Watford FC 2019-20 Matchday Programme #15 – Leicester City

L EICES T E R C I T Y 20.06.20 / 12.30PM / £3.50

GAMEDAY

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WAT F O R D V L E I C E S T E R C I T Y 2 0 . 0 6 . 2 0

Football’s back, but not as we know it.

After a break of more than three months due to the coronavirus pandemic, Premier League football is again on the agenda for Watford, who host Leicester City in the first of nine crucial behind-closed-doors games between now and the season’s finale on Sunday July 26.

You might not be with us in person, but we know your support will be as loyal and unswerving as ever as you cheer on your Hornets heroes from the

safety of your own home.

Recent times have provided yet more evidence of the thriving Watford FC community that we are all so proud to be a part of – a community built upon the principles the late, great Graham Taylor pioneered as he set about creating ‘The Original Family Club’.

We look forward to welcoming you back to our Vicarage Road home when it is safe to do so, but in the meantime, thank you for your valued support.

CLUB DIRECTORY & OFFICIALS

PEOPLE

OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

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The views in this programme are not necessarily the views of Watford Football Club. Material in this programme is copyrighted and may only be reproduced with the written permission of Watford Football Club.

CLUB HONOURS Football League: First Division – Runners-Up 1982/83 Second Division – Runners-Up 1981/82, 2014/15; Play-Off Winners 1998/99, 2005/06 Third Division Champions 1968/69, 1997/98; Runners-Up 1978/79 Fourth Division Champions 1977/78; Promoted 1959/60 (4th) FA Cup: Runners-Up 1984, 2019 FA Youth Cup: Winners 1982, 1989; Runners-Up 1985

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Contributors Kevin Affleck, David Anderson, Katie Barr, Alex Bennett, Troy Deeney, Shea Duffy, From the Rookery End, James Garrett, Sam Gillings, Joel Goldman, Kristian Hitchins, William Hodgins, Paul Levene, Dave Messenger, Peter Morgan, Alan Palmer, Nigel Pearson, Matt Rowson, Danny Varsalona, Mike Walters, Helen Ward Programme Editors Steve Scott, Richard Walker programme@watfordfc.com Programme Design Paul Tait, Sol Tomlinson Official Club Photographer Alan Cozzi Additional Photography Getty Images

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NIGEL’S N O T E S

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WE FEEL AS IF WE’RE IN A REALLY GOOD PLACE NOW AS A GROUP OF PEOPLE. IT’S HUGELY IMPORTANT TO US TO BE CLOSELY CONNECTED THROUGHOUT OUR SQUAD AND OUR STAFF, ALL WORKING REALLY CLOSELY TOGETHER

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know I’m writing these notes primarily for people who can’t be in the stadium with us today; our fantastic supporters.

It’s disappointing – but totally understandable right now – to be restarting our Premier League season in this way.

And before I write anything else, to give you a sense of how long we’ve been away, been in lockdown, describe it how you will, I’ve had an extract of my last programme notes which did actually go to print although they wouldn’t have been read.

These are from March the 13th, which just shows how long we’ve been dealing with – and continue to deal with – the threats posed by the coronavirus outbreak: Good afternoon to everyone reading these programme notes for today’s game.

Whoever you are, whatever team you’re cheering for or whether you’re here in a working capacity, the most important message today is that we should be taking care of ourselves and each other given the constantly developing situation with the coronavirus.

If that means we’re a few supporters down on our usual numbers in the stands today, then I totally understand that. And I know, wherever they’re watching or listening to the game, that they’ll be with us in spirit as we come up against an excellent team from a club I, of course, know very well from my time as manager at Leicester City.

From a very personal standpoint, I think Watford as a club has been exceptionally pro-active in everything it’s done to help its staff – all of the staff here, not just the football players and coaches – with making good decisions in the light of the information provided.

The wellbeing of people associated with our club is of primary importance for me.

I haven’t always been able to make it seem that way during the week because I’m torn between two duties; I’ve been acutely sensitive towards the wellbeing of people I work with and work for, but while also needing to concentrate on what needs to be done in a football sense in preparing for this match.

Much of what I wrote above is still wholly applicable today. I believe the club have done an outstanding job in caring for everyone who works for them – be they player or staff member – as well as caring for

the very important people who work closest to this stadium, and that’s the amazing folk at Watford General Hospital.

Having seen some of the footage of what staff and volunteer supporters have achieved inside this ground, and then spoken directly to some of our supporters who’ve lost loved ones to Covid-19, I have nothing but the utmost admiration for everyone who works for the NHS and for those caring for others or in key worker roles.

It’s been truly humbling to see this club show itself to be right at the heart of the community, living out the legacy of Graham Taylor’s family club drive many years ago.

I think all of this has put us in a position to start being ready for football again as early as we possibly could have. It’s set the right context for the current circumstances to be looked upon as exceptional.

We’ve had our say. We’ve allowed players to speak freely, to air their concerns.

And that comment applies not just to the return of football, but also to the Black Lives Matter campaign which I’ve seen our players talk extremely eloquently and passionately about.

And if you’re wondering whether this is something that only a few people in our world are right behind, take another look at today’s match programme front cover.

We feel as if we’re in a really good place now as a group of people. It’s hugely important to us to be closely connected throughout our squad and our staff, all working really closely together to get the best possible results for this fantastic club.

I’d like to welcome Brendan and his staff to Vicarage Road, as well as the squad of players – some of whom I know extremely well and have the utmost respect for.

It’s going to be a very different matter today than it might have been back in the middle of March, but no less competitive and important for the enforced delay.

To all of you reading these notes, wherever you’re following our team today, I hope you and your families are continuing to take care of each other and sending us all of your positive thoughts.

All the best for now,

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DEENEY

T R O Y

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H

ello to everyone who’s getting the chance to read these programme notes today. It’s a shame we haven’t got our fans with us here at The Vic, but I know everyone understands why.

I don’t think we can say it’s been an uneventful few weeks and months.

Everything that you could possibly talk about to do with football and the wider world seems to have been discussed and, you know what, coming back to playing the game this week, there seems a greater sense that – as a group of highprofile professional footballers – that we’ve perhaps been heard to a greater degree than at any time in my memory at least.

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THE HARD WORK STARTED THE DAY WE WERE LOCKED DOWN AT HOME MAKING SURE WE WERE IN THE BEST POSSIBLE SHAPE TO COME BACK. NOW WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO PROVE THAT OUR PREPARATIONS HAVE BEEN SPOT-ON… For the kind of things to have been agreed and signed off, put into action, decisions reversed by government, movements for good getting the attention they deserve; it’s been a very special time in many ways, but ironically built upon there not being any football because of a global pandemic and tragedy that has touched almost every family or group of friends.

I’m sure you know someone who has been affected, directly or indirectly, by this coronavirus outbreak, and if that’s really causing you distress and grief right now,

well I can only offer the thoughts and prayers of myself and everyone else at Watford in the hope that this offers just a little more comfort at a difficult time.

As not just football players but people with families and friends ourselves, we’ve all had our own concerns. What’s great here is that we have a club that encourages us to speak freely, without restraint or the fear of recriminations for giving open and honest opinions.

To speak openly about difficult issues actually means they don’t weigh as heavily on your mind and that helps make better decisions in the future, with more clarity to your thinking.

I’m proud of how our players and staff have supported the Black Lives Matter movement since George Floyd’s death a few weeks ago. Perhaps it’s the current circumstances at play as well, but I’m not sure I remember such a together group on a single issue.

The staff are right with us as well, which makes an even stronger message that we won’t just let this slip into the background as another group of sound bites at a moment in time.

Support from right across all genders, creeds and races only amplifies the message that people understand the need for change. I trust that we will be able to play our part – whatever size or shape that takes – in bringing about long-lasting positive impacts and positive changes within society.

So here we are, ready to go against Leicester and very much with our minds focused on what we’ve got to do as a squad of lads to get the job done and keep our club in the Premier League.

The hard work started the day we were locked down at home making sure we were in the best possible shape to come back. Now we have the chance to prove that our preparations have been spot-on by putting on a proper performance to get us moving up that table.

Wherever you are, I’m sure we’ll feel that you’re with us in spirit today.

Cheers for now,

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VOICE OF THE VICARAGE ALL THE LATEST CLUB NEWS FROM HERE AT THE VIC AND THE LONDON COLNEY TRAINING GROUND

>> THE HORNET

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GRAY: “FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, THINGS NEED TO CHANGE” A host of Watford players have been speaking candidly to the media about their own experiences of racism and the need for systemic change as the Black Lives Matter movement continues to campaign for racial equality.

Among those discussing the issues of discrimination this week were first-team striker Andre Gray, Ladies winger Adekite Fatuga-Dada and Academy forward Enoch Muwonge, who were interviewed on BBC Breakfast on Wednesday.

“From top to bottom, things need to change,” said Gray.

“As a young black boy, I’ve grown up to adapt. It’s things like getting pulled over by the police for no reason, being followed round the shop, those sorts of things that happen on a day-to-day basis. It’s not acceptable that I’ve just learned to adapt in someone else’s world.”

The words ‘Black Lives Matter’ are replacing player names on the back of shirts for the first 12 Premier League matches, and Fatuga-Dada thinks the gesture can go a long way towards starting a dialogue on what needs to change.

“I think it’s amazing, having Black Lives Matter on the back of football shirts,” she said. “The more you see something the more you pay attention to it and the more you kind of

spark an interest.

“I was born here, I’m from England and I feel as much a part of this country as anyone else but I get treated differently because if they see my name on a CV that I give in to go and get a job, automatically I’m profiled because it’s not an English name.”

Under-16 striker Muwonge has experienced racism while playing football, proving the widespread problem is still far from resolved.

“It started on the pitch and one of them must have called my teammate the ‘N’ word and we told the ref straight away, but he just seemed to dismiss it,” he said.

“We felt vulnerable, to be honest. I still feel frustrated and quite upset and shocked that someone could go out of their way to be that spiteful.”

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sanctuary STADIUM TRANSFORMED INTO NHS STAFF SANCTUARY Vicarage Road once again hosts Premier League football this afternoon – albeit in the unusual setting of a near empty stadium.

However, the home of the Hornets has been a hub of activity and a place of much-needed sanctuary over the past few months, with the stadium handed over to our neighbours at Watford General Hospital during the coronavirus crisis.

Heroic NHS staff have been fed and

watered on a daily basis by an army of volunteers, while other areas of the stadium have housed everything from overnight accommodation to counselling rooms, meeting areas and a memorial room. In addition, tens of thousands of scrubs were washed using the club’s laundry facilities.

Turn to pages 32-33 to read more, and you can also see the NHS partnership in action by visiting the official Watford FC YouTube channel.

FOSTER ‘FEELING GOOD’ AFTER EXTENDING WATFORD STAY Ben Foster signed a new two-year contract with Watford FC last week, extending his Vicarage Road tenure until 2022.

A Premier League ever-present this season, the 37-year-old goalkeeper has made nearly 150 appearances in his two spells with the Hornets.

“I know it takes me to 39, but I know I’m good for it,” he told watfordfc.com. “I’m

feeling as good as I’ve ever done. Football seems easy and natural for me. Watford just works for me.”

Meanwhile, the three other players whose Watford deals expire this summer – José Holebas, Heurelho Gomes and Adrian Mariappa – each agreed the Fifa-approved contract extensions to cover the delayed finish to the 2019/20 campaign

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IN THEIR OWN WORDS 11

ÉTIENNE CAPOUE

In a revealing, self-penned interview, the French midfielder discusses marathons, mountains and elephants

ÉTIENNE

CAPOUE

Age: 31 Squad number: 29 Nationality: French Watford games: 156+8 Watford goals: 14

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LOCKDOWN LIFE It’s been a strange three-and-a-half months since we last played here against Liverpool. I’m sure it has been a difficult time for so many people in this country and around the world. For me, however, I did at least enjoy being able to spend 24 hours a day with my wife and kids. My children had to do school on Zoom but during their spare time we kept them busy with lots of playing in the garden and with some games

inside. It’s unusual as a footballer to get this quality time with your family. I did a lot of running on my treadmill and also spent a lot of time on my exercise bike, which was very important so that I was in a good shape for when we returned to training. Now that period of time is over for us as players, we have a big job to focus on for the rest of this season.

HELPING HAND For three years now I have been helping to run Tournoi Étienne Capoue. We do a tournament every year in support of a different cause – this year we are fighting leukaemia and in previous years it has been supporting the homeless and helping sick kids. I’m really involved in it and this year we were going to do a camp as well to try and help raise more funds, but that has been postponed to next summer, which at least gives us more time to prepare an amazing event. The tournament will be in my wife’s hometown and the training camp will be in my hometown, both in

France. It’s our family’s foundation so we do it together. I feel I should help because being a footballer, I have the ability to help make a difference. Before now people outside of my region didn’t know about the foundation – I do a lot of things people do not know about because I really prefer it to be like this – but now I have started putting it on social media to help with publicity.

We had a lot of young people who were winners of the last tournament come to watch the Liverpool game and they couldn’t have picked a better match!

>> THE HORNET

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MARATHONS & MOUNTAINS It is hopefully a long way away yet, but when I eventually stop playing football I would like to continue to push my body as far as it will go. I want to do something really crazy like a 12-hour marathon that I have seen. I want to carry on pushing myself both physically and mentally. I have always been a competitive person in everything I

do and football is a collective competition, but after I finish playing I want to do something individually. I want to know if I am really strong. That’s why I also want to try mountaineering when I retire from football.

When you’re on your own, if you’re mentally weak then you go down, and this is the kind of thing I want to try for myself.

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ÉTIENNE

CAPOUE

As long as I feel that I’m really essential for the team, then I’m happy. I’m a team player.

It’s football and someone has to shine, but I’d prefer my teammates to get the headlines.

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ELEPHANT MAN When I’m not playing football or spending time with my family, I like to watch documentaries about animals because I’m very interested in seeing how they survive.

I watch National Geographic all the time.

What a channel. As humans we have a lot of tools to help us but it’s interesting to see how different animals manage to stay

alive. We are all animals and we think like them, but they are primitive, whereas we can walk and speak. I love elephants; I am crazy about elephants. They are the animal that reflects me the most because they are really protective with the people they love.

They can be very kind, but you cannot cross the line.

LOSING A LEGEND Lots of people know I am a big basketball fan and an LA Lakers fan, so I was really sad when I heard about Kobe Bryant. Any basketball fan would be. He also lost his daughter, so it was such bad news. Life is so short and things like this remind you that anything can happen in life, so you need to enjoy every moment with your family. It was very sad. He was such a legend for what he achieved, and he had so much respect from everyone.

>> THE HORNET

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WHEN WE WERE LAST HERE We had such an amazing performance in our last home game against Liverpool.

It was not the type of game we were expected to win but we believed in our hearts that we could do it, and we did.

Before the game we said, ‘we have nothing to lose, we need to give everything, stay focused and then we’ll see’. People have asked me if it was our best game since I’ve been here, but I don’t think it was because this was a normal league game. Yes, they

were unbeaten, but it’s just another three points and we still have a long journey to stay in the Premier League. For me, the semi-final of the FA Cup was the best in my time at Watford. We really have to focus now on Leicester and try to win our remaining games, especially the ones at home. Beating Liverpool was not the big achievement – that will come on July 26th if we stay in the Premier League.

