford.fcdb.info?id=3553

Bob Wilson confirming the news of Rostron’s suspension on that evening’s edition of Match Of The Day

Section of the Watford Legends Interview with Wilf Rostron where he talks about the sending off and missing the FA Cup Final.

For the full interview click here.

Part of an article GT wrote before the 2002 FA Cup Final which referenced Wilf’s sending off.

For the full article click here.