The weather may have been wet but that didn’t dampen the spirits of a group of people who left Watford to watch their own national team face England at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
Thanks to Luther Blissett, Watford FC’s greatest goal scorer and appearance maker, this was a surprise outing for Ukraine families who have fled to the UK to take their minds off the horrors being experienced in their country and discover what ‘football family’ means.
Blissett set up the Former Players Club charity last year with his partner Lauren Fox and some of the great names from the Hornets' past. The project, which in part has been created to support former professionals by maintaining team spirit among players, is primarily there to uphold the attitude instilled by Graham Taylor for which Watford became renowned on and off the pitch.
One of the first projects was a fundraising and aid collection in response to the invasion of Ukraine. This has evolved into the Sunflower Social Club, which was set up as soon as the Homes for Ukraine scheme started to enable displaced families to arrive in Watford. It has grown to support people across the UK, but primarily across Herts. Ukrainians, and their hosts, are able to have support with housing, jobs, language skills as well as access to therapy and a drop in weekly social club.
England’s European Championship qualifier against Ukraine was an opportunity to good to miss to inspire the families. With support from the Football Association, Blissett was able to offer more than 50 Ukrainians a VIP experience to see their national team play the Three Lions.
Before leaving for Wembley, they went along to Vicarage Road to learn about Graham Taylor and see where Blissett had made his name as a player.
“Having come to England aged five, with no idea about football or the culture here, I have been able to empathise with their feelings and challenges of being an immigrant,” he said. “I cannot share the trauma that these amazing people and children have been through to start life here though, but I am able to try and make sure it is as welcoming as possible whilst they are in our community.”
The families were taken on a tour behind the scenes at Vicarage Road to see how Blissett’s career evolved, before heading to The Horns and being treated to a pre-match pub lunch as a result of a fund raiser by The Former Players Club.
The journey to the national stadium continued the VIP theme, with National Express answering an appeal by Blissett for help in transporting the families. Thanks to a Watford FC fan notifying the company they got in touch and supplied one of their executive coaches for the day.
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Ian Fraser, managing director south east of National Express Transport Solutions, said: "National Express is passionate about supporting local communities so when Luther Blissett approached us to donate free coach travel to Wembley for Ukrainian families to watch their national team play against England, we were only too pleased to help. Despite the final score our VIP passengers had a lovely day out."
England won the qualifier 2-0 thanks to goals from new record scorer Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka.
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