It was a day that will never be forgotten by anyone connected to Watford Football Club.
Monday May 31, 1999, is a date forever etched in the minds of the fans, players and staff who saw the club elevated to the Premier League for the first time with a 2-0 win over Bolton Wanderers in the Division One Play-Off Final at Wembley Stadium.
Each of us will have our own personal memories, feelings and thoughts about that day under the old twin towers.
But for the 14 players, it was a career-defining afternoon – and so we asked each of them for their recollections, emotions and stories, both from the game itself but also in the period leading up to it, and in the days afterwards.
Each player has written their own contribution after simply being asked to share whatever they wanted.
These then, in shirt number order, are the uniquely personal memories of the 14 Watford players from the day in May…
No1 - Alec Chamberlain: “In terms of the game at Wembley, personally the memory of my contribution to the day was the save from Eidur Gudjohnsen.
“However watching Wrighty’s overhead kick go sailing in over Cox’s head was obviously very special and set us on the road to victory.
“But really the moment for me was the final goal kick I took in that game.
“We’d gone 2-0 up, Bolton had tried a shot from distance and it flew over the bar. At that point I knew it was all over, we’d won! I took the goal kick and the final whistle went, that was the best feeling!
“Off the field, it was doing a live interview on BBC Three Counties radio I think next morning, from in the bath at Sopwell House when I was still pretty drunk!
“We’d been up until about 5 or 6 am, and this was about 8am! The interviewer didn’t believe I was in the bath, so I put the phone near the water and splashed around so he could hear the water!”
No.2 - Darren Bazeley: “The game itself is all a bit of a blur.
“I can remember walking out onto the pitch with all the noise and fireworks going off, with Graham (the boss) leading us out and the lads and feeling so calm and confident, I always walked out behind Chambo as a bit of a superstition.
“I remember standing for the National Anthem but then the game started and is all a bit of a blur apart from the recollections I have from watching the highlights etc.
“I remember Wrighty’s goal and thinking ‘wow what has he just done’!
“My next memory is just after the second goal where I remember not celebrating the actual goal alongside Stevie Palmer and just getting back into our own half and shape and reminding everyone to switch on and concentrate, I wish I’d celebrated that moment a bit more!
“Probably the biggest memory I have of the game is actually at the end and climbing the Wembley steps as a winner, something I’d always dreamed of doing having grown up watching FA Cup finals.
“I also don’t remember too much about the build-up to the game - must be getting old!
“I do remember a real confident feeling around the whole team, we had great team spirit and to be honest we knew we were going to win that day, and we were quite calm and relaxed going into the game.
“Immense credit must go to GT for creating that atmosphere, we also had a psychologist with us during that run-in, Ciaran, who always wore a pink shirt on match day. He had also helped us bond as a team.
“When I look back now I understand the level of cohesion, connection and understanding that we had in that team, we were potentially not the best team/players on that day and had no ‘names’ but there was so many players that had grown up together and played together for so many years that we just knew each and understood our roles so well. It feels like it was a culmination of quite a few years work coming together.
“I can see now that it was the best TEAM I ever played in and I am still so proud to have stood and played with those lads, GT and the staff, Kenny and Luther, during that time and achieved what we did. Great times.”
No.3 - Peter Kennedy: “From the game itself my main memory was just hearing that final whistle and experiencing all the emotions after.
“For that hour or two after as a group was something special and of course the supporters were unreal the whole season.
“Then there was the next couple of days celebrating with teammates, staff and family, which was great.
“And the celebrations with the supporters again is something I will never forget.”
No.4 - Robert Page: “The whole day itself was a memory that will stay with me forever.
“We didn’t know it at the time as nerves were the overriding emotion so you couldn’t really enjoy it too much but what unfolded in the end is one of the best moments of my footballing career.
“We all know how the game went. We were the underdogs and were expected to lose which I think helped us. It took some of the pressure off us in some respects.
“We rode our luck as we were up against a very good team but the two goals we scored were very special.
“Nick’s overhead kick was as good a goal you’ll ever see in a final and for Smarty to score late on and settle the game for us was also very special.
