How to Apply for Watford Academy Scholarships

In this post “Apply for Watford Academy Scholarships”, you’ll learn about Watford FC schools, Watford stadium, the history of Watford, and lots more.

Watford Academy scholarship specializes in young football ability and gives the connection, mentoring, fitness, and lifestyle guidance that every player requires to have a thriving football profession. If you want to pursue a career in football and reside in the Watford area, Watford Academy is the perfect place to start.

Watford Academy Scholarship Information

Watford Academy offers a cutting-edge football development and education program, backed up by knowledgeable and committed personnel. London Colney, Hertfordshire AL2 1BZ is the address for Watford Academy.

Watford Academy Scholarship develops its athletes with innovative technology and teaching approaches.

They are continuously seeking young prospects to join their program and are quite picky about who is accepted due to the high level of contest.

With the recent reforms in the football academy system. Academy Category 1 clubs (U12+) may now enroll from anywhere in the country.

Formerly, Category 1 teams could only sign players who lived within a 90-minute drive of the academy, but the FA has changed its mind, believing that the finest talent should be permitted to play in the top academy regardless of where they reside. This increases the possibilities of success for the top potentials, allowing us to develop domestic players for the worldwide stage.

As a result, Watford Academy has witnessed an increase in host families being engaged to assist household young potential talent to secure family contexts.


Watford Academy has a busy schedule of games and events. Find out the dates and timings of each Watford Academy age group match.

How to obtain a Watford Scholarship

Watford Academy trials are by invitation only, therefore players must be seen at the appropriate moments. To be recruited for a trial at Watford FC Academy, athletes may attend one of the Watford FC Soccer Schools. Scouts often ask new athletes from Watford’s soccer schools to try out at their training centers, and anybody may participate in their soccer schools, so it’s easy to be noticed.

Taking your kid to soccer schools as soon as they are old enough helps in developing their abilities at the same level as their contemporaries.

Getting Watford Academy Scholarship

Players may try out with Watford Academy scouts. Watford is conscious that excellent talent might slip through the cracks, therefore they provide players the option to approach them personally. Considering the number of submissions, they can’t react to everyone, but these alerts scouts seek talent wishing to further their football and get a Watford Academy trial. Watford Academy needs several things to scout a trial:

  • Players CV
  • Covering Letter
  • Players Vital Statistics: position, age, birth date, height, weight, contact email/phone/address, current club, prior clubs, information of any trials previously attended, any representative honors such as school, districts, county, etc.
  • Players’ schools
  • Also send scout your current team’s fixture schedule, including venue and kick-off time

Watford Academy will review your application and determine whether to send a scout.

Watford Academy Scholarship Curriculum

The Watford Academy training curriculum includes technical and tactical instruction, including a goalkeeper section. Example:

  • Watford Academy’s professional development
  • Watford Academy’s young development phase
  • The Watford Academy’s early years
  • Watford Academy’s youth and professional development
  • Watford Academy’s foundation goalkeeping phase

Professional Development at Watford

Outfield Tech
  • Passing – Forward play in narrow passing channels
  • Collecting the ball – Catching the ball in the air to pass quickly. — two-touch passing drills
  • Running/Dribbling with the ball – Establishing 1st touch to break through different surfaces
  • Moving the ball to shoot under pressure
  • Passing – Continuing to keep the ball rolling.
  • Moving the ball over the body using different surfaces
  • Turning – Shielding the ball from pressure
Tactical outfielders
  • A midfield cycle to receive high and low opens up passing routes.
  • Playing in front or behind rivals to preserve the ball and play ahead
  • Controlling the ball in possession (game management) (the extra man)
  • The attacking third breaks from the defensive third.

