In light of the Vicarage Road centenary celebrations earlier this season, writers from The Watford Treasury magazine look back at players who performed great feats on home soil.
First featured in last season’s matchday programme, Richard White writes about the crowd favourite who, despite all his achievements, had never scored a hat-trick until one sunny afternoon when Sunderland came to visit.
“Loo-ther, Loo-ther!” The chant swept around every time Luther Blissett excited the Vicarage Road crowd after bearing down upon a panicking defence, usually culminating in a lethal shot on goal. It happened a lot. An awful lot. Luther has rightly attained legendary Watford status, setting appearance (503) and goalscoring (186) records unlikely to be surpassed, and it’s hard to think of new superlatives to describe his contributions to both club and town.
Luther was the epitome of a Graham Taylor player, with a never-say-die attitude and a determination to make the most of his talent. His football achievements and concern for the community have made him a local legend, fully deserving the ‘Freedom of Watford’ award granted at a Town Hall ceremony in October 2021.
GT and Luther – somehow the fates ensured they would make history together. Luther was one of the stalwarts who, along with Ross Jenkins, Ian Bolton and Steve Sherwood, powered Watford all the way from the Fourth to the First Division in five eventful years between 1977 and 1982. Later he became a coach and assistant manager during Taylor’s second spell.
It could have been different. Luther joined Watford as a junior, but after turning professional at 17 made only a handful of appearances in two seasons under Mike Keen, despite scoring on his debut against Swansea in April 1976. He managed to survive the player cull after Graham Taylor arrived in 1977, thanks to a recommendation about his potential from senior professional Tom Walley.
Luther was often used from the bench as Watford stormed to the 1977/78 Division Four championship, then hit the national headlines the following season. He scored twice as Watford beat Manchester United at Old Trafford in the League Cup, and cemented his place up front as the Hornets were promoted again. He finished 1978/79 with 28 goals, in a formidable partnership alongside Ross Jenkins (37 goals), and they continued to flow as Watford consolidated in Division Two, then gained promotion to Division One for the first time in 1982.
Despite his goalscoring prowess, Luther seemed destined never to score a hat-trick. He scored twice in a match on 18 occasions, but without notching a third. That was until September 25, 1982. He finally banged in four that day in Watford’s 8-0 victory against Sunderland – our record league win. That’s a day forever burned in this scribe’s memory, as my brother chose it to get married. In Cornwall. The frustration I felt, as I sneaked out from the wedding reception every few minutes to listen on my car radio as the goals were flying in, still lives with me.
Luther won the 1982/83 Golden Boot as leading First Division scorer with 27 goals as Watford finished runners-up to Liverpool. This stimulated interest from top European teams and earned him a £1m move to AC Milan. But the slow build-ups and suffocating tactics of Serie A football didn’t suit him; after a meagre return of six goals in 39 appearances Luther was glad to return to his spiritual home at Watford a year later, continuing to terrorise top division defences alongside the prodigious John Barnes.
Although Luther was sometimes employed in midfield or wide positions, particularly later in his Watford career, his scoring ratio in his five seasons in Division One was 0.46, virtually a goal every other game. By comparison, Troy Deeney’s goalscoring ratio in his five top-flight seasons was 0.29.
Let’s not shy away from the fact that Luther had to contend with prejudiced attitudes and regular crowd abuse due to the colour of his skin. That he rose above this, to become one of the best-known names in football during his career, is testimony to the courage and strength of the man. Luther became the first black player to score a hat-trick for England, making 14 appearances in the national shirt.
In 1988 Steve Harrison, tasked with getting Watford back to the top flight after relegation, ruled Luther out of his plans; Bournemouth, also in Division Two, signed him for £60,000. Watford’s loss was the Cherries’ gain. In each of three seasons Luther finished comfortably their leading scorer, scoring 60 goals altogether. It has been amusing in recent years to see Luther celebrated amongst Bournemouth’s best-ever players, featuring on a large poster displayed outside the Dean Court ground!
Luther returned to Watford for one final season under Steve Perryman in 1991/92. His 12 goals made him the Hornets’ top scorer for the sixth time, cementing his legendary club status.
Graham Taylor described Luther as the most enthusiastic footballer he ever worked with in training, and on matchdays we could see the result, as he ran opposing defenders into the ground, never giving anything less than his best time after time.
Loo-ther!
