What has a takeaway menu got to do with a Football Club, let alone be important enough to go into our list of Watford in 100 Objects? Well Matthew Wilsonhome emailed us and told us his special story about how it helped him during his time as a Watford fan. Matt wrote:
Due to parents divorcing I moved to Ingatestone in Essex from Hemel Hempstead at the age of 10.
From the age of 14 I used to tell my mother I was off Saturday shopping in Romford, but used to get the train to Liverpool Street, across London and then up to Watford to see the Hornets.
Post match I used to wait for the Joy Garden to open and treat myself to rice and a soup (easy to eat with a spoon on the way to the station). This went on until I was 18 when I moved back to the area in Oxhey.
For the record I was allowed on my own on the train from 16 but it wasn't until I was 18 that I told my mother what I used to do.
 |
| The Joy Garden on Vicarage Road |
So that list of Chinese food dishes not only sums up the commitment and passion of a football fan and of course lying to a mother. Let's hope Matt's Mum forgave him!
If you've got a story like Matt's that you want to share then please drop us an email. The list is growing - be a part of it!
---
Download the latest podcast via iTunes. Plus, get FTRE blog posts sent straight to your inbox. Simply enter your email address in the "Subscribe by Email" box in the right hand column near the top of this page. Or if you're really technical you can use this RSS code.
I love the random stuff that crops up on this ongoing list. A Chinese takeaway menu - fantastic! Really goes to show that people associate all sorts of things not just with being at a match but going to (and from) a match. Personally, back in the day I preferred some post-match chips from the amusingly-named Fry Days on Vicarage Road.
ReplyDeletePS - on an unrelated note, I heard that there's a gold postbox in Watford because one of Team GB's Olympic gold medallists is from there. Is this true?
Hi Nick, thanks for the comment and we're glad you're enjoying the list. We wanted it to be as diverse as possible, and it is certainly turning out that way. We're always open for suggestions, so if you have an abject that you think should be included, let us know!
ReplyDeleteWith regard to the gold post box - you're correct. Boxer Anthony Joshua is from Watford and there is a gold post box in his honour in the town centre.