MY WATFORD: PAUL TUCKER
TODAY we feature our first supporter in our 'My Watford' series since Chairman Graham Simpson kick-started the idea earlier this year.
First up is Watford supporter Paul Tucker, who coincidently started watching the Hornets during the same season as the Chairman.
Thank you to Paul for taking part and we hope you enjoy reading the article and it brings back some good memories.
If you would like to be featured please email themediateam@watfordfc.com with 'My Watford' in the subject line and we'll send you some questions to answer.
Name: Paul Tucker
From: Deanshanger, Northamptonshire
Q: Why do you support Watford and how long have you followed them for?
A: I have no connection with the town of Watford whatsoever except that my dad's sister married a man from Watford. We all came from Leighton Buzzard but my dad's new brother-in-law took him to Watford games; my dad took me to games; I've taken both my boys to games and look forward to bringing my grandchildren.
My first game was in April 1958 (2-2 against Carlisle - I can still recite the Watford line-up) but my first full season was the Division 4 promotion season 1959-60 (same as Graham Simpson).
Q: Take us through a normal home matchday for you?
A: It depends if it's Saturday or mid-week. On Saturday, I travel from Deanshanger, arriving at the Girls' Grammar school car park by 2pm. I work in Redditch so, for midweek games, I leave there about 4pm and then travel down the M40 to Bicester, Aylesbury and the A41.
Either way I like to get to the ground early, I sit in the Rookery and have a hot chocolate and a chunky KitKat (but they don't sell them in the ground now) read the programme and watch the warm-up.
Q: As a supporter how hardcore are you?
A: I have been a season ticket holder but living/working some distance away and business commitments keep me from attending every game. It means that, financially, a season ticket is not worthwhile.
So, I possibly get to half the games. Working in Redditch means I can get to most parts of the country for midweek games. For example, I got to Cardiff, Bristol, Coventry, Sheff Utd etc quicker and easier than getting to Watford.
Q: What is your most memorable moment following the Hornets?
A: Apart from the obvious candidates (Cup Final, Play-off finals), probably the Southampton 7-1 game (yes, I was one of the 16,000 there). So much has been written about that game over the years and it's all true.
Difficult question, though. There have been so many memorable moments and it's also true that nothing beats the experience of your first game (I was nine-years-old and still remember it).
Q: What are the most extraordinary lengths you've gone to in order to get to a Watford game?
A: Not too many actually. Queuing seven hours for the Cup Final ticket was horrible so I made sure I was second in the queue and stayed outside all night for the Birmingham play-off home game tickets.
Q: Who is your all time favourite Watford player?
A: Back to the first impressions - it has to be Cliff Holton. He was this schoolboy's idol.
Q: Who is the last truly exciting player you saw play?
A: I hate to say Ronaldo but I guess he's up there. For Watford: the likes of Scullion, Stuart Slater, Wooter (hey, they're all wingers!) were players that, when they got the ball you knew something was going to happen.
But the way Marlon controlled the second half from wide right in the 4-1 win at Sheff Utd was something to behold.
Q: Do you have any football related superstitions?
A: Not really; I've seen it all now and am never surprised or upset at anything that might happen.
Q: How do you fill your weekends during the summer break?
A: Grandchildren take up a lot of time.
Q: Club or country? Or is there no contest?
A: Club - no contest
Q: Are you a singer when you attend games and if so do you have a favourite song?
A: No, sorry, not too much of a singer. I tend to get too engrossed in what's happening on the pitch.
Q: What do you think of the atmosphere at football grounds today? Has it got better or worse and why?
A: Mixed answer! I was at the Luzhniki Stadium when England lost to Russia and I have also been to Chile v Peru in Santiago and Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires. I don't think I've ever been in such partisan crowds.
Back home, yes, some grounds really do seem to rock. Unfortunately, the Vic isn't one of them which is such a pity because we have shown that we can do it (Palace play-off game, Leicester this season, for example).
At prawn sandwich grounds, the atmosphere has got worse and the reason is probably that the new nouveau riche fan who attends those grounds doesn't have the same deep feeling about their club as the old-type fan. Grounds where open terracing has been covered probably have a better atmosphere now.
