On a bitter cold Tuesday night, Watford were at home to Ipswich Town in a Npower Championship League match. For this match, I was lucky enough to sit in the press box and interview a player of my choice once the game had drawn to a close. As part of my journalism course at West Herts College, I have to write an article for each edition of the college magazine, so I thought that a review of an interview with a Watford player would be a great piece to go in the sport section.

I was told to be at the media entrance for 7:15pm where I would collect my media pass. When I turned up at the entrance, the security man checked that my name was on the list and then let me through. Now that I had passed the entrance, I was unsure where the press box was. So I looked back and asked the security man, “Do you know where the press box is?” Obviously he couldn’t leave his position and luckily enough Tommy Mooney, who does the commentary for Three Counties Radio was just behind me. The security man asked Tommy to take me to the press box and that’s what happened. While walking to the press box, Tommy asked me about how my course was going and if I was enjoying it. He then pointed me in the right direction towards the press box.

Once in the press box, I picked up a free programme which I was delighted about because I usually have to fork out three pounds for one each time I go to a Watford match. I was then instructed on where I could and couldn’t go and another member of the press showed me where I would be sitting during the match. After all this had happened, there was roughly fifteen minutes till kick off, o I decided to hang around the dugout for a bit looking at the players and staff coming in and out of the tunnel.

By 7:40pm, I was in my seat ready to watch the game anticipating what could be a thrilling match. By half time it was 2-0 to Watford following two good goals from Stephen McGinn and Marvin Sordell, which pleased me greatly. At half time there were slices of chocolate cake available in the press box which I couldn’t turn down and following that treat, I took my seat again for the second half. While watching the second half I came up with a couple of questions on the match that I could ask the player. At full time the score was 2-1 to Watford even though there was a strong second half performance from Ipswich. The result pleased me as the player would now be in a good mood when interviewing him. I then waited about ten minutes until all the fans had gone and all the players were in the dressing room and was lucky enough to wait in the dugout seats for the player I was interviewing. I chose to interview Danny Graham, who most fans would see as Watford’s most crucial player.

Graham walked out of the dressing room and the head of media at Watford who had very kindly sorted everything out for me, pointed the star striker towards me while I was full with excitement and anticipation. He sat down beside me in the dugout seats and the interview commenced. When asked, “Why does scoring just before half time give the team a real boost” he replied, “We were lucky enough to score two goals which knocked their confidence hugely.”

Danny Graham also said, “When the team was defending for a long period of the second half it is frustrating as a striker because you have to drop back and help the midfield out.” The ex Carlisle man also said, “My partnership up front with Marvin Sordell has just clicked as we can both hold the ball up and we can both go in behind and many teams just haven’t been able to handle us which is very pleasing. We have managed to score fifteen goals between us this season which has really helped the team.”

Graham also stated that his favourite goal in a Watford shirt was against West Brom at home last season because it has been his only goal that he has scored outside the eighteen yard box since joining from Carlisle. He then said, “Portsmouth last Saturday was the best atmosphere I have enjoyed on the road this season because the fans were superb and got right behind the team.”

When asked who is the joker of the group, he responded, “Apart from myself (laughing), Adrian Mariappa and John Eustace are characters along with a few others which can only help for team bonding.” He then admitted that the target for the season was to reach fifty two points and then build from there. The interview was over and I thanked him for his time and then shook his hand.

This unique night was my first ever interview and I hope to learn from it by several tips I was given. The interview will help my future because I now have a rough idea on how to interview someone properly and it will look good in my portfolio, which I need to build up.

I would like to thank Mr Richard Walker, the head of media at Watford FC because without him this experience just simply wouldn’t have happened. It was a great night for me and I hope that I can build on it and enjoy several similar activities in the future to come.