“I remember them having a few chances late on but again we dug deep.
“They had a shot from distance late on and I remember Chambo screaming ‘yes’ as he knew it was sailing over the bar. I then asked the ref how long was left while Chambo was preparing to take the goal kick and he said that time was up.
“It was then that I took time to look around at our supporters and really saw what we had achieved and what it meant.
“A very special moment.
“A funny story leading up to the final was the semi-final against Birmingham away, when I was taking a penalty in sudden death.
“I walked up very nervous as you can imagine, placed the ball on the spot and looked up to focus on the goal when I saw a Birmingham City supporter has pulled his trousers and pants down around his ankles and was smacking the cheeks of his backside.
“Thankfully I held it together and scored!”
No.5 - Steve Palmer: “I was clear in my mind that I wanted to try and remember as much of the day as I could.
“Mentally, I was still recovering from the highs and lows of the penalty shoot-out at Birmingham and if I’m totally honest the thought of having to repeat the exercise at Wembley was pretty terrifying!
“Ultimately, my recollections of the greatest day of my career are still clear so I guess my secondary aim for the day was also successful!
“In chronological order, a nervous morning was followed by a light lunch and then an amazing trip to Wembley.
“The journey from the much-name-changed second hotel on the A41 south of Watford - The Jarvis at that time - followed a route through Stanmore and Queensbury, and what seemed to me like (and to borrow a phrase!) the Yellow Brick Road.
“The closer we travelled to the famous twin towers the greater the intensity and density of the multitude of yellow shirt, scarves, and all things in Watford colours!
“Then to the walk out in line to the echoes of fireworks and Fat Boy Slim - amazing noise, atmosphere and sights – and read below for the follow up!
“The goals take care of themselves: great background stories for Alan and Nick.
“But at 2-0, I remember a Bolton shot in about the 88th minute which went over the bar. Alec appeared to match my thoughts with his reaction: we knew that it was incredibly unlikely that Bolton would now score two goals.
“And then the celebrations, and a reflective moment sitting on the Wembley pitch, captured on photo by the great Alan Cozzi and featured in the Four Seasons book, which more or less catalogues my Watford time.
“I was living at the top of the old school building on the Reids Estate behind Watford Junction station at that time.
“Graham had ensured that all player contracts contained the requirement to live within 20 miles of the stadium, and this was my bolthole!
“About a month or so after that day, it was a Saturday evening during pre-season and despite our successes, the training regime was intense.
“So, an early night was needed: it was a warm summer evening and the Velux windows were all wide open.
“I was roused from my slumbers by the echoes of Fat Boy Slim and fireworks. Slightly confused, I went back to sleep, to wake up again to the sounds of a football crowd noise.
“Awake now and intrigued, I wondered through the apartment trying to find the source of the noise.
“The mystery was solved by peering out of the window to clearly hear the sounds of a TV repeating the Wembley Play Off win watched by a group of celebratory Watford fans.
“The greatest day…….”
No.6 - Paul Robinson: “Leading up to the day it was all nervous excitement. Plus there was the anticipation of maybe not playing because Gibbo had played in the semi-final second leg.
“That’s when, as a player, you can see you might not get the opportunity to play at Wembley.
“GT kept faith with me which meant Gibbo ended up missing out. We shared a lovely moment at the end of the game – and it’s one of my biggest memories – just hugging each other and celebrating together.
“I also had Nigel’s Dad, Dennis, as my first coach so playing alongside him was amazing.
“That’s what team spirit is all about and what you do for your teammates when you’ve had great success over the season.
“Lifting the trophy at Wembley with my mates was a memory I’ll never forget.
“I didn’t get to celebrate too much because I had to shoot off and go away with England Under-21s, which again for me was another fantastic achievement.
“That season was very special for me.”
No.7 - Michel Ngonge: “What can I say?
“To be part of playing, living and just being involved in such a game is something that, to be honest, you only truly understand after.
“You need to realise after the emotions you have been through. It was an emotion, you know, that only comes one time in your life.
“It makes me proud even now because I have realised now that we gave happiness to a lot of people.
“Graham Taylor told us before the game: 'Guys, if you win today you will become ‘legends’.