1v1 and 2v2 attacking to generate goalkeeping situations

  • Personal defending – Response to the ball based on opponent and pitch area
  • Defense (Groups & Units) – Defensive depth
  • A team/group pursuing the ball for a speedy recovery of possession.
Goalkeepers
  • Goalkeeper support: Passes and help for in-possession players
  • Goalkeeper support – penetration with distribution
  • The Goalkeeper support – How the Goalkeeper affects the game
  • Goalkeeper defense – How to handle 1v1 scenarios
  • The goalkeeper defends early shots in the box
  • The Goalkeeper defense: positioning and cross decisions
  • Goalkeeper communications – Defendant’s organization
  • Goalkeeper communications – Off-ball communications
  • The Goalkeeper communications – compacting the goalie
Phase 1 at Watford Academy

Technical Outfielders

  • Safeguarding the Ball – Requirements for safe reception
  • Passing — Rapid, high-speed passing in small groups
  • Taking the Ball- Building the set to advance the ball
  • Turning – Creating turns to incorporate disguise
  • With the ball / Running – Long and narrow sessions to improve breaking into space or catching the ball.
  • One-touch sealing on angles with the threat coming
  • Passing – Passing in wider regions and longer passes (floor/air).
  • Ball Manipulation – Quick footwork to control a little skills ball
Tactical outfielders
  • Personal Possession – Teaching players to keep the ball in their safe zone
  • Control (Group Play) – Teach players to collect and play without pressure.
  • To defeat opponents, change direction and pace.
  • Attacking (Groups) (4v4, 5v5).
  • Using movement to generate and exploit space
  • In small-sided games, players focus on creating and exploiting space during the transition.
  • Defending (Press the Ball) — Approaching a ball-carrier
  • Defending (Small Groups) – Focus on changing roles based on the flow of the ball
  • Protecting (Regaining to Play) – Gaining back the ball and trying to score
Goalkeepers
  • Goalkeeper assistance – passes as well as tosses
  • The goalkeeper support – Distribution options
  • Goalkeeper support – Quick use of the ball after a save
  • Goalkeeper defense: throw-ins and close-range shots
  • The Goalkeeper defense: targeting the ball and parrying to safety
  • Defensive goalkeeper saves
  • Goalkeeper to defenders independently and collectively
  • The Goalkeeper communication – Developing clarity and conciseness
  • Goalkeeper communications: ball start positions
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Watford Academy Goalkeeper Youth / ProPhase
Goalkeepers – Technical
  • Distribution – Out of the back and assisting the play
  • Deep drives into the 18-yard box and transitioning to deliver
  • Shot Stopping – Online and down line for angled strike
  • Handling – Handling low balls in the set position and 1v1 situations
  • Stopping low, medium, and high dives from a core and angled strike
  • Crossing – Central and front post crosses
  • Defending against close-range shots, double and triple saves
  • Distribution – Counterattack trick, delivery
  • Crosses – Central and back post crosses
Tie-ups
  • Goalkeeper support – Start the game with a variety of passes and angles for support.
  • Goalkeeper support – penetration with distribution
  • Management of the game and understanding the impact of the goalkeeper
  • Goalkeeper defense – 1v1 scenarios
  • Goalkeeper defense – Dealing with early shots in the box
  • The goalkeeper defense – Positioning relative to the ball, handling crosses
  • Goalkeeper communications: organization and defender support (clear and concise information)
  • Goalkeeper communications – Off-ball communications

Instructing the Goalkeeper to condense play through the defenders’ line

Watford Academy Scholarship for Goalkeeper

Goalkeepers – Technical

  • Managing – Footwork with different serves
  • Distribution – Supporting angels from the back, feet, and hands
  • Handling – Variable handling procedures with penetrative dispersion
  • Shot Stopping – 1v1 combat

Low, medium, and high diving sales from central

  • Distribution – Longer feet and hands (classic counterattacks)
  • Handling – Coping with low balls in or around the body
  • Crossing – Basic skill and placement to cover balls in front, middle, and distant regions

Tie-ups

  • Goalkeeper assistance — passing and throwing to start play
  • Goalkeeper support – Distribution options
  • The Goalkeeper support – Rapid use of the ball after a save
  • Goalkeeper defense: Handling through balls and cross-range shots
  • Goalkeeper defense – Chasing the ball and parrying to safety
  • Defensive goalkeeper saves
  • Goalkeeper communications: Solo and group defender communication
  • Goalkeeper communication – Improving clarity and conciseness

Predict goalkeeper locations about the ball.

