My copy of the Non- League Club Directory has arrived, which will give me hours of looking at clubs I’ve visited and, more importantly, ones to visit in the future.
This was to be the last one edited by father and son combination Mike and Tony Williams, hence the picture of the first one on the cover. At number 47, this has been a tremendous achievement and help for the Non-League game.
I have a copy of all 47, some originally collected by my father. The good news, though, is that James Wright, who has stepped down after 24 years of collating the results and tables section of the Non-League Paper has agreed to take on the responsibility to edit the Directory. This he did before and with Mike William’s acting as publisher, they can make it to 50.
Beyond 50, who knows, a digital version may beckon, or a much needed comprehensive real-time results and tables site.
I drove to South Nottingham along Remembance Way past the now closed Ratcliffe-On-Soar Power Station. The power station, a coal fired one, was the last to be used in England as a back up should other power sources not be available. It was also known as a cloud machine and is still an iconic feature in the landscape. When the eight chimneys are demolished, it will be a must watch experience.
What I was really there for was to visit Clifton all Whites F.C. and watch them play Deeping Rangers in the first qualifying round of the F.A. Vase.
Clifton is an area directly South of Nottingham and the ground is on the edge off this large housing area.
Clifton All Whites started as Thistledown Rovers in 1963 and dominated local youth football.
The teams success in football and in developing talent to go on to play in the football leagues prompted Senior clubs to try to get them to affiliate to them. The club stuck to their independence and in 1973 joined the Midland League where they stayed for only 5 years
It wasn’t until the 1990’s that they rejoined Senior football in the local Nottingham League and in 2010 gained entry to the Central Midlands League Southern Division where success in 2015 didn’t lead to promotion because of ground grading issues. After strenuous efforts to improve the ground Clifton won promotion to the East Midlands Counties League from the Notts Alliance and were allocated to the United Counties in 2021.
They maintain a strong Junior presence and this year celebrate 25 years since starting a women’s team.
Deeping Rangers started life two years after Clifton All Whites and like them played Sunday football. Two years later they switched to Saturday’s in the local Peterborough Leagues. Winning the Premier Division they were promoted in 1999 to the United Counties League being further elevated to the UCL Premier Division in 2001. Although winning the League once in the intervening years they were not able to take up promotion though they are ready now.
The large car park greets you as you turn into the ground and one of their junior sides were training on an adjacent pitch. The 16 degrees and dark threatening skies meant a rain jacket was needed and I felt the chill as I walked to a brick built clubhouse outside the ground. The clubhouse was first class and was busy for food drink, programs and toilet facilities.
The pitch looked very flat but the recent dry spell and a short cut meant it looked yellow. There was a covered seated stand on one side with the rest open with a concrete path all round.
Clifton All Whites 1 Deeping Rangers 1
Deeping Rangers go through on penalties
F.A. Vase First Qualifying Round; Saturday 24th August 2024; kick Off 15.00 pm
Clifton All Whites, United Counties League 1 (10th in league) Deeping Rangers, United Counties Premier North (19th in league). All Whites v Rangers.
Clifton All Whites: All white strip; Deeping Rangers: Claret Shirts with light blue shoulders and light blue shorts.
The game immediately had a competitive edge and in the first 25 minutes Clifton had more endeavour but Deeping looked stronger. Deeping came more and more into the game and with a little over 5 minutes left before half time the ball was chested down to Paulius Falcao who didn’t hesitate to slam it in the back of the net.
Deeping’s lead looked to have been doubled after 10 minutes from the re-start when a long throw was taken down and hooked in. Celebrations were short lived as no one had seen the linesman’s flag for offside.
Clifton seemed to find some renewed energy and three chances went over the cross bar before they scored on 80 minutes when they hit the post with a shot that rebounded onto the Deeping defender, Luke Hunnings, and into the net.
The game became more intense and with the end of the game nearing the Deeping Manager, Johnny Alflatt was sent off for something he said following a penalty shout. Throughout the game there had been a lot of swearing which the referee should have cautioned someone earlier on to cut it out. It was now anyone’s to win with the home side showing the more endeavour, but the game ended 1.1 and the dreaded penalty shoot out.
With Deeping’s keeper making two saves to his right and Clifton only scoring once the away side went through 1.4.
Good luck to Deeping in the next round. Disapointing that the attendance was only 36.