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TIK-ING OVER I’m not on social media but I’m told there’s a video of me on the club’s TikTok channel which has been watched something like 7 million times. It’s a clip of me pressing the Liverpool defenders and goalkeeper near the end of the game, but for me this is just something normal.

We didn’t want to be sloppy in any minute

of the game because we knew that if this type of team scored one then they’d score two straight away. I felt like we just needed energy, so I made the first move and the team followed me after. This is the spirit of our team; if one person does it then we all follow him together.

KEEPING A LOW PROFILE In my position I need to be able to tackle and pass and do lots of things well, but to be honest I really like to just be in the shadow of everybody. I want nobody to be talking about me. As long as I feel that I’m really essential for the team, then I’m happy. I just want to help the team with my

runs and how I play with the ball – the rest I don’t mind. I’m a team player. It’s football and someone has to shine, but I’d prefer my teammates to get the headlines. If it’s not me I really don’t mind; I just want to feel like I’m essential at the club.

A SARR IS BORN The French guys here all knew about Ismaïla [Sarr] from his time in France. We knew his quality and we knew he’d feed on English football. He started playing in his wrong position, as a striker, but then he moved to the right wing and you can see the difference. Ismaïla will be a top player; he can be one of the best in the Premier League. He’s shy with people because he doesn’t speak English, but with us French speakers he’s really funny. He’s a really nice guy and very friendly. I tried to help him when he arrived by translating things. We made sure he had everything he needed at home and we were there to help and support him. I had a similar experience coming over to England from France. It was really hard for me to adapt and I had players who helped me, so I knew I could be that for him. I’m 31 years old so I have seen a lot of things and I can help. Ismaïla is the type of guy who will listen, too.

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ÉTIENNE

CAPOUE

>> THE HORNET

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I tried to help Ismaïla when he arrived. I had a similar experience coming over to England from France. It was really hard for me to adapt and I had players who helped me, so I knew I could be that for him.

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STRIVING FOR MORE Right now, I believe I’m playing really good football, but I know I can always do better. I think since I’ve played in my real position you can see my qualities more, but I’m just a footballer and I want to enjoy my life. This sport is really quick and anything can happen, so I just try to enjoy it as much

as I can. I’m really harsh on myself and I try to push myself further. You cannot be the best in every game, but I try to do the best.

If I am good tactically, then it can help the team. I think now I’m more balanced, so it’s helping me play better.

HONOURED Last year I was so proud to win Player of the Season at this club. It’s a really good trophy and I was very happy that the fans recognised my work. I’m not the type of person to want to go around showing off so I don’t have the trophy on display in a cabinet or anything like that – it’s actually locked away safely in a cupboard. Maybe that will change in the future, I don’t know, but this is just the type of guy I am. What I do know is that if the fans recognise my hard work, then it makes me really, really proud.

>> THE HORNET

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WATFORD FC LADIES

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GOLDEN GIRLS’ PROMOTION PUSH DECLARED NULL & VOID As ‘Project Restart’ was the talk of the football world throughout April and May, for Watford FC Ladies, there was never much hope of the season, which had promised so much, ever restarting.

Clinton Lancaster’s side sat in second place in the FA Women’s National League and were just about to compete in the final of the FAWNL Plate competition when Coronavirus stopped play. They had three games in hand on Crawley, the division’s leaders, and with a home game to go against their promotion rivals they were confident of securing promotion into the FA Women’s Championship.

The health and safety of the players, staff and, of course, the wider community was always at the heart of any decision and we understand why the season couldn’t be completed safely.

The disappointing part, however, was that the whole season, from our division down, was declared null and void. This means that there will be no promotions or relegations between the divisions or, indeed, out of the division and into the Championship.

The FA Women’s Super League (WSL - the top division of women’s football) and The Championship have been ended but the final tables decided on a points-per-game basis. Aston Villa were promoted to the WSL

with Liverpool dropping down in the opposite direction and Chelsea were named champions of the WSL despite sitting in second place at the close of play. There were no relegations from the Championship into the FAWNL, meaning that Charlton Athletic, who were at the foot of the table, keep their place in the division.

Whilst this is obviously very disappointing, we have to regroup and take the opportunity to continue to build on what we started. We hope to keep the squad together and have another good go at winning the division next season.

The record books may say that 2019/20 never happened, but we know what we achieved as a club. We came together to create a positive environment on and off the pitch and developed a style of play to suit a dedicated and talented group of players who competed every time they pulled on the shirt or stepped onto the training pitch. These things won’t disappear and we will use the summer and pre-season to develop further before trying to emulate and exceed what we achieved last season.

A return date has not yet been set for the FAWNL but, rest assured, when it comes around, we will be ready, and we hope to have your support when safe to do so.

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ADEKITE FATUGA-DADA

MY TEAMMATES Fastest?

Probably me!

Gym freak?

One hundred per cent Elle. She could bench press me, I reckon.

Hardwoman?

It’s between Beckett or Chandler again – maybe I should change my choice of who is the slowest! Meg probably edges it.

Funniest?

Depends what humour you’re looking for.

Beckett has the belly laugh humour and Helen has the dry humour! Both very funny.

Slowest?

>> THE HORNET

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There’s a few this could go to, maybe Beckett or Chandler.

21 Moodiest?

Some of the girls would put me down for this but I would actually say Ocean is worse than me.

Person you’d most likely call in an emergency?

The two mums of the team, Helen or Beckett for sure.

Person you’d least likely call in an emergency?

Kiko, because she either wouldn’t answer the phone, would turn up late or just wouldn’t turn up at all.

Worst dressed?

This is a tough one. After seeing the clobber at the Winter Wonderland team outing before Christmas, I’d have to say Nina.

Best dressed?

We’re in kit all the time so it’s hard to say. But I come with the varied trainers, so I’ll say me.

Always late?

Definitely Kiko [Jen Kikomeko]! If she ever does turn up, she turns up late.

Most vain?

Nina or Ocean, for sure. Both bring mirrors to do their hair before games.

>> THE HORNET

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SURPRISE VIDEO CALL WITH HORNETS HERO FOR SUPPORTER IN LOCKDOWN… When Covid-19 hit, long-standing Watford supporter Adam Carfrae – who lives at a specialist home – was placed under strict lockdown with fellow residents.

No external visitors were allowed, and the 32-year-old found having no contact with his family incredibly tough. He particularly missed his brother Pete, who used to pay weekly visits to the home – the Meath in Godalming – as well as taking him on regular trips out.

Almost overnight, Adam’s social life came to a complete halt and with no live sport to watch either, he struggled to remain upbeat as the weeks went by.

A fan of the Hornets since he was five and a Sir Elton John Stand season ticket holder with his brother for the past six years, watching Watford is one of Adam’s favourite pastimes.

A keen goalkeeper before his disability took hold, Adam’s favourite player of recent years has been Heurelho Gomes, and with this in mind, his cousin Steve decided to contact the club.

Steve – a lifelong season ticket holder who introduced Watford to the Carfrae family – was concerned about Adam’s mental health and had heard about the Hornets At Home scheme, which was offering assistance to elderly supporters and those who were housebound through disability and illness.

The club were on the case quickly and soon Adam received a much-needed boost thanks to a surprise video call from his hero Gomes.

His brother Pete told us: “Heurelho was first

class and couldn’t have been more brilliant in giving Adam time to speak and allowing him to ask lots of questions. He was never rushed.

“To see Adam smiling and happy was fantastic and exactly what he needed. The whole arrangement was very ‘Watford’ and is another example of how special this club is and why we feel so lucky to be part of the extended Watford family.”

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>> THE HORNET

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STAY SAFE

© Sports Interactive Limited 2020.

Published by SEGA Publishing Europe Limited.

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In our game There’s always room for passion.

There’s room for rivalry.

There’s room for emotion.

But there is no room for racism.

If you see it, report it.

Download the Kick It Out app, or tell a police officer or steward in the stadium.

26

L CKDOWN LIFE Watford stars reveal how they’ve spent their time as the nation went into lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic…

Abdoulaye DOUCOURÉ Who have you spent lockdown with?

I have been with my wife and my two girls, who are four and three. It has been quite busy with the kids but we have enjoyed it. I’ve never had this much time with my family all together so it has been very good. My kids were so pleased to see me every day and I was happy to stay at home and help my wife.

How have you managed to keep the kids entertained?

We’ve spent a lot of time together with a lot of different activities. They don’t have homework yet because they’re still at nursery, although we did a lot of things to help them learn more, like writing and reading, and they’ve done a lot of playing together in their playroom too.

>> THE HORNET

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Which TV programmes or films have you enjoyed?

I watched the news quite a lot to keep up with everything that was going on, and I also enjoyed some series on Netflix, especially the Michael Jordan one ‘The Last Dance’.

Have you read any books?

I am Muslim so I always read a lot of the Qur’an and I actually used this time to learn how to read in Arabic. I’ve been having three or four lessons a week with a teacher on Zoom and I’m really pleased I was able to use the opportunity to do this.

What music have you listened to?

I usually listen to music in my car but during lockdown I’ve been inside most of the time, so I’ve mainly been doing things like reading and watching movies instead.

How did you manage to keep yourself fit?

I did a lot of gym work every day at home.

I did a lot of running with my wife so it was good to spend that time together and work out.

Have you been doing any extra cooking?

I’m not very good at cooking but I’ve been helping my wife to do things like cooking the meat and cutting the veg. I did make my first ever cake too – it was Black Forest and I was very pleased with it!

Did you let your hair grow or cut it yourself?

At the beginning of lockdown my hair was okay but it started to grow very big so in the end my wife cut it with a razor for me!

Who have you missed the most?

I’ve really missed my mum and my dad, as well as the parents of my wife. We haven’t seen them for more than three months now so it’s been a hard time for them and us, but we’ve done a lot of Facetime and video calls so it is nice to be able to keep in touch that way.

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Send your pic & a few words to programme@watfordfc.com

Welcome to one of our newest Watford fans HARRY HOLLOWAY, born in December 2019, sporting his new yellow and black jumper. Here he is with Mum Sally and Grandad Pete, both Rookery season ticket holders. He can’t wait to meet his namesake Harry the Hornet!

Wishing my three sons a very happy birthday!

THOMAS and JACOB celebrated their 18th on March 14 and HARRY celebrated his 22nd birthday on March 25. Hoping for a big belated birthday win! COYH!!! Have a great day, Dad and Halina x Happy 90th birthday to REGINALD HARDWICK, a Watford supporter since the late 1950s who is now a season ticket holder in the Family Stand.

Best wishes, Natalie.

Happy birthday to JAMES CONNOR, who turned four years old in March. Born next door to the stadium, James has been a Junior Hornet since he was a couple of minutes old.

He watched his first game at The Vic when he was eight months old and loved his day out at the FA Cup final, despite the result. Today his birthday wish is for three points for the Hornets!

Season ticket holder DOUG HUTTON turned 70 years old on March 18. Doug has supported the Hornets since taking his son Paul (then aged eight) to his first game in 1991 in a League Cup tie against Everton after moving to the area.

Doug has had a season ticket for over 20 years in the Rookery Stand and attends a lot of away games too – when not on the golf course! This picture is from last season’s FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, one of many happy days supporting Watford.

Happy 16th birthday JOSH WOODBRIDGE! Local lad Josh has been a fan of Watford for a long time and has been to many matches. He spends most of his time playing football and watching football.

A very happy 70th birthday to Rookery season ticket holder CHRIS MESSENGER, pictured here with Grandson George. Best wishes from all of your family and friends around the ground.

BRIAN DEAN, a lifelong Watford fan of over 50 years, passed away in his sleep on January 19. He shared his passion for Watford everywhere from online forums to helping out the 1881 and going to games both home and away with his friends. He would take his son Simon, grandson Riley and his cousin Paul whenever he could.

His proudest moment was taking his daughters Sam and Tasha and son Simon to Cardiff for the play-off final in 2006. Thank you to Suren, Roy, Phil and all the fans who shared their memories with us. He would be so proud. Love Brian’s family x

Congratulations and welcome to new Hornet THEODORE LOOKER, born February 5, 2020.

Theodore was born in Norwich, but to Watfordsupporting parents Jamie Looker and Lisa.

TOM HENDERSON passed away suddenly on January 16, 2020. Tom had supported his son, Martin, enabling him to attend matches for many years. More recently he encouraged his grandsons Harry and Louis to become Watford fans. He will be greatly missed.

JOHN CIRILLO was born on November 23, 1957 in Hammersmith, London. His parents moved to Watford when he was aged two and John stayed in the Watford area his whole life. John was a lifelong Watford fan and loved nothing more than watching his team every weekend. After a long illness and brave fight, John passed away on February 21, 2020.

He leaves behind his wife of 38 years Anna, children Palmina and Guido and granddaughter Florence.

He leaves a huge void in their lives.

An unmissable line up on BT Sport

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>> THE HORNET

>>

Everybody knows about the club’s work in the community & that’s wonderful, but what they did here was a different level.

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A SANCTUARY IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD Phil Townsend – a Hornets fan and Chairman of the West Herts Hospital Trust – says the support offered by the club during the coronavirus crisis has been invaluable…

When season ticket holder Phil Townsend sat in his seat in the Upper Graham Taylor Stand and watched Troy Deeney rattle in a third Watford goal against the previously unbeaten Liverpool, he couldn’t quite believe what he was witnessing. The 63-year-old had to pinch himself.

Little did he, or indeed anyone, know that those events on a magical night at Vicarage Road would represent a highwater mark. The next time he was at the famous old ground in WD18 would be in his role as Chairman of the West Herts Hospital Trust and in full-on crisis mode.

“We had no idea whatsoever about how fast things were about to escalate,” he said. “The pace of it was astonishing.

We knew Covid-19 was coming out of London and we knew we had to respond quickly as an organisation. We were quickly having crisis meetings about what to do next. The whole Trust clicked into gear and had to be ready to deal with what was coming.

“The Liverpool game quickly felt a long time ago, in a pre-Covid world. I remember messaging friends during the Liverpool game saying, ‘Can you believe what you are watching?’ Now we couldn’t believe what we were about to deal with.”

The Trust got through it thanks to the tireless and brave work of their heroic staff, their versality and just their sheer iron will to protect and save lives. It took its toll and lives were tragically lost, but they have just about come out the other side with a newfound respect from the whole country.

The service and facilities offered to them by the club during their hour of need over an eight-week period was the least they deserved.

“Everybody knows about the club’s work in the community and the Family Stand and that’s wonderful, but what they did here was a different level,” said Townsend.

“When the chips are down, when there

is a real crisis, which thankfully doesn’t come along very often, some people step up, some will step to the side and some step back. Watford stepped up. That’s not an easy thing to do as the NHS is relentless and once you commit to doing something for us, it’s non-stop. There is no warm-up.

It’s, ‘Let’s go!’

“Several things stand out. The room with the remembrance book in it was really moving. I think they cleaned 30,000 scrubs in the end and that’s not an easy thing. It was a massive help as that rapidly became a big problem for us. And the whole food process, from the quality of the food to the welcome, was astonishing.

It was brilliant to watch staff chatting, relaxing, eating and just watching an empty football pitch during their break.

It was a Sanctuary in every sense of the word.

“I am regularly on regional and national conference calls and people are genuinely astonished at the support we’ve had from the football club. Only a few in the country have put themselves out to this degree and no-one has done it in this region.”

