Alec Chamberlain is the latest ex-Watford star to be confirmed as a Hornets Ambassador, joining an array of magnificent talent involved with the programme.
A two-time Player of the Season winner and a charismatic coach at London Colney after hanging up his boots, Chamberlain enjoyed 21 years with Watford that engraved his legacy at the club, making over 250 appearances in yellow and keeping 70 league clean sheets.
Chamberlain’s Watford journey began in 1996, when Graham Taylor signed him from Sunderland to challenge Kevin Miller for the No.1 spot. Having already enjoyed a 15-year playing career before moving to Vicarage Road, the goalkeeper stepped into a senior role in the dressing room almost immediately, but had his playing time limited as an understudy.
However, before the start of the following campaign fellow two-time Player of the Season Miller left to join Crystal Palace, and Chamberlain grasped the opportunity to fill the vacant goalkeeping position.
Under GT and with a renewed sense of optimism at the club, Chamberlain played 46 matches as the Hornets won the Second Division. Watford’s new number one was as spritely and dynamic as ever, even into his 30s, winning his first Player of the Season prize.
It would be in the following campaign that Chamberlain would write his name into Watford folklore, though. Using the momentum he had gained from the successful title charge in the previous season, the shot-stopper was ever-present during the club’s 1998/99 Division One promotion push.
After a frantic conclusion to the league season that saw Taylor’s men win seven of their last eight matches, the Golden Boys secured their place in the play-off semi-finals against Birmingham City. Watford earned a narrow 1-0 lead after the first leg, as their attention turned to St Andrew’s for the deciding tie.
Chasing that second-successive promotion was never going to be easy, and it certainly proved that way in the second leg. Before a ball had even been kicked it would be a difficult start to proceedings as the team bus got stuck in traffic in the West Midlands, arriving with less than an hour to go until kick-off.
Once the game had started, the Hornets went a goal down after two minutes and the onslaught didn’t stop there. Chamberlain was called into action regularly to deny the Blues the lead on aggregate. Despite a Birmingham red card in the second half, the Blues’ offensive continued as Watford’s hero between the sticks made save after save to take the game to penalties.
Going into the shootout, Chamberlain’s penalty-saving history had been at odds with his impressive clean-sheet record, having only saved three out of 37. This only served as motivation, however. The Hornets Ambassador saved the first penalty, and after 14 others had tried their luck from 12 yards the shot-stopper threw himself successfully towards the 16th spot-kick taken by Chris Holland and confirmed Watford’s place at Wembley.
Swamped by his teammates and coaching staff when he made that decisive stop, it was the latest-ever finish to any Watford match, at 10.44pm. In comparison, the final at Wembley was a more straight-forward affair as Watford romped to a 2-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers with Chamberlain keeping a clean sheet - securing their place in the top-flight.
An unfortunate injury would force Chamberlain to miss the opening six Premier League games the following season, and although the goalkeeper would regain his fitness to feature 27 times that campaign, Watford would still be demoted back to the First Division.
What followed were seven more years of excellent service, with Chamberlain earning the Player of the Season gong in 2001/02 and the unique accolade of a testimonial match at the start of the 2005/06 season against Charlton Athletic, going into his 10th year at The Vic.
Chamberlain would have one last hurrah before retiring his gloves during the 2006/07 Premier League season. At the age of 42 years and 327 days old, the goalkeeper made a brief substitute appearance against Newcastle United in the Premier League to become the second-oldest player to ever feature in the competition.
The ex-Watford shot-stopper would also get his first taste of goalkeeper coaching during his later years under Ray Lewington, and he remained at the club in various coaching capacities until late 2017.
Chamberlain’s longevity, ability and legacy will always remain in the hearts of everyone associated with Watford FC, and he rightfully takes his place as a Hornets Ambassador.
Hornets Ambassadors
To find out more about the Hornets Ambassadors – and to read the profiles of the former players already announced – click HERE.
