LOOKING back over the Watford Observer Awards over the last 30 years, one notices that a little habit has crept in down at Vicarage Road. They are referred to as Watford FC Awards.

Funny that, because I am sure we originated them, designed them and the Watford Observer readers vote for them.

Sunday night's awards were well presented with a superb back drop to the stage as well as video sequences. It was a very professional production and if the evening possibly went on too long (well past 2.30am) for some, others stayed to the end.

It was a far cry from the time when Ron Rollitt would read out a script I had written and introduce the awards as he used the microphone switch by the pillar in the directors' box. It was the mike-position which he used when ordering fans "Keep off the pitch".

In those days the relationship between the chairman and the manager (Jim Bonser and George Kirby) was a trifle fraught and subsequently the Watford Observer received the cold shoulder from the chairman.

Geoff Smith and Muir Stratford, no big fans of the Bonser regime but directors forced to grin and bare it while seeking a change at the top, were supportive of the presentations.

Bonser, who did not like other directors grabbing the public limelight, found himself in a catch-22 situation. He disliked the Watford Observer coverage but how could he be seen handing over trophies when Oliver Phillips, of all people, would be passing them to him.

He opted for dismissing the entire concept and it was only by the pressure and support of Geoff and Muir that we managed to maintain the continuity of presenting the awards on the pitch.

To make matters worse for Bonser, a splinter group of fans, fed up with the awful coach journeys to away matches, started to organise discount train trips.

In effect this took funds away from the club and eventually, one of the organisers, Roger Fleming, was to be taken on board in charge at the ticket office.

But in the days they were regarded as rebels, The Travelling Hornets presented the Young Player of the Year Award and continued to do so until 1978. Bonser had to be in the presence of the rebels on the pitch, which also did not go down well.

So there were some early politics in the Watford Observer Awards. Fans voted for Player, Goal, Display and Young Players of the year, via the Watford Observer and we counted up the votes, as we do to this day, ordered the trophies, had them engraved and wrote the script.

There was certain resentment from the Supporters' Club, who felt they should have had a Player of the Season Award, but then they had not come up with the idea and only complained when we did.

There was also certain resentment from the dressing-room. The professionals did not like the concept of one player being picked out for special praise and an award in what was essentially a team game. Anyway, the players were the ones who knew who really did the business on the pitch.

To ward off any rebellion here, we gave the players a block vote and similarly we accorded the away fans, who saw twice as many matches, another block vote.

It seems to have worked out OK. The format of the Watford Observer Awards has not changed in 30 years, only the presentation. It was a long battle to get them established and the club to co-operate but we made it in the end.

Funny when you see them called the Watford FC Awards on club literature. But then we know better, don't we.

May 1, 2003 13:30