Three of the Watford players that were part of the team which won the 1999 Championship play-off to reach the Premier League for the first time returned to the town yesterday to officially unveil a new mural commemorating that famous day.
Robert Page, who was captain, goalkeeper Alec Chamberlain and Nick Wright, scorer of a stunning overhead kick on that famous May afternoon at the old Wembley stadium, were on hand to see their own images as well as those of some of their teammates and legendary manager Graham Taylor.
The underpass, which provides a path under the ring road, connecting The Crescent and Pump House Crescent, is now resplendent in the yellow, red and black of the Hornets, and shows in a cartoon-style many of the key moments of the 2-0 win over Bolton Wanderers which was 25 years ago.
It is one of a number of murals now around the town, which have been designed and delivered by Murwalls, a company that specialises in large art installations.
Other examples of their work can be seen inside and outside Vicarage Road Stadium, including a large picture of Elton John on the side of a stand, a portrait of Taylor on side of a building opposite Watford Hospital and an image of the club’s greatest every player, Luther Blissett, in one of the concourses.
The football club have collaborated with Murwalls, Watford Council and Herts County Council to install the artwork which has turned otherwise bland walls – and now an underpass – into bright and interesting pieces of art which capture some of the town’s biggest footballing heroes.
After officially unveiling the new mural, many of the dignitaries then went to watch the Hornets beat Sunderland 2-1 at Vicarage Road.
Watford took the lead through Festy Ebosele and, after Sunderland equalised early in the second half, won the game through a late penalty from Tom Dele-Bashiru.
Watford now sit seventh in the Championship league table, and play away at Preston North End on Wednesday (October 2).
In the main picture are Richard Roberts (leader of Herts County Council), Marc Silver (found and CEO of Murwalls), Alec Chamberlain, Nick Wright, Robert Page, Terry Douris (chairman of Herts County Council) and Peter Taylor (mayor of Watford).
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