It's the camaraderie!
"Programmes, programmes", we hear, as we head along Vicarage Road,
It's matchday, Cardiff are here, and I'm in full supporter mode.
Bang a drum, fly a flag, admire the luscious green hallowed turf,
Find our seats, avoid a hot dog, they're pricey and cost the earth.
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"We don't like bad language, but we do like positive support",
Says Harry the Hornet, esteemed, fluffy, our rotund mascot.
We are Watford, original family club, inclusion,
Equality, respect, no excuse for discrimination!
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No room, thank God, we read, for verbal or physical abuse,
Such actions arise, from a place best avoided, called refuse.
Protect the game, safeguard each other, from sins of racism,
Anti-social behaviour be gone, life's best without schism.
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Teams announced, Z Cars played out, then Your Song to get us all pumped,
But away goal, yellows lacklustre, home fans at half time slumped.
Hot chocolate, second half starts, give this your very best shot,
On the attack, "three subs on, a goal shall come", so fear ye not.
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Cardiff smell victory, crowd anxious, the final whistle blows,
The Bluebirds win, we love our team but today they're not heroes.
No win, nil points, leaders Leicester next week, the stands now disperse,
Losing hurts, not gonna lie, left without a Depeche Mode verse.
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The programme to read, the league table to check, radio on,
Back home, good afternoon, much better though if the Hornets had won.
We win some, we lose some, we draw some, that's football I suppose,
Highs and lows, ups and downs, that's just the way Watford FC goes.
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Hornets sitting eleventh, Rotherham playing like they're down,
Possibly Leeds for the Premier League, could be Ipswich Town!
QPR, Queens Park Rangers, Quite Possibly Relegated,
League One awaits, or the dreaded drop circumnavigated?
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"Make sure you always put family first" Graham Taylor said,
His quote, in Swanson's Family Stand, now stuck inside my head.
"The people closest to you give of their best to support you"
Like Jesus who said "do as to you you would want them to do."
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Outside The Vic, home fans trudge home, the GT statue still stands,
Val's good, Gracia was too, but Graham's top boss in these lands.
Seven years past, since he left us, now part of Hornet history,
A Taylor-made army, we're grateful for his rich legacy.
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A mass of yellow, along the road once called Occupation,
Now Yellow Brick, Elton looks on, today no jubilation.
Shirts with sponsors emblazoned, Mr Q, Toshiba, Blaupunkt,
Solvite, Iveco, retro's back, old shirts no longer defunct.
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Bobble hats, warm scarves, a riot of colour, yellow, red, black,
Peppered with Cardiff's blue and white, to Wales their fans head back.
Managers, in front of cameras, doing their interviews,
Finding words for thoughts, so much harder when you've seen your team lose.
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We tried, but couldn't kick the ball into the back of the net,
"A big frustration" said Ismael, a showing to forget.
Nearly 20,000 attended, most departing still slumped,
Looking hard for the positives, at least our team were not thumped.
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One goal is all it takes, for victory in a football match,
Go well Cardiff, we hope our team isn't starting a rough patch.
The cup run's still ongoing, the prize a trip to Anfield,
We can still dream, another win away at Liverpool sealed?
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"Programmes, programmes", we hear, as we head along Vicarage Road,
Matchday's gone, for another week, still I'm in full supporter mode. In dark moments we question who invented this game, and why?
But then I compare staying at home, and watching wet paint dry.
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Who first took us to Vicarage Road, I recall, 'twas my Dad!
Don't blame the man who started all this, just rejoice and be glad.
But losing feels worse than winning feels good, is this only me?
Just love the sport, be of good cheer, it's the camaraderie!