10 Great Watford Moments from 2011

What's that, you've already seen 100 different Top 10's of 2011 in the media this week?

Yes, us too, but we (along with your suggestions on Facebook and Twitter) have put together a From The Rookery End - 10 Great Watford Moments from 2011. They aren't in order but they are all moments that make being a Watford fan enjoyable, 'interesting' and most of all proud.

Ashley Young signing for Manchester United - Thursday 23rd June
It may not have been a signing that is going to help Watford much now, well some cash from a sell on clause, but it is great to see a player who came through the Watford Academy play on the biggest stages football has to offer.

Tommie Hoban making his senior debut at Preston North End - Saturday 7th May
Why this player in particular, well he is the current Captain of the Under 18's, a future prospect and his debut meant he was the 22nd home grown player to play in the Watford first team in the 2010-2011 season. No homegrown players have made debuts so far this season, a clear policy change under Dyche, but our Academy players continue to grow out on loan playing regular competitive football.

Martin Taylor scoring an injury time equaliser at home to Birmingham - Sunday 28th August
Goals don't have to be spectacular over head kicks or even lead to a win. Martin Taylor's header was such a goal and it gave me the feeling of a win as I left Vicarage Road that day. It was the first home point we'd seen this season after 3 were professionally taken from us by West Ham and 3 were stolen by Derby with very little effort or grace.

Lee Hodson 1st goal at Leeds United ending 2-2 - Saturday 16th April
For the expression of sheer joy, excitement and happiness on his face as he ran towards the travelling Watford fans.

Adrian Marriappa's Bobby Moore style tackle vs Leeds - Saturday 10th December
Maybe liking it to Bobby Moore's tackle of Jairzinho in the 1970 World Cup is a bit too much, but it was one of those tackles where the defender makes the tackle, stops the ball dead and then calmly passes it out of defence. It's one of those moments where you feel that the player is in complete control or their game. And that sums up Mariappa this year - He's been fantastic!

The team announcement at home to Peterborough - Saturday 29th October
After our recent signings this current season we must have the greatest combination of first names and surnames in the entire world of football. At that game against Peterborough names on the Watford's team sheet included Marvin, Troy, Iwelumo, Hogg,  Prince, Bauaben, Nyron and Nosworthy. Even Mariappa is a bit special, but we've got used to it in the last 6 years. What a wonderful ensemble of names we have at Vicarage Road.

Laurence Bassini taking over Watford Football Club - Friday 1st April
Is this a positive or negative things for the club has yet to be decided 100%. What we do know is that it's given us on the podcast, and many other Watford fans, plenty to talk/worry about. We hope for good and  regular communication with Laurence in 2012, in whatever form it may come in.

Johnathan Hogg signing his Watford contract - Saturday 27 August 
We've had far more signings at Watford this year then anyone would have imagined. Many of them have added a little something to this squad, but none more than Jonathan Hogg. He is able to defy Physics by being in every part of the pitch simultaneously and passes the ball like an American quarterback setting up a wide receiver to take the game forward. Oh and he's keeping Johnny Eustace out of the starting XI. The battle of player of the season has start early and Hogg and Mariappa are currently streaks ahead of the crowd.

Sean Dyche's 'COME ON' gesture after Ipswich 1-2 Watford - Saturday 3rd December
It wasn't our first away win of the season, but it was our first comeback away win and Sean's face and punching of the air summed up the feeling we all had after a battling win! It was also sort of aggression you'd expect from a man with a voice that sounds like he's eaten a few exhausts.

Danny Graham showing his vest - Saturday 1 January
Danny was the Watford star player of 2011 and he was pretty niffty at scoring goals (like you didn't know that), but he was also a dab hand at Table Tennis. So much so he won the "2010-2011 Watford FC Table Tennis Championship". Danny proudly showed off his win by lifting his shirt reveling a message, written with a black marker, on a his vest after scoring in the 69th minute vs Portsmouth on the 1 January 2011. A few months later when, after scoring against Millwall, he showed us that the Watford squad are a close squad and used another vest to hope Stephen McGinn a quick recovery from injury. It also inspired us to create 'Wear a Vest for Danny Day'. He may have moved on to greener pastures, but we will always thank him for the goals he scored in the 2010-2011 season and giving us a fun way to celebrate the season.

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So there are our 10 Great Watford Moments from 2011. Thank you to Darren Lapthorne, Steven Wynbar and Luke Green for their contributions via Facebook and Twitter and if you have your own favourite moment then put it in the comments section below. It's not been a vintage year for Watford, but as always it's great to support a club that creates special moments like these!