Soccer schools at Watford

Watford FC Football Schools

Youngsters of all skills learn football the ‘Watford way’ at Watford FC soccer schools around Hertfordshire.

Watford FC’s exciting soccer school is the best initiation to football. Every soccer academy program is led by a Watford-trained professional coach.

Every soccer school lesson aims to improve ability and strategy via entertaining instruction. Play small-sided games and competitions before teamwork.

Watford FC soccer schools are the initial step for kids wishing to join grass-roots or professional clubs. The Watford FC prospect scouts are often in attendance.

Watford FC Soccer Schools are taught by FA licensed coaches. To provide a safe and pleasurable atmosphere, all trainers are DBS certified.

Soccer Schools

Watford FC has soccer schools for everyone.

  • Soccer Schools for Boys and Girls
  • Goalkeepers academy
  • Girls Soccer Schools
Who can attend a Watford FC Soccer Camp?

Watford FC Soccer School is available for the following age brackets.

  • Boys 6-14
  • Girls 6-14

A Watford FC Soccer School costs.

It’s a bargain to join Watford FC With pricing to fit all youngsters, you’re sure to discover a course that suits your budget.

A Watford FC Soccer School booking form.

To book a child’s spot at any of the Watford Soccer Schools.

The Watford FC offers soccer schools in these cities:

  • Watford Soccer School, Hertfordshire
  • Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 7HP Westfield Community Sports Centre

Cedars Youth & Community Centre, Chicheley Gardens, Harrow Weald, HP1 3DW Chorleywood School, Stag Lane, WD3 6ER Walkern Sports Community Centre, High Street.

Watford FC Soccer School in Hertfordshire

Watford F.C. Academy

Watford’s youth structure is the Under-23s and Academy. The Under-23 squad is Watford’s second-string side, albeit is now only for three outfield players and one goalkeeper over the age of 23 every game.

The Under-18s are the Academy’s senior team.

The UCL Sports Ground is located in Bell Lane, Shenley, Hertfordshire.

Juniors

Participants who will be U23s in 2021–22 (born after 1 January 1998) but are not in the first-team squad.

2022-02-06
  • U18 denotes a player who played for the U23s in 2021–22.
  • 1st TEAM signifies an overage first-team player or a first-team designated player from 2021–22.
  • Only 1st team and Checkatrade Trophy players have squad numbers. Each U23 and U18 player gets the same number.

Watford Football Scholarship

Watford Football Club is situated in Hertfordshire. They play in England’s Premier League. Upon elimination, they will play in the EFL Championship in 2022–23.

The club was founded in 1881 as Watford Rovers and became Watford FC in 1898. Watford entered the Football League in 1920 after winning the Southern League in 1914–15. Before Vicarage Road, the squad competed at many facilities, notably West Herts Sports Club. They have a lengthy feud with Luton Town.

Between 1977 and 1987, Graham Taylor took Watford from the fourth to the first division. In 1982–83, the club came second in the First Division, played in the UEFA Cup, and played in the FA Cup Final. Taylor reappeared as a manager in 1999–2000, taking Watford from the renamed Second Division to the Premier League for one season. The team returned to the first flight in 2006–07, and then again from 2015–2020, making the 2019 FA Cup Final however falling to a record-breaking scoreline. Watford returned to the Premier League in April 2021 after one season in the Championship.

Watford FC Scholarship History

Infancy

Henry Grover, a former full back for the club, founded Watford Rovers in 1881. Initially made up of just amateurs, Rovers played home games all across Watford.

Watford initially played in the FA Cup in 1886–87 and won the County Cup in 1889. In 1891, the squad became the football division of the West Hertfordshire Club and Ground and relocated to Cassio Road. Watford Rovers became West Herts in 1893 and entered the Southern Football League in 1896. West Herts started the 1897–98 season with fewer than 200 fans. Becoming corporate resurrected their fate. Watford St. Mary’s were runners-up in the 1894–95 Hertfordshire Senior Cup and drew 400 to 500 fans even when West Herts played at home. In 1898, the two clubs merged. Watford Observer, 7 May 1898. Both teams decided to finish out the season.

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Watford Football Club formation

Watford’s first manager was ex England international and First Division top scorer John Goodall. He promoted Watford and held them in the league until 1910.

