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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Ricky Charlesworth

Sir Elton John on Watford's 'horrible' season and how losing impacts his weekend

Sir Elton John has spoken of how his weekends are "horrible" whenever his beloved Watford lose.

And considering the Hornets lost 27 of their 38 Premier League games last term, it must have made for plenty of miserable Saturdays in the music legend's house.

John, 75, is a former chairman of the club and remains a Life President at Vicarage Road. This coming week he will play two shows at the ground as part of his long-running farewell tour.

He said he remains obsessed with the club despite their penchant for yo-yoing over the last couple of years.

Speaking around his NHS tribute at Hyde Park last week ahead of his two live shows at Vicarage Road, he said: "Last year was a disaster as far as we got relegated from the Premiership but life goes on. We lost God knows how many games at home and it just affects you.

"It makes your weekend horrible and the fans, you know, they go to the games and then they feel let down. But we’re starting again now and so we have to try and get back up to the Premiership. I love Watford.

"I love the community there - I've spent enough time there over the years and I’ve had enormous success there. It's in my heart in my soul so in what can I tell you: I'm a Watford die-hard through and through."

His shows take place on Sunday and Monday and he says the location had to be the home of his beloved club.

He added: "I really wanted to do the last two shows in Britain that were outside at Vicarage Road, to say thank you for all the love and pleasure that Watford Football Club has given me over the years ever since I was six years old.

"I never thought I'd become chairman, I never thought we would be in the Premiership - we've come a long way and support is all about ups and down but I love my club. You can't not love something that in your blood and it's in my blood."

Watford are hoping for an immediate promotion back this coming season under new boss Rob Edwards. The 39-year-old was persuaded to walk out on Forest Green Rovers despite having led them to the League Two title last season.

Speaking about looking forward, rather than back, he said: "I feel really at home already. The staff have been working really well, the players have been great and came back in great shape. They’ve been really receptive to how we want to work.

"There’s no point looking back because I wasn’t here, I’m focusing on the here and the now and all I see and hear is positivity. I’m not on social media and I know things can change quickly, so I stay away from all of that. What I’m feeling and seeing at the training ground and from all of the staff is an energy and a buzz. I’m getting that from the players as well.

"What’s happened has happened and now the next challenge is to bounce back. It’s really early days, but all I get is a sense of getting down to work, and everyone’s looking forward to it."

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