Over £15,000 has been raised for two local charities as part of The Taylor Trek, a charity walk around Watford and areas starting and ending at Watford FC’s Vicarage Road Stadium, with donations open until Sunday 26th October. Joining a host of supporters, families, friends, and community members were former players Luther Blissett OBE DL, Richard Johnson, Lloyd Doyley, Dan Gosling, and the Watford FC Under-18 squad, ensuring the day was buzzing with excitement. The whole event was kindly sponsored by local accountancy firm, Mercer & Hole.
Over 200 ‘Trekkers’ took part in the day, across three routes – an 18-mile challenge route, 8-mile medium route, and a 3-mile family route. With all three routes finishing within similar a time period, the Vic was filled with positivity and cheer, as participants enjoyed a well-earned rest in the Rookery with doughnuts courtesy of Wenzels, with the bakery also donating lunch for medium and challenge route Trekkers. Notable attendees included: Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, a team from event sponsor Mercer & Hole, and a swarm of pupils and parents from Vaughan Primary School. One of the Trekkers, Nigel, said of the event:
“Thank you and well done to everyone involved in The Taylor Trek 2025. It means a lot to my wife and myself to have the chance to join other supporters and remember Graham and the golden memories he brought us over the years and to have the chance to say hello to his wonderful family. As always, it was a lovely day, very well organised and nice to see all the familiar faces once again that we see each year.”
The Taylor Trek honours and continues the legacy of Graham Taylor MBE with a route specifically designed to highlight key sites from his history in Hertfordshire. Participants complete their Trek with a final pitch-side walk at the stadium, where they are met by the Taylor family to present them with their medals.
Graham Taylor MBE achieved remarkable success at Watford FC by leading them from the Fourth Division to the topflight in five years, finishing league runners-up in 1983, reaching the 1984 FA Cup Final, and securing two more promotions to the Premier League during his second spell. On the field these successes were impressive enough, yet off the field Taylor was a pioneer for bringing the Club out to the community at a time when this was not the norm, encouraging players to meet and engage with supporters, and bringing the family values that remain at the heart of the Club. Graham was also patron of both The Taylor Trek’s benefitting charities Watford Football Club’s Community Sports and Education Trust, and Rennie Grove Peace, or Peace Hospice as it was known back then.
Inspired by Graham’s vision, Watford Football Club’s Community Sports and Education Trust have been proudly supporting people and communities on behalf of Watford Football Club for over thirty years, engaging people of all ages and backgrounds through high-quality community-based initiatives and services. These activities span across health and wellbeing, football and education, and inclusion, which include managing two community hubs – Meriden Community Centre in North Watford, and Cedars Youth and Community Centre in Harrow.
Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care is a charity providing free, patient-centred palliative and end-of-life care within Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. Support is delivered through four key stages: Early Support, Living Well, Dying Well, and Bereavement Support. For over 40 years, Rennie Grove Peace has offered vital care thanks largely to community donations, with only 14% of funding coming from statutory sources. Its multidisciplinary team helps patients live well and receive care where and when they need it most, while also supporting families through illness, loss, and bereavement.
Rob Smith, Community Director at Watford FC’s CSE Trust said:
“It has been a fantastic day, raising plenty of money for charity, and honouring the legacy of the man who started it all for us here at the Trust. It is such a joy to see so many people and organisations coming together for such a good cause. We thank each and every one of them.”
To show an interest in The Taylor Trek 2026, you can complete this survey and be the first to hear about confirmed details: https://eu.surveymonkey.com/r/WFCTrust-TT26EOI
