The record goalscorer for her country, a career that began and will end at Watford with various top-flight ports of call along the way, and a true legend of women's football on and off the pitch.

Helen Ward has been there, done that and got a mural inside Vicarage Road Stadium.

Having announced her retirement from the game earlier in the season, Ward knew that if she was to finish off by helping Watford Women get promoted back to the Championship then her career of 20+ years would have to end in a play-off game.

On Saturday, that game takes place as Watford – winners of the Southern Premier Division – face Northern Premier Division winners Nottingham Forest for the solitary promotion place on offer.

The game kicks-off at 1pm at Stadium MK and it could be that a couple of hours later the curtain comes down on Ward’s career in fitting fashion.

“Possibly – if it goes well!” she laughed.

“It was weird to play our last game of the regular season, not knowing if it was my last game or not. Thankfully there was a lot to play for so I didn’t have time to think about it.

“As we all know now, it went well for us and we have this one game to go on Saturday, and it’s good to go into that with clarity of mind that this is the last one.

“But at the same time, my focus is not beyond the final whistle. I’m just focussed on the team, the game and what it means to this club to hopefully get back into the Championship.

“If that’s the way I sign off, then that’s perfect.

“But for the club and a really top group of girls, promotion would be the culmination of a lot of hard work, a lot of effort and real togetherness.

“That’s what has got us to this point, and hopefully it’ll get us over the line on Saturday.”

Watford Observer:

At 37 and with hundreds of appearances for the likes of Watford, Arsenal, Chelsea and Reading behind her, not to mention more than 100 caps for Wales, does Ward find herself being far more than just a captain and player?

“Maybe it’s something I do a bit more subconsciously,” she said.

“I had a little chat with the girls at the end of last week, and just said they needed to enjoy winning the league.

“It wasn’t our end goal but it was a goal of ours. You don’t get to achieve your goals many times in your career unless you are at the very, very top.

“You don’t win leagues every season, that just doesn’t happen. It was important to enjoy the moment and savour being league winners.

“Saturday, in isolation, means an awful lot – but to win the league is special, and I wanted to make sure the girls knew that.

“So it’s things like that I do, and I try to have a chat with individuals too. If somebody looks like they need a pick-me-up, I try to be the person that helps.

“I’ve got experience of good things and bad things, happy times and sad times. If someone can lean on me and I can help, then that’s great.

“My role here isn’t just as a footballer, it’s more rounded than that. Hopefully I’ve done that job ok this season.”

Watford Observer:

Despite all her experience, come 1pm on Saturday there will still be butterflies.

“There will be nerves on Saturday, and it would be wrong if there weren’t. I think nerves tell you that you’re ready,” Ward said.

“I just try not to get too overwhelmed by them or allow too many negative thoughts to get into my head. Rather than thinking ‘what if we don’t win’ I prefer to think ‘what if we do win’.

“That positive spin gives you a different perspective and maybe that’s come with experience.

“Nerves are a good thing as long as you manage them, and I think at the age of 37 I’ve got past the really big nerves.”

Ward was a second-half substitute when Watford lost the League Cup Final 3-2 to Forest last month.

“I don’t think the result has any bearing,” she said.

“The game itself was very tight and we know what to expect from them. We did a lot of work on them before the final, but we know even more now.

“Maybe the fact it was so close and the way the game was decided so late in extra time gives us that little bit more drive that we’re not going to let that happen again.”

Watford Observer:

Will there be a lot of emotion on Saturday, when the outcome of the play-off is decided?

“It depends on the result to be honest. There will be emotions at the end regardless of anything else, but that will be to do with what’s happened in the game.

“The emotions of me not playing aren’t really going to come around until pre-season starts and I’m not having to run up and down the length of the pitch anymore.

“On the day the emotions will be around the team and the result, and then I’ll reflect on everything in a more private situation at home with the family.

“It probably won’t be until a little while after the dust has settled on Saturday that it sinks in I’m no longer a footballer.”

The Watford captain, like all her teammates, is highly appreciative of the support the team have had this season, and is as thrilled as anyone at the prospect of 2,000 supporters travelling to back the team on Saturday.

Watford Observer:

“The level of support is incredible,” she said.

“We’ve really felt the fans this season, and the attendances and support have been fantastic. Even in the League Cup Final, when they were outnumbered by Forest fans, we heard them right from the start.

“Hopefully the fact that Stadium MK is only about 40 minutes up the road is a good thing for our fans, and I know we’ve already sold lots of tickets.

“To have a couple of thousand of the yellow army there would be great and I know the girls will be delighted to see them.

“If you haven’t got your tickets yet, please do and get yourself to Stadium MK on Saturday."

Tickets for the play-off final at Stadium MK on Saturday (1pm) are £5 for adults, £2.50 for Under-16s and Over-65s, and free for Under-10's. You can purchase them by clicking here.