The chips were great, cooked individually, hot, golden, crispy outside, good texture inside, tasty and no greasy after taste A score of 67.
A well designed and presentable program with good facts on the game and season so far.
Needing a local match I drove to Dronfield to see Sheffield F.C. play Clitheroe in an F.A.Cup replay after the two teams drew 2.2 on Saturday.
I have written before about Sheffield playing in Derbyshire and their history so no need to say it again.
The car park has been reduced since my last visit and the ground feels tired compared with other local teams like, Handsworth, Staveley, and Worksop. So although a win was needed the bigger battle is about to be played at a Sheffield planning meeting when the club will hear whether their plans for their new stadium at Meadowhead will be approved. There are at least 130 objections mainly around the traffic generated, especially around the nearby roundabout. The roundabout is manic at times being part of the southern ring road, meeting the Dronfield by pass from Chesterfield and serving a large area of chimney pots. It has been made worse by the opening of the very popular St James retail park. The retail park causes queues to get in and does not have enough parking spaces considering its popularity. A rethink of this problem is needed. Good luck to Sheffield F.C.
1877 saw the first Clitheroe football team and after many changes Clitheroe FC made their entrance in the Lancashire Combination in 1925. It wasn’t until 1982 that they progressed to the newly formed North West Counties League and successive seasons saw them rise to the top division. A decade later they had a purple patch reaching the FA Vase final in 1996 only to lose to Brigg Town. Moving forward they won promotion in 2004 to the Unibond league, the Northern Premier League, where they are today.
It was a breezy evening, a much colder feel than the 20 degrees registered on the car. Although the sky was blue there were some fast moving menacing clouds scuttling across. The dark clouds meant the floodlights were switched on from the start.
I sat in the only covered seated stand behind one goal to shelter from the wind and the torrential rain after 20 minutes of the game, which lasted for about 10 minutes. Others were under a covered standing area that runs down half of one side. The rest of the ground is open but sheltered by large trees at one end. A crowd of 243 was disappointing considering local rivals Hallam had 700 on Sunday for an FA Cup match but hopefully if their move back into Sheffield succeeds they have a chance to build a local community fan base to rival their world wide one in the same way Hallam have.
There was no program but a team sheet for the game was available.
Sheffield FC 3 Clitheroe 2
Emirates Preliminary Round Replay 19th August 2024. 19.45 kick off.
The Home of Football Stadium, Sheffield Rd, Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 2G
Northern Premier Division 1 East v Northern Premier Division 1 West Sheffield, shirts with red and black quartered fronts, red backs and black sleeves. Black shorts. Clitheroe, Royal Blue and white vertical striped fronts with blue sleeves and Royal Blue shorts.
The game started competitively at speed and on 7 minutes a corner from the right was headed down by Louis Potts which the defence failed to clear and Louis Potts quickly reacted by slipping it into the bottom right hand corner to give Clitheroe the lead.
2 minutes later Sheffield eqalised when Ted Cribley met a free kick from the right with his head and planted the ball down into the goal to level. The all action continued when 3 minutes later Sheffield took the lead with another header, this time by Connor Cutts meeting the ball from a corner.
Sheffield now challenged for the ball harder and quicker but Clitheroe finished the half much stronger.
After a first minute point blank save by the Clitheroe goal keeper, Solomon Honor, they took control. With 12 minutes gone Connor High took the ball down on the left of the goal keepers area and curled it at hip high past the right hand of Sheffield’s keeper.
It was now anyone’s game but Sheffield seemed to gain a second wind and a minute after Solomon Honor had made another point blank save a Sheffield player was bundled over in the goalkeepers area and Luke Managhan competently despatched the ball past Solomon Honor’s left hand from the spot.
The last 15 minutes could have gone either way with the best chance being tipped over the cross bar by Miles Wright in the Sheffield goal.
Sheffield were pleased at the end to go through after a tough game, where they will play Pontefract Colliery at home in the next round. Perhaps their bigger match will be in the planning Meeting.
The Chips were hot, tasty, crispy outside, golden, and a good inside texture, getting a score of 67. They were also not greasy and left no aftertaste.
After the heady heights of Molineux I headed along the M18 to Thorne to see two new teams to the Northern Counties East League Division One this season, Club Thorne Colliery v Appleby Frodingham.
Thorne’s ground is to the north of the town through a housing estate
To get to park the car I drove past young aspiring children playing a competitive game. Unfortunately I also passed the burnt remains of the Pavilion and changing rooms damaged by a fire in mid May when a bench close by was set alight which spread to the building.