Townsend will, like everybody else, have to watch the remaining nine games behind closed doors.

“I’ll miss being in my seat,” said Townsend. “It’s not just the seat: it’s missing the crowd, coming to the game with my son, getting something to eat, watching the players warm-up and then the game. It was a nice bit of relaxation for a chairman of a Trust and all the responsibility that entails. But we’ll be back as fans one day and I really hope we are a Premier League club when we do. It will be a strange world if a club that has done so much for the community, for a national emergency, is not rewarded in the manner of staying up. That will be a nice outcome after all this.”

Change the conversation on mental health #headsup thefa.com/headsup

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GOLDEN MEMORIES P36-37 PREQUELS XI

P44-45 FIRST TIME UP

P38-39 MARIAPPA: 10 YEARS ON

P46-47 YELLOW BRICK ROAD

P40-41 OVERSEAS OPPONENTS

P48-49 TEN YEARS IN THE ROOKERY END

Matt Rowson picks a team of players who’ve contributed significantly to games between Watford and Leicester

A season-long chat with the homegrown Hornet on his decade of service to the Hornets

Looking back at exhibition matches against overseas teams through programme excerpts and memorabilia

P42-43 THE NUMBER GAME

Find out which number 18s feature in our look back on 20 years of Watford squad numbers

See what was happening at The Vic and elsewhere as Watford achieved their first ever promotion 60 years ago

Daily Mirror sportswriter Mike Walters celebrates 50 years of albums by Sir Elton John

Highlights and memorable moments as fans’ podcast From the Rookery End marks its testimonial year

P50 STORY OF A SEASON

Using facts and stats from Trefor Jones’ watfordfcarchive.com, Matt Rowson looks back at the 1995/96 campaign

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N O S TA L G I A

PREQUELS XI

>> THE HORNET

>>

Matt Rowson picks a team from those who have contributed significantly to previous matches between the Hornets and today’s visitors…

No shortage of competition for a place in this week’s line-up, coming as it does against regular opponents over the years.

Nowhere is competition fiercer than up front, where the three slots in our 4-3-3 formation this week DEENEY, JAMIE go to TROY DEENEY VARDY and DAVID NUGENT NUGENT. Troy’s startling contribution to the 2013 play-off semi-final here at The Vic makes him an automatic pick whilst Vardy and Nugent both boast impressive strike rates in games between today’s sides. Vardy has scored in the last four encounters and has struck the opening goal in four of the five meetings at the King Power Stadium in the Premier League, the last three of which from the penalty spot. Nugent, similarly, scored six goals across the six encounters in the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons; the only one of the six he failed to score in a 2-1 victory for the Hornets in Leicester in which one Harry Kane scored the Foxes’ goal.

In the midfield, NATHANIEL CHALOBAH’S stunning strike CHALOBAH in the same game in April 2013 would prove decisive. It was the then 18-year-old’s fifth strike of his season on loan from Chelsea.

Chalobah is flanked by two more Foxes in RIYAD MAHREZ and MUZZY IZZET IZZET.. Mahrez is another with a prolific record against the Hornets, having scored in five

of our first six Premier League encounters since promotion in 2015. Izzet’s significant contributions came earlier; his goal in our end-of-season meeting in 1996 confirmed City’s playoff place and derailed our own late season rally (though results elsewhere had confirmed relegation in any event). Izzet would score the decisive goal in our next meeting, in the top-flight at Filbert Street three years, one relegation and two promotions later.

At the back, HEIDAR HELGUSON might be considered by some as an unorthodox selection at right-back; not entirely unprecedented however, having been fielded there by Gianluca Vialli in his time in charge. It was always the ‘how’ more than the ‘where’ with H however, and such was the case on his return to The Vic on loan in 2009 when he came off the bench with the Hornets two down at half-time and in a lunatic assault drove us back to a 3-2 lead before being carried off, all within 36 minutes.

A more conventional left-back in CRAIG FORSYTH, FORSYTH now at Derby, whose brief Watford career showcased an ability to hit the ball very hard indeed. Never was this better demonstrated than in this fixture in December 2012, when a ferocious and precise strike decided a five-goal encounter.

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Stadium, a game which also saw erstwhile winger, then centre-forward Gayle fielded at centre-back for the Hornets for the first time. Such a success was the transformation that Gayle would win Player of the Season.

Finally, the goalkeeping spot goes to KASPER SCHMEICHEL for sheer longevity, having appeared in 16 of the 17 encounters since he signed for City in 2011.

In the centre, JEFFREY BRUMA lines up alongside MARCUS GAYLE. GAYLE Bruma, now playing for Mainz in the Bundesliga, was a teenager on loan from Chelsea when scoring the first two goals of his senior career in a 4-2 win for City in April 2011, the second from fully 35 yards.

Nearly a decade earlier the Hornets had been the visitors for the first competitive game at what is now the King Power

• Muzzy Izzet (below left) and Deeney’s play-off semfinal goal (above).

TH E

COMB I N ED

X I

SCHMEICHEL

BRUMA

FORSYTH

GAYLE

IZZET

HELGUSON

CHALOBAH MAHREZ

NUGENT

DEENEY

VARDY

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N O S TA L G I A

ADRIAN MARIAPPA:

TEN YEARS ON

With 10 years’ first-team service now complete, during the 2019/20 season the homegrown defender picks out his most memorable moments for the Hornets so far…

14: EVER-PRESENT Only four players in the history of this great club have made more consecutive league appearances than you, which must be something you are really proud of...

Someone told me about the stat at the time and I didn’t know. The top one [the 280 made by Duncan Welbourne] is never going to be caught, but I’m very proud to be fifth with 114. It’s not something I take lightly and I’m very proud of it.

So much goes into making just one start, so to do that many consecutively is something I’m proud of. I tried to earn my place in the team every day in training and I never took it for granted. It was a great time.

>> THE HORNET

>>

What do you remember about the unbroken run, which came between 2008 and 2011?

I remember it really well. The start was when Malky came in as caretaker after Aidy left. I just went on a run after that and it was brilliant for me.

It was exactly what I needed at the time, a great learning process and I just wanted to keep the run going. I was just focused on trying to staying in the team and playing well and enjoying my football.

I ended up getting sent off, so I killed the run myself!

How disappointed were you when the sequence came to an end in March 2011 following that dismissal at Middlesbrough?

The second yellow card [in the 88th minute] was silly. Marvin Emnes ran past me and I just

grabbed him. The first one I was just challenging the ‘keeper and it definitely wasn’t a yellow. That was harsh. I was in good form and just wanted to keep the momentum going.

Missing the next game against Coventry meant Scott Loach, a teammate at the time, was free to continue racking up 164 consecutive appearances and move head of you in the all-time list.

Me and Loachy would joke about it. It was friendly banter. We talked about it as we were young players playing in the first team and that’s all we wanted to do, just play. It was a nice bit of friendly rivalry.

The fact you were able to string together more than a century of appearances is surely testament to your levels of fitness...

I’ve had a few little niggles, but I’ve been lucky to avoid surgery. It’s a result of looking after yourself.

Everyone has a different body structure but sometimes it’s just a bit of luck. Something can just happen on the training pitch and you can end up being out for a long time. I don’t take lightly how fortunate I’ve been. It just takes one bad challenge, one wrong turn and it can be all over. I try to enjoy every day and you need to appreciate every day while you are feeling good.

The one big injury came in December 2016 when you were involved in a sickening clash of heads with Daryl Janmaat in training.

I’d just come back to Watford and I had been waiting for my chance to get back in the side. It looked like I might have an opportunity as there were a few injuries, so I was fired up in training.

A ball went in the air off [Nordin] Amrabat’s heel.

Myself and Daryl were on the same team and

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we couldn’t see each other because Nordin was in between us. We both ran full pelt to head the ball and just headed each other’s head. Next thing you know we both wake up after being knocked out and are just lying on the floor. I just remember the pain in my knee and it turns out I had done some damage to the medial ligament. Troy was holding my face together as I had a big gash on my head. We both got carted off to hospital. Thankfully we were both alright, which we were both very grateful for as Ryan Mason had to retire not long after because of a nasty head collision. It happens in training, and neither of us meant to do each other any harm. It was just an honest challenge by two players who were trying to train well.

You have a sizeable scar in the middle of your head which looks like it must have taken some handiwork by a doctor.

I can’t remember how many stitches it was, but it was a combination of stitches and glue. I had to have it stitched up straight away in the changing room and the doctor’s hand was shaking. The nerves in my head were numb so I couldn’t feel a thing. The missus and the kids were pretty horrified.

The missus came to pick me up that evening from the hospital and she was concerned. I was getting wheeled about in a wheelchair and I was covered in bandages. It was nasty but it healed well and there was no long-term lasting damage. I was more concerned with my knee. Thankfully it wasn’t too bad and I was training in five or six weeks.

It must help during any periods you have out that you have such a great level of base fitness.

I’ve always done lots of work outside of football and in the off-season to keep myself in the best shape. I’ll go and work with Matt Springham, a

brilliant strength and conditioning coach. He gets me in great shape coming back for pre-season and that gives me a head start. As you are getting older you have to keep proving your fitness as everyone is quick to say, ‘His legs have gone’. I do sprint work and a lot of my jumping with him, as that’s a big part of my game still – plus some physical endurance and strength work. It’s a continuous effort to constantly keep ticking over. I’m trying to tick every box I can.

You’ve also overhauled your diet...

The first few years as a pro here we didn’t even have breakfast! They stopped doing it as we nearly went into admin and that was one of the cutbacks.

Now the chefs really look after me. The diet has changed so much in football.You can’t get away with some of the stuff you used to. Football has evolved so much and Arsène Wenger had a lot to do with that, with the changes he made at Arsenal. It’s now an individual thing and finding out what works for you.

You made the big decision to stop eating meat.

How did that come about?

I’ve been vegan for more than two-and-a-half years now. That’s definitely helped. I’d always have an omelette, toast or poached eggs and then I had a blood test and found out I was intolerant to dairy, so that’s a big adjustment I’ve made. I’ve cut that out and it’s helped with the inflammation of some of my tendons and joints. It started me on a pathway. First of all, it was about finding those little one per cents, but now it’s gone beyond that.You look at the environmental impact and it would go against my morals in life to start eating meat again.

I feel much better for it and believe it will help prolong my career.

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N O S TA L G I A

OVERSEAS OPPONENTS Take a trip down memory lane as memorabilia and publication excerpts, lovingly supplied by Alan Palmer, help us reminisce about matches against overseas opponents from yesteryear…

Monday February 8, 1954 Floodlight Match

>> THE HORNET

>>

WATFORD 1 FC WIEN (AUSTRIA) 0 This was the second international opposition to visit Vicarage Road for an exhibition game under the lights, after Yugoslavia’s Hajduk Split arrived a fortnight before.

That the Split fixture attracted over 11,500 spectators and this one four thousand less was a comment related both to the weather and the fact that there was only so much flogging of this brave new illuminations that a club could perform in a single season – having already staged many matches against domestic opposition.

And just like the January 25 fixture, a solitary goal from season’s top goalscorer Roy Brown was enough to separate the two

teams – with the crowd promised perhaps more in terms of flair and attacking intent by a match programme editorial that overhyped what proved to be something of a pedestrian affair.

Maybe the thrill of overseas opposition set against the Vicarage Road floodlights was on the wain? A good dollop of similar matches the following season was evidence it hadn’t put the club hierarchy off the idea at all!

Watford: Saphin; Bewley, Jones; Kelly, Oelofse (Nolan), Paterson; Cook, T Brown, R Brown, Bowie, Paton.

Goal: Brown. Att; 7,268.

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW? The Generali Arena – named the Franz Horr Stadion – is the near-18,000 capacity home of FK Austria Wien, a club which is over 100 years old and currently plays in the Austrian Bundesliga (finishing fourth in the 2018/19 campaign).

It’s unlikely, however, given the stated roots of FC Vienna, that this incarnation

of an Austrian capital-based club provided the foundation for the current-day club we recognise from European league tables found abounding across the internet.

As was often the case, the touring team whose first game in England was versus Watford came with understandable top billing, described as something of a factory for producing highly-skilled players.

If only we could be transported back to The Crown Hotel, Garston, where the two teams dined after the game, for a conversation about this FC Vienna and its formative years.

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N O S TA L G I A

HEI ÐAR HEL GUS ON

NAT HAN ELL ING TON

>> THE HORNET

>>

DAN IEL PUD IL

18

THE NUMBER GAME

HEIÐAR HELGUSON

There have not been many more popular players at Vicarage Road in the modern era than the Icelandic striker. Having signed in the club’s first Premier League campaign, he immediately became a fans’ favourite with a diving header in his debut against Liverpool in January 2000. It was easy to forget that he was well under six-foot tall, as he could head the ball better than almost any player in the English game at the time. Helguson ran himself into the ground every game, there was simply no other way he could play. In his five years at the club he stood out with his consistent performances, even when Gianluca Vialli, in his wisdom, used him off the bench for over 20 matches in the 2001/02 season.

It was during his last full season that the Ice Man played his best football, in a team that only just escaped relegation. He scored 20 goals and won Player of the Season, Display of the Season and Goal of the Season as he helped the side reach the semi-finals of the League Cup. Inevitably, he left for the Premier League in the summer of 2005 as he joined Fulham. Fortunately for the Hornets, four years later, Helguson found himself out of favour at QPR and joined initially on a three-month loan.

He bagged two typical goals on his second debut against Leicester and ended up staying for most of the season. He ended his playing career with a season at Cardiff City but Helguson was only really ever a Hornet. It was an absolute pleasure to watch him give everything for this club.

NATHAN ELLINGTON

‘The Duke’ joined the club in the early part of the 2007/08 season for a then club record fee of £3.25 million. Despite the fact the Hornets had just suffered relegation from the Premier League, there was a lot of hope for the season ahead and the team burst out of the blocks and raced to the top of the league. Ellington had made his name at Wigan Athletic and had showed some of his explosive power and finishing with West Brom before moving south. In his debut Ellington, came off the bench and looked every bit the superstar, rattling the post as Watford cruised past Ipswich Town. Perhaps the striker suffered slightly form the early pre-season form of Darius Henderson and Marlon King as he

Twenty years since Watford first used squad numbers, James Garrett recalls some of the players to have worn a particular number since 1999/2000…

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simply failed to impress and took four months to score his first goal. Watford’s form took a nosedive and they eventually scrambled into the play-offs but were easily dispatched by Hull City as Ellington’s early career form had completely dried up. Manager Adrian Boothroyd later admitted he had put so much effort and research into Ellington’s signing and was convinced it would be successful. After less than a season the club loaned him to Derby County but ultimately he signed on a free transfer with Ipswich as the Hornets suffered an expensive transfer failure.

DANIEL PUDIL

There are plenty of players we remember fondly from the early days of the Pozzo takeover, but it might be possible to overlook the popular Czech left-back who spent three successful years at The Vic and enjoyed promotion to the Premier League.

Having initially joined the club on loan from Granada, Pudil was soon impressing as a dynamic full-back who attacked with as much enthusiasm as he defended. Perhaps his tackling was not always the most clean, but he made nearly 100 appearances and became a very popular player; he also loved the town and was seen frequently out with his young family and helped to bring a wonderful connection between the ‘new’ Watford and the supporters. Sadly, Pudil never got the chance to play in the Premier League and joined Sheffield Wednesday in the summer of 2015.

