Women At The Game Week: What Watford FC Means To Me

All this week, the Hornets have been running our Women at the Game Week awareness campaign in conjunction with our Community, Sports & Education Trust.

Women at the Game Week aims to amplify the voices of women connected to the club. As a club with a proud and long-standing tradition of leading the way in football’s drive to be inclusive, women play a hugely important role, whether they are behind-the-scenes staff members, players or supporters.

As part of the campaign, we asked for your stories of what Watford FC means to you and are delighted to share some of the responses below.

Watford FC is like the story of my life really - I was born in King Street, and I went to the Girls Grammar School, so saw the ground every school day. I started going to watch them when my Dad took me to the QPR fixture each season (we always lost to them) - since then I progressed to going with my boyfriend (now husband of 45 years) when they were in the Fourth Division to being a season ticket holder with him. I’ve watched them with my son and now my granddaughter. I love this club!

Watford FC brought my husband, Kevin, and myself together back in the day when there used to be to a Watford FC online chat. He proposed to me middle of the pitch at half-time 2005. And our wedding theme of course was Watford FC. Moving on to the current years, my daughter, aged 10, now has the Watford FC bug, coming to men’s games and following the women’s team around. She is also now following her dream, playing for Watford FC CSE Trust PDC (Player Development Centre) with the hope to play for Watford one day.

I’m proud to captain our women’s team, lifting the play-off winners’ trophy with Helen last year was the best feeling. Watford FC means family. A bond of people across different workspaces, not just football itself. It’s a team, and it’s a team that works together for a bigger goal - we have that hard work in abundance here.

To me, Watford FC means my Dad. He was born and spent his early years in Banbury Street, and his first 'job' at the club (aged about five if I remember rightly) was selling chocolate at the ground. He went on to be part of the administration staff during the best time as we climbed the leagues under GT's leadership. Without really having much choice it also became my life (although it took until I was eight before he was worn down by my moans that it wasn't fair that he took my sister and not me!).

It wasn't long before I was 'helping' in the souvenir shop, and because I was always hanging around, I was roped in to selling programmes for the Reserve games as well. It was my first workplace, even though sometimes it seems like another lifetime ago. After I left, many said they wouldn't blame me if I didn't want to go near the place, but now I was able to enjoy the matches again, not needing to rush to and from the office, and what a ride we went on.

I guess it was in the mid-to-late 90s that my attendance dwindled but my support didn't, and never has. When Dad started to find it a strain to attend, I would sometimes get him a programme, making a special trip to Vicarage Road so he would still know everything that went on. As a result, so did I. Now he is no longer with us, when I hear Z-Cars strike up, I think of Dad and thank him for Watford FC being part of my DNA.

Watford to me is home. Though work means I no longer get to go to games as often as I’d like, whenever I come back through the turnstiles to take my seat where my season ticket is, it takes me back to being the eight-year-old girl who’d wait on Occupation Road after games for the players to sign autographs (yes - really!). When people ask how I got into football, and subsequently the job I now do, it’s because I fell in love with it watching Watford with my mum. She did the same with her parents too - Watford is in the family. And now having recently had a baby girl myself, I can’t wait to tell her all about Graham Taylor, that Deeney goal, that Wolves FA Cup semi-final - and hopefully watch many more magical moments with her.

Watford FC means family time to me. My late father was an avid Watford fan and also a long-haul HGV driver. Whenever he had some spare time, he'd take me to the games. It was our special time together. Now he's no longer with us, but I continue the tradition with my daughters. We live in Lincolnshire so it's always a bit of a trek to get to the games, but we make it into a full family day out. My dad and I even assimilated my husband into the Watford fold, and he comes to games with us too. I hope when my kids have kids of their own, they'll carry on those special trips to The Vic.

Watford FC holds a special place in the hearts of many, including our women's team, female supporters, and club staff like me. It's not just about the victories on the pitch, but the sense of community and belonging that resonates deeply within us.

For our women's team, Watford FC represents empowerment and camaraderie. It's a platform to showcase their talent and passion for the game and inspires future generations of female players.

As a female supporter, Watford FC is more than just a football club; it's a source of pride and unity. Whether cheering from the stands or following the team from afar, we share a common bond and unwavering loyalty to the Hornets.

Staff members work behind the scenes to ensure the smooth running of operations. For us, the club is not just a workplace, but a second home filled with shared goals and collective achievements. We celebrate the club's diverse and inclusive spirit that makes Watford FC truly special.

I was born in Garston but moved to South Africa aged two. I first heard of Watford FC's existence when friends of the family sent the famous Elton John Watford Calendar in 1978 signed by EJ himself to my brother and I. I was 11. I started becoming interested in them slowly, but there wasn't much news about them at the time in South Africa.

