Young Footballers Live the Dream at Vicarage Road

Thirty students from Hertswood Academy in Borehamwood and St Mary’s School in Broxbourne experienced the opportunity of a lifetime, playing a competitive football match at Vicarage Road—the iconic home of Watford FC.

The match was part of Watford FC’s “Play on the Pitch” initiative—an exclusive opportunity offered to the University of Hertfordshire through its official higher education partnership with the club for the 2024–25 season.

It also marked the first official fixture of the Active Local initiative, a place-based programme led by the Herts Sport & Physical Activity Partnership (HSP). Active Local focuses on increasing physical activity in communities where residents face greater barriers to being active. It aims to drive long-term, sustainable change by working collaboratively with local residents and partners.

The event was made possible through a partnership between Watford FC, the University of Hertfordshire, and Watford FC’s Community Sports and Education Trust, and brought together two schools from Active Local areas—Waltham Cross (Broxbourne) and Cowley Hill (Hertsmere).

As of April 2025, these two areas have been recognised as Sport England’s Supported Places under the Place Universal Offer (PUO)—part of Sport England’s Uniting the Movement strategy. This designation provides each area with enhanced support, tools, and resources to foster collaborative leadership, drive system change, and spark long-term behaviour change within their communities.

Inspiring the Next Generation

The fixture delivered not just a game, but a moment of real inspiration.

“This match isn’t just about sport,” said John O’Callaghan, Partnership Director at HSP. “It’s about creating unforgettable moments and opening doors for young people who might not always have access to these kinds of experiences. Ability is nothing without opportunity.”

A teacher from Hertswood Academy added:

“Many of these boys dream of playing in a stadium like this. Just to see them out there making memories they’ll never forget—it was unbelievable.”

In a dramatic conclusion, Hertswood secured the win on penalties, with Year 9 players celebrating under the stadium lights. For many, it was their first time inside a professional football ground—let alone playing on the pitch.

The University of Hertfordshire, as Watford FC’s official higher education partner for the 2024–25 season, continues to collaborate with the club’s charity arm to broaden the reach of sport and physical activity across the county.

Professor Quintin McKellar, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Hertfordshire, said:

 “At the University of Hertfordshire, we’re committed to delivering a meaningful difference for our local communities and our region and believe in the power of sport to inspire, unite, and transform lives. It’s why we’re delighted to be able to support opportunities such as ‘Play on the Pitch’ through our partnership with Watford FC, where young people not only get to play on a professional pitch, but also gain experiences that can help shape their futures. We hope everyone enjoyed themselves and look forward to continuing to support such valuable access opportunities.”

The University of Hertfordshire has recently launched its Clearing webpages so that students wanting to research and explore the many sports courses offered at Herts can do so.

Looking Ahead

With the support of Sport England and the commitment of local schools and partners, HSP’s Active Local programme is poised to deliver even greater impact over the next two years. Events like this are just the beginning of a wider movement to level the playing field, close the inactivity gap, and help every young person in Hertfordshire live a more active, healthy life.