Grey overcast skies with a light breeze meant the 23 degrees felt just warm.
On entering the ground there is a large covered seated stand in the centre of one side of the ground along with portacabins which houser the bar, the food serving hatch and other admin areas. The rest of the ground is open apart from these buildings and is lined with trees of varying types. The grass pitch was a verdant green with good cover and looked quite flat. With the skies being overcast the floodlights were switched on from the start.
Football has been played in Thorne for over 100 years and their exploits in the 1927 F.A. Cup brought them to the fore. The Club joined the Yorkshire League in 1932 and yoyoed between divisions until they were part of the creation of the Northern Counties East League in 1982. They stayed only 5 years in the league before being relegated to the Doncaster League. Having won the top division they switched to the Central Midlands League and then unusually to the Humber Premier League for the 2023/24 season which they won and gained promotion to the Northern Counties east League.
Appleby Frodingham were formed as a works team for Appleby Frodingham Steel Company in the 1940’s and started life in the Lincolnshire League where they stayed until 1978 when they joined the Midland League. When that league morphed into the Northern Counties East league 4 years later they were founder members of the Premier Division. Problems followed and after folding in 1986 they reformed playing in local leagues as they made their way back to the Lincolnshire League in 1990 and switched again in 2002 to the Central Midland League and by 2008 were back in the Northern Counties East League. They find themselves back in that league for this season after a relegation and time spent again in the Central Midlands League and Lincolnshire County League.
Club Thorne Colliery 3 Appleby Frodingham 1
Tuesday 13th August 2024. Northern Counties East League Division 1. 18.45 kick off. 12th v 18th Attendance 170
Club Thorne Colliery F.C. The Chesterfield Poultry Stadium, Grange Road, Moorlands, Doncaster DN8 4NA
Club Thorne; Blue and Black vertical striped shirts with black shorts: Appleby Frodingham; White Shirts with coloured artwork on the front and red shorts:
The first 10 minutes was a bit like kids football, with everyone chasing the ball. After which the home team were well on top with Appleby Frodingham’s keeper making a great full length save to his left. Thorne now took control but Appleby Frodingham’s dogged defence was keeping them out. With half time approaching an Appleby Frodingham corner was defended and at the third attempt at clearing the ball found its way to Lewis walker, who outpaced the defenders to cut it back across the goal for Salmon Czubik to tap home for the lead. Armthorpe deserved their lead at half time on the number of chances alone.
The second half started with clear blue skies to greet the teams with the away team making one substitution. Appleby were playing with more intent but on 11 minutes they stopped to appeal for a foul which was not awarded giving the attacker time to flight a great cross onto the head of Lewis Walker who placed it into the top left hand corner with the goalkeeper stranded.
Appleby Frodingham did not give up and with 10 minutes left a three way inter-passing play gave Kurtis Gollings the chance to slam the ball into the bottom left hand corner. This though didn’t feel like a consolation goal as they pressed forward continually. With time running out they were denied a penalty as their forward looked to be brought down by Thorne’s goalkeeper. This was a more bitter pill to swallow with the resulting clearance finding Henry Parr who sprinted clear, kept his head and footing to draw the defenceless goalkeeper to hit the ball into the net for a 3.1 win.
Thorne we’re happy but Appleby Frodingham felt almost robbed of the draw. Both though will have taken heart of their performances at this early stage of the season.
Unfortunately there were no chips so I plumped for a hot dog, luckily it was only £1 wasted as the best thing about it was the red sauce. I should have chosen the pie and peas.
The hot dog may have been poor but the program was one of the best I have seen at this level, particularly the images, thank you.
I forsook a visit to a Non-League club to go to Molineux to see Wolverhampton Wanderers play a Pre-Season friendly against Rayo Vallecano.
I had always wanted to go to Molineux and the opportunity of a £9 ticket was appealing. I remembered Wolves from early years being talked about by my relatives due to their games against top European Clubs which paved the way for todays European competitions. Sadly Wolves do not feature in any of the current games but their establishment in the Premier League may give them the spring board to reach that level.
In a previous post I reviewed the book ‘Working Class Hero’s‘ all about Rayo Vallecano and their working class roots and their stand against Fascism and Racism even during the Franco years, perhaps apt after the scenes in some English towns and city’s of recent times.