By about 1983 I was openly calling myself a Watford fan as people (mostly Liverpool or Man United fans) had actually heard of them. The same friends sent a scarf and flag over to us for the FA Cup final. I remember banter between a classmate who was an Everton fan; we still chat about football to this day.

I moved over to Watford in 1986 and landed a job at what is now the Hilton Hotel on the A41. Little did I know, but the team were regularly at the hotel. The first player I met was Luther, who asked for change for the telephone. I didn't recognise Luther immediately, as I had only seen him once on TV in the cup final two years before. I spent two fabulous years at the hotel and my love for Watford FC was sealed. Sadly, the calendar vanished when I brought items back to England using a removal company.

I’ve been a Watford FC season ticket holder since I was 13, and watching exciting players like Matej Vydra and Fernando Foresteri meant I really fell in love with the club! I look forward to going to the games with my brother and my dad every week and us three have been through it all, from cold nights across the country to Wembley play-off finals and FA cup runs.

Through the fantastic opportunities that the Watford FC CSE Trust has to offer, as well as my emotional connection to Watford FC and passion for mental health, I am lucky enough to work as a Project Officer for the Empower programme. I’m greatly proud of Empower, which is a physical activity programme that aims to improve the mental well-being of young people across Hertfordshire. I would never have worked for the Trust if I hadn’t such a great love for the club and it’s fantastic to see the Trust and club work alongside each other to continue the legacy of Graham Taylor and Elton John’s work by offering support to the local communities.

It means family – first going with my Dad 50 years ago or meeting my nephew on awaydays now – and friends.

It means amazing, emotional highs and quite a lot of dross.

It means passion, belief and hope.

It means yellow, home and community.

It means the absolute world to me.

Watford FC means family to me and always will. Born next to the stadium, Watford FC has shaped my life. My dad starting taking me to matches at four years old and I’ve had a season ticket in the Rookery since I was six. That led me to start playing football not long after and now I’m working in football!

Now football is work, going back to Vicarage Road is the place where I can enjoy football with my family and friends as we always have done. Memories of the weekly home games, many away trips and occasional trips to Wembley were such a huge part of my childhood. I feel privileged to have spent the time with my parents, brother, auntie, uncle, grandad and family friends. In the past few years, I’ve been all over the country but Watford will always be home. COYH!

Watford FC is a huge part of family life and one I now enjoy with my own children. There are so many memories my parents, brothers and I share: memorable matches, past managers, freezing away days, disappointments and that indescribable winning feeling! It’s a thread that ties us together through different generations.

Watford FC means the world to me. In the 45 years I have been going to games, I have experienced so many highs, and plenty of lows. I share these times with my family and the many wonderful friends that I have met over the years. I love following the ‘Orns around the country to towns and cities where all we are familiar with are the railway station, the pre-match pub and the football ground. I sometimes travel alone, but there are always plenty of friendly faces to share the day with. Watford FC is community and friendship and I feel lucky that it is part of my life.

Watford FC means to me a sense of belonging, a place I can go to and feel safe and put aside any issues, happiness at seeing family and friends and being involved with the game good or bad! A sense of contentment in that period of time.

Watford is the original family club and for me that word family is the standout and most important word. As a family we have been supporters for 24 years and it’s a passion we share. Watford gives me an opportunity to spend quality time with my now adult children and I consider that a privilege. The diversity of supporters groups helps build the Watford community in a positive way and being a member of two of these groups has made my away game experience fun and safe.

Watford is my escape, for 90 minutes where all I need is the roar of the crowd, my family, and a sense of pride in what my club does for me, and the community making football accessible to all.

Women at the Game week rounds off at this weekend’s match against Coventry City at The Vic. Prior to the match, Her Game Too and the Women of Watford supporters’ group will be represented at the Family Zone in Vicarage Road and will be looking forward to meeting fans.

At half-time in Wednesday night's draw with Swansea City, Women of Watford founder Kate Lewers was interviewed alongside Her Game Too director Amy Clement about Women at the Game Week, as well as all the good work both organisations continue to carry out.

Her Game Too is a voluntary campaign led by a team of dedicated female football fans from several clubs who are passionate about creating a positive change in football and the wider sporting world. Founded in May 2021, Her Game Too aims to raise awareness and educate on the importance of inclusivity and diversity in sport.

The Women of Watford supporters’ group, also founded in 2021, is a supporters’ group for the club’s female fans and their allies. Activities range from organising group bookings for away matches and hosting social events, to campaigning to make football more inclusive for everyone and to inspire and empower future generations of female fans.

To celebrate Women at the Game Week, a range of Her Game Too/WOW merchandise is now available to buy online HERE.