12:40pm Wednesday 22nd July 2009
By Frank Smith
FA Cup finalist Neil Price is excited about the progress made in setting up the Watford Former Players Association after securing some vital sponsorship.
For years there was no formal links between Watford and its ex-players but towards the end of last season, Price started setting up the association.
Most former Hornets have welcomed the move and Price said the club have “embraced” the idea.
Watford have provided their former left back with valuable help, including a club email address, phone and desk at their Tolpits Lane offices.
Price said: “The club have embraced it and it is very exciting. It is an exciting new part of the club even though we are somewhat independent as well.
“I am pleased about being able to raise money for the benefit of the ex-players, who maybe didn’t earn much from the game and do something for them and their families, as well as the chosen charities.”
Watford legend Graham Taylor, who was Price’s manager in the 1984 FA Cup final defeat, is the association’s‘patron’ and has helped Price immensely.
Price, who commentate on Watford games for BBC Three Counties and Watford World, is actively seeking sponsorship and received a major boost when Northern Motors agreed to provide the association with a free car.
The Vauxhall dealer, which has three sites in Watford, Harrow and Ruislip, will provide the Watford Former Players Association with a new car every few months.
Darren Barratt, sales director for Northern Motors, said: “There is probably no bigger brand in Hertfordshire than Watford. From what we have done it is well worth it. Giving them the car doesn’t really cost me anything and they really appreciate it and it is massive for us.
“I wanted to do something fairly local and I looked at several things. From this we can get some benefit from it and they can certainly benefit from it also.”
Price revealed a number of proposed events involving ex-players, including cricket matches, golf days and a ‘Cally’s Christmas Disco’, with fellow FA Cup finalist and now DJ Nigel Callaghan.
There are also plans for a six-a-side football tournament, where there will be one former player in the side and another as manager, with supporters making up the rest of the team.
An ex-players charity team is also being set up and Price is already in talks with Chelsea Old Boys over a possible game.
The two chosen charities are the Peace Hospice and the Cardiomyopathy Association.
Price says he needs more sponsorship if he is to develop the former players association, ideally from local businesses.
He said: “We want to forge these links from the football club out into the community and into businesses and hopefully we can make good friendships that will benefit the club and us, which it already has.
“So it is a two-pronged thing and hopefully as we grow, they will grow with us.”
To find out about sponsorship opportunities, email neil.price@watfordfc.com
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