Academy starlet Jack Grieves is ready to further his progression after a successful 2021/22 campaign with the youth set-up and the first team.
The 17-year-old, who signed for his second spell at Watford in December 2020, enjoyed a productive season that started in the Under-18s but concluded with him being named as a substitute against Everton in the Premier League in May.
Grieves is no stranger to the concept of playing for the Golden Boys having watched from the stands as a supporter since he was young, but he also has the unique privilege of belonging to an impressive heritage of past Watford players under the Williams/Grieves surname.
Reginald ‘Skilly’ Williams, his great-great-grandfather, played almost 400 games for the Hornets, while ‘Reg’ Williams Junior (great-grandfather) and Daniel Grieves (uncle) also represented the Hornets – a legacy that Grieves treasures and appreciates.
“It’s really good and it’s something which I have taken a look at, and I have been told stories by my family members,” said Grieves.
“I use it as motivation to focus on what they have done and try to put my own stamp on that. Looking at what they have accomplished playing for the club is something that I want to achieve as well.
“It’s definitely something I think about, but I try not to think about it too much because I don’t want to add that sort of pressure. It’s something that I consider.”
As he has continued to develop, Grieves has called upon his uncle’s knowledge to supplement his playing experience. In addition, Grieves’ father Darren played football for Wimbledon which has become a useful asset of information.
He continued: “My uncle played in midfield and I have played in midfield a little bit this season as well. It has been nice to have a few chats with him and get his perspective on the game.
“He gives me a few tips on where I should improve or take on his experience and learn from how he played. He will give me those tips and extra help to aid me when I’m playing. I speak to him a lot.
“My dad was a centre-forward who played for Wimbledon. It’s nice to speak to him about what he has done as well. I don’t use it too much as competition, but when he tells me stories about his memories, I try to create the same thing on the pitch and take things from what him and my uncle have accomplished.”
Focusing on his journey, Grieves is looking to emulate his childhood dream of representing Watford’s first team.
Joining for his first spell as an eight-year-old and as a supporter of the club, he has always looked up to Hornets players past and present, such as Troy Deeney.
“When you’re growing up playing for the club you support, it’s everything you dream about – playing for the first team,” he said. “Being a part of the Academy for quite a long time is something that I’m quite proud of, and playing for the club is everything that I want to do. It’s been good growing up as a Watford supporter while playing at the club.
“I joined when I was eight years old and I then signed in November 2013, and I have a few memories of signing and coming home. I remember the first goal I scored against Manchester United - I didn’t know what to do with myself because I had been a Watford fan my whole life, and scoring at Vicarage Road where I had watched all these players play was quite a surreal moment.
“There are a few memories that I have as a fan [at The Vic]. Obviously, the play-offs and similar matches. The big one was when Troy Deeney scored against Leicester City at home, that was really good. Everybody my age as a Watford supporter idolised him as they grew up. I was playing as a striker so I would take things from his game and put it into mine. He was someone I definitely looked up to.”
Unfortunately, during his first spell Grieves would get released. Although disappointed, the dynamic forward showed an incredible amount of mental resilience to bounce back from the setback.
“It was a tough period for me and when they told me I actually broke down in tears because playing for Watford was everything to me,” Grieves recalled.
“My family were very important at that time, with my two brothers Ben and Ollie. My dad was helping me get better playing away from Watford, my mum helped me a lot with the mental aspect and my brothers were really important in keeping me going.
“Looking back on it now, it probably helped me. Taking time out was probably something that I needed to become the player that I am now. You can’t let it get to you too much because that will affect your performances wherever you go. I just got my head down and thought that I had to try and work my way back up.”
Following a few trials at other clubs, Grieves would eventually re-sign for Watford and once again don the yellow jersey. He explained how he reconnected with the club after nearly two years away.
He said: “I came back for a trial game and then they offered me an eight-week trial. When they told me that they would sign me on, it was a really good feeling being told that I was back with the club and teammates that I had seen before. Being back in that environment was really good.
“It was really emotional because I remember when they offered me my scholarship and my mum was crying and my dad was really happy. Seeing me go from struggling as a 14-year-old to getting that joy as a 16-year-old was really good for me.”
Now a fully-fledged part of the Watford set-up, Grieves impressively progressed up the youth ranks last season.
After a tough start due to injury the forward became a regular in the Under-18s team, featuring against Cardiff City and Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup, before earning his chance with the Under-23s, where he scored at Vicarage Road in a 2-0 victory over Wigan Athletic (March 30).
It culminated in Grieves earning a place in the first-team matchday squad against Everton (May 11) in the top-flight to round off an impressive 2021/22 campaign, although his hunger and drive remain as high as ever heading into the new season.
“I was at college when I was told [about Everton],” Grieves said. “I got back home and Omer [Riza] called me and told me that I needed to get myself down to the stadium for 6pm because I was going to be involved with the first team.
“Adrian [Blake, Under-18 teammate] and I were there together and they told us that we were on the bench. It was a really emotional day going from being released, to being on the bench in a Premier League game – it’s something I wouldn’t have even thought about at the start of the season.
“I called my dad straight away and I told him and he couldn’t believe it and thought I was joking at first! He just told me to calm down, stay relaxed and do my normal pre-game routine. I called my mum as well and she said the same thing, trying to calm me down because in that situation I was buzzing.
“It’s quite surreal from going from being in the stands and then you’re running down the touchline warming up. It was quite a weird moment for me because I’m used to sitting watching the players, and now I’m in that position. It’s quite surreal for me, but I really enjoyed it.
“I loved last season personally and I’ve exceeded most of the goals that I had. I want to take the momentum and flow from last season into the next one. I don’t want to take my foot off the gas, I want to keep pushing. I want to work towards playing in the first team, that’s the main goal.”
