YOUNG defender Lee Hodson has labelled his first full campaign with the first-team set-up as a 'great season' after making over 30 appearances.
Hodson took time out from his summer to speak to www.watfordfc.com about making the step-up from Academy and reserve football to first-team action.
After making his full debut at Barnet in the Carling Cup last August, the full back went from strength to strength over the course of the season.
He said: "It's been a great season for me personally. I obviously broke into the first team earlier than I expected and became a regular, it was a bit of a shock but the gaffer believed that I could make the step up and it's great to be believed in.
"It gave me the confidence because I knew I had people on the sidelines who had faith in me at such a young age and it really gave me a confidence boost.
"I'm happy with how the season went for me personally."
Hodson casts his mind back to last summer and remembers it was his aim to go on the pre-season tour with the first-team and try and force his way into the side for Cup games first of all.
He added: "I was hoping to come back and do pre-season with the first-team, it would have been great to go on tour and I managed that.
"It was a good start to pre-season and I was hoping to play a few friendlies, then try to get a start in the League Cup and make my way from there, perhaps even get an appearance in the FA Cup."
Hodson clocked up 32 starts and two substitute appearances in 2009/10 for the Hornets.
The Academy graduate followed in the footsteps of Ross Jenkins who had progressed to the first-team the season before.
Both players had actually played under current boss Malky Mackay at reserve team level.
"It's come early for me and it has served me well" commented the Northern Ireland Under-21 international.
"It has set me in good stead for next season, hopefully I can come back stronger into pre-season.
"I made my full debut in the League Cup which was great, after Mike left and Jay had his injury I got my chance, I knew it was massive otherwise I could have been sitting on the bench, so I made sure I took my chance.
"I knew I had to be on my game this season and show the gaffer I can stand on my own two feet.
"All the young players have belief because, as the gaffer says, if we weren't good enough then we wouldn't be in and around the first team.
"All the staff show their belief in us, its good because it gives us self-belief, all the youngsters have belief because the manager will give us a chance if we're good enough."
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