I’m a Watford supporter. It’s not my fault, I was born there. I have been a loyal supporter of the Hornets since 1968. I've seen seven promotions and six relegations in that time. I've seen us play in Europe and I've seen us at the bottom of the then division four. I've seen us in the FA Cup final and I've seen us lose three-two at Northwich Victoria in the first round. It has certainly been a roller-coaster ride for nearly 40 years.

When was I happiest? It would be easy to say that I enjoyed the season we finished second behind Liverpool in the old first division. It would be easy to say I enjoyed the European adventure. It would be easy to say I enjoyed getting to the cup final. It is true that I did enjoy those times, but it is equally true to say that I enjoyed the bad times as well.

When we were bottom of the fourth division, playing in front of crowds of 3,000 I really felt like part of a family, part of something special, a small group of people desperately fighting against adversity. I could celebrate a goalless draw as a major achievement and a victory against Workington was better than any European triumph, say, for Manchester United fans.

‘Watford were eight points clear ... and then started to lose games. West Brom took over, then started to lose games. Stoke went top, but they have now lost two in a row. It seems that nobody wants to go up!’


With success, Watford suddenly discovered another 17,000 fans. It is less easy to feel part of something so big. I still loved it, but I resented those that had jumped on the bandwagon and hadn't been there through the dark times.

I would hate to support a team where success was expected and demanded. When Chelsea lost the Carling Cup final recently their supporters declared a day of mourning and the press declared them to be a club in crisis. That must be awful. I never expect Watford to win, I just expect them to do the best they can, and I'll support them through thick and thin. When watching us draw at home to Preston recently I said for the one hundred and forty third time, "That's it, I'm never going to watch them again." Lo and behold, a day later I was looking forward to the next match and convincing myself we had been unlucky not to win.

That's what being a supporter is all about. You have to have the bad times to appreciate the good ones. I wouldn't swap supporting Watford for any other team in the world. I love them, I hate them, they make me excited and happy, they make me bored and miserable. They infuriate me and they exhilarate me. They are my team.

The one thing I cannot stand as a loyal supporter is seeing my team get humiliated. We’ve had two seasons in the Premier League and we’ve been humiliated in both. Derby are suffering the same fate this season, and does anyone really think that Watford, Bristol City or Stoke wouldn’t suffer the same fate again next season if they go up?

So why are us fans so desperate to win promotion? I hated our last season in the top league, watching my favourite players being made to look stupid. Ask Derby fans if they would rather be challenging for a play-off place in the Championship or watching their side lose 6-0 at Liverpool.

I was going to ask why the clubs themselves want to risk such humiliation, but of course that comes down to finances.

What about the managers and players? Do they want to challenge themselves against the best? Do they want to see if they’re good enough? Well, Watford were eight points clear earlier this season and then started to lose games. West Brom took over at the top, but then started to lose games. Stoke went top, but they have now lost two in a row. It seems that nobody wants to go up!

This weekend West Brom, Charlton and Bristol City won their games, Watford and Ipswich could only manage draws away from home and Stoke lost.

There are some big games in midweek and I’ll be back to review them and see which teams have taken a step further towards the glory, doom and gloom of the Premier League.