The 1881 Club Lounge at Vicarage Road Stadium played host to a plethora of special guests as Watford FC’s Community Sports and Education Trust helped 86 local young people celebrate their completion of the government flagship project NCS.

The National Citizen Service initiative is a four-week programme commissioned by the government and run by Watford FC’s Trust.

NCS was set up to bring together a culturally and socially diverse group of young people in the Watford area, with the aim of enhancing all aspects of their academic and lifestyle skills.

Watford FC players Tommie Hoban and Rene Gilmartin were in attendance to enjoy a graduation night full of presentations, awards, live music and a disco.

Also making an appearance, much to the delight of the 16 and 17-year-olds, was chart topping music mogul Naughty Boy, who was on hand to offer words of inspiration about his rise to fame from a pizza boy in Watford to global star.

Also in attendance were the band Chasing Grace, made up of former school friends Phil Plested, Grace Ackerman, Phil Leigh and Matt Holmes, who performed, posing for photographs and signed autographs.

During the night the teenagers took to the stage to share with guests, parents and peers their experiences throughout the four week scheme, explicitly their efforts in raising almost £3K for the charities Peace HospiceCare, Green Canteen, Lincolnsfield Children Centre, Teenage Cancer Trust and DRUM.

Next up on the night’s schedule was the awards ceremony, where a representative of each charity took home an award for their involvement, as well as the chance to recognise a numbered few for their Outstanding Contribution to NCS; Sakib Kahid and Molly Wheeler winning the night’s top prizes.

The evening ending on a high with DJ Jon Blower providing the tunes for a celebratory disco.

Delighted with the evening, Watford FC’s community sports and education trust sport development manager Rob Clarke said: "It was a great way to end what has been a brilliant four weeks and a night like tonight sums up what a fabulous community Watford is."