The Watford Word · https://thewatfordword.news/history/lions-of-sofia-watfords-glorious-era-was-built-on-the-virtues-of-youth-and-communal-spirit-so-wheres-the-young-talent-gone-184407
LIONS OF SOFIA: Watford's golden era was built on the virtues of youth and communal spirit, so where's the young talent gone?
10.11.26, 12:24 Updated 10.11.26, 12:25 6 Minute Read
Most of them were just kids. They should have been the proverbial lambs to the slaughter.
In a back four so young they almost needed a babysitter, 19-year-old Neil Price was making his senior debut, Paul Franklin (20) was making only his 10th first team appearance and Charlie Palmer (also 20) his 13th.
Up front, striker Ian Richardson, hero of the previous round against Kaiserslautern, was making his only his fifth start, while wingers John Barnes (19) and Nigel Callaghan (21) were almost veterans.
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spent 40 years on Fleet Street as a top sports writer and a regular in the Press box at Vicarage Road. His first game as a wide-eyed Watford fan was a 5-0 FA Cup win against Reading 55 years ago and, coupled with his national newspaper experience, few supporters are better-equipped to cover English football's original family club.