Technical headaches, a chat with an England international and prep time

Watford’s home game with Ipswich served as a reminder that our broadcasts are only ever subject to the technology that connects us from our location back to the studio actually working!

For no reason that has yet been unearthed, a number of the ISDN lines (the phone lines that radio broadcasters use) at Vicarage Road decided not to work and it didn’t matter how hard various staff at Watford FC worked, the lines weren’t going to play ball.

This meant that there were more broadcasters than lines in use so in the end priority had to be given to those of us who were there to provide full match commentary, namely the two local BBC stations and also Five Live Sports Extra. Talksport’s Ian Abrahams drew the short straw and had to provide his match updates from his mobile phone. Fortunately that has never happened to me yet, but it just proves that you have to be ready for anything in this game!

Before kick-off I managed to secure an interview with Middlesex and England fast bowler Steve Finn, who played his club cricket for Langleybury and is a Watford supporter. He jets off with the England squad today as they look to defend the Ashes down under this winter and was taking the opportunity to watch the Hornets for the last time before he had to report for duty!

Here are some snippets from the interview:

When did you first start coming to

Vicarage Road

?

“I have been watching football here since about 1996 when I was seven I think. My first game was a 6-3 win against Grimsby! I sat in the Family Stand and Watford is quite close to my heart, I’ve always had the shirts and stuff since I was younger.”

Were you a regular here then and I guess you saw the successive promotions in 1998 and 1999?

“I had a season ticket from 1999 through to about 2004 I think and then obviously cricket and playing every Saturday I couldn’t come and watch the amount of games that I would have liked to, especially being away in the winter but I have really enjoyed watching Watford FC over the last few years.”

Who were your Watford heroes when you were watching?

“I remember Craig Ramage was a big player and Tommy Mooney, Kevin Miller in goal, all those guys back in 1996 when I think they were playing and also the guys that have played more currently certainly.”

Do you keep in touch with what’s going on at Watford now?

“Yeah I do, every now and again people update me on Twitter all the time about what’s going on at Watford FC and I have been following closely and it’s been going well this season so far”

Playing for England now is all a far cry from your days at Langleybury?

“It’s a totally different stage but you are just playing a game of cricket and I just try and enjoy it as much as I did when I played at Langleybury. I thoroughly enjoyed it at Langleybury, everything I did and I still go down there now and again and they have made me an honorary life vice-president I think so I am down there a lot and that is a place very close to my heart”

The England squad depart for Australia shortly and I can foresee some late nights/early mornings to try and watch as much of the action as possible coming up in the next three months!

As well as commentating on the matches, at

Vicarage Road

I conduct a pre-match interview with a former Watford player in the Legends Lounge and ahead of the Scunthorpe match the guest was former goalkeeper Steve Sherwood. Steve is gentle giant of a man and spoke very openly about his career, including of course ‘that’ goal in the 1984 FA Cup Final. However, we also spoke about his goal at Coventry and he told us how he also very nearly scored at

White Hart Lane

in similar fashion against Ray Clemence’s Tottenham!

As I write today I am also preparing my notes and statistics ahead of the weekend’s trip to Derby. This involves preparing a page of notes on each Derby player, team news, statistics such as the recent records of both teams, and Watford’s record on Derby soil. I also have a spreadsheet of statistics on every Watford player which I update after each game. All being well, Adrian Mariappa will be making his 100^th consecutive start of his Watford career tomorrow which is a fine achievement.

Travel arrangements also have to be made and confirmation received from Derby that they will let us into the ground! I also speak to my co-commentator ahead of the game, sometimes to arrange where to meet although this week it will be at the ground as Craig Ramage lives only a few minutes from Pride Park, and also to have a chat about anything that we should or would like to discuss on air during the game.

Once this all done, bags are packed and we are ready to hit the motorways once more. Next week I’ll reflect on the trip to Derby and also the fans forum which I am hosting at

Vicarage Road

on Monday night.

Pompey Chimes Still Ringing

It was a bright and chilly morning as I met my travelling companions in Hemel Hempstead ahead of a trouble free journey down to the South Coast and Fratton Park.

We were a short way down the M3 when we heard that the other car of regular Watford press followers had just arrived in Portsmouth at 11.30! Now I like to be early but I don't think I have managed to make it that early yet for an away trip!