Q: If you could meet one ex-Watford player, who would it be and what would you ask them?
A: Cliff Holton (of course, that will never happen): "I was a nine-year-old boy who idolised you, Cliff. Why didn't you answer my letters?"
Q: If you had the talent to have been a professional footballer, what position would you play and how would you describe yourself as a player?
A: I fancied the glory at both ends of the pitch: goalkeeper but, more often, I was an old-fashioned, bustling centre-forward type.
Q: Do you have a favourite away ground, if so why?
A: Whichever ground Watford will win at next! But I don't think that's what you mean. Can I include stadium:mk (we did play a friendly there)?
Q: What is the best away support that you've ever seen at Vicarage Road?
A: Back to impressions made when a kid: January 1967 - FA Cup 3rd Round and the noise that Liverpool made when they filled the old Rookery.
Q: Do you have a soft spot for another team or do you look out for anyone else when the results come in?
A: MK Dons (I watch them quite regularly when games don't clash).
Q: How active a supporter are you away from matchdays?
A: I'm an avid supporter as far as getting information. I'm too far away for reserve games but I do watch the Academy when they play in Milton Keynes.
Q: How do you think opposition supporters view the club?
A: Politely!
Q: Do you think the club is still staying strong to its community values and how important is that for a supporter?
A: I've never been in the community so I can only judge as an outsider. We've just won another award which, I guess, wasn't given out lightly.
Q: If you could change one thing about football, what would it be and why?
A: The introduction of video replay technology for all disputed decisions (not just goal-line). The technology is there and I do not think it would disrupt the game any more than it is already disrupted by players remonstrating with refs etc. Once a decision is made by the fourth official, no-one can dispute it. Get on with the game!
Q: Homegrown players. Just how important are they for the club and what does it mean for supporters to see a youngster coming through the ranks?
A: For a club like us, it is excellent news when a player comes through. I remember a cold windy Saturday morning in Milton Keynes in 2004 watching Mariappa, Junior Osborne, Diagoura, Al Bangura, and Joel Grant - that was such an exciting team.
Interestingly, I also saw Middlesbrough's academy at the same field in MK during the same season and a youngster named Adam Johnson came on as sub.
More recently, during a Youth Cup-tie at the Hockey Stadium, a young player came on as sub. I thought, "He looks an excellent prospect!" His name? John-Joe O'Toole. I hate the Harry Forrester-type of situation but, on the other hand, we got Scott Loach in similar circumstances, I guess, and look what rave reviews he's getting now.
Q: What are your feelings on the Premiership? Has it been good or bad for the game or is the answer somewhere in between?
A: Well, it's bad for everyone not in the Premiership! Where I work, I'm surrounded by Baggies fans. They say, "It's the only place to be!" Is there anything bad about it? It's a pity there are not more English players there; I can't see that most of the foreigners are that special.
Q: How do you feel about the large amount of British clubs being bought by businessmen from abroad? What would be your reaction if it happened to your club?
A: I would be worried unless I knew that the new owner was 'Watford 'til I die!' Somehow, I don't think there can be many foreign business men like that. The only other worry is that businessmen are there for the business, of course, and that means a profit and loss account at the end of the day. But I could extend the argument to TV rights. What will happen if Murdoch suddenly says he's not interested in football any more?
Q: Do you prefer new stadiums or old grounds?
A: If you've never been to stadium:mk, take a look. Yes, after seeing Ninian Park and Ashton Gate, there's no comparison with the Ricoh or St Mary's, for example, and I prefer the new stadiums
Q: Where do you see the club in 10 years time?
A: It would be very, very nice to think we will be in the top flight but, with the unlikelihood that we also could ever get a 30,000+ seater stadium and the investment to sustain a team at that consistent level, we may have to realise that we are who we are and that means a yo-yo team, at best.
Q: What person would you like to have a Watford-related chat with?
A. The two Grahams: Taylor and Simpson (and if Aidy and Ollie Phillips were there also, it would be excellent). There are so many questions and topics on which I would love to hear their opinions.
The views in this article are not necessarily the views of Watford Football Club.
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