American defender Jay DeMerit spent six seasons at Watford from 2004 to 2010 after impressing in a preseason friendly with Northwood. He became club captain and played for the USA at the 2010 World Cup.
Irish goalkeeper Rene signed initially for Watford in 2010 from Walsall, mainly playing understudy to Scott Loach. He joined Plymouth Argyle in 2012, but returned to Watford two years later as back-up to Heurelho Gomes and Jonathan Bond, and stayed until the summer of 2017.
Arguably the finest player ever to play for Watford, John joined Watford at the age of 17 after being spotted playing for non-league Sudbury Court. He went on to make nearly 300 appearances for the club over six seasons, before joining Liverpool in 1987.
Central defender Darren made his debut as a 17 year old in a derby game against Luton Town. Despite a serious injury in 1997, he regained fitness to become a regular in the 1999 Premiership team and in Division One the following season.
Goalkeeper Chris joined the Hornets in 1997 in the deal which took fellow goalkeeper Kevin Miller to Crystal Palace. He played just 11 games over four seasons at the club.
Defender Neil played less than twenty games for Watford yet they included some of the biggest games in the club’s history. He later returned to set up the Former Players Association.
Former youth trainee Jordan had a long association with the club from the age of eight, representing England at youth level and making his first-team debut while still a trainee. He made a single league appearance before joining Barnet in 2010.
Ian Richardson may only have played a handful of games for Watford but his place in the club’s history books is assured. Richardson made his debut in the second leg of the UEFA Cup tie against Kaiserslautern in September 1983 and scored twice as the Hornets overturned the 3-1 first leg deficit.
In March 2009, I headed to Barking to meet a man who scored Watford’s first goal in Europe. Having coached at a professional level, I wondered whether Tom Walley’s methods would be accepted today.
Richard Jobson was the only signing Watford made the season after winning promotion to the First Division in 1982. He joined from non-league Burton Albion in the October, and went on to enjoy a long career in the game.
Muir Stratford was one of the directors who saw it all. He had been on the board under Jim Bonser, he saw Elton John arrive, he went on the incredible journey from the Fourth Division to the top, and then he witnessed the ill-fated recruitment of Graham Taylor’s replacement.
The second stop on my trip to the North East was to Hartlepool, where I met Kevin Richardson. He played just under a season for the Hornets but had played for Everton in the 1984 FA Cup final. He was also sold with indecent haste by Dave Bassett after Taylor left in 1987.
