Gianfranco Zola hopes Italy will follow Watford's lead after a day when 'everyone went home happy'

12:53pm Thursday 1st November 2012 in Watford FC News

Picture: watfordfcpics.co.uk Picture: watfordfcpics.co.uk

Gianfranco Zola believes events like Watford's open training session yesterday are unique and said he wished they did similar days in his native Italy.

The four-hour event started with the first team's open training session, as more than 1,000 fans watched on from The Rookery, and then children were split into three different groups; with Manuel Almunia and Jonathan Bond taking turns during a penalty shoot-out with the kids, there was a crossbar challenge and also a photo session. Finally there was a photo and autograph session with the players and head coach in the Rous Stand.

Speaking immediately after the event, Zola said: "I enjoyed today very much. These days are unique and I don't think you see days like this anywhere else.

"When we did the Open Day in the summer, I said then that I wish they could do things like this in Italy. It would have been fantastic.

"Today was great. It was tiring because it was a long day and the players stayed for two hours extra after training to sign autographs but everyone went home very happy, including the players."

Comments(9)

BecauseOfBoxingDay says...
1:08pm Thu 1 Nov 12

Yeah just think, Italy would have won another world cup if Italian clubs had open days like in England

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llloydwithathirdl says...
1:18pm Thu 1 Nov 12

Good to see Zola enjoying the Watford way. He's such a friendly / humble chap considering all he has achieved in football. What a great guy to have at the head of your football club.

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Horns24 says...
1:19pm Thu 1 Nov 12

gimp

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lutondown says...
2:33pm Thu 1 Nov 12

There's only one gimp here, sonny and that's you.
Lloyd I agree with you 100% and just hope he doesn't realise what fools we have among us.
Gimp? What a teat

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SAHornet says...
2:57pm Thu 1 Nov 12

Horns24 wrote:
gimp
Why would anyone that uses the word "Horns" in their title say "gimp"? Call yourself a fan? I don't think so.

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lutondown says...
4:03pm Thu 1 Nov 12

SAHornet wrote:
Horns24 wrote:
gimp
Why would anyone that uses the word "Horns" in their title say "gimp"? Call yourself a fan? I don't think so.
You listening on forum mate?its live on player!
And spot on remark buddy

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goldanboy says...
6:22pm Thu 1 Nov 12

Nice photo of Troy...now that's what being a profesional footballer is all about. Although have thought of some captions for photo that probably wouldn't get pass mods!

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SAHornet says...
7:08pm Thu 1 Nov 12

lutondown wrote:
SAHornet wrote:
Horns24 wrote:
gimp
Why would anyone that uses the word "Horns" in their title say "gimp"? Call yourself a fan? I don't think so.
You listening on forum mate?its live on player!
And spot on remark buddy
Battling to find it at all on Player so listening on 3CR

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ChunkeyMonkey says...
11:06am Fri 2 Nov 12

A good (but very cold) day was had by all. Have to agree with the comments about GFZ. He comes across as a quiet professional, not one prone to exaggeration.
Only downer really was a couple of the players at the autograph table line who were talking on their phones all the time, not bothering to look up and make eye contact with the fans. Maybe they were concentrating on their writing skills.

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