The Watford Observer has again teamed with its friends at the Watford Treasury to share stories from previous issues.
This week we look back to a game played on August 13, 1960.
Watford travelled the short distance to RAF Uxbridge to meet the Great Britain Olympic XI in a practice match, as part of the Olympians’ preparation for that year’s summer Games.
In a game watched by eager airmen and fortunate locals, the Hornets were beaten 2-1, with the Watford goal provided inevitably by one Cliff Holton.
The match saw Watford use six substitutes, quite a luxury considering it would be a further five years before any substitutions were permitted in league games.
The Olympic XI, comprising amateur English and Scottish players, would face Brazil in Livorno, Italy, just 13 days later, a tie they would lose 3-2.
Despite scoring eight goals in just three group games the British squad finished third in their group, and thus were eliminated from the tournament.
Watford, having just been promoted, went on to finish a creditable fourth in the Third Division, although ten points away from promotion.
Copies of The Watford Treasury are available to buy from https://thewatfordtreasury.com/collections/watford-treasury
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