Watford won the Southern League under Harry Kent amid budgetary difficulties in 1914–15. After the Southern League was suspended by WWI, Watford won the championship for five years until leaving the league in 1920.

Football League Third Division

From 1921–to 22, the Football League’s third division included two sections of 22 teams, each vying for progression to the Second Division. The league featured a re-election mechanism where the worst two clubs in each division had to appeal.

Between 1922 and 1934, Watford ranked outside the top six league positions. In their first season without Kent (1926–27) they placed 21st out of 22 teams, although were completely re-elected to the league after a poll of clubs in the top two divisions.

Between 1934–35 and 1938–39, the club finished in the top six five times and earned the Football League Third Division South Cup in 1937. The NFL was stopped in 1939 due to WWII.

Money Problems

ITV Digital’s fall in 2002–03 highlighted Watford’s monetary weakness. The club was nearing administration, however, a salary postponement by players and employees and a win in the FA Cup semi-final boosted financial flow.

Many athletes were sent away that summer due to financial issues. After solidifying in 2003–04, the team began the next season successfully, finishing in the top half of the Championship. But poor form saw the team slip down the table. Watford’s league results didn’t better, and Lewington was fired in March 2005.

Aidy Boothroyd saved the club from relegation.

Premier League return

In Boothroyd’s first full season, Watford ranked third in the league and beat Leeds United 3–0 in the play-off final. Ashley Young was moved to Aston Villa for a club-record £9.65 million in January 2007.

Watford came last in the league however reached the FA Cup semis. So Boothroyd stayed on as manager and invested big on players, including £3.25 million for Nathan Ellington.

Watford headed the Championship initially in 2007–08, however, ended sixth; Hull City beat Boothroyd’s squad 6–1 on aggregate in the play-off semi-finals.
Boothroyd departed Watford by mutual accord three months into the 2008–09 season.
Brendan Rodgers, Boothroyd’s replacement, ranked 13th. After the season, Rodgers went to Reading.

Former caretaker manager Malky Mackay replaced him. Watford ranked 16th in 2009–10 and 14th in 2010–11 after losing TommySmith and Jay DeMerit and going near bankruptcy. Then in June 2011, Sean Dyche took over from Mackay.
Despite Watford’s best league position in four years, Dyche was fired in July 2012.

Watford FC Scholarship

At the end of the nineteenth century, Watford Rovers competed in Cassiobury Park, Vicarage Meadow, and Market Street, Watford. In 1890, the squad relocated to Cassio Road and there for 32 years until relocating to Vicarage Road in 1922.

The new stadium was owned by Benskins Brewery; the team leased it until 2001. The club’s cash flow deteriorated after the acquisition, and in 2002 Watford auctioned the ground for £6 million in a contract that allowed them to acquire it back for £7 million in the long term. Watford adopted this alternative in 2004 with the “Let’s buy back the Vic” campaign.

Vicarage Road’s four sides hold 21,577 people. The 1922-built East Stand was shut from the general public in 2008 for public health concerns, however, it still housed locker rooms and a media space.

The East Stand was removed in November 2013 and a new 3,500-seat stand was built. The Elton John Stand was renamed after the club’s long-time chairman and was inaugurated on Boxing Day 2014.

The Graham Taylor Stand (formerly the Rous Stand) was erected in 1986 and has two levels. The top part houses the club’s management amenities. This stand is shared between the club’s household division and away fans. Whereas the Rookery Stand is a reservation for home fans. Both stands were created in the 1990s through sales of players.
The Elton John Stand was rebuilt in 2015 to add 700 seats. A day afterward, this amount was reduced to 1,000 more seats when a northeast extension was announced.

Up until the beginning of 2013, Watford used Vicarage Road with Saracens F.C.

The stadium has staged England under-21 and senior international games. Elton John performed at Vicarage Road in 1974, 2005, and 2010 for club fundraisers.

Horse and carriage displays and greyhound racing were formerly popular.