He spent four seasons at Hillsborough before returning to play back at home for Mlada Boleslav.

NUMBER 18s 2000-2005: Heiðar Helguson 2005-2007: Hameur Bouazza 2007-2008: Nathan Ellington 2009-2009: Theo Robinson 2009-2010: Will Hoskins 2012-2015: Daniel Pudil 2016-2017: Juan Camilo Zúñiga 2017-present: Andre Gray

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N O S TA L G I A

FIRST TIME UP Sixty years on from Watford’s first ever promotion – from Division Four in 1959/60 – Paul Levene looks at what was happening at Vicarage Road and elsewhere in the world in March 1960…

>> THE HORNET

>>

FROM THE VICARAGE

Watford began March 1960 with a rearranged home match against Northampton Town that was postponed from Boxing Day. They were seventh in the table prior to the match, four points behind fourth-placed Millwall but with four games in hand. It was not a very entertaining game but two goals from Dennis Uphill and one via Cliff Holton from the spot sealed a 3-1 victory. Narrowing the gap with Millwall to two points, the Lions just happened to be the next visitors to Vicarage Road but their prolific striker Alf Ackerman scored twice without reply to send the points back to the Den. Two away games followed, first off to struggling Southport and then to mid-table Aldershot, with both games ending with a share of the spoils. The game at Haig Avenue saw Southport take the lead within 30 seconds of kick-off and Watford then hit the woodwork five times in the half without scoring.

Barry Hartle equalised in the second period but, despite intense pressure, the visitors couldn’t conjure a winner. The following Wednesday the relatively short trip to the Recreation Ground, Aldershot, resulted in a 2-2 draw. Holton netted

first, only for Robin Stepney to bring the Shots level. Former Watford player Bobby Howfield then put the home side ahead before Holton’s second secured a point for Ron Burgess’ men.

Returning to Vicarage Road, Watford notched a 3-1 win against Gillingham, thanks to goals from Holton and Uphill (2), but two trips up north to end the month proved disappointing. A 0-0 draw at Hartlepool was followed by a 2-1 reverse at Barrow’s Holker Street ground, the home side coming from behind to win after Holton opened the scoring. Going into April, Watford were nevertheless just three points behind a promotion spot with two games in hand on Millwall.

Off the field, around 70 entries had been received in a competition to generate a new nickname for Watford.

TOP OF THE POPS

March 1960 was a significant month for the charts in the UK. For the previous eight years the weekly rundown was featured in the New Musical Express but Record Retailer, a trade magazine launched that month, then saw the official charts published

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Below Right: President Eisenhower Left: Watford striker Cliff Holton and singer Adam Faith.

each week. The publication is now called Music Week and lists the Top 100 singles and albums today. On launch week only a Top 50 chart was printed -dated March 10 - with Adam Faith’s ‘Poor Me’ the first number one following the magazine launch. Faith was knocked off top spot the following week by Johnny Preston’s ‘Running Bear’ while Russ Conway’s ‘Royal Event’, penned to celebrate the birth of Prince Andrew the previous month, went in at number 15 on March 10 and stayed there the following week.

Two singles went straight into the Top 10 the week ending March 24. Lonnie Donegan’s ‘My Old Man’s a Dustman’ entered at number five with Cliff Richard and the Shadows’ ‘Fall in Love With You’ at number six. Glasgow-born Donegan was known as the King of Skiffle. ‘My Old Man’s a Dustman’ was the last of his three number one singles, this track hitting the top on March 31, 1960.

MAKING THE NEWS

Tragedy hit South Africa on March 21, 1960 when police opened fire on protesters at Sharpeville.

Sixty-nine people lost their lives and 180 were injured. Today, to commemorate and honour those who were killed in the incident, March 21 is a national holiday in the country.

In the USA, President Eisenhower revealed that 3,500 were due to be sent to Vietnam, while in New York West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer met Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, the first time the leader of the Jewish State had official discussions with his German equivalent.

Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann was discovered living in Argentina by Israeli agents and was abducted a couple of months later, while on the last day of the month hundreds of political prisoners taken after the 1956 Hungarian uprising were released.

Famous people turning 60 in March 2020 include Czech tennis player Ivan Lendl, actor Chris Barrie (Red Dwarf), Turner Prize winner Grayson Perry, actress Linda Fiorentino, comedienne Jenny Eclair, German musician Nena of ‘99 Red Balloons’ fame, U2 bassist Adam Clayton and Steve Norman of Spandau Ballet.

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N O S TA L G I A

>> THE HORNET

>>

Daily Mirror sportswriter Mike Walters celebrates 50 years of albums

by Sir Elton John, Watford’s Honorary Life President…

Now, where were we before we were rudely interrupted?

It was the season when an 18-year-old kid with matchstick legs climbed off the bench to score on his debut in a televised game against Millwall.

By the time he was transferred to Aston Villa, and Watford had banked a sell-on percentage when he moved on to Manchester United, home-grown winger Ashley Young went on to be worth more than £11 million to the Hornets.

The look of pure joy on Young’s face, as he potted the clinching goal from close range in a 3-1 win – wearing Watford’s white away strip, which they were allowed to promote at one home game under Football League regulations – was one of the high-water marks of the 2003/04 campaign.

Not for the first time in their history, the only occasion when the Golden Boys hit the top that season was when their illustrious former chairman went to No.1 in the UK charts.

When Sir Elton John first released Are You Ready For Love in 1979, it barely created a ripple in the pond.

But when it was recycled in the summer of 2003, to promote Sky Sports’ exhaustive coverage of Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Champions League and tiddlywinks, more or less instantly it was a monster hit.

Maybe it was something to do with being the

soundtrack to images of Alan Shearer, Michael Owen, Thierry Henry and Ruud van Nistelrooy celebrating goals on Sky’s 90-second video, but it resonated with football supporters and pop music connoisseurs alike.

Are You Ready For Love has since become one of our Rocket Man’s most celebrated tunes, as well as being one of his catchiest - but even diehard Elton fans might struggle to recall where the track came from in the first place.

It originally appeared on The Thom Bell Sessions, an EP (a 12-inch vinyl disc, a sort of halfway house between single and album), alongside Mama Can’t Buy You Love and Three Way Love Affair, 41 years ago.

But it was only when it was remixed by Ashley Beedle, and re-released in August 2003, that it caught a wave and gave Sir Elton his fifth UK chart-topper – straight in at No.1, no messing about.

Uniquely, it is the only song on the compilation album Diamonds, arguably the definitive collection of his greatest hits released in November 2017, which was not written by Elton or Bernie Taupin. Thom Bell, LeRoy Bell and Casey James take the credit.

Are You Ready For Love? Answers on a postcard, please, but after that performance against Liverpool here a fortnight ago, plenty of us will volunteer for a second helping.

47

48

N O S TA L G I A

Jon Moonie, Jason Bailey & Mike Parkin began Watford fans’ podcast From the Rookery End 10 years ago this season. To mark their testimonial year, the boys look back on an eventful decade for both the podcast and the club.

TEN YEARS IN

>> THE HORNET

>>

THE ROOKERY END One of the ways we’ve described the podcast over the past 10 years has been ‘our take on life as a Watford fan’ and the last decade we’ve had it confirmed (as if we didn’t know it already) that life as a Hornet is a roller coaster of emotions and a seemingly never-ending run of fabulous (and some not so fabulous) experiences.

After a few years of From the Rookery End, we realised that we should try and pull together a list of events or items that could serve to illustrate just how interesting, exciting and often unbelievable supporting Watford can be. That’s when our ‘Watford in 100 Objects’ project was born. The rules of the list were simple, there can’t be duplicate items (only one match programme could be included for example) and the object or item can no longer be in use. As you might imagine, it resulted in the creation of an eclectic and intriguing list!

Some of the items will come as no surprise.

For example, the commemorative pen that was commissioned and sold to mark the extraordinary 7-1 victory against Southampton.

Who would have thought that an inexpensive biro bearing the score from a 1980 League Cup tie win would prove to be one of the most iconic pieces of Watford FC memorabilia? Also on the list is Watford’s square programme.

Experimenting with size and layout is commonplace for matchday magazines, but for a long time, the Hornets’ square publication caught the eye, providing fond memories for supporters of a certain vintage. Other entries on the list are slightly more niche however…

Take for example item number three: ‘A cardboard cut-out Andy’. This was, as the name suggests, a cardboard cut-out featuring the image of Mike’s brother Andy, taken to the 2006 play-off final to ensure that Watford-mad Andy (this isn’t his only spot on the list – he also features for delicately placing his last Rolo on the Vicarage Road turf following a game, a gesture intended to show his love for the club!) was represented at the game, having erroneously booked a holiday earlier in the season. Speaking of holidays, does anyone else have a ‘Watford FC

49

Follow @watfordpodcast on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Listen to the podcast at fromtherookeryend.com

Passport to Europe’? This document was part of the documentation issued by the club to supporters following Watford on their UEFA Cup campaign in 1983/84.

Perhaps one of the more surprising items on the list is a Luton Town membership card. During more turbulent times, Hornets supporters were barred from visiting Watford fixtures at Kenilworth Road so to circumnavigate the ban, one (at least!) resourceful ‘Orn invested in a membership that could be used to gain access when the derby rolled round.

Those of you that were Junior Hornets in the 80s may have been lucky enough to take part in the regular trips to away games, but were any of you on the infamous trip to Highbury which saw the double decker bus that had been hired for the day misjudge the height of a bridge, resulting in a stuck bus minus a large part of its roof? That bus is on the list.

The stretcher from which Pierre Issa was unceremoniously tipped when being carried from the field of play, a birthday card for Gladys Protheroe (look her up if you don’t know the story!), a former owner’s red hat and Graham Taylor’s “I’m sorry” sign. These are just a few of the other entries that serve to remind us what an extraordinarily rich and rewarding time we’ve had of it as Watford supporters so far.

Here’s to the next 100 objects!

FROM THE ARCHIVES Episode 10.2 Ann Swanson (July 14, 2019) Ann Swanson is a name etched into Watford folklore – especially if you were a Junior Hornet growing up in the 80s. Ann was in charge of the Junior Hornets at this time, playing a huge part in turning Graham Taylor’s vision of a genuine ‘family club’ into a reality. This special podcast features a fascinating, illuminating and heartwarming chat with the undisputed Queen of the Family Terrace.

50

N O S TA L G I A

STORY OF A SEASON: 1995/96 Using facts and stats from the late Trefor Jones’ watfordfcarchive.com, Matt Rowson looks back at notable campaigns from the Hornets’ history…

LEAGUE TABLE

Division One: 23rd place | P46 W10 D18 L18 F62 A70 GD-8 Pts48

OVERVIEW

Having overseen a dramatic escape from relegation on the back of some startling recruitment late in 1993/94 and then built towards a solid top-half finish the following year, hopes were high for Glenn Roeder’s third full season in charge, particularly when it opened with an unprecedented scissor kick from Derek Payne to see off Sheffield United at Vicarage Road. It was all largely downhill from there, though. The lack of a reliable centre-forward was a major problem, a chronic plague of injuries another…34 players were used all told in an age when this was very far from the norm. Andy Hessenthaler, David Holdsworth, Kevin Phillips, Tommy Mooney and Richard Johnson were amongst those that suffered long-term absences, whilst others – including goalkeeper Kevin Miller – lost form.

Roeder left in the February to be replaced by Graham Taylor. All but relegated and unburdened by pressure, a prolific recovery was briefly on the cards; consecutive home victories over Port Vale, Reading and Grimsby yielded 15 goals, and an unlikely win at Carrow Road saw the Hornets go into the closing fixture with Leicester still alive. It was to be a damp squib to end the season. Results elsewhere would confirm relegation in any case, but Muzzy Izzet scored the only goal of the game to earn Martin O’Neill’s side a play-off place that would lead to promotion. Watford would drop into to the third tier after 17 years.

ON THE PITCH MANAGER: Glenn Roeder and Graham Taylor MOST LEAGUE APPS: Kevin Miller (42 of 46), Tommy Mooney (38), Darren Bazeley (35) MOST LEAGUE GOALS: Craig Ramage (15), Kevin Phillips (11), David Connolly (8) PENALTIES: David Connolly (2), Kevin Phillips (2), Tommy Mooney (1) RED CARDS: None PLAYER OF THE SEASON: Tommy Mooney DOUBLES OVER: Tranmere Rovers DOUBLES AGAINST: Barnsley, Charlton, Huddersfield, Ipswich, Leicester, Portsmouth WATFORD DEBUTS: 11, including Steve Palmer, Darren Ward, Devon White WATFORD FINAL BOWS: 17, including Andy Hessenthaler, David Holdsworth, Derek Payne

SAME PLACE TODAY Nine clubs find themselves in the second tier in 2020 having been so in 1995/96: Derby, Stoke, Charlton, Barnsley, West Brom, Birmingham City, Reading, Millwall and Luton Town.

>> THE HORNET

>>

MOVED FURTHEST AWAY

Grimsby Town, Port Vale and Oldham Athletic are currently in the fourth tier. Grimsby, like 1995/96 contemporaries Luton Town and Tranmere Rovers, have spent time outside the Football League in the interim.

ELSWEWHERE...

The ‘Bosman Ruling’ at the European Court of Justice guaranteed freedom of movement for players out of contract.

George Graham was banned from football for a year for accepting illegal payments from agents. Middlesbrough moved into the Riverside Stadium and signed Brazilian star Juninho. Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan conducted a memorable interview in the wake of his side’s win over Leeds United as the pressure ramped up during his side’s title race with eventual champions Manchester United. Gianluca Vialli joined Chelsea from Juventus.

MORE NOSTALGIA NEXT TIME...

NATURAL CAFFEINE ZERO SUGAR HYDRATION now available countrywide

53

The Hornets welcome Leicester City to Vicarage Road this afternoon for the first match back after the break in the Premier League season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Brendan Rodgers’ side sit third in the table going into the restart, five points clear of fourth-placed Chelsea, as they look to secure a Champions League place for the second time in their history.

After a stunning start to the season, the Foxes endured an unpredictable winter period, but looked back to their best during an emphatic 4-0 win against Aston Villa in their most recent match.

WELCOMING

THE FOXES

54

THE MANAGER

BRENDAN RODGERS

THE HORNET

//

Age: 47 Previous clubs: Watford (2008-2009), Reading (2009), Swansea (2010-2012), Liverpool (2012-2015), Celtic (2016-2019) The former Hornets boss has reinforced his coaching credentials since returning to the Premier League after a four-year spell away. Despite a disappointing end to his time on Merseyside, Rodgers will be fondly remembered for the 2013/14 season in which he oversaw Liverpool’s unexpected title bid. His side took the league by storm, playing fast and high-scoring football that nearly brought the club their first Premier League trophy. He then enjoyed a successful spell north of the Scottish border, securing seven trophies, including the ‘double-treble’, at Celtic. Rodgers joined the Foxes in February 2019 and is aiming to take them into the Champions League for the second time, after they last qualified in 2016.

