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Play-Off winner Wilson says Watford ‘can surprise a lot of people’
Poppy Wilson feels other teams don’t know Watford’s threat
The last time Poppy Wilson spoke to The Watford Observer she was stood next to the team bus at Stadium MK after scoring the goal that won the National League promotion play-off back in May.
It was her first-half header that beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 and earned a place in the Championship.
The new season starts on Sunday with a home game against Durham at Wealdstone FC (12pm kick-off), but ahead of that Wilson quickly reflected on that glorious May afternoon.
“Sometimes it feels like yesterday when you look back and remember how amazing the day was, and then when you realise you’re about start a new Championship season it feels like a lifetime ago,” she smiled.
“We’ve been in for pre-season for six or seven weeks now, so now it does feel like a long time ago since that day.”
What has she got in her phone to remind her of that day?
“I’ve got a folder of pictures! I’ve probably watched it a thousand times!” she laughed.
“It’s not a goal that I would necessarily put myself down to score. It was a perfect ball that led to a perfect moment.”
With 11 new players arriving over the summer, Damon Lathrope has definitely added strength and depth to his squad.
“I think we’ve added in every aspect where we needed to strengthen,” said Wilson.
“It’s exciting going into the new season knowing the depth and the talent that we’ve now got.”
As the newly-promoted team and still being part-time in a division where nearly everybody else is professional, Watford may be written off by some.
“It’s quite nice heading into a new season with no-one really knowing us, and you can look at that perhaps optimistically or pessimistically,” said Wilson.
“Are other teams going to know how to play against, and are they going to think we’re weaker?
“I think you have to look at it in a positive way, because other teams probably won’t know what our threats are.
“On a personal level it’ll be nice to play in the Championship again after two years, and also for the club following that tough relegation they had to deal with.”
This season’s Championship is likely to be stronger than ever as more players from overseas arrive in the WSL, meaning players from there take a step down to continue their careers.
“We’ve seen that over the summer: a lot of WSL players or renowned players are now coming into the Championship,” Wilson said.
“It makes the league way more exciting and also more challenging.
“I think it’s all up for grabs this season. You can perhaps tell who the stronger teams are but I think it is a very open division.
“I think we can surprise a lot of people, especially with the way we play and want to play. It’s exciting, it’s pretty, it’s sleek and it’s maybe not necessarily what other teams in the Championship will do.
“They will look to find ways to win whether that’s gritty or being physical, whereas we want to play good football.
“From what we have worked on in pre-season, the way we play is really exciting. I’m looking forward to what’s ahead.”