Watford had only their second ever game at Vicarage Road last week and although the result was a disappointing one, former secretary Yvonne Waller remains positive about the club’s attitude and future.
I stepped away from a role in assistance of running Watford Ladies, and the club is progressing in its management capability and media coverage really nicely. I am still a massive supporter of the women’s game and you can’t dig the yellow out of me for our Golden Girls.
Nowadays I support the team through our match day photography with my husband Andrew as AW Images. This is a volunteer role which originally kept Andrew at youth matches with our daughters, and has grown into so much more. We can watch the matches and provide some useful images for Watford to increase exposure.
Although people often just consider the obvious statistics such as goals and league positions, I know for a fact that one of the key things is to bring players up to be good people and super ambassadors.
The way that the players interact with fans and younger players is vital. Clearly success can change players attitudes, but in the majority of cases I think female players remember their roots better and have a nurturing style towards others, be they paid stewards, volunteers officials, parents and younger players.
The match last week at Vicarage Road was a challenge; a big arena, a Monday night on a school week, the day after the final Watford men’s game of the season. We had good weather, great match administration, a cool match day experience for the ball girls, and a lovely healthy sized crowd. The management team is new, the playing squad is young and gaining experience with every playing opportunity.
Despite the result [0-5 to London Bees], the Watford players were amazing. They hid any tears and made the experience for the fans special. They took pictures, had pictures taken, signed autographs and gave these people time. So much so that the stewards needed to move them all on finally.
Be happy in victory and gracious in defeat. You can’t enjoy the one without the other. My biggest hope is that a Jordan Littleboy or Amber Tullett or a Phoebe Read or a Laura Hooper will retain these qualities and become a Sue Smith or an Alex Scott.
Photos – www.awimages.co.uk
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