Wolverhampton Wanderers, commonly referred to as Wolves started life as St Luke’s F.C. in 1877 changing to their current name just 2 years later. Their most successful period was in the 1950’s but overall they have won England’s top league on 3 occasions, been to F.A. Cup Finals 8 time and won the League Cup twice. A proud history that looked in jeopardy in the 1980’s when they slumped to the 4th tier of English football but they are now well and truly back.
Rayo Vallecano considered the third team of Madrid behind Real and Athletico, but don’t say that to their proud supporters from their Vallecas base. They were formed in 1924 and play at their compact 14708 capacity stadium. They have spent 22 seasons in La Liga (Spain’s top league) although last season they took the last relegation spot and will now play in the Second Division.
Wolves pre-season has gone well to date and Rayo Vallecano’s has improved with a recent win over Bournemouth.
It was a beautiful sunny day (23 degrees) with fluffy white clouds, as I walked to the stadium amongst a happy crowd of all ages. I passed the ‘Leaping Wolf’ ‘ pub which looked lively with many wearing the new seasons shirts.
It was a little muggy but the drizzle I drove through on the A38 was long gone. The stadium looked inviting, as I approached the Stan Cullis Stand, which you are able to walk round with ease. Inside it is magnificent with four individual stands that in my mind keep its history rather than the wrap round same design of many clubs.
I was in the recently introduce safe standing area which has a seat but railings to hold onto if you wish that act as a barrier against any crowd rush, should that happen.
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 Rayo Vallecano 1
Saturday 10th August 2024 Pre-season Friendly 15.00 pm kick off
Wolves; Old Gold Shirts with Black shorts. Rayo Vallecano; White Shirts except for a red diagonal stripe on the front and two on the back with white shorts.
The game had an edgy start as both teams made mistakes but Rayo looked more interested and it was no surprise when their diminutive but lively Isi Palazon took the ball on the edge of the box, found space to shoot and with a slight deflection the ball ended in the right hand corner of the net. Wolves huffed and puffed but seemed to stay in a low gear the whole half.
Rayo continued to look very solid in the second half with their three centre backs looking as if they could play in the Premier League each week. The home team finally looked like they were going to score in the final minutes, Hee Chan Hwang headed down into the goalkeepers arms when he should have scored. There were numerous changes in the second half and Rayo must have been the most pleased with their workout. Perhaps it was the fact that neither team wanted injury’s only a week away from the start of the season which meant their was little competitiveness in the match.
A great day out though, sunny weather, great stadium, great paying surface, happy family crowd and an achievement in seeing the stadium and Rayo Vallecano.
On the day a program was being given out free, a folded poster of the seasons fixtures, the latest Wolves news and a bit about the opponents. A nice touch.
Unfortunately, no chips so I just had to try the pie. The chicken Balti pie was hot in heat and spice with a dry crust round the edge, should have had something else.
REAL FOOTBALL REAL FANS A Journey To The Heart Of Football Written by William Barr
Published by Morrow & Co 2008
Sometimes you read a book that appeals to your own ideas and values and keeps you interested until the end, this, is such a book.
William Bar a Norwich fan, takes you on a journey through the 2007/08 season by visiting as many League Two clubs he can fit in and ends up at his beloved and home town team of Norwich City in the Championship.
William Barr makes an effort to contact and engage with supporters groups and understand where they fit in their clubs efforts to survive and give feedback and advice on fan matters.
The book points out the vast difference in financial might of Premier League clubs and their League Two cousins. He also mentions the disparity within the lower reaches themselves. William’s observations are as relevant today as they were when he made his journeys.
Humour is added to each chapter as he reviews the pies on offer and eludes to International officials and regulations that dictate pie scores. He also gives details of state of the art electronic pie score boards, really.
Great read that I found in an Oxfam Book Shop. Thank you William.
Although many will wait a few more weeks for the Premiership to start to pronounce the season open, the real start is with the Extra Qualifying round of the F.A. Cup.
So I made my way to Bradford to watch Albion Sports play Trafford F.C. The M1 and M62 were quiet for a Friday night, but this is the holiday season. The Horsfall Community Stadium is 4 km southwest of Bradford City Centre and a venue I have visited before to see Bradford Park Avenue play. This year aswell well as sharing the ground with West Bowling Amateur Rugby League club, Albion Sports will also be playing their home games there. The Stadium was opened in 1931 as a running track and in 1996 the whole complex was upgraded to a synthetic running track and the centre was prepared for Bradford Park Avenue to play football.
