The Hornets were delighted to welcome home Honorary Life-President Sir Elton John recently as he gave his official blessing to the re-naming of one of the stadium’s roads in tribute to both his stellar career as a musician and life-long love of Watford Football Club.
Elton smiled proudly as he stood alongside the new ‘Yellow Brick Road’ signs, replacing ‘Occupation Road’ as the name of the road which runs along the length of The Sir Elton John Stand at the club’s Vicarage Road Stadium.
“Using ‘Yellow Brick Road’ is a really fantastic, clever way for supporters to have played their part in recognising a time when I was here pretty much every day – on this amazing journey with Graham Taylor,” said Elton of the road re-naming.
“Along with the stand being named after me here at Vicarage Road, I feel very specially treated. And, even coming back here on a non-matchday, there’s still a buzz for me because this is where I fell in love with football and my club.
“As I’ve said many times before, Watford Football Club has done more for me in my lifetime than I ever did for it.”
Added Hornets’ Chairman & CEO Scott Duxbury: “As someone who personally faced the challenges of running a football club, Elton’s empathy and fantastic personal support has been a huge motivation behind the progress we’ve made in Watford’s name across these past 10 years or so.
“I’m so pleased that this honour, which we’re delighted to accommodate, was borne of a supporter’s suggestion – given there can be no supporter to have given more to this club than Elton himself.
“The club’s owner, Gino Pozzo, and myself will forever be grateful that Elton’s boyhood love for Watford continues to burn so brightly. It’s always a privilege to welcome him, David and the boys to Vicarage Road.”
Proposed by Watford fan Roy Moore before being approved by Watford Borough Council, this new honour provides another way for Watford’s fans to truly connect with Elton and recognise the amazing achievements he accomplished at his boyhood club – all of which came while working in tandem with the late Graham Taylor OBE, Watford’s greatest-ever manager.
And there couldn’t be a better time to re-live those heady days, courtesy of a brand-new book out now; the perfect Christmas gift for any Hornets devotee!
In ‘Watford Forever’, by John Preston in collaboration with Elton John, Elton shares for the first time his side of one of British football’s great underdog stories.
It’s the perfect book to help reminisce for Watford supporters; those who were there to enjoy with the club the team’s meteoric rise up football’s divisions in the late 1970s & early 80s. And for those who wish they’d been there and would love to learn more, who better to hear from than Elton – one of the men at the very heart of the action!
Out now with Viking Books, ‘Watford Forever’ is available to buy at the club’s Hornets Shop retail outlets and online at shop.watfordfc.com.
Out Now!
‘Watford Forever: How Graham Taylor and Elton John Saved a Football Club, a Town and Each Other’ – written by John Preston, in collaboration with Elton John – tells the remarkable story of Watford FC’s transformational journey to the top of the First Division.
Out now with Viking Books, ‘Watford Forever’ is available to buy at the club’s Hornets Shop retail outlets and online at shop.watfordfc.com.
