New skipper Chandler says Watford Women have more resilience

Promotion via the play-offs took the Golden Girls from the National League, where pretty much every club is part-time, into the Championship where as many as 10 of the 12 teams are fully professional.

But Chandler insists that won’t be on the players’ minds when they start the new season at home to Durham on Sunday (12pm at Wealdstone FC).

“If you look at it on paper and see that we’re not actually a full-time team, you might think that’s a disadvantage,” she said.

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“But as a group we are still putting in a lot of hours, probably as many hours as some professional teams. The only difference is we’re not doing it during the day, we do it in the evenings.

“Some may say it’s a disadvantage but as players we don’t see it like that. We don’t look at it as a negative, because if you do then you’re going into the season with negative thoughts.

“We’re getting the work done in the hours that we get to make sure we’re as prepared as we can be.

“And I think we are very well prepared. We’ve worked really hard this pre-season and we are ready.”

The last time Watford were in the Championship they were relegated with virtually the last kick of the game in the final match of the season.

Although personnel have changed, there are still enough at the club to remember that painful experience – so what has that season taught them most?

“Resilience,” said Chandler.

“I think we’re a lot more resilient and we’re possibly not as naïve as we were. We never thought the Championship was easy, but this time we aren’t going in there just expecting to cement our place in the division.

“We know what to expect now. We know the levels now and we know that we will have to compete every week. We can’t afford to go into any game and not show up.

“I think before we were a little bit naïve to think that we might just be ok by going through the motions.”

Head coach Damon Lathrope said earlier this week that the it’s more of a leap than a step up to the Championship from the National League, and Chandler agrees.

“The Championship is known for being a very hard league, and that showed the last time we were in this division,” she said.

“If you don’t perform and you don’t show up, then you get punished. It’ll be exactly the same this season.

“We’re far more prepared going into it this time than we were last time around. We’re in a much better place and our squad is very strong.

“We’ve brought in some really good players and we’re more than ready to take that step up.

“I think the main difference with the Championship is it’s more physical if I’m honest. The pace of the game is higher and you don’t get time on the ball. There isn’t space or time to dilly dally.

“Teams come and press you and the speed of everything is just so much higher.

“The all-round competitiveness of the Championship is a lot greater.”

Also, while the National League is split into North and South divisions, the Championship isn’t regionalised so Watford face trips to places lime Durham, Sunderland, Blackburn and Sheffield United.

“There are a lot more miles on the road and more overnight stays,” admitted the new skipper.

“Some players like that and others don’t, but it’s a good chance to have a bit of team bonding when you’re on the road.

“They are long trips, but what you do off the pitch benefits you on the pitch. I think it’ll be good for us.”

Although she wore the armband last season when Helen Ward wasn’t in the team, Chandler was still pleasantly surprised to be made captain now that the former Wales striker has hung up her boots.

“It’s an honour, and I wasn’t expecting it either. I was quite surprised when Damon told me,” she said.

“I’ve been at Watford a long time now and Helen leaves some big shoes to fill, but she helped me a lot last year and I feel like I’ve grown a lot as a person in the last year, on and off the pitch.”

Chandler, second left, with some of her Watford teammates (Image: Andrew Waller Images)

Among the summer signings are a number of teenagers, which means Chandler can lend her experience.

“When you say it like that it makes me sound like I’m ancient!” she laughed.

“Some of the girls that we’ve brought in may be teenagers but they are so much more mature than that. The way they carry themselves shows they are at professional clubs and they are in and around a senior environment already.

“So coming to us is no shock to them, they just want that game time.

“They won’t just be helped by having me around as captain, we have a lot of other leaders on the pitch. That will really benefit the younger girls.

“And young players can also be just as much of a leader as anyone else. Age doesn’t matter. The way they conduct themselves and the way they perform in training shows they have already worked to a high standard.”

Having taken more than 2,000 supporters to May’s play-off final at Stadium MK, Watford hope to see more fans at their games, particularly at home.

Chandler says the fans may not appreciate the difference they make.

“I don’t think the fans realise how much of an impact their support has on us,” she said.

“Sometimes when results aren’t going your way or you’re a bit quiet on the pitch, it’s the fans that lift you up and give you a boost. They give you a purpose to get your head out of your bum and work a bit harder.

“The fans make you realise you are working for someone else apart from your teammates.

“Sharing the good moments with the fans and seeing the smiles on the faces of the people who care is wonderful.

“That’s one of the main differences between a men’s and women’s game. When we come off at the end we have that personal interaction with the fans, and it’s on a much more personal level.

“You can play football with nobody there and still enjoy it, but when you’re sharing the experience with fans it makes a real difference.

“You come off the pitch and can talk to the fans to hear how they think about things, and that is really nice.

“At the Play-Off Final, when we won, I just stood there for a moment and looked at the crowd and it was so amazing.

“That’s what we want. We want to grow the women’s game and have fans cheering us wearing the Watford shirt with pride, like they would cheer the men.”

What are the main differences between attending a men’s and women’s game?

“Sometimes when you think about going to a men’s game it can be quite daunting,” said Chandler.

“A lot of people, big crowds, things can get a bit rowdy: I love that about going to watch a male game but there’s not so much of that in the women’s game and that can make it more appealing to families.

“Our games are a family environment where you can bring your children and know that they will meet really lovely people, and it won’t be so full on.

“If they want to explore and make friends while they watch they game then they can, because it’s a very safe environment.

“Fans can get involved and speak to all the players because everyone is very friendly, and there is a very welcoming environment.

“It’s almost a nice starter to get you used to come to any game of football really. It’s not too intense and it has a nice family feel where you can feel at ease.”

The recent World Cup saw a real hunger for the women’s game in this country.

“When a major women’s tournament is televised and the games are at times people can watch them, it gives people a chance to dive in and out,” Chandler said.

“The interest showed why women’s football should be televised more often I think. It was a great advert for the women’s game.

“Women’s football can only benefit from the World Cup.

“The only difference between women playing and men playing is that it’s women and not men. It’s that simple.

“We are doing the same things, we train in the same ways, there literally is no difference.”