‘It’s not about how hard you can hit – it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward’ – not the words of a philosopher, but Sly Stallone’s Rocky Balboa.

The sentiment will chime with Watford supporters at this moment in time. The important message is that what matters isn’t the setbacks that befall us, but how we react.

Watford has been hit hard by this pandemic in many ways. Our community has suffered agonising losses that go much deeper than football, but the town’s response has been something to behold.

Watford’s people have shown incredible generosity and kindness, looked after friends & neighbours, raised huge sums for local charities, played our part in the national effort against coronavirus and paid tribute to the NHS and key workers who kept us on our feet. The club were a huge part of that.

All these things are, of course, more important than football – but football matters to communities in a way no other sport can, and to this community in particular.

We’ve seen our team beat giants of European football like Liverpool, Man United, Chelsea and of course Arsenal in recent years and the pride simply can’t be put into words. Premier League status means a lot emotionally but also practically and economically – there are livelihoods at stake inside the club and out. With the right response on Sunday, we can see it retained.

If I have a message for the players it’s that they don’t just represent a football club tomorrow, but the spirit of our community and the hopes of the whole town.

We’ve seen you written off in ‘impossible’ situations and prove the world wrong so many times – we know you can do it again.

With the eyes of the world watching, you can bring joy to households that have suffered so much hardship recently - in Watford and beyond.

Because no matter what happens, a win would represent something far bigger than just three points.

Getting up and fighting on in the face of adversity has defined the people of Watford in the last few months – to see our football team do the same tomorrow would give us all hope and pride for the future.

  • Peter Taylor is Elected Mayor of Watford