Friday, June 28, 1963

Former England international Bill McGarry was confirmed as Watford's new manager in succession to Ron Burgess.

The appointment followed a bidding war with McGarry's previous club Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, who had ultimately failed to match Watford's final offer which reportedly made McGarry the highest paid manager in the third division.

The disgruntled Cherries subsequently demanded a "fat fee" for McGarry's playing contract, which was refused, forcing the manager's retirement as a player. "I do not think I am worth a fee," he explained to the Watford Observer.

Reproduced by kind permission of Matt Rowson from his book, Watford FC On This Day