Position – Right Midfield
DOB – 4/12/1973
Apps – 7
Goals – 0
Worldnets – 1
Debut v Ipswich – Mar 2012
Nicknames – Jonesy

Winger Simon made his WIFC bow against Ipswich on a day when WIFC fielded two sides, having replied to an appeal on twitter. A skillful winger by trade, Simon went on to appear in the Supporters Direct tournament at the end of the 2011/12 season, and also made his Worldnet bow with appearances for the Vets team. He also did a mean Tom Jones for his Worldnet debut song.

Position – Centre Midfield
DOB – 9/4/1988
Apps – 15
Goals – 1
Worldnets – 1
Debut v Coventry – April 2011
Nicknames – Franco

The Watford Observer’s chief WFC reporter, Frank made his WIFC bow in a close win at Coventry in April 2011, earning a man of the match award with a super show at centre half. Equally at home in central midfield, Frank joined the full squad for 2011/12, scored his first goal from close range against AFC Wimbledon and became a key player in the run to the London Cup Final.

Position – Centre Back/Centre Midfield
DOB – TBC
Apps – 10
Goals – 0
Debut v West Ham – Mar 2012
Worldnets – 1
Nicknames – Mozzer, Moz

Tough tacking and competitive, Maurice is a late starter in WIFC terms and almost certainly became it’s oldest ever debutant when making his bow at West Ham aged 45. Having joined the full squad for 2012/13, Maurice’s pre-match warm-ups are already the stuff of WIFC legend and his leadership on and off the pitch will hopefully prove to be a massive boost to the club.

Position – Right Wing
DOB – 1/12/1992
Apps – 8
Goals – 0
Debut v Coventry – Mar 2012
Worldnets – 0
Nicknames – None yet

Speedy right winger Andy announced himself to WIFC with a bang, setting up a goal with his first touch on his debut as a half-time substitute in a win against Coventry in March 2012. Promising early displays earned Andy a call to the squad for the London Cup Final, and he joined the full squad for the start of the 2012/13 season.

Andy’s Q and A

Describe yourself in a sentence

I’m not the most imaginative of people.

What was the first WFC game you went to and what can you remember about it?

Watford vs my childhood team Newcastle United on 20th November 1999. It was an early birthday present from my parents, as Alan Shearer was my hero when I was growing up, so they took me along to see him play. I remember sitting in The Rookery wearing my Newcastle shirt and celebrating when The Toon scored. It was 1-1 at full time, but unfortunately Shearer didn’t score.

Finest ever WFC memory

The Championship Playoff Final on 21st May 2006, only Lloyd Doyley’s goal comes close to beating that day.

Worst away trip and why

It has to be away to Hull in the 11/12 season. I had to wake up at 4:30am, it was bloody freezing, Watford lost in the last minute and my night out in Hull afterwards was awful, such a dire place to be when you’re pissed off.

WIFC playing highlight

Has to be making an appearance for Watford in the London Cup final against West Ham, having only played three games beforehand.

Favourite WIFC moment

Getting an assist with my first ever touch on my debut.

All-time favourite Watford player

Easy question this – Heidar Helguson

All-time favourite Watford XI (not the best players – your favourites)

Foster; Doyley, Mariappa, DeMerit, Robinson; Young, Eustace, Mahon, Wooter; Helguson, Graham

Red shorts or black?

Black, red doesn’t suit me.

Which actor would play you in ‘WIFC – The Movie’

Hmm, tricky one this. Probably Daniel Radcliffe, in the hope that he could introduce me to Emma Watson.

Position – Centre Midfield
DOB – 19/4/1992
Apps – 6
Goals –  2
Debut v Dagenham & Redbridge – May 2012
Worldnets – 0
Nicknames – None yet

Midfielder Ben joined the full squad for the start of the 2012/13 season. Currently an intern in the sports science department at Vicarage Road, ask him about being set up for a goal by Gianfranco Zola in a staff match, Ben made his debut in the closing stages of the previous season and impressed with his passing in a win at Dagenham. Since then, a debut goal against Dulwich and a man of the match display at Stevenage have added to his growing reputation in the squad.

Position – Goalkeeper
DOB – 16/4/1973
Apps – 55
Goals – 6
Debut v Arsenal – Oct 2001
Worldnets – 4
Nicknames – Frank, The Music Man

Shouty goalie Rich regularly bursts the eardrums of his team-mates when he appears, and not even strikers are safe as Scott Mathers can testify. Behind the bluster beats the heart of a fiercely competitive maniac, hell bent on stopping whatever opponents can throw at him. Rich is also the creative genius behind The Music Man songs at Worldnet, where he often leads the whole team in a rendition of the old classic.

