Women: Hector Reviews The Season So Far

With the second half of the Golden Girls' season getting underway on Sunday (January 5), we spoke to Head Coach Renée Hector to get her thoughts on the 2024/25 season to date.

The side play host to Lewes at Grosvenor Vale in a 2pm kick-off, marking their first match since the 5-1 away victory over Billericay Town on December 16.

Watford will begin 2025 sat in fifth in the FA WNL Southern Premier Division, nine points off top spot, having exited both cups.

In an interview first published in The Hornet, the club's matchday progamme, we discuss the season so far, as well as how she has found the step-up to the first-team, and her hopes for the rest of the campaign.

If you had to rate the season so far out of 10, what would you give it and why?

I'd give it between a six and a seven. We've been a bit unlucky with a couple of decisions but, at the same time, there are probably a couple of results where we should have done better.

We've made a couple of mistakes in some games, and not taken all the chances that we have created, but in some important matches, we've found a way. I feel like the group are in a really good place, and we just need to try and press forward with it.

What has been the highlight of the season so far?

The 2-0 win over Hashtag United, 100 per cent. It was a special game for me, as unfortunately during that time my nan wasn't well.

Just before I left her in hospital, she asked me for two goals, so when that second goal went in, I got a bit emotional.

It just really felt like a special performance. I really enjoyed the fight and determination the group showed, and it was one of those games that I'll probably remember for the rest of my career.

How have you found the step-up from the development squad to the first-team?

It’s been challenging, but I have the type of personality that can roll with the punches, so I've tried to take it in my stride.

It’s been tough, but I'm quite lucky that I know quite a few of the players, and I understand how it feels to be a player.

Everybody has got their part to play, so it's about making sure everybody feels valued and feels part of the team.

What has been the biggest surprise of the season so far? 

A nice surprise for me has been watching the group grow in terms of their mindset and their resilience.

We didn't win a game in pre-season, and it's quite difficult to go into a season and start winning games all of a sudden.

But everyone kept believing in our philosophy, and what we're trying to do. I think now, we're all on the same page and we're all going for the same goal. 

With a big overhaul of the squad in the summer, how do you feel the players have bonded together?

They have done really well - there is a real mixture of players in there, and I feel like the more senior players have done a really good job in helping the younger.

It feels like the senior players have taken the younger ones under their wing and the younger players are listening, and they're taking things on board.

One thing I hear a lot is how much they enjoy the environment and training. It is so important to create an environment that everybody enjoys because it means the players are starting to show their best.

Are there any players in particular that have stood out for you so far this season?

Megan Chandler, our captain, has been outstanding the whole way through. Anna Filbey has been a great signing, and really added to the quality of the side. Flo Fyfe, who I think had a little bit of a difficult start to the season, has really started to find her feet. Coral [Haines] and Dré [Georgiou] have been solid in the pivots, and Sophie McLean as well, who has improved so much in terms of what we're asking her to do.

I could mention loads of the girls – I think that shows with the amount of different goalscorers we've had.

What are your aims for the rest of the season?

We are just going to go for it. I said to the players in the week, we've got absolutely nothing to lose, but everything to gain.

We need to take each game as it comes and do our best to win it, and then, hopefully, come the end of the season, we'll be in and amongst it.