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Watford Forever
- How Graham Taylor and Elton John Saved a Football Club, a Town and Each Other
- Narrated by: Alex Jennings
- Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins
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Summary
Brought to you by Penguin.
An unforgettable British underdog story from one of our greatest narrative nonfiction writers, John Preston, and the international musical icon and bestselling author, Sir Elton John.
Britain in the 1970s was beset by unrest and unemployment, as inflation soared, fuel was scarce, and hooliganism was on the rise. And for Watford FC, the outlook was even gloomier. Rundown and rat-infested, Watford were an ailing side with holes in their kit and barely enough fans to fill a stand. Of the 92 clubs in the Football League, spread across four divisions, Watford were in 92nd place.
Meanwhile, Elton John was the most successful rockstar in the world. With six-inch platforms, spangled jumpsuits, and peroxide hair, he was glamorous, gay, and seemingly a world away from the council house in Pinner where he had supported Watford FC as a child. Many assumed he would move to America. Instead, he bought the football club.
Watford Forever is the remarkable story of Elton John's ownership of Watford FC and its transformational journey to the top of the First Division under iconic manager Graham Taylor. Perhaps most remarkably, four of the same players who had been written off as has-beens went with them all the way from the bottom to the top. Inspiring and infectiously funny, this is a tribute to football's unlikeliest friendship as Elton John and Taylor, a straight-talking former fullback with a love of Vera Lynn, beat the odds and their personal demons to save a club and a community. Immersed in the grime and glamour of '70s Britain, Watford Forever is one of sport's great underdog stories and a love letter to the beautiful game.
What listeners say about Watford Forever
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- JM
- 07-01-24
A trip down memory lane
What a great story to tell and so relatable, having been part of the experience myself in those heady days for the golden boys.
It was good to put a back story to the one I experienced as a young boy standing on the terrace at the Vicarage Road end. Watching Watford as they were promoted into the top flight from the then 2nd division to play the likes of Liverpool, Man United, and Arsenal.
Riding out the trials and tribulations of the lower leagues to finish division one runners up, then on to Europe, and an FA cup final.
This tale tells the convergence from two perspectives of Graham and Elton who came together to build a team and a club from the ground up. Two chancers who had the ambition and drive to pit their wits against the odds and achieve the impossible.
This book is highly recommended to anyone else who was there on those terraces during those heady days. When the likes of Ross Jenkins, Nigel Callaghan, Johnny Barnes, and Luther graced us with unconventional, but exciting, effective football.
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- Amazon Customer
- 07-02-24
Brilliant!
Just brilliant from start to finish! I'd started listening as a way to relieve stress and stop my mind racing and ruminating, having something else to focus on and think about. The audio book proved highly successful at just that and highly engaging. Not a Watford fan, but have come to respect and admire Graham Taylor, overcoming the 'turnip' rubbish I was subjected to in the media, as a child. I highly recommend this to anyone, a brilliant story, football fan one need not be.
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- Cmonyawns
- 26-12-23
Simply the Best!
A magnificent book written about a magnificent relationship charting an enchanting journey over an exciting period. Oh to have those days repeated.....Cmonyawns
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- Amazon Customer
- 10-12-23
A fantastic account of the ongoings at the club in the EJ Taylor made army era
A well written, personal and intimate account of the happenings inside the club within this period. Would recommend to all WFC fans and football fans alike.
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- andrew
- 04-01-24
a love story
great story of triumph against the odds, passion and a beautiful friendship. terrific narrator and clearly written.
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- Amazon Customer
- 15-01-24
What a story
I did like all of it. Smashing story. A real life fairy tale. Great, great, great.
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- Anonymous User
- 22-12-23
Great book
I am not a Watford fan but I am old enough to remember how Watford progressed through the leagues. Fascinating story bring together two.people with one common interest great book well performed
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- Matthew Dandy
- 30-01-24
Fantastic book
Really entertaining book that covers the football lives of both Elton John and Graham Taylor very well
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- Mr M J Cooper
- 05-12-23
Superb storytelling
Another fine Preston book. Wonderful story telling. A good read from Alex Jennings although I do wish narrators would not put accents on or act quotes.
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- Roy
- 24-12-23
A true fairy story
This book is well constructed. The story it tells is almost unbelievable but because it is true it makes a riveting read. The central figures, Elton and GT had a shared vision that gained momentum as the years flew by and the central subject, Watford FC became a “forever” torment for thousands of supporters. From the introduction to the reflections at the end the commentary was so engaging. Hope the sequel “…….and Ever” is already in draft.
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