Hornets legend Doyley quills thank you note to fans

Lloyd Doyley will not go down as the most gifted player to have ever walked through the doors of Vicarage Road.

But the 33-year-old has paid an emotional tribute to the loyal Hornets fans who stuck with him through thick and thin in a career spanning 15 years at the club.

After graduating through the Watford academy in 2001 under then boss Gianluca Vialli, the defender played through 13 different managers before eventually leaving the club in January of this year.

 (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Indeed only four players have played more games for the club than the defender, who is now plying his trade for Colchester in LeagueTwo.

And in a thank you note to supporters, the self-effacing Doyley wrote of the pride he had of pulling on the shirt a total of 443 times.

“You saw me come into the team when I was only 18 and you supported me even though I found it quite hard to step up at the beginning,” he said.

“You stuck behind me the whole way – although I’m sure there were a few moments when you were tearing your hair out – but I like to think you recognised that I worked hard every time I pulled on the shirt.

“I know I gave my best every time I represented you on the pitch because I knew that, if you were in my position, you’d do everything you could to help the team.”