Following Watford Football Club is a rollercoaster of emotions and in recent years, those emotions have mostly been frustration.
There have, however, been many huge moments over the years in Watford FC’s 102 years spent at Vicarage Road Stadium. For this reason, it was very difficult to choose just five moments for the Hornets.
5. Watford 4 – Bolton 3 (1993)
It was the 70th minute of a Division 1 (second tier) home game between Watford and Bolton. Bolton were cruising to victory having slotted three past the Hornets and hundreds of fans had already begun to pour out of the stands. Gary Porter would not give up so easily.
Porter would put two well-worked goals past the Bolton keeper. Ken Charley would then choose a brilliant time to score his last goal for the Hornets as he fired a beautiful strike to bring back the Hornets on level terms. In the last seconds of the match, a Porter corner would hit the arm of a Bolton defender and the resultant penalty was dispatched by Porter to complete an incredible four-goal comeback.
4. Sarr Goal Vs Liverpool
Heading into Watford V Liverpool in the 2019/20 Premier League season, Watford sat in 19th place with three losses, one draw and only one win in their last five matches. Liverpool, on the other hand, had an 18 Premier League game-winning streak and had not lost a Premier League game since January 2019 to Manchester City (Watford V Liverpool was February 2020).
It seemed like a given that the Hornets were in for a long day at the office. However, in the 54th minute, Senegalese winger Ismaila Sarr shocked the world by tapping in a cross from Doucoure.
The most iconic moment of this game fell just 6 minutes later. “Sarr. Away from Van Dijk! Away from Lovren! ISMAILIA SARR”. Sarr chipped Brazilian international goalkeeper Allison in front of the Rookery End to double Watford’s lead and secure the win which has never left the lips of Hornet fans.
3. Richardson Goal Vs Kaiserslautern
Off the back of an incredible season in which the Hornets came second under the ownership of Elton John, Watford faced their first-ever game in the European Cup against Kaiserslautern. In just the fourth minute of the match, English forward Ian Richardson would put the Hornets ahead as a part of not only their first-ever goal in European competition but also their first game and win!
2. Barnes’ Solo Goal Vs Liverpool 1986
Youngster John Barnes received the ball within his own half and with a great piece of skill evaded the challenge of Scottish international defender Gillespie. He then proceeded to drive to the edge of the box.
Under the pressure of Alex Hansen, Barnes would cut onto his left and score in the bottom right-hand corner in a move the commentator would declare “A moment of international genius”. The goal clearly impressed the Reds as they signed Barnes the very next year, and he went on to become a legend, scoring 106 goals in 403 appearances.
1. Deeney Goal Vs Leicester
Well, this goal simply had to be on the list, didn’t it? It practically writes itself in. It was the end of the 2012/13 Championship season.
Watford were at home to Leicester City in the second leg of the playoff semi-final. The Hornets were winning on the day however the scores were level at 2-2. In the dying embers of the game, Antony Knockaert came racing into the box and under the pressure of Cassetti dived to the ground. Referee Michael Oliver was fooled and awarded a penalty.
Up stepped Knockaert and the sinking feeling amongst Hornet fans was that the dream was dead. However, football is a very funny game sometimes and commentator Bill Leslie put what happened next like nobody else could.
“Knockaert takes, Almunia saves! Knockaert follows in Almunia saves again! Absolutely astonishing. Now here comes Watford. Forestieri. Here’s Hogg… DEEEENNNNEEEEYYYYYY! DO NOT SCRATCH YOUR EYES”.
Watford would go on to lose the playoff final against Crystal Palace. But let’s just ignore that small insignificant detail.