Mooney, Chamberlain and ex-editor in tributes to Watford correspondent

This newspaper’s former assistant editor and legendary Watford FC reporter passed away peacefully last Thursday at his home in France at the age of 81.

Since then, we have been inundated by tributes for Oli and more can be read below: Even before I became Editor in 1987, working in the newsroom if its sister paper, the Hendon Times, I was in awe at seeing the volume of words produced by this guy called Oliver Phillips at Watford.

I subsequently found out that this ability was a trait of many sports journalists I encountered during my editing career, but Oli topped the lot of them.

His layout skills left a lot to be desired, but, boy, could he write! For Oli, the word was king - substance over style. Mind you, that would often create challenges for whoever was editing his copy.

He’d write 1,000 words and then know if a sub-editor had cut as few as ten of them. Oli had a photographic memory that never ceased to amaze me.

He was a terrific ambassador for the Watford Observer, with his coverage of Watford Football Club helping the newspaper buck downward circulation trends across the industry.

“Keeping the revolution hot” was one his favourite phrases and Oli certainly practised what he preached.

Already known for his incisive coverage and encyclopaedic knowledge of Watford FC, he stepped back from editing the sports desk to become one of the town’s foremost historians.

It was a pleasure collaborating with him over the three-volume Watford in the 20th Century series and the special issue of The Watford Observer produced to mark the millennium.

We stayed in touch after leaving the newspaper, from being colleagues to becoming old friends, always meeting for a pint and a chat when he returned from France at Christmas We’d spend hours reminiscing about the Watford Observer and discussing all things Americana, as we had both travelled extensively in the USA.

Oli was a larger than life character, a giant of a man, an unmistakable character, particularly when wearing that trademark Stetson hat of his. I’ll miss his friendship greatly.

Peter Wilson-Leary – former Editor, The Watford Observer

Oli making a presentation to Tommy Mooney at the end of season awards. (Image: Courtesy of the Phillips family)

I was so sad to hear the news that Oli had passed away, and can only send my deepest condolences to his family and friends at what is a difficult time for all I’m sure.

I spent eight seasons at the club we love, whilst Oli was the words and voice of The Watford Observer, and we spoke after almost every one of my 250+ games.

We didn’t always share the same opinion and didn’t always see eye to eye, but we were always honest with each other, and I think developed a mutual respect for the difficulties in our respective roles . . . which always led to the firmest of handshakes and a knowing look in the eye.

I was honoured to receive trophies presented by Oli, which were always exchanged with words of wisdom from him, and a reminder from me that I bought his newspaper every Friday as part of my pre-match ritual, alongside having my car cleaned and buying cakes for the kids!

Superstitious behaviour was not lost on Oli, and came up in most conversations during our time together, and since.

The big fella was a successful man, loved by his family and friends whilst respected by many, and that for me encompasses a wonderful life.

Tommy Mooney – former Watford player

Oli was a great big guy who did things his own singular way. He would sit in the office, writing the most important bit of the paper, wearing a cap and a body warmer before disappearing off for a round of golf. He thought a curry was a perfectly reasonable regular lunchtime meal.

He decided that, rather than following the trail from local papers to Fleet Street, he would stay loyal to Watford. And thank goodness he did.

He had a cheerful voice that carried across the newsroom, but which would die down when he was on an important phone call - the manager or, once, in a while, Elton John calling from America.

He'd come off the phone, tell us the best bits and then start writing the story, whacking his unfortunate keyboard, staring in bewilderment at the computer mouse ("how does this even work”, he asked once, waving the mouse around in mid-air) and peering at his screen as the words appeared. He didn't like technology, but he did love writing.

In football, he knew everyone, and everyone knew him. Oli loved sport, journalism, community, friendship, spicy food, good stories and a well-brewed pint.

He and Terry Challis could talk for hours about almost anything, and it was a joy to sit within earshot and listen in.

Now they are both gone, and a little bit of colour has gone out of the world. And the colour, of course, was yellow.

Adam Parsons - former Watford Observer journalist and now Europe Correspondent for Sky News

I was one of several youngsters who answered the advert for 'trainee journalists' in the Watford Observer and first met Oli at my interview.

At well over 6ft 6in tall he was quite a daunting figure but I then spent the rest of my life enjoying his company, first as a colleague and later as a great friend.

He was a mentor to so many: Michael Calvin, Alan Lee, Gary McGowan, Spencer Robinson and me.

We all enjoyed his company, his advice and friendship. He obviously loved covering Watford FC and we all went along with his obsession.

He would travel to mid-week games in a black and yellow hand-painted van, bought from his old mate and cartoonist Terry Challis for £50. Yes, £50. It had over 100,000 miles on the clock but he would set off lunchtime on match days to places like Grimsby, Rochdale and Plymouth with a smile and a wave, arriving home in the early hours of morning and back typing up his match report at his desk by 9am.

He loved music and tried to convert us all to Bob Dylan and the sounds of the sixties. He introduced me to Indian curries and real ale.

Oli enjoyed living in Sarratt and once took us on what he called a 'real ale run', basically a pint of real ale in each of the pubs in Sarratt, Chipperfield, Flaunden and Bovingdon. None of us could stand up at the end of that adventure.

Oli was a great wordsmith and left a terrific legacy of work covering Watford FC. He will be remembered forever by those who knew him. A giant of a man in more ways than one.

