In 1977 Graham Taylor and Elton John drew up a ten-year plan to steer Watford Football Club from the depths of the Fourth Division to the top flight.
They did it in five.
The Hornets took on and defeated the giants of English football in the Eighties. They were runners-up to Liverpool in the Football League, they played in Europe, and reached the FA Cup final at Wembley for the first time.
Enjoy the Game by Lionel Birnie, published in 2010, is a book that tells the story of that incredible decade based on dozens of interviews with the players and management who made it happen.
Now, for the first time, it's available as an audio series, read by Watford supporter, actor and voice artist Colin Mace.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In 1977 Graham Taylor and Elton John drew up a ten-year plan to steer Watford Football Club from the depths of the Fourth Division to the top flight.
They did it in five.
The Hornets took on and defeated the giants of English football in the Eighties. They were runners-up to Liverpool in the Football League, they played in Europe, and reached the FA Cup final at Wembley for the first time.
Enjoy the Game by Lionel Birnie, published in 2010, is a book that tells the story of that incredible decade based on dozens of interviews with the players and management who made it happen.
Now, for the first time, it's available as an audio series, read by Watford supporter, actor and voice artist Colin Mace.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
‘I hope the people who weren’t there the night we made it felt a part of it’
The Hornets make history, reaching the top flight for the first time. The 1981-82 season had gone almost perfectly. They were in the promotion hunt throughout the campaign, despite the fact local rivals Luton Town were ahead of them. There was the customary wobble in spring time but victory over Wrexham at Vicarage Road got the job done with a couple of games to spare.
There was also a memorable FA Cup third round win over Manchester United – and the club's youth team followed in the footsteps of the seniors beating United in the FA Youth Cup final. The Hornets were on the up and Graham Taylor and his style of play was already attracting plenty of attention.
Note: At the time, it was thought the club had been founded in 1891. Ten years later, when Oliver Phillips and Terry Challis were researching the origins of the club for the official centenary book, they discovered that the club had in fact been founded in 1881. Therefore promotion to the First Division was achieved in the season marking the club's 100th anniversary.
Enjoy the game by Lionel Birnie. Read by Colin Mace. Produced by Jon Moonie.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.