Five Of The Best: Watford's Academy Graduates

In EFL Youth Development Week, we've taken a look at five of the biggest names who have emerged from Watford FC's Academy.

Read on to see who we've selected...

Tommy Smith

Hemel Hempstead-born forward Tommy Smith was handed his full debut by Graham Taylor in 1997, who brought him on as a sub during a Second Division clash with Oldham Athletic.

The prolific finisher scored his first league goal for the club against Queens Park Rangers in 1999, only a minute after he had been introduced.

Smith, an always popular player with the Golden Boys' faithful, would eventually make 306 Hornets appearances across two different spells, scoring 64 goals.

He won the club's player of the season award in two consecutive years in 2008 and 2009.

Lloyd Doyley

Watford’s fifth all-time appearance maker with 443, defender Lloyd Doyley gave more than two decades of service to the Golden Boys, both in the Academy and first-team set-ups. 

A hard-working fan-favourite, Doyley made his debut in 2001, coming off the bench in a 3-3 draw with Birmingham City for Pierre Issa, who had been unfortunately dropped off a stretcher having picked up an injury.

The defender was vital to the Hornets’ promotion to the Premier League under Aidy Boothroyd in 2006 and a mainstay in the top flight, later becoming captain. 

Known for his committed defending, a goal alluded him for eight years until he nodded in at the back post against Queens Park Rangers in 2009.

Doyley is now part of the Watford staff as Under-18s Assistant Coach.

Ashley Young

Ashley Young joined Watford's Academy system at the age of 10 and after progressing through the ranks he scored in his first two senior appearances as a substitute.

The young pacy winger had already scored his third before being named in a league starting XI for the first time, and he would go from strength to strength from there.

Young was a big part of the team which won promotion to the Premier League through the play-offs in 2006, appearing for the club 110 times in all and scoring 22 goals.

He earned big moves to Aston Villa, Manchester United and Inter Milan, winning every domestic trophy and the Europa League with the Red Devils, as well as Serie A in Italy.

Young, still on the books of Everton at the age of 39, has been capped 39 times by England and has netted seven times for the Three Lions.

Adrian Mariappa

Centre-back Adrian Mariappa joined the club's youth system at the age of eight, and went on to captain the club's Under-18s side before progressing to the first team.

He made his senior debut in a League Cup match against Notts County in 2005, and would eventually make 340 appearances across two different spells as a Hornet.

This included a remarkable sequence of 114 consecutive league appearances, which was only brought to an end by a suspension in 2011.

Mariappa was part of the 2006 play-off winning team which won promotion to the Premier League, and he also started the 2019 FA Cup final against Manchester City.

The Jamaica international was named as player of the season in 2012.

Ryan Andrews

A major part of the current Golden Boys squad, flying full-back Ryan Andrews has been with the club since 2012.

The 20-year-old Watford-born player made the big step of signing his first professional terms with the Hornets in May 2022.

Andrews - son of former Golden Boy Wayne - made his Watford debut in an FA Cup tie with Reading in 2023, and has so far made 86 appearances for the club.

He has scored six goals during his time so far and has earned international recognition with England Under-20s, regularly hearing the chant "he's one of our own" from fans inside Vicarage Road.