WATFORD IN 1981 - DIGGER DOES NORWICH

John Barnes is 48 today!

Found a real gem for you today that’s well worth watching (as they all are mind, we spend hours on this stuff!) regardless of who you support.  The clip we’ve selected features highlights of Watford versus Norwich City in the English Second Division on October 24 1981.  Watford are on their way to promotion to the First Division and 17 year old John Barnes is making one of his first appearances for the hornets.

Barnes went on to make over 200 appearances for the Vicarage Road side before achieving god like status during a magnificent spell with Liverpool.  Barnes won 79 caps for England, but only demonstrated the briefest flashes of his brilliance in a white shirt.  Those with long memories will recall a stunning goal against Brazil at the Maracaná, and a sublime twenty minute cameo against El Diego’s Argentina at Mexico 86 as the only real noteworthy moments from an ultimately disappointing international career.

Back to the video then....

Watford, then managed by Graham Taylor, are comfortable 3-0 winners and Barnes demonstrates his talents several times in the clip. It’s fantastic to see such a precocious talent parading his skills at this age, and all the more special when you consider Barnes had only arrived at Watford a few weeks earlier having transferred from non league Sudbury Court in the summer for the fee of....a full set of tracksuits.  Had Barnes been around now he’d more than likely spend seven years in Chelsea’s reserve side before vanishing up his own arse.  Hey ho.

Highlights here are Barnes making Willie Donachie look a prize mug and a Watford free kick that left this pilgrim wondering why teams don’t do ‘that’ more often

Click the image to watch.