Jon

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PHOTOS: Watford vs QPR 2

PHOTOS: Watford vs QPR 3

Your Danny vest message

On two occasions this season Danny has used the power of the vest to express how he is feeling. And. Wear a Vest for Danny Day is all about expressing your thanks to Danny Graham and the boys for all their hard work this season. Especially Danny with all the wonderful goals he's scored this season. You may have already of read our guide on how to make a Danny Graham vest, but you might not sure what to write on it.

Don't panic! Here are a load of ideas...

Born in Gateshead, Made in Watford

Goal-den Graham

Danny, Champion of the World

Lloyd of the dance

I love Lloyd, Lloyd loves me

We’ve only got two Taylors

In Malky we trust

Marry me Malky!

Danny Graham: the golden boy with the golden boot

Och aye, we love Malky Mackay!

Sean Dyche ate my car exhaust

Buckley’s too good for you

Of course you can borrow the original vests Danny made himself. And here are some vest that we made earlier. Please feel free to copy, adapt or use as inspiration for your own vest.

Inspried by a tweet from @dantendler

Danny and a list of all Watford's all time greatest strikers.

Danny is big on tweeting and very good at coming up with a #hashtag. Here is one with the biggest hashtag of the moment. Why? Because quite simply Danny is #winning.

You can't beat a good pun on a vest.

The simplest of all the vests... it comes straight from the heart.

If you have any ideas of your own and want to share with everyone else then please make a comment below. Check back over the next few days as we will add more ideas for messages as we get them.
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How to make a Danny vest

With Wear a Vest for Danny Day now under a week away, many of you might be asking "What's the best way to make a Danny Graham Vest?

Well, here is the From The Rookery End guide to making a Danny Graham inspired vest - Cue the "Vision On" music and calming voiceover!

1. Print out your message onto a A4 sheet

You can write straight onto the vest with no guide or stencil. But if you aren't sure on how big your writing needs to be then this is a great way to space it out. An A4 size sheet either in portrait or landscape is about the right size.


2. Place your print out inside your vest near the neck line

As you can see we've used a ironing board to help hold the vest in place. It also keep the back of the vest out the way and it gives you a good work surface at a manageable height.


3. Get a marker pen and slowly draw/trace your message onto the vest.

As you write you'll probably feel the material start to gather up - so take it slow. You might find it helpful to hold small sections of material between two fingers. Straight lines seem to be the easiest to do as you can do nice long strokes. Curves need to be done with short ones. TIP: One idea for when you print your message out - USE CAPITAL LETTERS.


4. And there you have it one finished Danny Graham shirt

You're now ready to show your thanks to Danny and the rest of the Watford boys at Wear a Vest for Danny Day - Saturday 30th April 2011 at Watford vs QPR.

For more information and find out what the day is all about please look at our dedicated page. You'll also find details on how you can win a EXCLUSIVE signed Danny Graham vest.

Oh and remember Podcast 11 is out now. Download it via iTunes or listen on-line fromtherookeryend.com
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DANNY'S ON BOARD WITH WEAR A VEST DAY

Against all odds it's been a season to savour. Tipped by all and sundry to be relegated, it looks like we are only just going to miss out on the play-offs. Along the way have seen some memorable team performances, some fantastic individual ones as well as goals, goals, goals! Worth celebrating don't you think? Well we at From the Rookery End think so – and Championship leading scorer Danny Graham agrees!

The last home game of the season will see us entertain QPR and whilst it looks like they will be having a promotion party of their own, as we told you back in March, we see no reason why we shouldn't have some fun too. So, in a bid to show our support and appreciation for the efforts our boys have put in this year, this fixture is to be the first ever...


'Wear a vest for Danny Day!'Saturday 30th April - Watford vs QPR

As you will have noticed, our very own hotshot striker Danny Graham loves getting his message across by scribbling a few words on his vest and revealing it to the world after scoring. Well, now it's our turn!


We want to show Danny and the team how much we have appreciated their efforts this year, and what better way to do so than by donning a Danny style vest!

All we are asking you to do is:

1) Find a vest - look in your draws (maybe your Dad's) or pop to Primark - £3.50 for 2.
2) Find a fat felt tip pen
3) Write a message of support or thanks to Watford or your favourite player on the vest.
4) Wear it to the Vic over your Watford shirt on April 30 for the QPR game!

As you can see from our pictures, Danny Graham is fully behind it and he is so keen for you to get involved that he has offered up a prize! One lucky hornets fan will receive a signed Danny Graham vest, modelled by Danny in the pictures on this page. And here's a close up:

To be in with a chance of winning, all you need to do is take a picture of you in your vest on the day and send it to us! Email your pictures to podcast@fromtherookeryend.com or upload them to our facebook page - facebook.com/rookeryend. The winner will be chosen at random from all the entries on Friday 6th May.

This is a great chance for us all to say thanks to our Hornets heroes, so get it in your diary. 30 April 2011. Wear a vest for Danny Day! Be a part of it.