When Everton Fans And Watford Fans Were Friends

Everton and Watford’s relationship has turned quite sour since the Blues pursued the Hornet’s manager Marco Silva in November 2017 and then appointing him as their manager in May 2018. A couple of months after the appointment, Watford submitted a complaint to the Premier League, claiming Everton made an illegal approach for Silva. Watford also stopped playing Z Cars in the last few weeks of the 2018/19 season and replaced it with I’m Still Standing by Elton John. (The theme was then brought back in the first game of the 2019/20 season against Brighton.) Everton subsequently paid Watford compensation of £4m. The Watford fans showed their disapproval of Marco Silva by bringing rubber snakes to the clubs’ first meeting since Silva’s appointment as Everton manager the following December.

The relationship between the clubs is in tatters, and there is a bit of acrimony between the fan bases as well. However, there was a time when Everton fans and Watford fans had a fraternal friendship.

The friendship between Everton fans and Watford fans started in the 1970s when Watford fans travelled to Merseyside to watch their beloved Hornets play Tranmere at Prenton Park in the old Fourth Division. Both fan bases struck a bond so strong that they arranged a charity match between them on the day of the 1975 FA Cup final. Everton supporters subsequently won that match 7-2. Playing for the Watford team was Elton John, who was a director at the club at the time. Playing for the Everton team was club legend Wally Fielding, who was a coach at Watford. At the end of the game, the Everton supporters team won a penalty and Fielding was elected to take it. His penalty was, however, saved. Wanting Fielding to score a goal, the referee ordered a retake, claiming the goalkeeper moved too soon. But Fielding missed the penalty again, kicking the ball over the bar.

Watford rose through the divisions and were promoted to the First Division in 1982. Their first ever top-flight opponents were Everton. The love between the clubs was still there as the Everton Supporters Club presented Watford with a plaque to commemorate the occasion.

The Everton Supporters Club chairman Jimmy King said:

It’s a very down-to-earth, family club, and we think it’s great that these people who used to come here years ago in the Third Division are now playing for the first time in the First Division. This is why we wanted to make a special presentation to show how pleased we are that we are their first opponents.

Both teams walked out of the tunnel to the Z Cars theme together for the first time. Watford purportedly had the Z Cars theme not because of Everton but because Bill McGarry – who was Watford’s manager in the 1960s – was a fan of the television programme and decided to adopt it as their theme. It was a day to remember for Watford as they ended up beating Everton 2-0 with goals from Gerry Armstrong and Pat Rice (Rice’s goal against Everton was his only ever goal for Watford).

In 1984, Everton and Watford met each other in the FA Cup final. Ahead of the game, Everton fans and Watford fans mingled outside Wembley, had drinks together and took some pictures together as well. The Everton players’ wives were also warmly greeted by the Watford fans when they ventured into Watford. One Watford fan even kissed Derek Mountfield’s fiancée as a somewhat wish of good luck. Right before kick-off, Elton John shook Everton players’ hands and wished them good luck, as well as applauding the Everton crowd.

Everton beat Watford 2-0 thanks to goals from Graeme Sharp and Andy Gray, ending their 14-year trophy drought. After the final whistle, the Watford players were cheered off by the Everton supporters. The Everton Shareholders Association then sent a letter to Elton John saying:

Everyone felt the warmth and friendliness of your supporters. You yourself were a great ambassador of the true sportsmanship when you greeted the Everton fans at their end of the ground. Watford and their supporters will remain very special to Everton FC.

There was a lot of fraternity between Everton and Watford in the 1970s and 1980s. No bad blood, no bitterness – just friendship and camaraderie.

Marco Silva – Career In Stats

League Summary

Season Team League Pld W D L GS GC Pts W% L% PPG Pos
2011/12 Estoril Segunda Liga 25 15 6 4 37 17 51 60% 16% 2.04 1st
2012/13 Estoril Primeira Liga 30 13 6 11 47 37 45 43% 37% 1.50 5th
2013/14 Estoril Primeira Liga 30 15 9 6 42 26 54 50% 20% 1.80 4th
2014/15 Sporting Lisbon Primeira Liga 30 22 10 2 67 29 76 73% 7% 2.53 3rd
2015/16 Olympiacos Superleague Greece 30 28 1 1 81 16 85 93% 3% 2.83 1st
2016/17 Hull* Premier League 18 6 3 9 20 36 21 33% 50% 1.17 18th
2017/18 Watford** Premier League 24 7 5 12 33 44 26 29% 50% 1.08 10th

Game-By-Game Breakdown in the League

2011/12 L W D W W W W W D W W W W W W D L W D L W D L W D
Pos 15 10 12 8 5 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
2012/13 L D D W D L L W W L W L L W L D L W L W W L W D W L W D W W
Pos 15 11 11 5 5 11 14 8 6 6 6 6 7 6 7 7 8 6 8 7 7 8 5 6 5 6 5 6 5 5
2013/14 W W D L D W L W L W L W W D D D D W W W W L W D L W W D D W
Pos 3 4 3 4 5 4 6 4 5 4 5 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
2014/15 D W D D W D W W L D W W D W W W W W W D D W L W W W D W W W W D W W
Pos 11 7 8 8 6 7 4 4 6 8 6 4 5 5 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
2015/16 W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W D W W W L W W W W W W W W
Pos 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
2016/17 W L D W L D L W L W W L L W D L L L
Pos 18 19 19 18 18 19 19 18 18 18 17 17 17 17 17 18 18 18
2017/18 D W D W L W D W L L L W W L D L L L L W L L D L
Pos 10 3 7 4 11 6 5 4 5 7 9 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 10 10 10 10 10 10

