THEY say you have to be mad to be a goalkeeper - but the men listed below have kept the Hornets in games going back through the decades.

If you're looking for qualities such as fine shot-stopping, great distribution, under-pressure penalty saves, bravery and even goalscoring then you've got it all below.

There's a wealth of international experience too, with the Golden Boys producing David James for the England national side.

Billy Biggar (1904-1910)

Watford apps: 283 Watford goals: 2

A giant goalkeeper who captained Watford for 15 months and, in 1909, performed the extraordinary feat of scoring and saving a penalty in the same Southern League match

Skilly Williams (1913-1926)

Watford apps: 341 Watford goals: 0
 
A legendary keeper renowned for his courage, agility and geniality. Played as a centre-forward before joining Watford and represented Hertfordshire in both positions.

Pat Jennings (1963-1964)

Watford apps: 52 Watford goals: 0

One of football's greatest-ever 'keepers, his outstanding career included a season at Vicarage Road and finished with countless honours, including 119 full Northern Ireland caps.

Andy Rankin (1971-1979)

Watford apps: 329 Watford goals: 0

Only Skilly Williams has kept goal more often than Andy Rankin, whose greatest night for Watford came as he started in the 1978 League Cup victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Tony Coton (1984-1990)

Watford apps: 291 Watford goals: 0

A high-class goalkeeper who many felt was unlucky not to have played for England. Left Watford to join Manchester City for £1m in 1984 - the most received before then was £27,000!

David James (1990-1992)

Watford apps: 98 Watford goals: 0

Promoted to the first team in 1990 when only 20, the giant keeper excelled at shot-stopping and commanding the penalty area. Joined Liverpool for £1.25m after less than 100 first-team appearances and went on to represent England.

Alec Chamberlain (1996 - 2007)

Watford apps: 277 Watford goals: 0

Signed from Sunderland for £40,000, Chamberlain is a goalkeeper with legendary status due to his true professionalism throughout his playing time at the club, which spanned over 10 years. 

Chamberlain was part of the club's rise to the Premiership and he picked up two Player of the Season awards as well - his heroics in the 1999 play off semi final with Birmingham City with live long in the memory for many supporters.

A dedicated professional, he didn't have any problem winning over the fans after playing for rivals Luton Town between 1988 and 1993.

Chamberlain now looks after the current crop of goalkeepers at the club.

Ben Foster (2005-2007)

Watford apps: 58 Watford goals: 0

Featured in two loan spells with the Golden Boys and was described by Aidy Boothroyd as the 'best goalkeeper in the world'. Foster has an interesting career to date, after being sent out on loan to Wrexham from Stoke City, the Leamington Spa born 'keeper caught the eye of none other than Sir Alex Fergsuon.

The Manchester United boss quickly snapped up the youngster for £1m, Foster was part of the promotion-winning squad in 2006.

Having then returned to Old Trafford, Boothroyd managed to secure another season-long loan to retain his services in the Premier League.

His performances in the top flight won him the coveted Player of the Year award and a fine season was topped with an England appearance verses Spain at Old Trafford.

(C) Black and white Pictures courtesy of the Watford Observer, from Ollie Phillips' great book Watford Centenary.
(ISBN0-9509601-6-0)