SQUAD LIST NAME

POS

DOB

JOINED FROM

1

Kasper Schmeichel

GK

05.11.86

Leeds (Jul 2011)

2

James Justin

DEF

23.02.98

Luton (Jul 2019)

3

Ben Chilwell

DEF

21.12.96

Academy

4

Caglar Söyüncü

DEF

23.05.96

Freiburg (Aug 2018)

5

Wes Morgan

DEF

21.01.84

Nottingham Forest (Jan 2012)

6

Jonny Evans

DEF

03.01.88

West Brom (Jul 2018)

7

Demarai Gray

MID

28.07.96

Birmingham (Jan 2016)

8

Youri Tielemans

MID

07.05.97

Monaco (Jan 2019)

9

Jamie Vardy

FOR

11.01.87

Fleetwood (Jul 2012)

10

James Maddison

MID

23.11.96

Norwich (Jul 2018)

11

Marc Albrighton

MID

18.11.89

Aston Villa (Jul 2014)

12

Danny Ward

GK

22.07.93

Liverpool (Jul 2018)

14

Kelechi Iheanacho

FOR

03.10.96

Man City (Aug 2017)

15

Harvey Barnes

MID

09.12.97

Academy

17

Ayoze Pérez

FOR

29.08.93

Newcastle (Jul 2019)

18

Daniel Amartey

DEF

21.12.94

Copenhagen (Jan 2016)

20

Hamza Choudhury

MID

01.10.97

Academy

21

Ricardo Pereira

DEF

06.10.93

Porto (Jul 2018)

22

Matty James

MID

22.08.91

Man Utd (Jul 2012)

24

Nampalys Mendy

MID

23.07.92

Nice (Jul 2016)

25

Wilfred Ndidi

MID

16.12.96

Genk (Jan 2017)

26

Dennis Praet

MID

14.05.94

Sampdoria (Aug 2019)

28

Christian Fuchs

DEF

07.04.86

Schalke (Jul 2015)

29

Ryan Bennett

DEF

06.03.90

Wolves (Jan 2020)

35

Eldin Jakupović

GK

02.10.84

Hull (Jul 2017)

55

56

STAR MAN

JAMIE

VARDY

9

FORWARD

THE HORNET

//

2019/20 LEAGUE APPEARANCES 25+1 2019/20 LEAGUE GOALS: 19 The Foxes striker is sure to not be underestimated by any Premier League manager, and especially not this weekend, as two of his former coaches will be in the Watford dugout. Nothing emphasises Vardy’s prolific nature more than his achievement of scoring in 11 consecutive Premier League games in 2015. His driven shot past David de Gea put him ahead of Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record and pushed Leicester even further on in their historic title win. The striker’s game was revitalised by the arrival of Brendan Rodgers last season, and he was once again the heartbeat of the Foxes’ team. Vardy has not featured as regularly as previous seasons due to injury and therefore Rodgers managing the 33-year-old’s playing time. Despite his reduction in match action, the Englishman is as deadly as ever, having netted 19 times in 26 appearances this term.

57

ONE TO WATCH

HARVEY

BARNES

15

MIDFIELDER

2019/20 LEAGUE APPEARANCES: 20+7 2019/20 LEAGUE GOALS: 6

Brendan Rodgers is blessed with a squad full of young, talented players and academy graduate Barnes is one of those who has thrived under the Northern Irishman’s stewardship. Barnes first caught the eye whilst on loan in the Championship with West Brom, scoring nine times in 25 appearances. His impressive performances resulted in his loan being cut short in January so he could be part of Leicester’s first-team set up. Since then, he has gone from strength to strength and become a regular fixture in this thriving Foxes side. The Englishman has six goals and six assists to his name this season, including several at key moments in tight games.

58 own e lowd rom h t g in Gett ition f oppos he team r u o n o wt ho follo fans w week out… , week in

E H T E D I S IN E N I L PHIL HOLLOWAY THE HORNET

//

LEICESTER FAN TV

59 The Foxes sit proudly in third place in the Premier League going into the restart – what’s the general feeling among supporters with how this season is going?

We’re nervous! If we are honest, pre-Christmas, things simply couldn’t have been better, but since the festive matches the team has looked a bit nervous and the fans are now certainly there as well. Yes, we are still third, but the pack is starting to close in on us, and when that pack includes big hitters like Manchester United, Chelsea and Spurs, we are worried they could catch us.

Earlier this season there were whispers of Leicester City repeating the famous 2015/16 title win. How does this campaign compare to that one, and how does Brendan Rodgers’ style differ to Claudio Ranieri’s?

Perhaps the key difference between that team and our team now is the age gap. When we won the title we had a mix of players, including some great experience in the team with players like Robert Huth holding the team together. This season, it has felt as though we lack a little bit of calm and cool experience leading the young talent we have further. This could be critical in the run-in and the chance of securing our second Champions League place.

Leicester have a big FA Cup quarter-final against Chelsea next week. How much focus will be on that game, and how exciting is the prospect of getting to Wembley?

We haven’t been to an FA Cup final since 1969 and it’s the one domestic trophy now that Leicester haven’t won, so fans are keen on getting to Wembley. But most fans’ focus would be on a top-four finish. Give us three points against Watford rather than a cup win – that would be the view of most fans, we feel. The financial rewards for a Champions League run, as well as the kudos and global exposure to develop the Leicester City brand, are vital in our Chairman’s vision for City becoming an established top-five team.

How vital have Jamie Vardy’s 19 goals been to this season’s success? Did you expect him to hit these heights again?

Honestly, we weren’t sure. As most people know, his professional career didn’t get going until his mid-twenties so there is plenty of life in the old dog yet, as they say. He has hit the heights again this season.

Who has been the unsung hero for Leicester this season and why?

Probably Jonny Evans. Following nine successful seasons at Manchester United and then a decent spell at West Brom, he has been a total bargain at £3.5m and has totally commanded our back line. He has helped other defenders such as Çağlar Söyüncü and Ben Chilwell develop, as well as Ricardo Pereira. The Leicester fans think he possibly should take over the captain’s armband, which tells you our views on him.

With Nigel Pearson and Craig Shakespeare looking to mount a Premier League survival bid at Watford, what are your memories of the pair from their time in charge at Leicester?

Well, they made the impossible possible for us, and who is to say they can’t do it for Watford.

Big Nige and Shakey will always be fondly remembered and welcomed back at Leicester City by all fans. They took us up the leagues and managed the ‘Greatest Escape’ as we call it, back in 2014/15 when everybody had written us off for relegation. They are a class act together.

Most Leicester fans would debate which manager had the biggest impact on us winning the Premier league… Pearson or Calaudio Ranieri… honestly it’s a hot debate!

Who do you see as the key threats in this Watford team?

Always Troy Deeney. He always scores against us, always looks a threat, and many Foxes fans would have wanted us to sign him to play for us.

He is a great player, always gives you guys 100 per cent and has shown true loyalty by staying at Watford, when we suspect many teams will have shown an interest in him. Let’s just hope he has an off day today against us, please!

How do you expect Brendan Rodgers to set up at Vicarage Road, and what are your predictions for the game?

We will probably set up as a 4-1-4-1 with defensive midfielder Wilfred Ndidi keeping the Watford attack quiet. We are expecting goals at both ends, as both teams like to attack, both teams have skilful players, and neither can keep a clean sheet at the moment. The final score will perhaps depend on which Leicester team turns up… the top four team who on our day can beat anybody or the nervous young lads who can also be bullied off the ball a little too easily some days. Of course, we will be predicting a great game – Jamie Vardy to score and a 2-1 Leicester win – well, that’s what we will be hoping for!

Football is everyone’s game.

The Premier League is all about exciting, passionate and unpredictable football that is for everyone, everywhere. We stand proud in promoting inclusion and diversity at Vicarage Road.

Racial, homophobic or discriminatory abuse, chanting or harassment is strictly forbidden and will result in arrest and ejection from the ground.

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© 2019 Electronic Arts Inc. EA, EA SPORTS, the EA SPORTS logo and Ultimate Team are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. © FIFA and FIFA’s Official Licensed Product Logo are copyrights and/or trademarks of FIFA. All rights reserved. Manufactured under license by Electronic Arts Inc. “2” and “PlayStation” are registered trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. Also, “Ø” is a trademark of the same company.

WATFORD 2 BRENTFORD 0 13.06.20 / Behind-Closed-Doors Friendly / Vicarage Road

WATFORD 33’

Foster (Gomes, HT) (GK) Femenía (Sarr , HT) Kabasele (Dele-Bashiru, 72) Dawson (Mariappa, HT) Holebas (Phillips, HT) Hughes (João Pedro, 60) Capoue (C) (Chalobah, HT) Cleverley (Doucouré, HT) Pussetto Gray (Quina, HT) Welbeck (Deeney 60) Subs not used: Gomes (GK) Whelan Peñaranda

38

BRENTFORD

90’

Raya (GK) Dalsgaard Jansson (Racic, 80) Pinnock (Thompson, 88) Henry Dasilva (Baptiste, 73) Nørgaard Jensen (Marcondes, 80) Mbeumo (Fosu, 73) Watkins Benrahma Subs not used: Daniels (GK) Valencia Zamburek

WELBECK: “WE’RE LOOKING TO BUILD UPON THIS RESULT” Danny Welbeck’s former club Arsenal lost 3-2 to Brentford in a friendly just days before, so the Hornets forward knew full well the 2-0 victory picked up against the Bees was no mean feat.

A disciplined performance and goals from Étienne Capoue and Ismaïla Sarr earned the win at Vicarage Road, in Watford’s only friendly match ahead of the resumption of the Premier League.

“They’re a very good side as you could see today, they set up very well positionally and tactically and showed they’re a very good team,” said Welbeck.

“They beat Arsenal the other day and then they’ve come here today, but we’ve got a good result and it’s something we’re now looking to build upon.”

As important as the result and performance for Welbeck was the opportunity for 21 members of Nigel Pearson’s squad to pick up valuable match minutes which training alone cannot provide. Welbeck started the match on the left side of a front three and played an hour before he was replaced by Troy Deeney.

“It was good to get the minutes under the belt and mostly everyone’s just getting ready for the Leicester game,” said the 29-year-old.

“This period has been a bit shorter than a normal pre-season but it’s been pretty long if you take everything into account with training at home and trying to do as much as possible to keep the fitness as high as possible.”

Another benefit of the friendly was the opportunity for the squad to acclimatise to a new matchday experience, with no supporters allowed to attend due to social distancing rules.

“It’s very weird being at the stadium and not having fans there,” said Welbeck. “Ever since you’ve been playing football you’ve always had a crowd there. It’s a strange situation but it’s one we’ve got to deal with.

We’ve got to come to terms with it as a team and as a club in general.

“Everyone’s doing it so it’s not just us, everyone’s in the same boat so we’re going to try to deal with it as best as possible, even though when you’re at home you want to have the fans there with you. But it’s something we’ve got to deal with.

“We know how important these games are coming up so we’re going to give it our best shot. Going into each and every single game we want to give it our best and get the points.”

64

ACADEMY NEWS BARRY QUIN

>> THE HORNET

>>

HEAD OF ACADEMY COACHING & DEVELOPMENT

I first wrote my notes for the Leicester City game back at the beginning of March. I started by noting that one thing you can never say about Academy football is it’s routine. Well, who would have imagined these past few months! Never in a million years would anyone have dreamt what has happened since then.

Many of you, I’m sure, will have seen some of the extraordinary things our staff have been providing for our players. From simple fitness sessions via the various platforms on the internet, to cooking competitions and quiz nights. As staff we have continued to operate from home and have brought forward the normal off-season planning and preparation for next season. Over the final few programmes I will be showing some of the great work the people in our Academy have managed to do, when they were not volunteering for the NHS. In the meantime, these are the rest of my notes from that week in March.

What used to be called ‘playing up’ in the Academy is now known as ‘playing across’.

This helps define what we are doing and why. Players play across the age groups, not up or down. We don’t want players to think that playing up an age group means they are the best and that then when they go back, they have somehow failed. We think carefully about why we do it and then reflect

if what we aimed for has actually worked or not. It could be for many reasons as well. It might be that the player is an early developer physically and needs that challenge. It might be that there is a social or psychological reason for it. Whatever it is, it isn’t a definitive way that a player should be judged as we know they will have peaks and troughs throughout their playing years. This is a point highlighted by our own Adrian Mariappa, who never played up as a schoolboy and has had a 15-year professional career to date.

Omer Riza, our Under-23 Coach, was away with the England Under-16s shortly before lockdown so Richard Thomas took the Under-23s in training. Omer came back from a successful tournament that they won, beating Denmark, USA and Spain. As he came back, ‘Tommo’ was away on an Academy Managers course, so I stepped in to support Omer with the Under-23s. To face Crystal Palace at Vicarage Road we had a blend of players from the regular development squad along with João Pedro, Tom Dele-Bashiru, Domingos Quina and Dan Bachmann. It was a great opportunity for our regulars to play alongside these lads. We got a good result, winning 3-0, and I thought that the blend of talent, hard work and mental toughness displayed by the whole squad was the key factor in that.

65

66

SCHOL ART SPOTLIGH JORDAN

>> THE HORNET

>>

HARRISON

67 ACADEMY TEAM? Under-18s.

MOST TALENTED TEAM-MATE? It has to be Sonny Blu Lo-Everton.

It has been nice to see him start playing for the Under-23 side now too.

POSITION: Midfielder.

FAVOURITE FOOTBALLER GROWING UP? My favourite was always Cristiano Ronaldo. The players that I look up to now are the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Frenkie De Jong.

MOST USED APP ON YOUR PHONE? I would say I use WhatsApp the most.

We’ve got a lot going on in our team group chat and I’m not really on other social media that much.

WHAT’S ON YOUR PRE-MATCH PLAYLIST? I like to play Time by Lil Baby and Meek Mill.

FIRST EVER FOOTBALL MATCH? I went to the Etihad to watch Manchester City play Stoke City. I remember it well because it was the game where Mario Balotelli scored a bicycle kick.

WHICH FOOTBALLER ARE YOU SIMILAR TO? I don’t really try to play like any certain player. I do try and feed different attributes from players I like, so it is a mix.

BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR CAREER? I would say it is my family. Apart from the coaches that teach me the footballing side, it’s my family that always help by pushing me to do more.

WHAT SPORT WOULD YOU PLAY IF YOU DIDN’T PLAY FOOTBALL? I love football so I can’t imagine any other sport, but I’d say Futsal because I like that.

DREAM STADIUM TO PLAY IN? It’s Anfield for me.

MY DREAM 5-A-SIDE TEAM...

RONALDINHO

HARRISON

MODRIĆ PUYOL

(GK) VAN DER SAR

GAME CHANGER footballfoundation.org.uk

69

ALFIE JENNER

MY FAVOURITE GOAL

Watford supporter ALFIE JENNER picks out his most cherished Hornets goal of all-time…

When choosing my favourite Watford goal, I have to admit it is difficult not to pick an obvious one – Troy Deeney against Leicester City and Adlène Guedioura at Arsenal spring to mind – but I have made a rather more obscure choice.

I have chosen Heiðar Helguson’s quite superb volley against Southampton in the fourth round of what was then called the Carling Cup in 2004.

At the time, we were the underdog Championship side facing Premier League opposition for the first time in that season’s competition. A tough test lay ahead for Watford, as our league form had dipped following a strong start and, keen to cause an upset and with a quarter-final place at stake, we knew we would have to work hard if we were going to defeat a team in a higher division than us. I was six years old and had been attending matches with my dad since I was three, and even I knew that Southampton were a good side and this tie would not be easy.

