yellows

2013-2014 Groundhop (and an ongoing love affair with yellows…)

Writing a series of articles for the Watford FC matchday programme, I’m planning to only see teams that play in the same colours as Watford. A study of the clubs’ history, architecture, tea bars, and the success rate based on the colour of their shorts, will all be important factors in this series. Clearly I won’t get to them all but with research covering all eventualities, you’ll find me at some of these…

(other games may be seen, especially those tying up the few loose “1881” ends)

________________________________________________________________________________

Initially – during the 2013-2014 season – these reports will be appearing as articles in the Watford FC matchday programmes, consequently the Yellow reports will appear late on this site.

Match articles (in reverse order)…

Game 23 – Debenham LC FC v Haverhill Borough FC – Saturday, 12th April 2014, 3pm – Maitlands – Distance 105 miles, Attendance 42 (2-2)

Game 22 – Newhaven FC v Dorking Wanderers FC – Saturday, 22nd March 2014, 3pm – Fort Road – Distance 96 miles, Attendance 92 (2-5)

Game 21 – Taff’s Well AFC v Goytre FC – Friday, 14th March 2014, 7.30pm – Rhiwdda – Distance 154 miles, Attendance 83 (2-0)

Game 20 – Roda JC Kerkrade v NEC Nijmegen – Saturday, 8th March 2014, 6.45pm – Parkstad Limburg Stadion – Distance 346 miles, Attendance 15421 (3-1)

Game 19 – Alemannia Aachen v Borussia Mönchengladbach II  – Saturday, 8th March 2014, 2pm – Neuer Tivoli – Distance 352 miles, Attendance 6800 (0-2)

Game 18 – Chalfont Wasps FC v AFC Aldermaston – Saturday, 22nd February 2014, 2pm – The Nest – Distance 10 miles, Attendance 28 headcount (1-2)

Game 17 – UE Sant Andreu v Levante B – Sunday, 16th February 2014, 12pm – Camp Municipal Narcís Sala – Distance 955 miles, Attendance 1402 (0-1)

Game 16 – RC Lens v Stade Lavallois Mayenne FC – Saturday, 1st February 2014, 2pm – Stade Bollaert-Delelis – Distance 176 miles, Attendance 27511 (0-0)

Game 15 – Melksham Town FC v Highworth Town FC – Saturday, 18th January 2014, 3pm – The Conigre – Distance 98 miles, Attendance 168 (3-2)

Game 14 – Livingston FC v Falkirk FC – Saturday, 4th January 2014, 3pm – Almondvale – Distance 403 miles, Attendance 1585 (0-1)

Game 13 – Borussia Dortmund v Bayer 04 Leverkusen – Saturday, 7th December 2013, 6.30pm – Westfalenstadion – Distance 383 miles, Attendance 80645 (0-1)

Game 12 – V.V. Ter Leede v HHC Hardenberg – Saturday, 9th November 2013, 2.30pm – Sportpark Roodemolen – Distance 359 miles, Attendance 600 (2-1)

Game 11 – Partick Thistle FC v Celtic FC – Saturday, 27th October 2013, 12.45pm – Firhill Stadium – Distance 389 miles, Attendance 7978 (1-2)

Game 10 – Lingfield FC v Chichester City FC – Saturday, 12th October 2013, 3pm – The Pavilion, Godstone Road – Distance 59 miles, Attendance 51 (2-1)

Game 9 – Littlehampton Town FC v Hailsham Town FC – Saturday, 5th October 2013, 3pm – The Sportsfield – Distance 79 miles, Attendance 65 (3-1)

Game 8 – Westfield FC v Thame United FC – Saturday, 21st September 2013, 3pm – Woking Park – Distance 35 miles, Attendance 76 (4-0)

Game 7 – (Non League Day) Harborough Town FC v Holbrook Sports FC – Saturday, 7th September 2013, 3.15pm – Bowden Park – Distance 68 miles, Attendance 80 (5-3)

Game 6 – Belper Town FC v Retford United FC – Saturday, 31st August 2013, 3pm – Christchurch Meadow – Distance 121 miles, Attendance 218 (5-0)

Game 5 – AFC Tubize v KRC Gent-Zeehaven – Saturday, 18th August 2013, 4pm – Stade Leburton – Distance 263 miles, Attendance 200 official estimate (4-1)

Game 4 – KV Mechelen v Club Brugge KV – Saturday, 17th August 2013, 6pm – Argosstadion, Achter de Kazerne – Distance 279 miles, Attendance 10653 (1-2)

Game 3 – Cove FC v Hampton & Richmond Borough FC – Saturday, 23rd July 2013, 7.45pm – Oak Farm – Distance 51 miles, Attendance 21 headcount (1-2)

Game 2 – Gloucester City AFC v Cheltenham Town FC – Saturday, 20th July 2013, 3pm – Whaddon Road (Cheltenham Town FC) – Distance 88 miles, Attendance 571 (1-2)

Game 1 – Harrogate Town AFC v Barnsley FC – Saturday, 13th July 2013, 3pm – CNG Stadium, Wetherby Road – Distance 198 miles, Attendance 284 (0-0)

================================================================

Random Hop – “the yellows”

Rule(s) – The hopper MUST only attend games where the home side is sporting a fetching yellow. If secondary colours are present on the kit, sides can only be seen which add red and black (or neutral white) to stunningly enhance the yellow. This MUST be done without seeing any team twice.

Exceptions

There are only five exceptions to this rule….

1. Hu(g)e issue. Just any yellow will not do; Old Gold, Orangey, and Pastel/Canary Yellows are way too left field. The hopper must endeavour to aim for the glorious WD18 hue only.

2. Environmental Issue. Any midweek game incurring a petrol-guzzling journey of more that 4hrs (round trip) may be deemed too long to complete without upsetting the environment, work and/or the family. In this instance an alternative fixture should be sort but, the hopper must avoid any Ground/Team Repetition (GTR*).

3. Social Issue. Whilst a risk of crowd trouble or hospitalisation (eg. in tense games or those involving local rivals) can amend the above rule, the hopper should always aim to explore strange new grounds; to seek out great games and new civilizations, to boldly go where this man has not gone before. Once again the hopper must still avoid any GTR.

4. Moral Issue. Given that the franchised undesirables play in white, no moral issues can be foreseen.

5. Yeovil. Watford have never played them… until this season.

________________________________________________________________________________