Come On You Horns!!

There are not many moments over the last (almost) 13 years where I can honestly say I know exactly where I'd be right now had I not moved to the Netherlands. Monday 27th May at three o' clock in the afternoon however is a whole different ball game. If I was still in England right now I would be presently be in a state of fever pitch excitement in the build up to this coming Monday. Why I hear you ask?

This Monday Watford FC, fondly known as the Horns by fans, takes on Crystal Palace for the last place left in the English Premier League at Wembley. The Championship play off final is the last 90 minutes (as long as extra time and penalties are not needed) of the Horns' 2012/13 season. And had I not moved to the Netherlands I know for sure I would be one of Watford's 34,000 allocated ticket holders. I would be there at Wembley donned in yellow. Had I still been living in England I would also have seen this amazing end to the semi final game against Leicester City from the stands, and not on You Tube:



I would have followed the unbelievable season from my season ticket seat at Vicarage Road and not through my IPad and the BBC.

Before I moved overseas I was a season ticket holder and had been for many years. My parents took me to my first Watford match thirty years ago in 1983. In 1984 Watford lost to Everton in the FA Cup Final. Heartbreak. And between 1984 and 2000 I witnessed most of the highs and lows of every season, at Vicarage Rd and at many other stadiums across England.

I was at Wembley in 1999 when Watford successfully beat Bolton Wanderers 2-0 for a place in the Premier League. The day was indescribable. The atmosphere was electric. The tension was unbearable. The celebrations were memorable and lasted until deep in the night. Thousands of people united in the particular joy that only sports fans can explain. In 2006 Watford were again in the play off final, this time played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Twice in the play off finals. Twice winners.

And so here we are, fourteen years later, days away from another Wembley appearance. This one will be a very different experience for me though. Monday is not a Bank holiday in the Netherlands and at kick off I will be in a meeting in a hospital. I'll be following the match online as much as I can and whilst it's certainly not the same as being at Wembley in the flesh, it's the best I'll get this time around. And though I can't be there, I'll be hoping the outcome is the same as it was back in 1999:

COYH!!!!!!!