IT'S been a celebratory week for one of Watford's local lads this week after Tommy Smith scooped the much coveted Player of the Season award last Monday, but lest we forget the Rookery's other favourite son, Richard Lee, as he hopes for some personal success of his own in the play-offs.

"I am excited to be involved," said the stopper as he greeted the national press to preview the weekend's Hull City game, before adding "I've been here a lot of years but haven't been in the play-offs before"

"I've been here as a youngster when we were in the play-offs under Graham Taylor and then I was actually on loan at Blackburn two seasons ago. I watched the games then and being here when we beat Crystal Palace at home and then playing Leeds at the Millennium Stadium, I know the atmosphere was absolutely incredible."

Born in Oxford but raised in Aylesbury the 25-year old 'keeper has been with the Hornets for the past 15 years, so admits he knows more than most what success this Sunday will mean to the people of Watford.

"I've been here since I was ten, and although I can't speak on behalf of others, being here as long as I have I know how much it means to everyone here.

"I'm sure all the lads do as well, but being a Watford lad I know it'll be great for the town if we were to have success. It's a great place to be."

Lee and a budding young Hornet warm up at the Vic

Focusing in on the Tigers' clash at high noon, Lee was keen to point out that for the Hornets the only way is up after a less than convincing end to the campaign.

"Thankfully when it really mattered, when we were down to ten men against Blackpool, we got the goal that has seen us into the play-offs.

"We know what we need to do come the Hull game so hopefully we can do that and get the result that we are looking for.

"We're one of four teams that could go up now. For us players we are paid to go out there and perform to our very best - we still fully intend on promotion right now."

And the FA Cup semi-finalist of last season admitted that the side's home form isn't too perturbing for them either as they head into the first-leg at Vicarage Road.

"It goes without saying that our form hasn't been good enough and in recent weeks we have struggled quite a bit. There's been a lot of frustration and we've felt it too.

"Our home record this season has been sub-standard, everyone is aware of that and we know it ourselves, but then our away record has been very, very good. There have been a lot of games where we've played well and haven't quite got the result.

"It's a bizarre way of looking at it, but if we can get a result at home then we've got a great chance of going away and getting something. When it comes to the play-offs now what's happened before has happened and hopefully we'll get the better of them on Sunday.

"We'll go in as underdogs finishing sixth the way we have, but in some ways that might help us because there's not a lot of expectation on us now, whereas there has been in recent weeks."

Richard Lee has his own brand-new exciting website - www.richardleegk.co.uk