Position – Right Back
DOB – 26/8/1989
Apps – 14
Goals – 1
Worldnets – 1
Debut v Nottingham Forest – Feb 2011
Nicknames – Stoney

Right back Rob was introduced to the club by best-mate Jez Hinds in Feb 2011, joining the full squad the following season. Since then he’s given a series of steady full-back displays and was named in the side for the London Cup Final. He’s also shown a non-right back approach to goalscoring, bucking the trend set by several older team-mates by notching already, a long range screamer in a home win against Coventry.

Position – Goalkeeper
DOB – 5/9/1984
Apps – 15
Goals – 0
Worldnets – 0
Debut v Brentford Hey Jude – Nov 2011
Nicknames – None as yet

Having struggled to fill the goalkeepers berth for years, Tom helped bring the total in the squad to four when he joined the WIFC goalkeeper union in 2011. After a debut at Brentford, Tom went on to show improvements over the course of his first season, culminating in a man of the match display in a win against Ipswich, and he helped keep the score down in the one-sided Vic Road game at the end of the season with a number of top saves.

Tom’s Q and A

Describe yourself in a sentence
A work in progress.

What was the first WFC game you went to and what can you remember about it?
vs. Forest in ’94. Watford got beat 2-1 and Colin Cooper scored an own goal. I went with a former Watford keeper, who is an old family friend, and we parked down by the old printers on Whippendell Road. I remember queuing up for the Vicarage Road end in the cold and listening to all the football chat. I’ve seen us lose to many average teams at home since.

Finest ever WFC memory:
Has to be Wembley in 1999. Everything about it was perfect. Great goals at key moments and almost 40,000 Watford fans there. Favourite game, favourite goal and arguably my favourite Watford shirt too.

Worst away trip and why
Wimbledon away in the Premier League. Freezing cold, supporters coach took ages and Watford got smashed 5-0 with Hartson scoring and celebrating in front of us. A visit to Selhurst Park has never been that pleasant.

WIFC playing highlight
Beating Ipswich at home in 2012, easily my best game in a WIFC shirt and I made a clutch save just before half time to take us in 1-0 up. Disappointed to lose a clean sheet with only minutes to go.

Favourite WIFC moment
Playing at Vicarage Road is always pretty special.

All-time favourite Watford player
Heidar Helguson

All-time favourite Watford XI (not the best players – your favourites)
Ben Foster, Aidy Mariappa, Jay DeMerit, Robert Page, Paul Robinson, Tommy Smith, Allan Nielsen, John Eustace, Ashley Young, Heidar Helguson, Tommy Mooney

Red shorts or black?
Black. The red shorts make us look like a McDonald’s clown.

Which actor would play you in ‘WIFC – The Movie’
Zach Gilford. Played Matt Saracen in Friday Night Lights.

Position – Right Back/Centre Back
DOB – 17/3/1984
Apps – 14
Goals – 0
Worldnets – 1
Debut v Brentford Hey Jude – Nov 2011
Nicknames – None as yet

Dan is probably better known in Watford supporting circles as one half of the duo of brothers who run the Watford Legends website, on which a variety of former Hornets heores of differing quality are interviewed about their careers. Since joining the club in Autumn 2011 Dan has impressed with some sturdy displays at right back and centre half, so much so that he was voted best newcomer in his debut season.

Dan’s Q and A

Describe yourself in a sentence;

Thoroughly good looking, generous to a fault, outrageously good in bed and very modest.

What was the first WFC game you went to and what can you remember about it? 

Wolves at home in ’94. GT was manager of Wolves, game delayed due to Wolves coaches being held up on the M1. Colin Foster put us one up, Wolves equalised late on but then Richard Johnson cracked in an 88^th minute thunderbolt and I was hooked…I’m yet to experience any feeling that rivals the feeling of a last minute winner.

Finest ever WFC memory:

Fulham away in ’98. A barnstorming season, promotion was in the bag but we had seemingly blown the title – and then we went to Fulham and Bristol City bottled it at Preston. Campione, campione…

Worst away trip and why:

Wimbledon away in our first trip to the Premiership. If you were there then you’ll know why, if you weren’t then I really don’t want to talk about it.

WIFC playing highlight.

Scoring at the Rookery end at Vicarage Road at the end of last season. No further details of the goal are required. (It was an Oggy – Editor’s Note)

Favourite WIFC moment.

The initiation songs at Worldnet.

All-time favourite Watford player.

Tommy Mooney, closely followed by Helguson.

All-time favourite Watford XI (not the best players – your favourites)

Miller, Doyley, Foster, Millen, Robbo, Young, Springy, Jonno, Adam Johnson, Mooney, Helguson.

Red shorts or black?

Black, no question.

Which actor would play you in ‘WIFC – The Movie’.

Perry Digweed.

Results and stats from the 2012/13 season so far…

Overall Record

Results and Scorers

Appearances

Goals

Man of the Match Cows