An introduction

Hi there,

Thanks for coming to have a look at my new blog! I hope I can encourage you to come back again by what you read below.

I currently commentate on Watford for BBC Three Counties Radio and Hornets Player via http://www.watfordfc.com/ and I will be sharing what life is like in the press box and on the motorways on a Saturday and Tuesday following the Hornets around the country!

As this is my first post then I'll tell you a little bit about me and how I got to be commentating in the first place. I guess deep down this is always what I wanted to do but its only in the last few years that I have been able to realise my 'dream'. I still have plenty of work to do however as I don't do this full-time yet so until I make that happen I won't have fulfilled my goal.

I got my break in 2005 when, thanks to a good friend putting me forward, I began providing some telephone score updates for Mercury FM in Watford from matches at Vicarage Road. That season ended in promotion to the Premier League of course and a chance meeting with another reporter in the players tunnel gave me a new break. I was contacted by BBC London 94.9 and for the next couple of seasons I travelled the country to most matches to provide match updates and goal news. It also was my first exposure to post-match interviews!

Going to every game meant I began to meet more people and that helped in my next move. I had become a member of the regular travelling party to away games that consisted of the Three Counties commentary team of Simon Oxley and Neil Price so I was in the right place at the right time when the opportunity arose to become the Watford commentator. It didn't take me long to think about my answer when I was asked if I was interested!

My first commentary game was broadcast on the Internet at home to Preston on Saturday, October 4th 2008. My first radio commentary was a memorable one as Watford won 3-0 at Southampton in a game that saw Hornets keeper Richard Lee save two first-half penalties!

So I have just completed two years as a commentator and it goes without saying that I absolutely love it. I still have lots to learn and I try to take something from every commentary that I do and improve on it next time.

The regular co-commentator of six years, Neil Price, had to stand aside earlier this year so I have had to get used to working with a variety of new co-commentators since. However, this has also meant that I have got to meet a number of former players that I used to watch from the stands which makes me incredibly lucky.

It's very important for me not to become complacent or take this role for granted. I look forward to every game that I do, whether it's at Vicarage Road or a wet Tuesday night 200 miles away! Long may it continue and in future posts I hope to bring our matchdays to life with an insight into what actually goes on in the press box to bring the matches onto the airwaves.

I'd be delighted to answer any questions you may have and don't forget, you can follow me on Twitter at jonmwfc.