OCTOBER 24, 1958: With newly-signed Cliff Holton leading their attack he plays between Peter Gordon and George Fleming Watford are counting on at least their biggest gate of the season for their home match with Gateshead tomorrow.

The club are quite frank in their admission that to bring the burly Arsenal centre forward to Vicarage Road they have had to put themselves "in the red."

"We felt that something had to be done quickly and decided to take the risk," said a club spokesman.

And despite the lower figure quoted in some quarters, Watford maintain that they will be paying Arsenal a full five-figure fee, the first in the history of the local club.

It will go to Highbury in two instalments, the first immediately, the second by December 15. Although some publicity has been given to this arrangement, it is fairly commonplace in football and, in fact, operated when Watford sold Maurice Cook to Fulham last season.

Having, they believe, stood by their supporters in bringing a highly priced personality player to Vicarage Road, the Watford directors are now pleading with the public to play their part.

"We are appealing to them to make tomorrow's gate a record one and to give the team full vocal support," says chairman Jim Bonser, a prime mover in negotiating Holton's transfer.

Watford have certainly acted boldly in paying out £10,000 for the much sought after Holton.

When news of their negotiations were first published a month ago, few in the town thought they had a chance of succeeding.

Many critics wrote of their announcement as "publicity talk," and they were still not convinced when Holton declined to move to Aston Villa or Liverpool and Watford promptly declared that they had increased their original bid.

Even when the "Observer" disclosed last week that terms had been agreed between the clubs and only Holton's consent was needed, the general view was that he was unlikely to make the drop to Fourth Division football.

But Reading, the one club left on Thursday to challenge Watford, would not meet Arsenal's price and presented the Blues with a clear field.

It was an historic moment for Watford, summed up by Mr Bonser when he commented: "Today we have set up a club record...a record transfer fee. Now we are looking for another record...promotion,"

And Holton himself brought an added touch of confidence to the proceedings. He told the Watford party that he had been studying the League table, and added: "We stand a good chance."

So ended one of the most intensive "hunts" in which Watford have ever been engaged. Director Bill Graver said after the signing that club representatives had spent some 50 hours either watching the player or negotiating for him.

Holton, a precision engineer who wants to remain in the London area for business reasons, will be a full-time professional with Watford. He joins the rest of the players today.

Aged 29, he went to Arsenal from Oxford City as a full-back in 1947 and was converted to centre forward in 1950.

He has also played at inside forward wing half and centre half. He is 6ft tall, turns the scales at 13st 10lbs.

He comes to Vicarage Road with a great reputation and on his shoulders will rest the responsibility for putting the punch in attack which so far has been missing.

Whether he is the man to do it, only time will prove. But whether the answer is "yes" or "no," Watford deserve congratulations for their boldness in, to use their own words, "going to the limit" to bring this personality to Vicarage Road.

In the past they have often been charged with missing the boat through dilly-dallying.

This time they have acted with determination.

March 27, 2002 09:30