Tag: Cliff Holton

21st April 2002- New Division One, Watford 2 Gillingham 3

Nigel Gibbs final competitive Watford appearance and Gianluca Vialli’s last programme notes.

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http://watford.fcdb.info?id=4505

BSAD imageBSAD report: One final first team outing for Nigel Gibbs – applauded on arrival by everyone in the ground, including the Gillingham players – was worth the price of admission alone, even if he was required to spend ten minutes looking awkwardly out of place at left back. A broad grin on hitting a pass so firmly that even Anthony McNamee couldn’t catch up with it betrayed his enjoyment of the occasion, and it was an enjoyment widely shared. Nigel Gibbs has been a great player for Watford Football Club for twenty years. There need be no further explanation.

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9th March 2002- New Division One, Crystal Palace 0 Watford 2

Transfer-listed duo Allan Nielsen and Marcus Gayle made Gianluca Vialli think again when they both scored in Watford’s win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

In first-half injury-time Allan Nielsen converted Stephen Glass’s centre, then two minutes after the interval Marcus Gayle beat Matt Clarke to another Glass cross.

At its start, a rather feeble turn-out of Watford fans – in either this season’s away performances or our recent record at Selhurst Bloody Park, it’d be hard to find a logical reason to swap nineteen quid for a seat in the Arthur Wait Stand – was taunted and ridiculed by the ever-charming locals. “Why don’t you all sit together?” they queried, looking at expanses of empty seats and occasional clumps of people. By the end, the same chants were being cheekily returned to the rapidly emptying home stands.

Pre-match, looking at the programme, my ‘escort’ was his usual optimistic self. “We haven’t beaten this lot since 93”. “All the more reason to be here than, in case we witness this rare event”. Looking around the fleapit that is Selhurst, that is the only reason.

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=2002-03-09
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-1/09-march-2002/

24th April 1999- New Division One, Watford 2 Crystal Palace 1

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BSAD imageBSAD report: Five straight wins, and we’re exploring the chance of ultimate possibility for all it’s worth. Everything stems from belief – once we started believing it was possible, it became so. To the extent where the weekend’s other results mean that we just have to win three more games to reach the playoffs.

It’s a lot to ask. Thrillingly, though, we’re rising to the challenge. Whether we go out or not, this is still a blaze of glory.

http://watford.fcdb.info?id=4353
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