Today it has a large 1800 seat stand on one side, what looks like a cricket pavilion on the other, a small covered terrace behind one goal and a group of buildings in the entrance corner that serves as a club house, meeting rooms a shop and administration. The downside to the ground, with its 3G pitch is that you are along way from the action. Bradford Park Avenue still have 31 years left of the lease on the ground which they have passed on to the Community.
Albion Sports have for some time been looking for land to build a permanent home and with little success so far have opted to be at the Community Stadium.
This is the 50th anniversary year for Albion Sports who started off playing Sunday League football. Steady progress led them to be winners of The Asian Cup and Bradford Senior Cup and League in 2000. That same season and 2005 they went all the way to the final of The FA Sunday Cup but were runners up on both occasions. In 2007 Albion moved to playing on Saturdays where they were successful in local leagues and were elected to the Northern Counties East League in 2011 which they won 3 years later and gained promotion to the Premier Division where they play today. An impressive rise in their short History.
Trafford FC’s history is even shorter, being only 34 years since their formation. They soon rose through the Mid Cheshire League to gain entry to the North West Counties League in Division 2 and two years later were promoted to the next level. Further success saw them rise to the Northern Premier league in 1998 where they stayed for 5 seasons before being relegated back to The North West Counties League. A few seasons later they won promotion back as champions to the Champions Northern Premier League where they rose up into the Premier Division in 2013. Only 2 seasons later they were back in Division one after a poor season saw them relegated.
They are still playing in the Northern Premier league which has seen reorganisations that see them in Division One West. Certainly an exciting roller coaster 34 year run.
So with the game due to start and Trafford favourites to progress being from one level higher I settled down to watch the game on a dry but breezy evening that seemed cooler than the 23.5 degrees the car said when parking the car in the large car park. I was then lucky to meet Ian, a professional grounds man from the North West of England who with his friend who kept me entertained with their whit and knowledge of the Non-League game all match. Thank you.
Albion Sports FC 1 Trafford FC 2
Friday 2nd August 2024, F.A .Cup Extra Preliminary Round, Kick off 20.00 pm.
Horsfall Community Stadium, Cemetery Road, Low Moor, Bradford, BD6 2NG
Albion Sports; Yellow Shirts, Blue Shorts: Trafford; White Shirts Black shorts.
Both teams started competitively and there was an early booking for an Albion player. Soon after the floodlights were turned on as it became overcast and with 15 minutes gone a short outburst of drizzle greeted us. Trafford had the most chances of the game and finally went ahead on 41 minutes Matty Lusakueno took a through ball to the left of the goal and coolly drew the keeper and slid it underneath him into the net. Just two minutes later the away team made it two when the home defence were dispossessed and Matty Morgan received a through ball which he dispatched into the corner of the net. Albion were now on the ropes and were lucky not to go further behind before the break as they seemed to be reeling.
What happened in the Albion dressing room at the interval? Three substitutes and a positive attitude saw them create more and more chances as they pushed forward. They hit the underside of the cross bar , the ball bouncing down but not into the net, a shot just dipped over the bar and Sam Booth made 6 outstanding saves all keeping Albion from scoring. On 88 minutes Albion were rewarded for their pressure when a ball hit the arm of a Trafford defender and the referee pointed to the spot. The penalty was converted by Sunaili Cisse and it was game on until the finish. Despite there having been little stoppage time during the half the referee played on for numerous minutes as Albion battled forward and looked like creating an upset. It was not to be and Trafford had to thank their goalkeeper, man of the match Sam Booth, for their passage into the next round.
Albion though must take heart for the season ahead after their part in an intriguing game.
Finally, the chips, which at this venue under Bradford Park Avenue had won my chip league one season. These were served in a different location to before, were hot, good texture to the centre but had little taste apart from a greasy after taste that lingered the whole game. A score of only 55 to start the 2024/25 season.
Whilst in West Norfolk for a holiday I took the opportunity to take in a Pre-season friendly at Fakenham Town.
The ground is reached via the by pass to the North of the town just off the roundabout to the Morrisons Store. There is a large car park and entrance was through the club house which was well appointed with a large bar area. Walking out to the pitch was a gazebo where they were cooking hamburgers on a bar-b-q. The watery sun was going down slowly and although the temperature was still showing 19.5 a breeze made my choice of shorts a bad one.