Malcolm Vallerius - former Watford Observer Deputy Sports Editor, Head of Sport at the Mail on Sunday and now Associate Sports Editor at the Daily Telegraph

Oli at home in France. (Image: Family collection)

I went to Shirley House School, (late of Langley Road, Watford), when I was six in 1948 and Oliver (he wasn't known as Oli then!) became one of my best friends.

I was an only child and in those days you needed someone to play Board/Card games etc., so we spent many days during the holidays playing together and I recall he liked writing poetry and somewhere I have one of his poems in my then autograph book.

We kept in touch when he moved to near Sarratt and we both campaigned to try and get some stupid bollards removed from the road, in front of his property, which caused him to be regularly bothered having to deal with drivers who hit them, especially when it was foggy or icy.

We also had a mutual friend in Bob Nunn, who ran a photographic shop in Watford and who loved taking pictures of Watford. We lost touch on a regular basis when he moved to France.

He was very kind to my son, just over 20 years ago, and through his contacts at the WO got him given two weeks work experience, visiting Vicarage Road and interviewing WFC staff and players.

I was so sorry to read of his passing away, as we were very close as children and he was a unique person in so many ways. He will be sorely missed.

Anthony Gould, friend from school and into later life

From the first time I met Oli one thing was crystal clear - Watford was running through him like a stick of rock. Not just for his glorious Golden Boys, his passionate legacy to them well documented and very visible but Oli also loved our town and its people. It seems he was at every important event and cultural activity going on. Usually accompanied by his close friend Grelle White who also wrote for the WOBS.

Even when he made his big move away to France he returned to check up on us all and he made an effort to keep in touch.

I read and enjoyed his Watford series of books - he was an engaging writer with an eye for a strong narrative which pulled the randomness of Watford life together in a fascinating way .

It was obvious that he could have had a national journalistic career but in some ways l'm not surprised because he was a very kind, good and gentle man who might not have enjoyed the cut throat world of 'Fleet Street'. I will be one of many who were glad he stuck with us Watfordians!

Baroness Dorothy Thornhill – former Elected Mayor of Watford

Oli was a tremendous help and source of information whilst I was researching ‘From Father to Son’, my personal account of supporting Watford from the 60s through to the Graham Taylor glory years.

During the Covid pandemic of spring 2020 I would often pester Oli via long-distance phone calls to his home in France. He always responded to my questions quickly and with kindness.

His account of dealing with former chairman Jim Bonser, Elton John and the circumstances surrounding how Graham Taylor became the Watford manager ahead of the original ‘favourite’ Bobby Moore were recounted with charm, honesty and good humour.

They don’t make them like Oli anymore! He will be sadly missed.

Paul Bishop, Watford fan and author

Oli Phillips was an integral part of Watford’s successful periods under Graham Taylor.

An honest and knowledgeable football man, his reports were always fair and an interesting read.

The Watford Observer had such close ties to the club in my time as a player, and that was largely down to Oli.

I was fortunate to be presented on the pitch with Player of the Season awards, and my 750th career game shirt, by Oli, special memories shared with a real Watford man. RIP Oli.

Presenting the Player of the Season trophy to Alec Chamberlain. (Image: Alan Cozzi / Watford FC)

Alec Chamberlain – former Watford goalkeeper

I used to listen to him in the 1970s on LBC radio eagerly awaiting updates on the Watford score, introduced as Oliver Phillips of the Watford Observer, usually down a crackly line, rustling his notes and invariably put on last, which was better than nothing.

I first met him and his wife Ellie on the Hornets pre-season tour of Norway in 1982 organised by Watford Football Club's Roger Fleming.

Not only was he a first-class sports reporter he could write interesting articles on just observances of the most mundane things and hum-drum activity.

I was fascinated to see him dictating his work down the phone line to the copy-taker with the odd misunderstanding and blip in what appeared in the paper.

By the time of the pre-season tour of neighbouring Sweden we'd struck up a friendship and embarked for there with Robert Smith with no plan I recall, other than to find somewhere to stay and hire a car to get to the games.

From there I seemed to graduate to getting a lift to away games in his slightly battered brown Peugeot estate which once broke down on the way Charlton Athletic in an inconvenient position near the Blackwall Tunnel.

Normally travelling companions were cartoonist Terry Challis, a gentleman called Tony Bouchard and Roger Aggett (often aptly referred to as Roger Negative in Oli's writing).

We'd get a pre-match curry in at whatever town we were visiting. The bill would be split according to everyone's order and cash would be parted with.

Then he'd let us know what we owed him in petrol as we neared home, which tended to be quite late as he'd had to attend the post-match press conference.

Oli was held in great regard for his detailed reporting of the club's affairs and matches spanning decades. The Watford Observer was required reading every Friday because of him.

He remained a big fish in a small pond, great contacts at the club, among the players and supporters, eschewing the bright lights of Fleet Street. He said to me once he didn't feel he'd like the cut and thrust so stayed local.

Of course, there were fall outs between the club and the Watford Observer and the paper was banned from the press box for a period or two I think!

I always used to enjoy the half-time penalty shoot-out the paper organised properly and too the presentation of the Watford Observer 'Player of the Season' award he compered and which took place on the pitch, about ten minutes before kick-off at the last home game with the trophy glistening on the table covered with a white linen cloth.

I had not realised how ill Oli was.

I for one was grateful to have known him and feel the loss alongside the town and the football club, but of course the family's loss is always the most acute and to them my sincere condolences.

Steve Cox – friend and former match-day travelling companion