Watford put on the style at award ceremony
Ever wondered what it would be like to watch your team from the best seats in the house? Play director for a day? Well that's just what Ben Clarke did when he entered the monthly PFA fans vote, conducted by give me football and saw his name selected to not only present the prize to Championship winner Danny Graham but to spend a VIP day at Watford's Vicarage Road Stadium. Watford certainly laid out the red carpet to give season ticket holder Ben a day to remember.
The day started when the winner arrived at the hospitality entrance at the stadium, that's right, no creaky turnstile today Ben was provided with his match ticket for himself and his father together with boardroom passes. You read correctly, boardroom passes. From then on it was first class all the way as Ben and his guest were shown up to the hallowed portals where he was met by PFA representative Marwan King. They certainly do it with style at Vicarage Road and the tables, laid out for lunch, were as good as any four star hotel with glistening glassware, crisp white tablecloths and starched napkins folded into bishops mitres. Drinks were served by the waitress straight away, no lager in plastic cups on this occasion.
The boardroom soon began to fill up and before long chairman Graham Taylor arrived and began to greet the guests including the winners' party. Taylor was the perfect host and put everyone at their ease and even took time to give a little insight in to his own early career at Lincoln City where his managerial reign got off to a disastrous start, he got home one evening to be told by his wife that the chairman had been on the phone and wanted to see him in his office. Not usually a good sign. The chairman wanted to know why he was working so hard! Despite the bad start the board of directors stood by him and the rest is history.
After a delicious lunch, there was even a vegetarian option for Ben, it was time to go down to the pitch to present Danny Graham with his trophy and silver stud, a photograph and some good natured banter with Ben's friends who were in their usual seats behind the goal then it was straight back up to the boardroom where an announcement was made that the teams were coming out. The Directors Box is right outside the boardroom but there was a sinking feeling as the party took their seats, they're so soft and luxurious! Marwan commented they were more comfortable than the seats in his car! In the Box there were luminaries such as former England keeper Ray Clemence, Chris Hughton, lately Newcastle boss and Keith Burkinshaw, one of Spurs most successful managers.
The Hornets certainly pulled out all the stops for our winner with a 3-0 demolition of Derby County, themselves not doing too badly in the Championship. Danny Graham duly obliged with a virtuoso finish for Watford's second goal. Ben's prediction was for a draw but Watford were having none of it and cantered to yet another win.
There was just time for a cup of tea and a look at the other results and tables and the experience was over. As the party left the stadium the Rams fans were boarding their coaches for home. It was time for Ben to rejoin the fans world. It had been a memorable day.
This fantastic prize could be yours too; you can vote right now for your player of the month here on give me football.
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