Division 1 Playoff Final, 31/5/99
Watford 2(1)
Team: Chamberlain, Bazeley, Kennedy, Page, Palmer, Robinson, Ngonge, Hyde, Mooney, Johnson, Wright
Subs: Hazan (for Wright), Day, Smart (for Ngonge)
Scorers: Wright (38), Smart (89)
Bolton Wanderers 0(0)
 
Wembley's Way
Report by John Hamilton

Can't sleep...get up...9 hours still...telly on...'orns this...bolton that...still 9 hours...in the car...ribbons flying high...on the train...yorkshire 'orns on a mission...loads of bolton fans...no noise though...miserable perhaps?...should have gone up automatically really...expectations...spend the money...expect the success...gonna party..."whole town at wembley"...he's not wrong...Kings X...across to Euston...strange looks...what team?...you have to ask?...out to Wembley...now we're talking..."yooouuu ooorrnnnsss"...tickets please...on the stairs...in the foyer...on the street...middle of the road...christ we're everywhere...flags...cheap scarves...vultures feeding on success...probably Hammers...which way?...follow the crowd...you sure?...I thought we went this way last time...it was 15 years ago!...no this is right...wembley way...just like the telly...but yellow and red..."yeelllooowww"...1pm...meet the listees...christ that looks like Tony Daley...he's not playing then...injured?...nah just not needed...pity...there's Pete...Leo...Taz...ig...they're all here...bloody hell...look at the banner...750 names...can't find me...little 'un wants a flag...fiver?...bargain...better get to the seats...f*ck me its bigger than I remember...terrific seats...at least we can see...gradually filling up...here's Roger...and Graham...yorkshire hornets in force...players on the pitch...luther...good to see him there...missed out in '84...GT...God...suits...yellow carnation...kicking hallowed turf...bolton in tracksuits...just another game?...we'll see...Under 11's...what a day for them eh?...lost 1-0...soft goal lads...not an omen surely?...harry the hornet...good reception...stupid costume...where was old harry?...nervous now...can they do it?...here they come...just warming up...up and down...cheers all the time...waves...exercises...sprints...like racehorses in the parade ring...my moneys on the 'orns...what odds?...4-1 two weeks ago...z-cars...chills the spine...who'd have thought it...here they come...GT...God...are we going up?...whistle blows...nervous start...Taylor shoots...Alec well down...PK free kick...Mooney oh so close...long ball through...part clearance...shot...did Alec have it covered?...not so sure...another long ball...mix up...christ...how did they miss?...how DID they miss?...looking more composed now...them not me...nice work through the middle...Hyde and Johnno combining well..."one graham taylor, there's only one graham taylor"...Bazeley takes one on...through the legs of another...cross...cleared for a corner...PK...crossing well now...with the left...curled in...part cleared by Todd...YEESSSSSSS...what a goal... who was it?...hug...clap...cheer..flag wave...on the seats...lads on the ground...who was it?...can't hear the announcement...bloke behind says Wrighty...another say Ngonge...not much f*cking difference!!!..."one-nil, to the golden boys, one nil..."...Bolton attack from the restart...sh!t Robbo obstructs...gives the ref what for...beautiful free kick...Alec produces wundersave...ref demands retake...why ferchrissake??...Alec sets the wall...all to do again...what is the stat?...goals conceded from the restart?...this time charged down...danger over...first half over...mobile rings...missus can't put central heating on...its bloody June, woman...need a beer...15 minutes soon over...streaker...bloody hell lads...you don't get many of them to the pound...brave steward rugby tackling her...here they come again...look much better from the start...exploit the right...looking for Wrighty...taking left back apart every time...ball into Ngonge...deflected shot over...he's looked dangerous...running from deep...another bloody streaker...skinny bloke this time...ref stops the game...get him off...more attacks from Bolton...Page and Palmer awesome..."we are premier league I say..."...another attack...past Alec...running towards goal...clear it Pagey...nothing...BLOODY CLEAR IT PAGEY...nothing...it runs wide...he must have known...he must have bloody known...Hazan on...Hero Wrighty off...must be knackered...wonder if he puked like earlier in the season...Smart on Ngonge off...can he recapture early season form?...hard challenge by Smart...bollocking by the ref...he points to the bench...no sh!t OK?...another hard tackle...the boy's up for it...counter attack...PK...on his left...surely...shot wide...please don't let us regret it...ouch that tackle must have hurt...across to PK...RUN...Smarty's free...YES...YEESSSSSSSS...tears...yes definitely...tears...WAIT...remember Gillingham...surely not...not two days running...4 minutes of extra time..."are you watching L*ton Town?"...please...please...free kick...surely their last effort...into the wall...shot in...AHHHHHHHHHHH...Alec hangs from the bar...goal kick...ref looks at the watch...can't breath...looks again...going purple now...whistle to his mouth...looks again...YESSSSSSSSS...players on their knees...more tears...mad...bloody mad...grown men in tears...kids bewildered..."two-nil to the golden boys, two-nil..."...bolton fans stream out...bolton players troop off...up the steps...Page...shakes hands...looks like the FA Cup from here...ALOFT...YESSSSSSSS...cheer each hero...scoreboard..."congratulations on promotion to the Premiership - Watford"...oh yes...f*cking yes...lap of honour...slowly...each player...there's Gibbo...Bonnot...one GT...God...look at him...lap it up...enjoy it GT...you deserve it..."one Graham Taylor, there's only one Graham Taylor"...finally leave...singing all the way to the station...look at the queue...thank christ we're going south...Trafalgar Square?...why not...bemused tourists...videos at hand...what going on?...Chelsea fans...Arsenal fans...Tottenham fans...what was the score?...well done...see you at Stamford Bridge next year...sh!t...what have we done?...can we do it?...stay up I mean...christ it goes on...five year plan...blown in two years...what next...survival surely...thank heavens for GT...God!