It happened again. That was the chant that rang out around Vicarage Road on Sunday afternoon as Watford handed Luton another memorable 4-0 spanking.

Of course, to remember the last such Hornets win against the Hatters, you’d need to be in your late 20s or early 30s as it happened back on October 4, 1997 – and at Kenilworth Road too, just to make it even more painful for Luton.

That day, Watford – who were top of what is now League One – ripped the home side apart and were 4-0 up by half-time as Richard Johnson, Dai Thomas and Peter Kennedy (twice) netted in a 45-minute spell that Hornets fans in the away end could only have dreamt about.

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If you want to relive that afternoon, or even see it for the first time, you can see the highlights on the official Watford FC website: https://www.watfordfc.com/memorable-matches/luton-town-0-4-watford-1997#play

However, the Watford Observer caught up with a few of the key Watford figures that afternoon to ask them about this latest memorable derby day success at the weekend, and also their memories of 1997.

Alec Chamberlain, was in goal in 1997 and kept a clean sheet, and had also played for Luton before joining Watford: “I thought Luton would be a stern test on Sunday after the way Watford went down at Millwall in the week.

“That said, if the real Watford turn up, they have quality players in attacking areas that can hurt teams, as they proved yesterday.

“The 4-0 scoreline in a derby is one you never forget. It sounds like Luton had illness in the camp: in 1997 it was injuries that hit them hard.

“Both teams from those very different eras have given the Watford fans a day to remember and bragging rights until the return game at least!”

Defender Nigel Gibbs always enjoys a derby win, given he was a one-club man who was born and raised locally: “I thought from the first few minutes on Sunday the crowd were right behind the team. Every tackle and second ball was cheered, and that set the tempo and intensity for the game.

“Every time Watford went forward you felt a chance could be created. The forward players were a real handful and caused problems and indecision in the Luton defence throughout the whole game. Another couple of goals wouldn’t have been undeserved.

“Early on Luton played a lot of diagonals that had to be dealt with by the defenders, including the second balls, which were contested by covering players.

“They limited Luton to only a couple of chances with the best being headed over in the first half and a header from a corner in the second half.

“The back four played as a unit, but Cathcart and Gosling in particular, used their experience and composure, and were disciplined, which you have to be in local derbies.

“The midfield were aggressive and closed down the Luton players, giving them no time or space to play.

“It was a very well-deserved victory and certainly a win for the fans.

“It was a very similar game to the one in 1997, except we were 4-0 up at half-time!

“That day Graham Taylor wouldn’t let us sit down at half-time so we didn’t lose our focus or get complacent! I’m sure Slaven’s message at half-time was to continue in the same way, being aggressive without the ball and attacking with good pace and movement.

“The challenge for the players now is to build on this performance and with the right mentality keep the consistency needed to perform week in, week out, in this tough league.

“It was a very enjoyable day for all the Watford fans, and one for the memory bank.”

Peter Kennedy took the main goalscoring honours with two fine strikes in 1997: “I couldn’t actually watch the game on Sunday but I was keeping an eye on the score on my phone.

“It was a really good result and of course another 4-0 will be sweet for the Watford supporters.

“I didn’t expect it, especially with the way results have been lately, and how well Luton had been doing.”

Watford Observer: Luther Blissett, Graham Taylor, Kenny Jackett. Pic: Action ImagesLuther Blissett, Graham Taylor, Kenny Jackett. Pic: Action Images (Image: Action Images)

Kenny Jackett was in the Watford dug-out that afternoon in 1997: “The early goal on Sunday helped Watford a lot, and that created a noise and atmosphere that was awesome. Luton were never able to play to their strengths because Watford were so organised, and in that respect having Craig Cathcart back was crucial.

“The difference between the teams was Joao Pedro. Luton couldn’t handle him but to be fair I’m not sure many sides would have handled him on Sunday, because he was pretty unplayable.

“He is the key to Watford really. If he stays fit then they have every chance of being in the promotion mix. He is a Premier League quality player, and he’s only 21. He’s also a natural number 10 and those players are so hard to find.

“My main memory of the 4-0 at Luton in 1997 is Dai Thomas taking his shirt off when he scored. We were all shouting to him to put it back on, because it wasn’t a pretty sight and there were kids in the stadium!

“We blew Luton away that day, and we did it very early too. Peter Kennedy was different class and the game was over by half-time.

“There were Luton fans banging on our dug-out and shouting all sorts, but that’s Kenilworth Road. It’s a tight and hostile ground at the best of times.

