Women: Captain Chandler Discusses 2024/25 To Date

Megan Chandler, the Watford captain who recently made her 100th start for the club, takes stock of the campaign so far ahead of their first match of 2025.

What would you rate Watford’s season so far out of ten, and why?

Because we hold ourselves to such high standards, I would say a 6/10.

We aren’t quite where we would like to be at this stage, but there’s still so much more to come from the group: we are excited for what’s to come in 2025. 

What has been the biggest surprise you have experienced so far this season?

We knew the league was tough from the last time we were in it, but the levels have really grown - it’s a lot more competitive.

There aren’t any easy games, which is a great showcase for the league and how far all the teams have come in the last few years.

How do you feel the squad have bonded given there were a lot of changes in the summer?

I think we’ve come a long way since the start of the season in terms of building those relationships, understanding how each other plays, and learning under new management.

We are all really close now, and have found that fight for one another which makes a great foundation for any team. 

After back-to-back home defeats, how pleased were you with the resilience and determination shown in November to record impressive wins at home against Hashtag United and Exeter City?

It’s always tough to lose two on the bounce but the girls have shown real character to turn those negatives into positives and remind teams in the league we aren’t just here to be a number, but to compete too. 

How have you found working under Renée Hector, who was appointed Head Coach during the summer?

Ren gives a different management style to what we have been used to previously, but she’s really made it her own and has a huge respect level amongst the players and staff.

She works tirelessly for the team to give us the best platform to perform, so I’m looking forward to working with her some more.

Are there any players in particular that you think deserve to be spoken about for their performances?

I think Anne Meiwald has had a really good start to the season. She’s been a constant in the team for a few years now, but it feels like she’s really stepped up and shown her leadership qualities as well as putting in some great performances. 

How did it feel to make your 100th Watford appearance earlier this season, and your 100th Watford start against Billericay?

It was a dream come true honestly. I’ve loved my time at Watford over the last six seasons and it felt really special to hit such a big milestone.

I am now looking forward to many more appearances in a Watford shirt. 

How important for morale has it been to see the return of long-term absentees Kalani Peart and Melis Mehmet?

It has been really important, as they are not just great players, but also great people too.

We have watched them work really hard over the last year to really give themselves the best chance of getting on the pitch this season, so they deserve every opportunity that comes their way.

How disappointing was it to go out of both cups?

It was extremely disappointing to be honest, especially the League Cup, which I really felt like we could go on and win.

Both games are a learning curve for us to really use as motivation to push on in the league. 

What are your aims for the rest of the season?

Our aim for this season always has been to try and win the league again.

Obviously, we are a bit behind at the moment, but we know that anything can happen in this league. We just want to remain consistent and give it everything in these last few months.