We headed straight for the ground when we arrived at around 12.45 and after being asked for £10 to park in the main car park, found a free alternative which was reserved for press and other guests about 200 yards away. It was there that my summariser for the day, former Hornets striker Colin West, and I spotted another former Hornet, David Byrne, in his car so we spent a few minutes chatting with him. Both Colin & Budgie are looking to get back into coaching or managerial positions in football so it was very interesting hearing about the various clubs they had approached and which managers and coaches they are in touch with about working with in the future.

The press room at Pompey has been upgraded since I was last there, the press box hasn't. However, the facilities were more than adequate and the view, right at the back of the main stand, was ok although the low roof meant that we did lose sight of the ball from goal kicks! Pies were the order of the day in the press room pre-match but I didn't indulge as it was a bit of a walk from the press room which is actually outside the ground, up to the press box and time was moving on towards the start of our Three Counties programme. As I was setting my equipment up I was joined by Steve May from Five Live and resident of Bricket Wood although he wouldn't confirm whether that meant Watford were his team! He was waiting for the Watford team to arrive as a live interview had been arranged with Malky Mackay before 2pm.

We then heard that the team coach was stuck in traffic but they still arrived in good time and Malky fulfilled his promise and conducted the interview live at the back of the stand before heading back to the dressing rooms to prepare for the game.

There were a number of overhanging TV screens above us in the press box which were tuned to Soccer Saturday so we had good access to all the latest scores on what was a barmy day for goals and some amazing comebacks!

Our game was full of excitement, the type of game that is a great to commentate on. No sooner had the second-half swung in Watford's favour that Pompey hit back and went back in front. Despite all the entertainment some fans in front of us, who had earlier arrived late, felt it was best to leave before the end! When they first arrived they found others already in their seats so everyone had to stand up, including us as our view was then blocked. They also left early at half-time and were late back for the second-half! But they were no less passionate than their fellow fans as they celebrated Pompey's goals vigorously each time, they obviously just were only interested in watching 80 or so minutes of action!

Full-time and I headed pitch-side to conduct the post-match interviews. As the various broadcasters (tv and radio) were all waiting for the managers and players to emerge, the rain started to fall and the temperature plummeted - I could barely feel my fingers when the time came to press record on my kit as Malky Mackay approached. We headed for the manager's dug-outs where I was joined by reporters from BBC London and Talksport. I had just asked my second question when Malky stopped his answer as there was a Portsmouth official edging closer as if he was attempting to listen in on the interview. He was ushered away and we began the interview again - an interrupted interview doesn't make good radio!

I then grabbed an interview with goalscorer Stephen McGinn, who spoke really well and he was quick to mention the fabulous travelling support, praise the contribution of the 'wee man' Michael Bryan, as well as his frustration at conceding an equaliser so soon after his strike had put his side ahead. I also asked if he had been trying to copy his Scottish U-21 colleague Chris Maguire's goal direct from the kick-off a few days earlier in their Euro Qualifier play-off game - he said he felt you would need a lot of courage as well as ability to try something like that and that he would be one of the first to be shouting at a colleague who tried it and it didn't come off!

Both interviews were played out on the Three Counties programme before we went off air at 6pm and then I made my way back to the warmth of the press room. Colin was deep in conversation with former Pompey midfielder Alan McLoughlin, who had been working for a local radio station for the game (as had fellow ex-Pompey captain Andy Awford), and others were busy filing reports for newspapers or editing photos to submit to club websites and the Sunday papers.

Fratton Park is a ground that hasn't seen much development over the years and still retains that feel of yesteryear. The atmosphere generated is much vaunted and it didn't let us down on the day. Some of it's history is still visible such as the picture below which I was told dates back to around 1960.

Since the game, Portsmouth have been back in the headlines and we now know that their future is safeguarded in the short-term at least. There wasn't much evidence of the turmoil they were in on our visit and in fact one fan told me that the local newspaper had run two stories the day before the game - one about the club failing to come out of administration and the other with a list of players that the club were set to sign!

It's good news for Pompey fans that they can look forward now but their plight has left many out of pocket and let's hope that this situation is a wake-up call to all concerned that football must get it's house in order otherwise the future is bleak.