Watford supporters rival Luton’s. The two teams battled frequently in the Southern League from 1900 to 1920 and in The Football League till 1937 when Luton was promoted. Luton stayed above Watford until 1963. Watford and Luton met occasionally in the 1960s and 1970s. The fierce competition intensified after a 1969 encounter in which 3 footballers were being sent off.

Luton secured the 1981–82 First Division title against Watford. Watford finished 23rd ahead of Luton in the new Division 1 in 1995–96. Watford’s promotion from Division 2 in 1997–98 meant the two teams didn’t play again until 2005–06. The sole encounter in between these seasons, a League Cup match in 2002–03, was violent.

Watford did win 2–1 at Kenilworth Road in the Championship on 2 Jan 2006, succeeded by a 1–1 tie on 9 April 2006. The point confirmed Watford’s spot in the 2006 Championship playoffs, from which they achieved advancement to the Premier League for the 2nd attempt, defeating Leeds United 3–0 in Cardiff.

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Between 2006–07 and 2019–20, Watford has participated in a higher tier than Luton, who dropped out of the football league for six episodes.

The two teams’ rivalry restarted in 2020–21. Watford prevailed 1–0 at Vicarage Road on 26 September 2020.

Luton won 1–0 at Kenilworth Road on 17 April 2021, therefore the season’s prizes were shared, but Watford’s elevation to the Premier League for 2021–22 was announced days later, putting the rivalry on hiatus.

Luton has 39 victories, Watford 27 wins, and 23 ties in current tournaments.

Watford has performed better than Luton every season from 1997 (and 28 of the previous 29), although Luton has spent several more years on a top scale.

Until Findlay left in 1947, Watford had 5 managers in 44 years, all of whom were former players. Between 1947 and 1956, just 2 ex-Watford footballers oversaw the team.

After three more years with McBain (1956–59), Watford’s next three managers strengthened their teams. Watford was promoted by Ron Burgess in 1959–60. Watford finished third in the Third Division under Bill McGarry, the club’s best Football League result till then. Ken Furphy guided Watford to the Third Division championship in 1969 and the FA Cup semi-final in 1970. After Furphy’s exit in 1971, Watford began to deteriorate, being relegated under George Kirby and Mike Keen.

Watford’s manager in 1977 was Graham Taylor. In 1978, 1979, and 1982, he guided Watford to progress to the First Division.

Watford won silver in the First Division in 1983 and reached the FA Cup final in 1984. Taylor departed in 1986–87. Watford dropped from 9th in the first tier in 1987 to 13th in the third level in 1997 under Dave Bassett, Steve Harrison, Colin Lee, Steve Perryman, Glenn Roeder, and Kenny Jackett. Taylor became manager for 1997–98. He guided the team to successive wins, however demotion in 1999–2000. Watford has had 12 managers after Taylor’s 2001 departure. Aidy Boothroyd dropped Watford in 2007 and left in 2008.

Records

With 503 outings in all tournaments between 1976 and 1992, striker Luther Blissett owns the Watford involvement milestone, while his 415 features in The Football League over the same era are also a club record. With 186 career goals at Watford, 148 of which were league goals, Blissett owns the matching goalscoring statistics. Cliff Holton holds the record for the most league goals in a season with 42 in 1959–60. Harry Barton scored six goals over Wycombe Wanderers in September 1903, which is the highest so far by a pro footballer in a single match.

Watford’s largest-ever competing victory occurred in the Southern League Second Division in 1900 when the squad beat Maidenhead 11–0.

The team’s largest Football League victory margin is 8–0, which they achieved over Newport County in the Third Division South in 1924 and again against Sunderland in the First Division in 1982. Each of these games was played at home, and Watford has won an away league match by five goals six times, the most current being a 6–1 victory against Leeds United at Elland Road in 2012. Watford’s 7–4 triumphs against Swindon Town, Torquay United, and Burnley in 1934, 1937, and 2003 consecutively, have the most goals recorded in a Football League match.

On 3 February 1969, the club’s greatest home crowd (34,099) for a 4th round FA Cup game with Manchester United. In August that year, the club set a new home league audience mark of 27,968 against Queens Park Rangers.

According to all-seater restrictions, Watford’s stadium occupancy has been lowered. It now sits at 21,577.

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