OVER the past year there have been two, to all intents and purposes unrelated, deaths. The first was flautist Fritz Spiegl and the other was Jimmy Davis, the Manchester United winger on the threshold of his life.

Fritz was 77, whereas Jimmy was only 21.

Sadly, Jimmy was unable to contribute to Watford's season. Yet, for many fans Fritz's contribution to Watford's recent history may be more significant, for during his career as a writer, broadcaster and quirky observer on musical life, he sat down and penned Z-Cars.

Now I have noted that some have claimed it is my favourite all-time record. In fact that is far from the case and, when it came out in 1963, I certainly did not buy it, even though Watford adopted it as their signature tune.

I do happen to think it is a record special to Watford. I have read on WML someone claiming it is dated and has run its course. Like Blaydon Races (Newcastle), You'll Never Walk Alone (Liverpool), Red Red Robin (Charlton) and I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles (West Ham).

For a club that does not have many traditions, something traditional is never dated. Given the choice I would have preferred Watford to have adopted this or that song or tune. The fact is they didn't, and Z-Cars still holds a place in the affection of most fans and is associated with success.

A club that keeps changing its colours, theme song, etc. is seeking an identity.

Luca Vialli, announcing quite early that he had no feeling for the club's past, sought to ditch Z-Cars for something that would lift his players. He then spent much of the rest of the season trying to lift the fans.

Once you question replacing a song or tune, then you are spoilt for choice and whatever choice is made, it would annoy some sections of fans. The good thing about Z-Cars was that there was no choice: it was Watford and, because of that, choice never came into the equation, until Brian Anderson tried to have it removed early in Graham Taylor's second spell.

A snippet of Z-cars has managed to be aired before every match and it still works for me and remains the one constant.

I did not identify with the attempts to replace it over the previous two years. They did nothing for me musically, but then I will concede my taste is old fashioned and out of sync with the younger generation, even it it is not so old fashioned that I would consider listening to Z-Cars anywhere other than Vicarage Road.

The death of Jimmy Davis brought immediate and understandable feelings of remorse and regret. It certainly affected me and I had not even met or interviewed the player, nor had I seen him in action in pre-season, although I heard him being interviewed and noted he was articulate and bubbly.

I know he came to mind every time I moved onto the motorway and whenever we failed to make progress down the right flank.

It was real tragedy and one almost unique in Watford's history and for the duration of our following the club: a young life needlessly thrown away.

As they came to terms with their shock, Watford's players suggested the song he sang while on tour in Finland should be played as they come out on the field for the rest of the season.

It was a fine sentiment, as understandable as Gangsta's Paradise is unsuitable for lifting the spirits of the majority of fans.