It was in the autumn of 2010 that Ken Furphy, for the first time in more than a decade, ‘came home’. Aged nearly 80 his journey to Vicarage Road was to be one of the most emotional nights for the 300 or so lucky people with tickets for ‘The Captain’s Dinner’, for let us remember Ken played for Watford as well as managed them. Indeed he began as player/manager.

Dennis Booth, Wilf Rostron – another icon from the North East – Robert Page and Neil Cox were the others, but it was all, even for those four ‘legends’, about Ken.

His place in Watford’s history has long been assured – two magical seasons saw to that. First came promotion to the second tier of the Football League and a year later in 1970 that unforgettable FA Cup run – Bolton and Stoke among those sent packing and most famously of all, Liverpool. How we all wish You Tube had been with us, with Barry Endean’s goal ensuring even now, more than 40 years later, his is not a name to mention in casual conversation in the wrong half of Merseyside.

And, of course, Watford’s records still show 34,000 and a few (officially) for an FA Cup fourth round replay in 1969 when Manchester United – Best, Charlton, Law et al – came to town smarting after Furphy’s braves had done the near impossible, and drawn 1-1 in the first game at Old Trafford.

But as those of us lucky to be at ‘The Captain’s Dinner’ were to discover the Ken Furphy management school was so different to the class of 2015. The stories of Stewart Scullion, Keith Eddy, Duncan Welbourne, Terry Garbett all flowed, but what other man would have arrived that night with a shirt signed by Pele, who he managed at New York Cosmos, to give to ‘his club’ as well as some of his own personal treasures – tankards won on various occasions during a golden decade in South West Herts.

For Ken Furphy, more than 30 years after he moved on to Blackburn, the affection for Watford Football Club and its supporters was as deep as ever.

I had the honour of interviewing Ken that night. Having talked to his family we decided to invite him on stage first – his health somewhat uncertain. But I could hardly get another word in, so much so that I was about to send a message to Neil Cox, the final interviewee that night, that our conversation might turn out to be the shortest we had ever had. Ken loved every minute, and a spellbound audience hung on his every word.

Ken Furphy was my boyhood idol. I was too young to attend matches but he was the manager of my home town club. He loved Watford and Watford loved him. The success he achieved with little if any financial input will ensure he sits on the very top table of great names in Watford history – Ken, a man who once had to tell Pele he wasn’t taking penalties.

Those of us lucky enough to have known Ken will forever cherish memories of one of the most decent, humble and successful men in football. His record at Watford FC speaks for itself and will do so for evermore.