“We didn’t understand what he was taking about really then, but now I can explain those feelings.
“Another thing about Graham: he told us to be humble. I didn’t understand this either at that moment to be honest. But now I completely understand.”
No.8 - Micah Hyde: “l had all the emotions before the game that you would expect, nerves, anxious, excited.
“But my greatest memory was an overriding feeling of calmness and being in control in that final.
“Maybe that was because we had beaten them twice that season, with a 2-0 scoreline.
“In the build-up we were in the groove, l remember how strong our team spirit was and we were aligned in what we could achieve.
“Going into that game, there was an unbelievable inner belief and confidence we could be successful.
“Afterwards, the joy we brought to our families, fans, the club and the area was really something special.”
No.9 - Tommy Mooney: “It’s tough to pick highlights.
“Putting my medal around my Dad’s neck and hugging my Mam after the game in the lounge was very special to me.
“The fear I had of missing the penalty at St Andrews, and us not getting to Wembley and letting everyone down is something I’ve never experienced again thankfully.
“Especially after my goals during the run-in – it would have ruined me!”
No.10 - Richard Johnson: “My greatest memory was walking out of the tunnel onto the pitch and seeing my Mum and Dad in the stands.
“I’d always dreamt of playing at Wembley and they were there to see it.
“Off the pitch and after the game, the feeling sinking in and realising that I would be playing in the Premier League. It was a dream come true.”
No.11 - Nick Wright: “What else could it be for me…it’s the goal!
“Peter took an in-swinging corner with his ‘wand’ of a left foot, Pagey, Palms, Tommy and Michel all attacked the first ball, but it was headed up and away by Andy Todd from inside the six-yard box.
“My position was on the corner of the 6-yard box, ready for the second phase of play.
“As the ball looped up into the air, I took a couple of steps away from goal and took off to attempt the ‘overhead kick’; it was an instantaneous reaction, there wasn’t enough time to think.
“I made excellent contact with the ball and knew it was heading towards goal. I quickly turned, whilst on the floor, to see the ball evade the goalkeeper and the defenders on the line and go into the top corner of the net.
“The feeling was incredible, scoring the best goal of my life in the most important game I played in!!
“My most significant memory away from the pitch was in training the week before the game.
“I went to shoot, Micah clipped me from behind which resulted in me missing the ball and taking an air shot. I felt something in my groin. I didn’t tell anyone.
“I took anti-inflammatory pills and painkillers and did my own fitness test to ensure I could still sprint, jump and turn. I was desperate to play – luckily it felt ok, so I played in the game.
“After the celebrations had died down, I had an x-ray and a scan which showed that, during the incident in training, a piece of bone had been torn away from my pelvis where the tendon attaches (an avulsion fracture).
“If the scan had occurred before the game, I wouldn’t have played.”
No.12 - Allan Smart: “My biggest memory of the game itself was my goal for obvious reasons. I had fulfilled a boyhood dream.
“Afterwards at Sopwell House, celebrating with the team on the dance floor as a group with the soundtrack (Everything I Do by Bryan Adams) was very special.
“We had used that song for the last month prior to every game.
“That day was the last time we all played together which had made the moment fairly poignant.”
No.13 - Chris Day: “On the day my best memory is probably the second goal and the release of tension and emotions from everyone associated with us that day in the ground, the squad and, probably thinking about it, people watching from afar!
“There was the after-party at Sopwell House, and then after that we all got refused entry to Kudos as we were an all-male group!
“Dressed in suits with all the guys in the pond was superb, and the event at hotel was fab sharing it with everyone who worked at the club ….
“The open-top bus was amazing too and both events had a lot of love and smiles associated.”
No.14 - Alon Hazan: “The biggest moment on the day of the game for me was to come onto the pitch and see the yellow colour all around.
“That was a great push for us to realise that this is our day.
“My memory before the game was a meeting between all of the players where we took turns to speak about why Watford should be the team to reach the Premier League.
“For me, as a foreign player, to have the chance to speak from my heart and see the eyes of my friends – it said ‘let’s play now’. We all knew that we were focussed.”
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