Watford pays tribute to legendary reporter in Blackburn Rovers draw

The Hornets paid touching tributes to the Watford Observer’s legendary club correspondent Oliver Phillips after he died peacefully at his home in France at the age of 81.

The front cover, and the early pages, of the matchday programme were dedicated to the journalist who covered more than 2,000 Watford matches in his rich and distinguished career, while his image appeared on the big screens at half-time with these words:

Oliver Phillips

1941-2023

The Watford Observer’s finest

A legend of local journalism

Members of Oli’s family and his close friend and this newspaper’s current Watford Observer correspondent Andrew French spoke lovingly of the former sports editor during the interval of the 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers.

Members of Oli's family as Andrew French speaks affectionately about his late close friend and colleague. (Image: Alan Cozzi / Watford FC)

Oli also received another warm ovation from the fans when his image reappeared on the screens in the 81st minute.

The matchday programme contained tributes from his great friend and Hornets legend Ross Jenkins and, as we reported on Saturday, Sir Elton John.

The tribute to Oli on the front cover of Saturday's programme. (Image: Anthony Matthews)

Chairman and chief executive Scott Duxbury also spoke warmly of Oli's legacy in his programme notes.

He said: “The ownership change here which allowed me to join Watford Football Club came too late for me to enjoy a direct working relationship with Oli, although I was pleased to meet him at a few events – not least of which was one of our End-of-Season Awards evenings whereupon he explained how much he’d enjoyed his relationship with Graham Taylor and how journalism in football and its resultant non-stop coverage had changed to such a degree that he was quite happy to be watching on from the sidelines, so to speak, while enjoying his retirement in rural France.

The big screen tribute to Oli at half-time. (Image: Anthony Matthews)

“It’s interesting to consider that, little more than 20 years ago, the only information our club’s supporters could expect to read about life here on and off the pitch was through the local weekly newspaper. Times have changed – and perhaps now football itself suffers from a saturation of coverage, not all of it of the quality of Oli’s work carried out so diligently for the decades he spent writing about the fortunes of this club.

“In fact, I recall Oli pointing out that the town’s population had never reached a point where a daily newspaper was considered a viable option by publishers.

“Perhaps that’s a reminder, were it needed, that the achievements of Watford FC have often far over-reached what might be expected from a football club within a town of its size.”

The entrance to the Oliver Phillips Media Suite in Occupation Road. (Image: Alan Cozzi / Watford FC)

Prior to Oli’s passing, it was announced the media suite at Vicarage Road would be named in his honour.

Saturday was the first opportunity journalists had to work in the Oliver Phillips Media Suite on a matchday, with his image looking down on those who continue to write and report on the fortunes of the club he covered with such dedication and devotion for so many years.