The game started slowly, but soon picked up the pace and became a real cup tie, with that David vs. Goliath feel about it. Eventually, Watford went 1-0 up, Bruce Dyer heading home from Neal Ardley’s well-placed free-kick. Game on. One soon became two, as in the second-half Ardley again delivered a perfect set-piece, which was flicked on by Sean Dyche and volleyed in by James Chambers, scoring his first senior goal. We were two up against Premier League opposition and looking comfortable for the win. Chambers then scored his second to put the Hornets three

goals to the good, following some perseverance from Dyer.

But, undoubtedly, the goal of the game came next, and it was really the goal that sealed the win for Watford. Brynjar Gunnarsson picked up the ball inside the Southampton half, looked up and pinged a lofted through-ball towards his Icelandic compatriot, Helguson. With a lot to do before he could score, Helguson watched the ball travel in the air towards him and, using his right foot, caught it ever so sweetly on the volley. The ball left Helguson’s boot and, before you knew it, was in the back of the net. It was an outrageous piece of skill that is incredibly hard to get right, and Helguson got it spot on.

That was the goal that effectively condemned Southampton to the loss and, with a Hameur Bouazza fifth sandwiched between the Saints’ two consolation goals, Watford secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup where, rather ironically, we met Southampton’s fierce south coast rivals, Portsmouth. We comprehensively beat them but then lost to Liverpool in the semi-finals.

For me, though, Helguson’s stunner, along with the team’s performance as a whole on that day, made the cup run truly memorable – and that is why I chose that goal as my favourite.

Would you like to tell us about your favourite Watford goal?

Email programme@watfordfc.com for details.

70

Chairperson Chris Norton Vice-Chairperson Paul Clark Trustees Chris Luff, Dr Justin Davis-Smith CBE, Ed Coan, Emma Saunders, Gayle Clarke, Martine Gabbitass, Prof. Stuart Timperley, Simon Macqueen Patrons Baroness Dorothy Thornhill MBE, The Taylor Family

COMMUNITY CHAT ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH COVID-19

C

>> THE HORNET

>>

oronavirus has adversely affected so many members of our communities, and young people are no exception to this. There has been the increase in stress and anxiety on wellbeing, lack of routine or aspiration with the closure of schools, and of course the loss of social interaction and physical activity due to lockdown measures.

One programme that has tackled this head on by adapting its offer to young people is Premier League Kicks.

Over the last few weeks and months Premier League Kicks, delivered in Hertfordshire and Harrow by Watford FC Community Sports and Education Trust, has utilised tools such as Zoom and social media to keep young people engaged in a range of activities.

Fitness classes and skill challenges across football and dance have been hosted online, whilst socially there have been a host of activities as part of this new digital offer, including coordinated online FIFA tournaments, art classes and quizzes, to name just a few. One

beneficiary of the PL Kicks programme is 14-year-old Amelie, who said: “I have been able to access a range of activities during lockdown through the Kicks project, including baking, art challenges, football and dance. It is good to know that the project is still engaging with the local community and the young people who go to their sessions.”

The project has also taken part in the Premier League’s Connecting Generations initiative, with several teenagers coming together to plan and host an online quiz for the Trust’s older volunteers.

Premier League Kicks project officer Michael Williams said: “We have seen, across Watford FC’s Community Sports and Education Trust’s activities, how engagements such as this can vastly benefit people’s wellbeing. Whether it’s a simple catch-up with friends and coaches or having something positive to look forward to during the lockdown, it’s important that we continue to provide a service for young people.”

You can follow the Trust in between matchdays by searching and following @WFCTrust on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. To find out more about any of the above projects, including how you or someone you know can get involved, visit www.watfordfccsetrust.com

71 PL Kicks – Baking with Lila

By Alexandra Clarke, aged 12

By Amelie Stewart, aged 14

FIRST& WITH

LAST

72

>> THE HORNET

>>

WILL HUGHES

73

CAR First

It was a silver Mini Cooper.

Last

The car that I have now is a Mercedes GT.

BOOTS First They were Lotto boots. Black with a green Lotto badge.

Last I have some blue and white Adidas Xs.

ALBUM First

It was an Eminem album that I bought as a CD when I was a kid.

Last

I think Stormzy’s latest album would be the most recent one I listened to.

COUNTRY VISITED First

I went to Italy on holiday with my family when I was a kid.

Last

During the last international break I went to Dubrovnik, Croatia.

MATCH WATCHED First

My first real memory of watching football was the 2002 World Cup.

Last

That would have to be our last game that I wasn’t involved in, which I think was at Aston Villa.

GOAL First

My first professional goal was actually against Watford for Derby!

Last

I scored against Newcastle earlier on in the season.

PHONE First

I had a Nokia when I was about 12.

Last

Now I have the iPhone X.

TROPHY OR MEDAL First

I won Man of the Match for my Sunday league team, Mickleover Jubilee.

Last

My last one was when I won Young Player of the Season at Derby a few years ago.

MEAL COOKED First

It was probably a pasta dish. Start off easy!

Last

I cooked a chickpea and spinach curry a few days ago.

FILM First

I would have to say the first Toy Story.

Last

I went to the cinema and watched The Gentleman, which was brilliant.

74

WATFORD FC PEN PICS NIGEL PEARSON

9 TROY DEENEY

1 HEURELHO GOMES

10 DANNY WELBECK

Position: Goalkeeper Joined From: Tottenham Hotspur (2014) Watford Debut: August 9, 2014 v Bolton Wanderers Date Of Birth: February 15, 1981

Position: Forward Joined From: Unattached (2019) Watford Debut: August 17, 2019 v Everton Date Of Birth: November 26, 1990

2 DARYL JANMAAT

11 ADAM MASINA

4 CRAIG DAWSON

13 ADALBERTO PEÑARANDA

6 ADRIAN MARIAPPA

14 NATHANIEL CHALOBAH

7 GERARD DEULOFEU

15 CRAIG CATHCART

Position: Winger Joined From: Barcelona (2018) Watford Debut: January 31, 2018 v Stoke City Date Of Birth: March 13, 1994

Position: Defender Joined From: Blackpool (2014) Watford Debut: September 19, 2009 v Leicester City Date Of Birth: February 6, 1989

8 TOM CLEVERLEY

16 ABDOULAYE DOUCOURÉ

Position: Head Coach Joined From: Unattached (2019) Watford Debut: December 14, 2019 v Liverpool Date Of Birth: August 21, 1963

Position: Defender Joined From: Newcastle United (2016) Watford Debut: August 27, 2016 v Arsenal Date Of Birth: July 22, 1989

Position: Defender Joined From: West Bromwich Albion (2019) Watford Debut: August 10, 2019 v Brighton Date Of Birth: May 6, 1990

>> THE HORNET

>>

Position: Defender Joined From: Unattached (2016) Watford Debut: August 23, 2005 v Notts County Date Of Birth: October 3, 1986

Position: Midfielder Joined From: Everton (2017) Watford Debut: August 18, 2009 v Nottingham Forest Date Of Birth: August 12, 1989

Position: Forward Joined From: Walsall (2010) Watford Debut: August 6, 2010 v Norwich City Date Of Birth: June 29, 1988

Position: Defender Joined From: Bologna (2018) Watford Debut: August 29, 2018 v Reading Date Of Birth: January 2, 1994

Position: Forward Joined From: Udinese (2016) Watford Debut: January 6, 2019 v Woking Date of Birth: May 31, 1997

Position: Midfielder Joined From: Chelsea (2017) Watford Debut: September 18, 2012 v Brighton Date Of Birth: December 12, 1994

Position: Midfielder Joined From: Rennes (2016) Watford Debut: August 20, 2016 v Chelsea Date Of Birth: January 1, 1993

75

17 JOÃO PEDRO

25 JOSÉ HOLEBAS

18 ANDRE GRAY

26 BEN FOSTER

Position: Forward Joined From: Burnley (2017) Watford Debut: August 12, 2017 v Liverpool Date Of Birth: June 26, 1991

Position: Goalkeeper Joined From: West Bromwich Albion (2018) Watford Debut: August 6, 2005 v Preston North End Date Of Birth: April 3, 1983

19 WILL HUGHES

27 CHRISTIAN KABASELE

20 DOMINGOS QUINA

29 ÉTIENNE CAPOUE

Position: Midfielder Joined From: West Ham (2018) Watford Debut: August 29, 2018 v Reading Date Of Birth: November 18, 1999

Position: Midfielder Joined From: Tottenham Hotspur (2015) Watford Debut: August 8, 2015 v Everton Date Of Birth: July 11, 1988

21 KIKO FEMENÍA

33 IGNACIO PUSSETTO

Position: Forward Joined From: Fluminense (2020) Watford Debut: January 4, 2020 v Tranmere Date Of Birth: September 26, 2001

Position: Midfielder Joined From: Derby County (2017) Watford Debut: August 22, 2017 v Bristol City Date Of Birth: April 17, 1995

Position: Defender Joined From: Alaves (2017) Watford Debut: August 12, 2017 v Liverpool Date Of Birth: February 2, 1991

22 ISAAC SUCCESS

Position: Forward Joined From: Granada (2016) Watford Debut: August 27, 2016 v Arsenal Date Of Birth: January 7, 1996

23 ISMAÏLA SARR

Position: Forward Joined From: Rennes (2019) Watford Debut: August 27, 2019 v Coventry City Date Of Birth: February 25, 1998

24 TOM DELE-BASHIRU

Position: Midfielder Joined From: Manchester City (2019) Watford Debut: August 27, 2019 v Coventry City Date Of Birth: September 17, 1999

Position: Defender Joined From: AS Roma (2015) Watford Debut: August 8, 2015 v Everton Date Of Birth: June 27, 1984

Position: Defender Joined From: Genk (2016) Watford Debut: August 23, 2016 v Gillingham Date Of Birth: February 24, 1991

Position: Forward Joined From: Udinese (2020) Watford Debut: January 18, 2020 v Tottenham Date Of Birth: December 21, 1995

35 DANIEL BACHMANN Position: Goalkeeper Joined From: Stoke City (2017) Watford Debut: January 4, 2020 v Tranmere Date Of Birth: July 9, 1994

37 ROBERTO PEREYRA

Position: Midfielder Joined From: Juventus (2016) Watford Debut: August 27, 2016 v Arsenal Date Of Birth: January 7, 1991

42 CALLUM WHELAN

Position: Midfielder Joined From: Manchester United (2019) Watford Debut: January 4, 2020 v Tranmere Date Of Birth: September 24, 1998

76

THE HORNET

Fun Fantasy League 2019/20

BIRTHDAY WEEKEND FOR ‘BIG BEN’ THE HORNET’s unique match programmebased Fun Fantasy League (FFL) is back to conclude season 2019/20.

Ryan Finn was top when the action was suspended.

For League 1 and League 2 teams, the ‘final’ table from early March will be used to calculate scores, but there is still all to play for in the Premier League and Championship.

This week we celebrate a very special man, who, like many others, has never previously celebrated his birthday during a football season.

He is someone whose ship was torpedoed whilst on active service in the Navy in World War Two and who can recall watching the likes of Cliff Holton and Dennis Uphill at Vicarage Road in the late 1950s and the days when Watford played in blue & white.

Bernard ‘Big Ben’ Benham will be 94 tomorrow (June 21). He first started watching Watford in 1954, when he moved with his family to Garston. A native of Harrow, who followed Wealdstone in his youth, he worked for London Underground all his working life after leaving the Navy in 1947.

He and his wife brought up three children, one of whom, Caroline, worked in the ticket office during GT’s first spell at Watford. He had a season ticket with Caroline for many years, but is now unable to go regularly to games.

He is joined in the FFL by Caroline, her daughter, Sabrina Dady and Sabrina’s son, Ryan. Sabrina is the leading four generations in the FFL and, whilst none of them will challenge this year, Ben did finish a creditable 23rd in 2016/17.

Ben’s favourite players of all time are John Barnes, Cliff Holton, Keith Eddy and Ross Jenkins. Gerard Deulofeu is the player that excites him most of the present squad.

Many happy returns, Ben.

Bernard ‘Big Ben’ Benham with great-grandson Ryan and with daughter Caroline at the GT statue

HOW TO KEEP YOUR SCORE: Add up the points totals for each of your eight teams then +/- their goal difference for your Grand Total.