Thanks for reading, my next offering will include dealing with some technical issues at Vicarage Road,some thoughts on Watford from England fast bowler (& Watford fan) Steven Finn who I interviewed prior to the game at home to Ipswich and a look ahead to the forthcoming trip to Derby County.

Saturday in the Steel City

Last weekend took us to Bramall Lane, the home of Sheffield United. I must confess that this is one of my favourite grounds to visit as a reporter and that is not only because there is a really good fish and chip shop outside the ground!

It wasn't an overly early start to the day, although having to drag myself away from the Ryder Cup on television was tough! My pre-match planning worked well as having met up with former Hornet Craig ramage in Derby mid-morning, we arrived in Sheffield at around 12.30 which meant there was time to pay a visit to the Bramall Lane chippy!

Now I am always getting stick for being boring and only ever choosing plain old cod and chips, but I like it and that is what I went for again. Craig did remark that my small portion of fish looked more like the size of a goldfish but it tasted good and set me up for the afternoon's action. Mushy peas and gravy on top of his fish and chips were the order of the day for our former midfielder by the way!

I like getting to grounds early, sometimes ridiculously early but apart from Hull this season, traffic problems have prevented me from being as early and as organised as I like to be. However, Saturday was perfect timing and I made the climb up to the gantry which sits under the roof of the main stand at Bramall Lane at around one o'clock to set up my equipment and talk to the studio to get any instructions for the afternoon ahead. The view is excellent, albeit we were positioned just level with the penalty area towards the home fans which actually turned out to be perfect for seeing Danny Graham's run which led to Marvin Sordell's winning goal. However, to get an even better view Craig & I decided to stand up throughout the game.

It was then back downstairs to the press room to talk to various people where possible and get some early team news. I try and get hold of team news before our sports programme starts at two o'clock as then I can get all my notes arranged in good time before kick-off. That often means a chat with the opposition's reporter or commentator to get confirmation of formations and I reciprocate accordingly. I think Craig was looking a little nervous pre-match so it also gave me, and others, chance to talk to him and outline what he should focus on during the game.

Just before kick-off at Bramall Lane, the home fans blast out their Greasy Chip Butty anthem which is a great tradition and one I hope continues for a long time yet. They used to print the words on the team sheets but not this season however it is basically a Sheffield United version of John Denver's "You Fill Up My Senses". I recall a few seasons back, towards the end of the Premier League season, former Blade Bob Booker led the singing and was actually still on the pitch as the teams kicked off singing into the microphone!

For the first half at least, I had internet access which meant I could get goal news from elsewhere around the country and keep up to date with the Ryder Cup, which seemed to be going USA's way midway through the afternoon. The wireless connection packed up during the half-time break which meant the guys back at the studio were feeding score updates in my headphones during the second-half.

As with all our summarisers, Craig demonstrated how much he wanted Watford to win with a clenched fist and punch of the air at full-time. He had revealed earlier how he had coached Jordon Mutch when the on-loan midfielder was at Derby before moving to Birmingham. Mutch was coached at Derby by Terry Westley when Craig first got involved with coaching. When Westley moved to St Andrews he persuaded Mutch to join him. Craig is of course taking all the credit for Mutch's development however!

Craig was suitably impressed with what he had seen, both from Mutch and the rest of the team, and was also mightily relieved to have seen Watford win at last! He came to Derby and Sheffield Wednesday with me last season which both ended in defeat and also was at Vicarage Road earlier this season when Leeds won 1-0. He is allowed back again now and we'll hopefully see him at the Derby game in a couple of weeks time.

Post-match interviews were my next job after the full-time whistle and at Bramall Lane broadcasters head for the players tunnel and loiter with intent outside the dressing rooms, trying either to avoid club press officers so they can grab players for interviews, or speak very nicely to them with our requests for interviews!

Scott Loach was, as always, one of the first to emerge and I was able to get an interview with him in which he praised his team-mates for battling for the whole 94 minutes and also mentioned how pleased he was to get a win and clean sheet at this ground in particular as it didn't hold great memories for him as he suffered a nasty injury a couple of seasons ago here.

