St Mary’s Students play at Watford FC
A group of students recently lived every footballer’s dream — stepping on to the hallowed turf of Watford FC’s Vicarage Road Stadium for a once-in-a-lifetime match.
Invited by the Herts Sport Partnership to represent the borough of Broxbourne, our boys faced off against Hertswood Academy in a thrilling encounter full of passion, pride and unforgettable moments.
From the moment they arrived, awe and excitement filled the air. The towering stands, the pristine pitch, and the sheer scale of a professional stadium left the boys wide-eyed. That excitement only grew when they discovered they’d be using the home team dressing room — a space usually reserved for the pros.
After donning their kits and lacing up their boots, the team stepped on to the pitch to warm up. The silky-smooth surface made for a fast-moving ball, and it took a few minutes to adjust to the speed and bounce — but the team quickly settled in.
Then came the moment they’ll never forget: lining up in the tunnel and walking out to the legendary Watford FC walk-out song, Z-Cars. With spectators in the stands and adrenaline running high, the game kicked off.
The match was high-intensity from the first whistle. Both teams battled hard, with strong tackles, quick passing, and end to end chances. Just before half-time, Hertswood managed to edge ahead with a goal, sending St Mary’s into the break trailing 1-0.
But the story was far from over.
With renewed energy and fierce determination, the team came out firing in the second half. Their efforts were rewarded when Mason unleashed a thunderous long-range strike that rocketed past the goalkeeper — a goal worthy of any stadium. Cue wild celebrations and a flurry of knee slides in front of the Vicarage road stand to the delight of the team (though the groundskeepers might have had other thoughts!).
The final whistle blew with the score tied at 1-1, and the match headed to a dramatic penalty shootout in front of the iconic Rookery Stand. It was a tense finish, and although St Mary’s narrowly missed out with a 5-3 loss, spirits remained high.
This wasn’t just any match — it was a memory that will last a lifetime. The boys had played on a former Premier League pitch, and represented their community with pride and sportsmanship. It was a day filled with emotion, excitement, and excellence — and one that students, staff, and families will never forget.
Matchday squad – Kerem, Aren, Mason, Natan, Andrew, Mathew, Max, Amir, Samuel, Marcus, Patrick, Arnold, Asad, Kamil, Chigozie, Bobby, Bryan