Other Competitions

Season League Cup National Cup Champs League Europa League
2011/12 2nd Group Stage 5th Round
2012/13 2nd Group Stage 5th Round
2013/14 2nd Group Stage Quarter-finals Group Stage
2014/15 2nd Group Stage Winners Group Stage Round of 32
2015/16 Runners-up Group Stage Round of 32
2016/17 Semi-finals* 4th Round
2017/18 2nd Round 4th Round**

League Cup = Taça da Liga and EFL Cup

National Cup = Taça de Portugal, Greek Cup and FA Cup

Notable Games

Games against reputable teams and European games.

Season Team Opposition Res V Competition
2011/12 Estoril Porto L 0-1 A Taça da Liga
2012/13 Sporting Lisbon D 2-2 A Primeira Liga
2012/13 Porto L 1-2 H Primeira Liga
2012/13 Porto D 2-2 H Taça da Liga
2012/13 Benfica L 1-3 H Primeira Liga
2012/13 Sporting Lisbon W 3-1 H Primeira Liga
2012/13 Porto L 0-2 A Primeira Liga
2012/13 Benfica D 1-1 A Primeira Liga
2013/14 Hapoel Ramat Gan D 0-0 H Europa League
2013/14 Hapoel Ramat Gan W 1-0 A Europa League
2013/14 Pasching W 2-0 H Europa League
2013/14 Pasching L 1-2 H Europa League
2013/14 Sevilla W 2-1 A Europa League
2013/14 Porto D 2-2 H Primeira Liga
2013/14 Slovan Liberec L 1-2 A Europa League
2013/14 Benfica L 1-2 H Primeira Liga
2013/14 Freiburg D 1-1 A Europa League
2013/14 Freiburg D 0-0 H Europa League
2013/14 Sevilla D 1-1 A Europa League
2013/14 Slovan Liberec L 1-2 H Europa League
2013/14 Sporting Lisbon D 0-0 H Primeira Liga
2013/14 Porto L 1-2 A Taça de Portugal
2013/14 Porto W 1-0 A Primeira Liga
2013/14 Benfica L 0-2 A Primeira Liga
2013/14 Sporting Lisbon W 1-0 A Primeira Liga
2014/15 Sporting Lisbon Benfica D 1-1 A Primeira Liga
2014/15 Maribor D 1-1 A Champions League
2014/15 Porto D 1-1 H Primeira Liga
2014/15 Chelsea L 0-1 H Champions League
2014/15 Porto W 3-1 A Taça de Portugal
2014/15 Schalke L 3-4 A Champions League
2014/15 Schalke W 4-2 H Champions League
2014/15 Maribor W 3-1 H Champions League
2014/15 Chelsea L 1-3 A Champions League
2014/15 Benfica D 1-1 H Primeira Liga
2014/15 Wolfsburg L 0-2 A Europa League
2014/15 Wolfsburg D 0-0 H Europa League
2014/15 Porto L 0-3 A Primeira Liga
2015/16 Olympiacos Bayern Munich L 0-3 H Champions League
2015/16 Arsenal W 3-2 A Champions League
2015/16 AEK Athens W 4-0 H Superleague Greece
2015/16 Dinamo Zagreb W 1-0 A Champions League
2015/16 Dinamo Zagreb W 2-1 H Champions League
2015/16 Panathinaikos F 3-0 A Superleague Greece
2015/16 Bayern Munich L 0-4 A Champions League
2015/16 Arsenal L 0-3 H Champions League
2015/16 AEK Athens L 0-1 A Superleague Greece
2015/16 Anderlecht L 0-1 A Europa League
2015/16 Anderlecht L 1-2 H Europa League (AET)
2015/16 Panathinaikos W 3-1 H Superleague Greece
2015/16 AEK Athens L 1-2 N Greek Cup
2016/17 Hull Manchester United L 0-2 A League Cup
2016/17 Chelsea L 0-2 A Premier League
2016/17 Manchester United W 2-1 H League Cup
2016/17 Manchester United D 0-0 A Premier League
2016/17 Liverpool W 2-0 H Premier League
2016/17 Arsenal L 0-2 A Premier League
2016/17 Manchester City L 1-3 A Premier League
2016/17 Tottenham L 1-7 H Premier League
2017/18 Watford Liverpool D 3-3 H Premier League
2017/18 Manchester City L 0-6 H Premier League
2017/18 Arsenal W 2-1 H Premier League
2017/18 Chelsea L 2-4 A Premier League
2017/18 Manchester United L 2-4 H Premier League
2017/18 Tottenham D 1-1 H Premier League
2017/18 Manchester City L 1-3 A Premier League

 

*On the day of Silva’s appointment, Hull were 20th with only 13 points and 3 wins to their name. Based on results from Silva’s appointment to the end of the season, Hull were 14th. Hull had already reached the semi-finals before Silva was appointed.

**Watford were 10th when Silva was sacked, subsequently finishing 14th. Watford were also still in the FA Cup at the time of Silva’s sacking, subsequently getting knocked out in the 4th round by Southampton.