The club house sits in the centre of one side of the pitch with a central seated stand on the other side. At both ends there are small covered standing areas.
The grass pitch was a lush green after the wet, wet weather we have had over the past 9 months. This was a complete contrast to two years ago when I visited Wells- next-the -Sea for a game at the same time of year, then the grass underfoot was crisp and yellow with thoughts of will it ever recover.
Fakenham Town, nicknamed the ghosts, have been in existence since 1884. They have been one of the strongest teams in the Anglia region during Amateur and later non-league football over their history. Today they play in the Premier Division of the Eastern Counties League.
Long Stratton were started in 1911 and have developed into a community club with teams of all ages and sexes. They currently play in the Premier Division of the Anglian Combination.
Pre-Season Friendly between Fakenham Town of the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division and Long Stratton of the Anglian Combination.
Fakenham; Yellow shirts with black sleeves and black shorts: Long Stratton; Red shirts black shorts.
Both teams soon found their rhythm but it was a mistake by the home keeper that led to the first goal. On 16 minutes the goalkeeper dropped the ball to give the Long Stratton forward the chance to turn an shoot. A defender though was back to clear off the line, the ball falling to a player racing in from the right who squeezed it from an acute angle into the net for the opener. Within two minutes some good passing down right let Myhill through one on one with the keeper and he slid it under his outstretched leg for the equaliser. Fakenham gained the ascendency, creating scoring chances and a minute before half time a strong run and perfect cross from down the right was met by Robinson who turned and slotted it home for the lead
The officials surprisingly called for the lights to be switched on for the second half and both teams seemed to respond with more energy, perhaps looking to secure a place for the start of the season. Both sides made substitutes as the half progressed, Long Stratton making two due to what looked like worrying leg injuries. Fakenham took more and more control of the game and it was no surprise that they extended their lead on 75 minutes when Middleton chipped the goal keeper.
Long Stratton, the junior in league status of the two teams, were now running out of steam and weary legs were starting to show. It was only a matter of time that Fakenham scored again, but the visitor held out until the last minute when Frostick tapped home a loose ball.
An enjoyable game that proved a good run out for both teams although Long Stratton must have been worried with the injuries their players had endured.
Watford Forever written by John Preston – A collaboration with Elton John
First published in 2023 by Viking ( a part of the Penguin Random House Group).
Having taken a holiday from posting during the later stages of the ‘Euro’s’ I am pleased to be back and with the announcement of the new seasons fixtures for lower level football imminent ready to plan for more adventures.
The England team was packed full of some brilliant individuals but came up short because I believe they lacked a clear team playing plan. It was a stark reminder then when I read ‘Watford Forever’ a book about Watford FC, Elton john and Graham Taylor. Having followed Watford at home and many away games between 1968 and 1980 it was a must read for me.
The book tells the story of Watford’s rise from the Fourth Division to second place in the First Division and beyond. What it reminded me of was that Graham Taylor had a method and strategy to achieve this. A strong back line and an ethos that the only way you can score was to get the ball in the attacking third of the pitch. No tip-tappy from side to side and back to the keeper, repeat, repeat, give the ball to the opposition. Some criticised him saying it was just kick and rush but the balls were accurately received by Ross Jenkins, Nigel Callaghan and John Barnes who shot or laid the ball of for someone else to score. I saw some amazing goals with lots of excitement.
The book though is not just about football but mainly the two men who engineered it all, Graham Taylor and Elton John. The story is one about blokes not only working together but being friends and able to influence each others lives for the better aka as also shown with the recent tragic ending to the male friendship between the ‘Hairy Bikers’. Elton and Graham were two distinctly different individuals who were able to use their talents together to achieve something rarely seen in modern football, a rise from the bottom to the top.
One poignant thing that struck me was how the players who were equal contributors received such little wealth compared to todays not only superstars but some Academy players.
One thing that disappointed was the dismissal of Watford’s previous years when the club reached the 2nd division and then collapsed to the 4th. These may have been terrible football times but the community of the home and away fans throughout was second to none. Where else would you have heard ‘He’s here he’s there he’s in the Rose and Crown, ‘Rodney Green ‘ ‘Rodney Green’.
Thank you John Preston for a great happy read that is not only for Watford fans but for everyone.
payonthegate 