STRIKER Danny Graham joined Watford nearly a year ago from League One side Carlisle United. During his well-earned summer break, Graham took time out to speak to www.watfordfc.com about his first season with the Hornets.

"It was a great start for me personally, as well as the team" he said.

"I came to Watford and fitted straight in with the lads and the football went really well too, we were in the top half of the table and then for whatever reason, we had a bad run and it turned on its head a bit.

"But we managed to turn it back around in the end.

"In my first interview after the Doncaster game I set my goal tally at 15 for the season and I got 14, so I don't think I've done too badly!

"In my last season at Carlisle I got 15 and that was in League One. The Championship is an incredible league with some really tough teams in, so I'm pleased with my 14 this season."

Apart from making the near 300 mile trip down south from Cumbria, the northern lad also made the jump from the third tier to the Championship.

"There have been ups and downs as there always would be with such a transition, we've had some really tough games, and this league presents them a lot.

"Everyone is aware that anyone can beat anyone in the Championship.

"It's been a real learning curve for me, I've got to know all the players and teams in this league, which are very different from my opponents when I was at Carlisle. There were some really big teams in the Championship this season.

"I know I can play at this level though and that's been good to find out. I know I can score goals in this league as well, so my aim for next year is to build on and carry that on."

Graham went on to reveal that his favourite moment in a Watford shirt was his debut game as he completed the dream first appearance with a goal in front of the home fans.

"My best moment of the whole season has to be my debut goal against Doncaster in August.

"It was my first game for Watford and my first goal too. It was great to have it in front of the home fans, who were brilliant considering that they didn't really know who I was."

Another one of Graham's proudest moments of the season was joining Watford on their visit to St James' Park in December. As a life-long Toon fan, Graham was honoured to be able to play for the Hornets on the hallowed turf in Tyneside.

"As a Newcastle fan, it would have to be going up to St James' Park in December. Even though we didn't get any points, we went up there and gave them a really good game.

"And if it wasn't for some great saves from their goalie, it might have been a different story."

Yet again, the Championship looks likely to be a very exciting league this coming season, something which Graham is relishing.

"With Hull coming down from the Premiership and Leeds coming up, you've already got two massive teams in the mix again.

"The Championship is already full of good teams and you look forward to going to pretty much every ground and playing against every team.

"As well as going to Hull, I am looking forward to playing at Elland Road again.  Leeds are a big team and it had a great atmosphere there when we played them in the cup last season."

It's definitely been a season of tremendous highs and challenging lows for the 24-year-old, moving away from family and friends, adapting to his life down south and dealing with having to watch a few games from the bench during a short period of the season.

"My toughest moment of the season was that middle section" explained Graham.

"I wasn't playing well and I was rightly out of the team.

"It was frustrating because I knew I could play well and score goals in this league but I had a dip in form all of a sudden.

"Once you are sat on the bench you start thinking about things so I just got my head down, trained even harder and showed I was worth getting my place in the team back, and it worked out for me."

The hard-working striker has his own aims for next season, having been through that tough time in the middle of last campaign, he said that working on consistency and building on his all-round game was the key.

"The main thing for me is to be consistent next season" said the Geordie.

"I'm going to work on everything in my game over the pre-season and next year.

"It's about looking at every aspect of your game - the physical fitness in training, shooting and also getting mentally prepared.

"The season is tough, and we experienced that this year, with injuries and the tight schedule because of postponements, so you never know what's going to happen but you have to be prepared.

"I want to make sure my head is clear and I keep focused as well as continuing to work hard in training.

"Every footballer can improve their game somehow, even the best players in the world will have things that they want to work on."

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