Player Ryan Finn

Score 620

21

Graham Timms

561

40

Ian Simpson

542

1

22

Chris Billimore

558

43

Peter Simpson

541

2

Val Lawler

617

22

Ken Morgan

558

44

Mark Bowen

536

3

Harry Billimore

612

24

Carolyn Mount

557

45

Adele Morgan

535

4

Shelley Burgess

607

25

Kirsty Delaney

556

45

Cally Billimore

535

5

Leo Fearnside

599

26

Mick Glassborow

554

45

Gertjan Honig

535

6

Nicky Bracey

594

27

Clive Burrows

553

45

Vanessa Clarke

535

7

Chris Gomm

583

28

Jonny Popper

551

49

Joe Phippen

534

8

Alex Ismeni

582

28

Julian Bingham

551

50

Alan Weller

532

8

Cerys Collins

582

28

Leon Winsky

551

50

Chris Fleming

532

8

Gerald Ahern

582

28

Matthew Bentote

551

50

David Binge

532

8

Scott Biggerstaff

582

28

Paul Keeble

551

50

Michael Corston

532

12

Elliot Clarke

579

28

Tom Randall

551

54

Michael Phippen

529

13

James Willis

577

28

Trish Botten

551

54

Victoria Evans

529

13

Kevin Page

577

35

Jonathan Leigh

550

56

Daniel Clack

528

13

Liz Fleming

577

36

Connor Carpenter

547

57

Francesca Paulley

527

>>

13

Paul Russell

577

36

David Gentry

547

58

Karl Campion

526

17

Kathryn Bocock

574

38

Bill Clarke

546

59

Benjamin Leigh

523

>> THE HORNET

Table as at Friday March 13, 2020

18

Trevor Bailey

573

39

Alex McNicholas

543

59

Derek Mitchell

523

19

Sharon Evans

568

40

Christopher Clack

542

59

Lawrence Samuels

523

20

Stuart Finn

566

40

David Evans

542

59

Matthew Fleming

523

77 Oliver Phippen

523

158

Dylan Robertson

473

257

Laura Thomas

425

59

Spencer Trigg

523

161

Mark Chrastina

472

258

Annabel Russell

424

59

Sue Craig

523

162

Brian Bustard

471

258

Stephen Durrant

424

66

Chloe Cuthbert

521

162

Graham Smith

471

258

Stuart Biggerstaff

424

Chris Pollard

422

59

67

Oliver Thomas

520

162

Katie Lovedee

471

261

67

Peter Weller

520

162

Len Parker

471

261

Gillian Russell

422

Ian Ayres

422

Sally Danks

420

67

Steve Spittles

520

166

David Thickens

469

261

67

Tim Fox

520

166

Michael Lester

469

264

71

Hayley Nowley

519

168

Amanda Snowdon

467

264

Sue Sykes

420

71

Leila Coker

519

169

Alex Evans

466

266

Ros Ayres

418

71

Roy Marino

519

169

David Bocock

466

267

Lexi Hunnisett

416

74

Daryl Allwood

518

169

Jim Clarke

466

268

Mark Valentini

415

75

George Grace

517

169

Joe Clarke

466

268

Paul Atkins

415

75

James Gates

517

169

Lester Ferguson

466

268

Veronica Eastwood

415

75

Mike de Jong

517

169

Steve Brown

466

271

Mike Coleman

414

78

Caleb Chrastina

516

169

Stewart Sharp

466

271

Ted Bracey

414

78

Guy Matthews

516

176

Daniel Westlake

465

273

David O'Mahoney

413

78

Steve Delaney

516

176

Graham Hunnisett

465

273

Fred Pigham

413

78

Terence Ritchie

516

176

Harry Lewis

465

273

Neil Stevenson

413

Thomas Joseph

412

82

Jackie Westaway

515

176

Kerry Phippen

465

276

82

Mark Ferguson

515

176

Mark Nowley

465

277

Evan Munday

411

Jack Shepherd

411

84

Andrew Holmes

514

176

Mark Thomas

465

277

85

Bob Marum

513

176

Roger Stock

465

277

Sandra Munday

411

Mark Kelly

409

86

Grace Clarke

512

176

Sylvia Durant

465

280

86

Saskia Pace-Bonici-Mompalao 512

176

Terry Smith

465

280

Ryan Dady

409

88

Charlie Hancock

511

185

Beverley Pollard

464

282

James Hepple-Poole

408

88

Martin Grimsdale

511

185

David Owsley

464

283

Mark Marum

407

88

Peter Westaway

511

185

Phillippa Parker

464

284

Gerald Pepper

406

88

Sue Hazleton

511

185

Shona Thomson

464

284

Joe Clayton

406

92

David Arrighi

510

189

Peter Watkins

463

286

Carol Randall

405

92

Ella Gentry

510

189

Val Berg

463

286

Irene Gibbins

405

92

John Poole

510

189

Valerie Stock

463

286

Jane Thomas

405

95

David Varley

509

192

Peter Morgan

462

286

Lucy Morgan

405

96

Caitriona Delaney

508

193

Jemima Fearnside

461

286

Martin Sellman

405

96

Jack Munday

508

193

Michael Watkins

461

291

Kaspar Campion

404

98

Bernie Hazleton

507

195

Dimitri McNicholas

460

291

Paul Squire

404

Emma Squire

403

98

Jean Smith

507

195

Richard Gentry

460

293

100

Andrew Aldridge

506

197

David Fearnside

459

293

Nigel Corbyn

403

Emma Randall

402

100

Josh Morris

506

197

Jessica Munday

459

295

100

Katie Owsley

506

197

John Cozens

459

296

JakeOwsley

401

103

David Barton

505

197

Liz Brodie

459

297

George White

400

103

Vanessa Paisley

505

201

Charlotte Morgan

458

297

Joshua Clack

400

105

Kevin Stock

504

201

Vince Moses

458

299

Karen Durrant

398

106

John Prentice

503

203

Steve Cook

457

300

Tanya Smith

397

106

Thomas Ahern

503

204

Theodore Robertson

457

301

Ben Rowe

395

108

Gary White

502

205

Alan Allwood

456

301

Dan Riddick

395

109

Carol Brown

501

205

Stuart Hazleton

456

303

Luke Johnson

395

109

David Northcott

501

207

Dennis Green

454

303

Philippa Wainwright

395

111

Stephen Booth

500

208

David Cox

453

305

George Kelly

392

112

Sally Ferguson

499

208

Mark Liddle

453

306

Bernard Benham

390

113

Marc Watkins

498

210

Yvonne White

452

306

Brian Snowdon

390

Michael Lean

386

113

Pippa Ayres

498

211

Mandy Gomm

450

308

115

Cheryl Munday

497

211

Nicholas Smith

450

309

Kezia Mount

383

Benjamin Gates

382

115

Fraser Ritchie

497

211

Paul Stewart

450

310

117

Evelyn Biggerstaff

496

211

Simon Lancey

450

310

Colin Thomas

382

David Ward

378

118

Graeme Bridges

495

215

Lucy Phippen

449

312

118

Jonathan Winsky

495

216

Emma Rowe

448

313

Lucy Valentini

376

120

Andy Pulley

494

216

Mark J Smith

448

313

Sam Westaway

376

120

Hugh Simpson

494

218

Josh Gentry

447

315

Matt Churchill

371

120

Noah Campion

494

219

Mike Heffernan

444

315

Tobie Squire

371

123

Angela Cox

493

219

Ryan Beck

444

317

Lucy Russell

370

123

Robert Johnson

493

221

Jacqui Chrastina

443

318

Tim Hume

368

125

Mike Puddifoot

492

221

Kieran O'Mahoney

443

319

Andrew Carberry

364

126

Laura Gentry

491

221

Nigel Grace

443

320

Geoff Gough

363

126

Rachel Ferguson

491

224

Ethan Sweeney

442

321

Felix Biggerstaff

361

128

Catherine Hazleton

490

224

Georgia Ayres

442

322

Jeff Seymour

359

128

Maggie Minty

490

224

Sabrina Dady

442

323

Maura Pigham

357

130

Martin Coker

489

227

Derek Joseph

440

324

Christine Gentry

352

Graham Gibbins

352

130

Stephen Brooks

489

228

Frank Manfield

439

324

132

Pete Randall

488

228

Ian Greaves

439

324

Stephen Ong

352

Isabelle Mount

351

133

Catherine Watkins

486

228

Ian Greaves

439

327

133

Nigel Finn

486

228

Sarah Gentry

439

328

Henry Godwin

350

Barbara Sellman

349

133

William Powell

486

232

Sue Scally

438

329

136

Carol Watkins

484

233

Debbie Weller

437

329

Gemma Simpson

349

136

David Gomm

484

233

Karl Hepple-Poole

437

331

Mary McCarthy

344

136

Kelly Allwood

484

235

Arthur Godwin

436

331

Richard Porter

344

136

Michael Barton

484

235

Eddie Owsley

436

333

Charlotte Snowdon

342

136

Philip Smith

484

235

Elliott Longman

436

334

Gregory Douglas

338

141

Anna Fleming

483

238

Lewis Hunnisett

435

334

Mandy Morgan

338

141

Bob Bracey

483

238

Maisie Gentry

435

336

Emma Fearnside

336

141

Nick King

483

238

Mark Munday

435

337

Colin Ward

334

144

Chloe Morgan

482

241

Michael Day

434

338

Elizabeth Hannaby

332

145

Alex Delaney

481

242

Joe Godwin

433

339

Laura Clarke

327

146

Paul Weller

480

242

William Gates

433

340

William Hazleton

324

146

Richard Winterton

480

244

Joe Bracey

432

341

Elliott Squire

322

Caroline Benham

306

148

Denis Hunnisett

479

245

Ian Woodward

431

342

148

Jacob West

479

246

Amy Kadir

429

342

Imogen Godwin

306

Ethel Simpson

298

148

Mick Rogers

479

246

Jenny Weller

429

344

151

Ben Clarke

478

246

Yvonne Honig

429

345

Matt Rowson

297

151

Liam Brockhus

478

249

Eddy Ferguson

428

346

Pam Batchelor

296

153

Matthew Thomas

476

249

Kieran Chrastina

428

346

Toby Munday

296

154

Colin Westlake

475

249

Olivia Gentry

428

348

Christine Gates

279

154

Nick Botten

475

252

Richard Mount

427

349

Juliet Cross

270

156

Alex Spittles

474

252

Sarah Seymour

427

350

Mark Carpenter

269

156

Jenny Sullivan

474

252

Tom Hancock

427

351

Belita Winsky

246

158

Allan Flowers

473

255

Emily Westaway

426

352

Lynn Sharpe

76

158

Beth Evans

473

255

Judy Weller

426

353

Diane Ambridge

24

79

FIRST-TEAM

PLAYER STATISTICS

Premier League

01 GOMES 02 JANMAAT 04 DAWSON 06 MARIAPPA 07 DEULOFEU 08 CLEVERLEY 09 DEENEY 10 WELBECK 11 MASINA 13 PEŇARANDA 14 CHALOBAH 15 CATHCART 16 DOUCOURÉ 17 PEDRO 18 GRAY 19 HUGHES 20 QUINA 21 FEMENÍA 22 SUCCESS 23 SARR 24 DELE-BASHIRU 25 HOLEBAS 26 FOSTER 27 KABASELE 29 CAPOUE 33 PUSSETTO 35 BACHMANN 37 PEREYRA 40 DALBY 41 BARRETT 42 WHELAN 44 HUNGBO 46 WISE 45 BALOGUN 47 PARKES 51 SPENCER-ADAMS 53 HINDS 58 BENNETTS 72 JANJEVA DAHLBERG FOLIVI FOULQUIER JAKUBIAK NAVARRO OKAKA SEMA SINCLAIR WILMOT PRÖDL ZEEGELAAR Out on loan

Carabao Cup

The FA Cup

2019/20 Total

Watford Career

APP

SUB

GLS

APP

SUB

GLS

APP

SUB

GLS

APP

SUB

GLS

APP

SUB

GLS

0 7 17 13 25 8 17 3 13 0 9 27 28 0 7 18 0 17 0 13 0 11 29 18 24 0 0 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

0 1 3 2 3 2 1 6 4 0 6 0 0 0 13 3 3 2 4 5 0 1 0 1 0 5 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 4 1 6 0 1 0 0 0 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

3 2 0 2 0 0 0 2 1 0 3 1 1 0 2 1 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0

0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 2 0 1 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 2 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

3 9 18 16 25 8 17 5 15 0 13 28 29 1 11 19 5 18 2 14 2 12 29 21 24 0 2 17 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0

0 1 3 2 5 3 1 6 4 1 6 0 1 1 13 3 3 2 4 7 1 1 0 2 0 5 0 10 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 1 0 0 4 1 6 1 1 1 1 0 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

158 70 18 298 58 88 317 5 30 2 63 157 122 1 44 68 12 65 17 14 2 117 148 80 156 0 2 84 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 3 14 12 3 4 76 13

1 15 3 37 12 17 72 6 8 1 17 7 10 1 47 10 9 12 42 7 1 5 0 15 8 5 0 26 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 2 25 10 9 2 9 0

0 6 0 5 17 14 129 1 1 1 6 7 17 0 16 6 2 2 5 6 1 5 0 5 14 0 0 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1 1 0 3 0

No longer with club

OPPOSITION

Everton

West Ham United

Newcastle United

Sat 17

Sat 24

Sat 31

Manchester City

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Sat 21

Sat 28

Tottenham Hotspur

AFC Bournemouth

Sat 19

Sat 26

Norwich City

Burnley

Southampton

Fri 08

Sat 23

Sat 30

Manchester United

Liverpool

Sun 23

Sat 29

Sat 07

Crystal Palace

Brighton & Hove Albion

Sat 08

MARCH

Everton

Sat 01

FEBRUARY

L

W

L

D

L

L

0-1

3-0

0-2

1-1

2-3

1-2

0-0

17

17

19

19

19

19

17

25,461

21,634

73,347

30,443

21,229

40,867

21,366

Taylor

Oliver

Atkinson

Friend

Pawson

Atkinson

Oliver

Dean

Aston Villa

Hooper

Tue 21

D

10,384

20,548

21,348

Coote

Tottenham Hotspur

17

19

19

30,222

Sat 18

3-0

2-1

3-0

19

Mason

Marriner

Madley

W

W

W

1-1

21,488

53,711

Atkinson

Pawson

Oliver

Tierney

AFC Bournemouth

Aston Villa

Sat 28

D

20

20

20,164

31,763

26,929

19,711

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Sheffield United

Thu 26

0-2

W 2-0

L

20

20

20

20

Marriner

Taylor

Dean

Kavanagh

Marriner

Tierney

Dean

Taylor

Scott

Kavanagh

Mason

Pawson

Sun 12

Manchester United

Sun 22

0-0

0-2

1-2

0-3

27,074

21,011

20,821

58,754

20,811

30,711

54,273

21,360

44,157

20,035

39,066

20,245

Wed 01

Liverpool

Sat 14

D

L

L

L

18

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

18

REF

Madley

Crystal Palace

Sat 07

1-2

0-0

1-1

0-0

0-2

0-8

2-2

1-1

1-3

0-1

0-3

W 2-0

L

D

D

D

L

L

D

D

L

L

L

KO/RES POS ATT

JANUARY 2020

Leicester City

Wed 04

DECEMBER

Chelsea

Sat 02

NOVEMBER

Sheffield United

Sat 05

OCTOBER

Arsenal

Sun 15

SEPTEMBER

Brighton & Hove Albion

Sat 10

AUGUST 2019

DATE

Heurelho Gomes Daryl Janmaat 2

4

Craig Dawson

Sebastian Prödl

Adrian Mariappa Gerard Deulofeu Tom Cleverley 8

Troy Deeney 9

José Holebas

Tom Dele-Bashiru

Ismaïla Sarr

Isaac Success

Kiko Femenia

Domingos Quina

Will Hughes

Andre Gray

Joao Pedro

Craig Cathcart

Nathaniel Chalobah

Aldaberto Peňaranda

Ken Sema

Adam Masina

Danny Welbeck

• • • • •• • • •• • • •• •

• • • •

2

•••• •••• • ••••• • • • •••• • ••••

•••

••• •• • •

•••

1

1

1

1

1

••• • ••• • ••• • •••••

• • ••• ••• ••• ••• •••

• • •

• • • •

1

1

••••••• •• ••• •••••• •• ••• ••••••• ••••••

•• • •••• ••• •• •••• ••• •• • ••• ••• •• • • •••

1

1

2

••• ••• ••• ••• •• •••

• •• ••• • • •• ••• • • •••••• • • • • •

1

1

1

• • • •

• • • • • • • • •

•• •• •• •• •• ••

1

• • • • • •

1

•• •• ••• •• • •••• •• • •••• • •••• • •• •

••• ••• ••• •••

1

1

1

•• • •• • • •• • • •• • •

1

••• ••• • • •

1

•• •• •••• •••• •••• • ••• • •••• •• ••• ••

••• •• • • ••• ••• •• • • ••• ••• ••• •••

1

Jayden Bennetts Kaylen Hinds

Bailey Spencer-Adams

Adam Parkes

Henry Wise

Jamal Balogun

Joseph Hungbo

Callum Whelan

Mason Barrett

Sam Dalby

Roberto Pereyra

Dimitri Foulquier

Daniel Bachmann

Ignacio Pussetto

Marvin Zeegelaar

Pontus Dahlberg

•

•

• •

• •

•

1

• • • •

1

• • • •

• •• • • • •

•• • • ••

• • ••

1

•• •• •

•

• •

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 29 30 32 33 35 36 37 40 41 42 44 45 46 47 51 53 58 72

Abdoulaye Doucouré

••• • •• •••• •• •• • ••• •• •• •••

7

Ben Foster

•••• •• • ••• •• •• ••••••• •

6

Christan Kabasele

• • •• • • •••• • • •• • • •••• ••• • •• • ••••

5

Étienne Capoue

••• ••• ••• ••• ••• •• •

••• ••• ••• •••

1

Andi Janjeva

Burnley

Southampton

Sun 28

Newcastle United

West Ham United

Manchester City

Arsenal

Coventry City

Swansea City

Everton

Tranmere Rovers

Tranmere Rovers

Sat 11

Wed 15

Sat 18

Sun 26

Aug 27

Sep 24

Oct 29

Jan 4

Jan 23

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Liverpool Man City Leicester Chelsea Man Utd Wolves Sheff Utd Tottenham Arsenal Burnley Crystal Palace Everton Newcastle Southampton Brighton West Ham Watford Bournemouth Aston Villa Norwich