The Watford team coach was, by this time, parked at the entrance to the stand and tunnel ready for the players to board for the journey back south. There were family and friends of players from both sides waiting there too along with a small group of very excited and jubilant Watford supporters who greeted every single player with their own song, some of which could be heard towards the end of my interview with Scott!  Myself and a colleague even tried our luck at getting a song sung for us as we walked out but alas it wasn't to be! Were you one of those fans, would be great to hear from you?!

Whilst waiting for Malky Mackay I was also able to grab interviews with Troy Deeney and Adrian Mariappa, both of which were filmed and can now be seen via the club website! In the meantime, the manager had been escorted pitch-side for the obligatory tv interviews so I then made my way back upstairs to intercept him before he went into the press room to address the written press. We conducted our interview on the stairs, stepping aside at one point mid-interview to allow Gary Speed to pass on his way back downstairs!

It was then a sprint (well, for me it was a sprint!) back to the gantry to tell the studio what interviews I had and for them to tell me what they wanted. We always play the manager interview and that is done by me pressing play on my recorder as if it is live, so it is always unedited. Time had run out for any of the player interviews to be aired on the show before six so I sent those down the studio after the programme and they record them for use later in the week and online.

So another three points in the bag as we headed back south and sent Craig back off to Derby. I will spare his blushes about getting back to his car in the Sheffield car park! Just before we left the tv in the press room gave us even more good news as it showed an all blue scoreboard from Celtic Manor as Europe battled back in the Ryder Cup.

Back home in time for Match of the Day and the Football League show, but with two weeks to fill before the next game. Not having a day job at the moment means plenty of time for prep before the games start coming thick and fast before Christmas!

I hope this gives a little insight into what goes on during matchdays and in future weeks, I plan to continue to tell you about my experiences from the games I cover but also will grab some views of other reporters and former players to get their opinions on their trips to Vicarage Road, and their views on the games they have seen.

Thanks for reading!

An introduction

Hi there,

Thanks for coming to have a look at my new blog! I hope I can encourage you to come back again by what you read below.

I currently commentate on Watford for BBC Three Counties Radio and Hornets Player via http://www.watfordfc.com/ and I will be sharing what life is like in the press box and on the motorways on a Saturday and Tuesday following the Hornets around the country!

As this is my first post then I'll tell you a little bit about me and how I got to be commentating in the first place. I guess deep down this is always what I wanted to do but its only in the last few years that I have been able to realise my 'dream'. I still have plenty of work to do however as I don't do this full-time yet so until I make that happen I won't have fulfilled my goal.

I got my break in 2005 when, thanks to a good friend putting me forward, I began providing some telephone score updates for Mercury FM in Watford from matches at Vicarage Road. That season ended in promotion to the Premier League of course and a chance meeting with another reporter in the players tunnel gave me a new break. I was contacted by BBC London 94.9 and for the next couple of seasons I travelled the country to most matches to provide match updates and goal news. It also was my first exposure to post-match interviews!

Going to every game meant I began to meet more people and that helped in my next move. I had become a member of the regular travelling party to away games that consisted of the Three Counties commentary team of Simon Oxley and Neil Price so I was in the right place at the right time when the opportunity arose to become the Watford commentator. It didn't take me long to think about my answer when I was asked if I was interested!

My first commentary game was broadcast on the Internet at home to Preston on Saturday, October 4th 2008. My first radio commentary was a memorable one as Watford won 3-0 at Southampton in a game that saw Hornets keeper Richard Lee save two first-half penalties!

So I have just completed two years as a commentator and it goes without saying that I absolutely love it. I still have lots to learn and I try to take something from every commentary that I do and improve on it next time.

The regular co-commentator of six years, Neil Price, had to stand aside earlier this year so I have had to get used to working with a variety of new co-commentators since. However, this has also meant that I have got to meet a number of former players that I used to watch from the stands which makes me incredibly lucky.

It's very important for me not to become complacent or take this role for granted. I look forward to every game that I do, whether it's at Vicarage Road or a wet Tuesday night 200 miles away! Long may it continue and in future posts I hope to bring our matchdays to life with an insight into what actually goes on in the press box to bring the matches onto the airwaves.

I'd be delighted to answer any questions you may have and don't forget, you can follow me on Twitter at jonmwfc.