“If the current side played the 1997 side, I think the current side would probably win, if they were on their game like they were on Sunday. However the 97 team was so hard working and full of big personalities. That Watford squad of the late 90s had probably the best characters in it of any squad I’ve ever been involved with. If the current team played like they did at Millwall then the team of 97 would beat them.”

It may surprise people to learn that Luther Blissett OBE DL wasn’t at that famous game in 1997, as he explained: “Kenny and I were joint Assistant Managers and Graham would assign us to whatever needed doing - so that day I was off on scouting duties. We were always looking for new youngsters coming up through the ranks who we could develop of course.

“I seem to think I was at Hayes and Yeading and knowing the reception we were likely to get in Luton I wasn’t entirely averse to that. But you always want to be part of THE derby. It is in our blood really and something for young fans to have taken note of last weekend.

“I remember not getting the result till I went in at the end of the game. Took one look at the TV and had my ‘get in lads’ celebration moment before finishing work.  

“When we were all back in for training it was ‘business as usual’. Graham’s focus and success was always built on not overplaying the result from the last game, but onwards to the next one. You were only as good as the next performance, which is correct.

“But boy did that win give us as the management team a good deal of pleasure. I seem to recall that it was the biggest win between us and them up the road for 68 years or thereabouts. Rather nice that for a record! 

“Of course then there was the Boss summing up Dai’s celebration: ‘Taking off your shirt to celebrate a goal. That is not what is expected of a Watford player.’

“I have to say, I totally agree even today. Taking off your club shirt when you score is not something I feel should be done. That badge should remain proudly on your chest till that final whistle.  

“Watching the footage later on you saw the sheer determination in that first half. We got in quick and piled on the pressure. The second half was less than memorable.

“I think what makes these things stand out for fans, who after all are the ones that matter most, are the individual emotions and memories. The entertainment that is woven into it all. I read some great fan reports that made me feel that I had walked with those supporters to Kenilworth Road. Past those allotments and then the hammering on the dug-out (not actually for us!).

“The banter back and forth, which to be honest was always worthwhile. Sadly we know that a few from either side will always take things too far.

“On Sunday there it was again, that rapid demolition with a bit of brilliance from Keinan to get the party started. I had the pleasure to chat to him when he was going to sign for us and I think everyone saw me flag up his potential straight away. Every performance is improving.

“Joao Pedro too showed real hunger for the game, once he gets even more direction on his role and can focus entirely on that, he will be a tremendous player up front.

“I have to hand it to Cathcart and Gosling for standing firm at the back, that’s where experience really showed against Luton who had come expecting perhaps a weak performance after Millwall. The warhorses were having none of it!

“Great job. Now, onto the next one.”

Oliver Phillips reported on the game for The Watford Observer in 1997, and watched Sunday’s game on TV at home in France: “I enjoyed every moment of the match on Sunday. Watford played so well in the first half to replicate that win at toxic Kenilworth Road back in 1997.

“What a match that was with the Hornets making sure of victory in the first half. But my abiding memory is the thuggish behaviour of Luton supporters who stood behind the dug-outs.

“The appalling thing was Graham Taylor was not in danger: the Luton fans were targeting Lennie Lawrence, their manager. Amazing really.

“But then the referee also caught a whiff of toxicity when he did not aware Watford a stone-cold penalty. He suspected, as did many others, that the award of a penalty would have sparked a pitch invasion.

“When that becomes the norm for Luton fans, it is a bridge too far.”

Striker Gifton Noel-Williams was on the bench in 1997, replacing Ronnie Rosenthal in the second half: “With how it’s been going recently, I wasn’t expecting that sort of scoreline on Sunday at all. I thought beforehand that it was the sort of game that could make or break the season, and by winning so well the manager has probably bought himself about ten more games at least.

“It’s always nice to get one over the old enemy and the manager will be able to tell the players to remember Luton all the time because that wasn’t just a brilliant win, it was a brilliant win against Luton.

“My main memory of that 1997 win at Kenilworth Road was that I was upset to be left out of the team. I was only 17 and I was in my teenage phase! The gaffer brought in Dai Thomas, and he had an excellent game and scored, so once I’d got over it I was like ‘ok, fair enough, that worked’.

“I think GT felt the pressure and atmosphere at Luton might be too much for me at such a young age, which was quite funny because he played me on the last day of the season when we won at Fulham to go up and I scored. But he knew what was doing, I had faith in the gaffer.

“I do remember it being a great day though. The players and fans were really tight around that time, and everyone was buzzing about the derby before we played, and then all of us were over the moon with how it went.”