Sunday’s 3-0 blasting of Leeds at the Millennium Stadium secured Watford’s return to the Premiership for the 2006/’07 campaign, and the Guardian’s Barry Glendenning and Sean Ingle dare imagine greater heights for the Hornets to scale.
According to TripAdvisor, the site that offers unbiased reviews of travel destinations around the globe, there are only two good reasons to visit Watford. One is Destiny Nightclub – which one drooling reviewer reckons: “Is one hell of a meat market … all da ladiez wear da skimpiest of clothes.” The other is Chicago Rock Café, the place where Britain’s chavs congregate when they want to trade up from the local Ritzy. Now, however, a third destination suggests itself: Vicarage Road, home to the Premiership’s newest side, Watford.
It’s been some journey. In August, the Hornets squad was more patched up than a Pete Burns convention and they were third favourites to go down. Now, via a mixture of hard work, Aidy Boothroyd’s brilliant – if Brentian – management style and a brand of hack-and-hoof football perhaps more suited to the allotments around the back of their stadium than the Premiership, they’re in the top flight. Considering the lack of money at the club, it’s a wonderful achievement – and it may not end there. After all, if Wigan can push for a European place, why not Watford?