P W D 29 15 0 28 9 2 29 9 3 29 7 3 29 8 5 29 5 7 28 7 3 29 8 2 28 7 5 29 7 2 29 6 4 29 7 4 29 5 6 29 4 2 29 4 6 29 4 3 29 4 5 29 4 5 28 5 2 29 4 3

L 0 2 3 5 2 3 5 4 3 6 5 3 3 9 4 7 5 5 6 7

before games of Wednesday June 17

0-2

R3

R4

R3

R2

F A W D 40 12 12 1 33 12 9 1 30 15 7 2 22 15 7 3 29 12 4 4 21 17 5 6 17 13 4 7 27 15 3 6 26 20 2 8 20 19 4 4 12 13 4 5 19 15 3 3 12 12 4 2 16 31 6 2 17 15 2 5 23 26 3 3 16 17 2 4 17 21 3 1 18 24 2 2 19 26 1 3

L 1 5 5 4 6 3 2 6 3 6 5 9 9 6 8 9 9 11 11 11

L 1-2 aet R3R

D 3-3

L

W 2-1

W 3-0

TBC

3.00pm

8.00pm

3.00pm

6.00pm

8.00pm

4.30pm

6.00pm

12.30pm

HOW THEY STAND

Away

Norwich City

Tue 07

Home

Chelsea

Sat 04

JULY

Leicester City

Thu 25

2

1

Craig Dawson 4

Sebastian Prödl 5

Adrian Mariappa 6

Gerard Deulofeu 7

Tom Cleverley 8

Troy Deeney 9

Pontus Dahlberg

Étienne Capoue

Ben Foster

Tom Dele-Bashiru

Ismaïla Sarr

Isaac Success

Kiko Femenia

Domingos Quina

Will Hughes

Andre Gray

Joao Pedro

Abdoulaye Doucouré

Craig Cathcart

Nathaniel Chalobah

Aldaberto Peňaranda

Ken Sema

Adam Masina

Danny Welbeck

•

•

• Sub Three

Sub Four

•

Unused Sub

•

1

•• • ••• •• • •• • •

1

Playing Tomorrow Newcastle United v Sheffield United (12.30pm) Aston Villa v Chelsea (4.15pm) Everton v Liverpool (7.00pm)

Today’s other fixtures Brighton & Hove Albion v Arsenal (3.00pm) West Ham United v Wolverhampton Wanderers (5.15pm) AFC Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (7.45pm)

Playing Monday Manchester City v Burnley (8.00pm)

Ignacio Pussetto 1

•

WATFORD FC is committed to the principles of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and welcomes all supporters to Vicarage Road. Please be reminded that any racist, homophobic or discriminatory abuse, chanting or harassment is strictly forbidden and will result in arrest and/or ejection from the Stadium. The Club may impose a ban for one or more matches, at its sole discretion, as a consequence of any such behaviour. If supporters experience any form of abuse or discrimination inside the stadium, please help us eliminate it by texting us on 07825 535269 or by reporting it using the free reporting app created

by Kick It Out. The full Vicarage Road Ground Regulations can be found at watfordfc.com under the ‘Ticketing’ tab. They are also displayed at various points around the stadium. Thank you for helping make us a great club to be associated with.

1

1

Played Yesterday Norwich City v Southampton (6.00pm) Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United (8.15pm)

Sub Two

•

1

EQUALITY & RESPECT AT VICARAGE ROAD

Sub One

•

• •

Christan Kabasele

• • •

Marvin Zeegelaar

PREMIER LEAGUE MATCHWEEK 30

1

Sam Dalby

Roberto Pereyra Dimitri Foulquier

Daniel Bachmann

Kaylen Hinds

Bailey Spencer-Adams Adam Parkes Henry Wise

Jamal Balogun

Joseph Hungbo Callum Whelan Mason Barrett

1

* Opposition own-goal

Premier League Sunday June 28, 4.30pm

Watford v Southampton

UP NEXT AT THE VIC

= Number of Goals

1

• ••••• •• • •••••• ••••

1

••• ••• ••••

Jayden Bennetts

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 29 30 32 33 35 36 37 40 41 42 44 45 46 47 51 53 58 72

José Holebas

•• •••• • •• ••••• •••• •• •• • • • • •• •• ••• • ••• ••••

Played

•

Harrison

Scott

Hooper

Bond

Ward

F A GD PTS 26 9 +45 82 35 19 +37 57 28 13 +30 53 29 24 +12 48 15 18 +14 45 20 17 +7 43 13 12 +5 43 20 25 +7 41 14 16 +4 40 14 21 -6 39 14 19 -6 39 18 31 -9 37 13 29 -16 35 19 21 -17 34 15 25 -8 29 12 24 -15 27 11 27 -17 27 12 26 -18 27 16 32 -22 25 6 26 -27 21

10,039

14,373

34,979

8,903

12,257

Dean

Pawson

Heurelho Gomes

Sat 20

Daryl Janmaat

JUNE

Andi Janjeva

82

All the latest from Watford FC’s HR & Equality Lead Officer, Sam Gillings...

As the Original Family Club, we have been at the forefront of football’s campaign against all forms of discriminatory behaviour since the 1980s. The more recent initiatives such as Watford Welcomes and the We Campaign have held tackling racism at the very heart.

You will see the Golden Boys are showing their support to the Black Lives Matter movement in today’s fixture against Leicester, and discussions are also underway with the Ladies’ team, with

players keen to play their part in showing their support.

Should you wish to know more about our initiatives, the Equality Action Plan or share suggestions of how the club can continue to play its part, please do not hesitate to contact our Lead Equality Officer, Sam Gillings.

We must collectively stand together in playing our part in the much-needed change to being an anti-racist society.

MEADOW WOOD SCHOOL

THE HORNET

//

Watford FC CSE Trust, along with the club, have a positive working partnership with Meadow Wood School, a primary school for children who have neurological and physical disabilities.

Pre Covid-19, some of the students had the opportunity to attend a game at Vicarage Road. Below we hear from one student’s parent following their visit: “Eleanor really enjoyed going to the match.

She loves watching people, and there are so many of them! She sometimes found the noise overwhelming, especially when Watford scored a goal, but it is such a unique atmosphere, which is great for her personal development.

“It also allows Eleanor and me (Dad) to enjoy time together in a shared experience. We feel

very fortunate to be given the opportunity to watch a sport being played at the highest level and would like to thank Watford FC’s Disability Team for the tickets.”

If you’d like to know more about Watford Welcomes and our work in this area, please do drop us a line by calling 01923 496262 or emailing sam.gillings@watfordfc.com, and keep an eye out for the big screen messages.

NEW CAP RANGE SS20 Collection

3.

2.

1.

6.

4.

5.

7.

1. SS20 CANVAS CAP £15.00 2. YELLOW SUPERCORE CAP £12.00 3. SS20 PATCH CAP £15.00 4. SS20 WOMENS MESH CAP £15.00 5. SS20 TWEED CAP £15.00 6. SS20 TRUCKER CAP £15.00 7. SS20 KIDS POW! CAP £12.00

S H O P . WAT F O R D F C . C O M

WATFORD

LEICESTER CITY

Yellow & black halved shirts, Black shorts, yellow socks

01 02 04 06 07 08 09 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 29 33 35 37 42

                            

Blue shirts with gold trim, White shorts, blue socks

HEAD COACH

MANAGER

NIGEL PEARSON

BRENDAN RODGERS

HEURELHO GOMES (GK) DARYL JANMAAT CRAIG DAWSON ADRIAN MARIAPPA GERARD DEULOFEU TOM CLEVERLEY TROY DEENEY (C) DANNY WELBECK ADAM MASINA ADALBERTO PEÑARANDA NATHANIEL CHALOBAH CRAIG CATHCART ABDOULAYE DOUCOURÉ JOÃO PEDRO ANDRE GRAY WILL HUGHES DOMINGOS QUINA KIKO FEMENÍA ISAAC SUCCESS ISMAÏLA SARR TOM DELE-BASHIRU JOSÉ HOLEBAS BEN FOSTER (GK) CHRISTIAN KABASELE ÉTIENNE CAPOUE IGNACIO PUSSETTO DANIEL BACHMANN (GK) ROBERTO PEREYRA CALLUM WHELAN

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 14 15 17 18 20 21 22 24 25 26 28 29 35

                        

KASPER SCHMEICHEL (GK) JAMES JUSTIN BEN CHILWELL ÇAĞLAR SÖYÜNCÜ WES MORGAN (C) JONNY EVANS DEMARAI GRAY YOURI TIELEMANS JAMIE VARDY JAMES MADDISON MARC ALBRIGHTON DANNY WARD (GK) KELECHI IHEANACHO HARVEY BARNES AYOZE PÉREZ DANIEL AMARTEY HAMZA CHOUDHURY RICARDO PEREIRA MATTY JAMES NAMPALYS MENDY WILFRED NDIDI DENNIS PRAET CHRISTIAN FUCHS RYAN BENNETT ELDIN JAKUPOVIĆ (GK)

MATCH OFFICIALS REFEREE CRAIG PAWSON ASSISTANT REFEREES DAN COOK, DANIEL ROBATHAN FOURTH OFFICIAL GAVIN WARD VAR ANDREW MADLEY ADDITIONAL VAR ANDREW GARRATT

#watfordfc

@WatfordFC

WatfordFC

watfordfcofficial

WatfordFCofficial

Watford_FC

Watford v Leicester City

WATFORD v LEICESTER CITY

Saturday June 20, 2020 Premier League

Watford

Leicester City Starting XI

Final Score:

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Yellow Cards:

Used Subs:

Used Subs:

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Shots:

Shots:

Starting XI

14haniel

Watford Goalscorers:

Nat Chalobah

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Corners:

Free-Kicks:

Free-Kicks:

Penalties:

Penalties:

#15

lder Position: Midfie Date of birth: 1994 12, December : Chelsea, Previous clubs, Nottingham ugh Watford (loan) , Middlesbro Forest (loan) (loan), ey (loan), Burnl , Napoli (loan) Reading (loan)

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Leicester City Goalscorers: ............................................ ............................................

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Corners:

Player Poster

Autograph

Red Cards: ............................................

My Man Of The Match: ............................................

Referee: ............................................

Attendance:

Pull this section out for the following amazing features…

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• • • • •

GIANT CHALOBAH POSTER WIN A SIGNED PROGRAMME! HARRY HORNET’S PUZZLE PAGE MATCH STAT SHEET JUNIOR HORNETS’ MESSAGES!

n o i t i t e p m o C Time!

WATFORD

1.

I scored a brace sixteen weeks ago against the previously unbeaten Liverpool.

2.

‘Do not scratch your eyes’ was one commentator’s reaction to my winning goal against Leicester in the play-off semi-final.

Think you know all the answers?

Take a photo of your completed quiz sheet and email it to junior.hornets@watfordfc.com with the subject line ‘Who Am I competition’.

3.

I recently picked up Goalkeeper of the Year at the London Football Awards for the second year running.

One lucky winner chosen at random will receive a signed programme!

5.

I completed my 100th Premier League appearance for Watford in the 3-0 win against Liverpool.

4.

I am an ex-Watford striker who scored a brace in the FA Cup for Manchester United in March

LEICESTER CITY

1.

I scored the winning goal in an FA Cup game against Birmingham City in March.

2.

I scored a hat-trick in a 9-0 hammering of Southampton earlier this season.

3.

I signed for Leicester in 2018 and scored my debut goal in a 2-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

4.

I was the first player in English football to be awarded a goal by VAR.

5.

On New Year’s Day of this year, I scored my first senior goal for Leicester in a 3-0 win against Newcastle United.

THE KEY THREE

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Junior Watford supporter Will Hodgins chooses three Premier League games to keep an eye on this weekend…

Junior Hornets tell us all about their local sports teams…

AFC BOURNEMOUTH v CRYSTAL PALACE Saturday June 20, 7.45pm

Project Restart has kicked off and the Premier League is back. It’s focus time for Bournemouth as they host Crystal Palace, and with a decrease in home advantage, each game is even harder to call now. Eddie Howe’s team will hope that things fall in their favour as they look to escape the drop, and they certainly need the points more than Palace, who sit comfortably in mid table. This will be the first Premier League game to ever be shown live on the BBC.

JAMES MERLINO – TRING TORNADOES HARRIERS Back row (left to right): Toby, Ronny, Jake, James, Harry Front row (left to right): Josh, Zach, Henry, Raffi, Luke Coach: Stuart Merlino Best moment: A great personal moment for me was when I was presented with a Golden Boot by Tring Tornadoes for scoring 190 goals in 65 consecutive games. A great result for my team was when we were losing 7-4 against Watford Town with three minutes to go and we came back to draw 7-7.

Favourite Watford match seen: The best Watford game I have seen is when we beat Arsenal away 2-1 in the FA Cup quarter-final in 2016.

A

v CHELSE ASTON VILLApm Sunday June 21, 4.15

to stay up? Only and do they have enough lsea Could Villa spring a shock, restart sees them host Che the r afte e gam ond sec time will tell. Their season, working with the this h toug it had has th at Villa Park. Dean Smi son, but they are earned promotion last sea majority of the players that gue status, so this game Lea r mie Pre r thei g inin still in with a shout of reta is definitely worth a watch

EVERTON v LIVERPOOL

TEDDY WATKINS – EVERGREEN FC

Sunday June 21, 7pm

A Merseyside derby on the opening weekend of the restart – what more could you want? Carlo Ancelotti must feel he has the tools to spark a late push for European football next season and beating Liverpool would send out a message to the teams above them. The Reds however will be looking to better Man City’s point tally of last season [98] and become only the second team in Premier League history to get over 100.

ar-olds e y 5 1 r0 FREE fo s i s t e orn Visit Junior H c.com

junio

fordf t a w . s t ! rhorne . to sign

Back row (left to right): Thomas (coach), Benjamin, Jayden, Oscar, Ian (coach) Middle row (left to right): Arthur, Rory, Teddy, Harry Front (left): Alex Coaches: Ian & Thomas Best moment: Our greatest moment was our first ever win back in November – we won 5-1 against Everett Rovers after a heavy run of losses. It felt so good to finally get the win that we so deserved and to see the smiles on people’s faces. I still talk about this day and how fun it was to bundle coach Ian after the game!

Favourite Watford match seen: I normally go to watch the games with my Grandma and Uncle Benn but I recently got to see Watford v Tottenham with my Dad. This was probably my favourite game as my Dad is a Spurs supporter and was convinced he would be the winner that day. I think I was the winner in the end, not because of the 0-0 score but because I managed to persuade Dad to buy me some chips at half-time!

up

Would you and your sports team like to feature on this page in a future programme? If so please email junior.hornets@watfordfc.com for info!

14

Nathaniel Chalobah Position: Midfielder Date of birth: December 12, 1994 Previous clubs: Chelsea, Watford (loan), Nottingham Forest (loan), Middlesbrough (loan), Burnley (loan), Reading (loan), Napoli (loan)

Autograph

Player Poster #15