38. Alex Prentice

Position – Striker
DOB – 1/11/1988
Apps – 30
Goals – 11
Debut v Stevenage – May 2010
Worldnets – 0
Nicknames – None, yet

Alex made his first WIFC appearance at the Stevenage Tournament in 2010, notching his first goal in the 3-2 win over AFC Wimbledon that helped the team go onto win the tournament. Since then, Alex finally joined the full squad for the start of the 2011/12 season and soon broke a club record by scoring in 6 consecutive games. Having quickly established himself among WIFC’s striking options, hopes are high that Alex can threaten more records in the years to come.

Alex’s Q and A

Describe yourself in a sentence
Tall, weigh about 4 stone wet through and have the physical presence of a peanut, but I do enjoy playing football…

What was the first WFC game you went to and what can you remember about it?
Nov 7th 1998, we played Oxford at home and they forgot their kit so had to wear our away one, that’s all I really remember about the game but a quick research shows we apparently won 2-0.

Finest ever WFC memory
I don’t remember an awful lot about the 99 playoff final, and the 06 final was great but the best moment probably has to be Leicester at home in the playoffs this season just gone, at the time it was the best feeling ever in those well documented 20 seconds.

Worst away trip and why
Hull away in the playoffs, spent ages cramped in a mates car for us to just fall apart, and then the horrendous journey home, definitely one to forget.

WIFC playing highlight
When we played Oxford at the met a couple of seasons ago in one of my first ever games, I played upfront with Jimmy and scored a couple of decent goals and just generally had a lot of fun playing that match.

Favourite WIFC moment
Getting Brad absolutely slaughtered at Barnsley away and him blubbering outside the turnstiles profusely apologising for being a drunken mess. Then him being hungover on the way home and bouncing his head off the top of a seat.

All-time favourite Watford player
Allan Nielsen

All-time favourite Watford XI (not the best players – your favourites)
Chamberlain; Doyley, DeMerit, Mariappa, Robinson; Abdi, Nielsen, Hyde; Young, Graham, Vydra (4-3-3)

Red shorts or black?
Red

Which actor would play you in ‘WIFC – The Movie’
Morgan Freeman

25. Stuart Holdham

Position – Centre Midfield
DOB – 23/6/1973
Debut v Brentford Hey Jude – May 2005
Nicknames – Big Stu, Dale, Tina O’Brien’s lofty companion

Another of the small group of players still going into their 40s, Stuart made his WIFC bow back in 2005, and made intermittent cameo appearances for a few years, waiting until 2010 to become a full member of the squad following his excellent performances for the Vets team at that year’s Worldnet. Since then, more than one opponent has remarked on Stu’s uncanny resemblance to Dale Winton, but his height and versatility have become key ingredients in the team, as have his relentless comedy turns as he fine tunes his Strictly Come Dancing warm-up act on his WIFC team-mates.

28. Paul Labbett

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Position – Left back
DOB – TBC
Debut v Arsenal – May 1997
Nicknames – Ice

Paul played in WIFC’s first ever match and was a member of the intrepid squad that took to the muddy fields of Middlesbrough during EuroNET ’97, WIFC’s first venture to the tournament that became WorldNET. Left-footed Paul starred for the side for the first five years of it’s existence and remains one of the best defenders to appear in the colours of the Internet ‘Orns and received due recognition at the Testimonial dinner in 2007 when he was inducted into the WIFC Hall of Fame. He has returned to the regular squad since his son, Tom, joined the club in 2020.

Jon Parry

Position – Striker
DOB – TBC
Debut v Arsenal – May 1997
Nicknames – Chicken Legs, Sir

One of the original squad that played in Euronet back in 1997, along with goalkeeping brother Chris, Jon was WIFC’s leading scorer throughout the early years of the club. Having scored at an average of a goal a game, the thin-legged striker was the scourge of teams across the IFA and he remained the club’s record scorer for years after he last appeared. Work and family commitments took Jon away from the club in the early 2000’s, but his immense contribution was recognised at the Testimonial dinner in 2007 when Jon was inducted to the WIFC hall of fame and he’s since turned out at the Worldnet Vets tournament.

Ian Lay

Position – Striker
DOB – TBC
Debut v Arsenal – May 1997
Nicknames – Taz

Ian managed WIFC through the early years, and juggled the roles of three people in admirable fashion, acting as fixtures organiser, manager and treasuer at the same time. Ian also managed to find time to be a key player for the team, be that on the wing or in his preferred striker’s berth. Ian is also remembered for his on pitch explosions, which led him to the nickname Taz. Also a prolific smoker of dubious substances, he led many a player astray on the memorable Amsterdam trip in 2000. Ian stepped down when he moved away to Somerset in 2002.

Dave Perahia

Position – Goalkeeper
DOB – TBC
Debut v Arsenal – May 1997
Nicknames – Dr.Dave, He-She, Ladyboy

One of the founder members of WIFC, the good Doctor was between the sticks for the club’s very first game and remained the undisputed number one for many years. Dave often drew gasps from the opposition, as from behind they could have sworn he was a girl, and his WIFC highlights were being named Man of the Match in both the 2002 IFA Cup Final against and the Gibbsy testimonial, the latter display drawing compliments from no less than Glenn Hoddle. Inducted to the WIFC hall of fame in 2005, family commitments and old age finally saw Dave hang up his gloves in 2006.

Richard Wenham

Position – Centre Back
DOB – 29/5/1981
Debut Unknown – 2000
Nicknames – Wenham, Dave, Four sixes, C**tface Chris, Garston Gomes, Councillor

The WIFC legend that is Wenham returned to the ranks during 2005 after a two year sabbatical, brought about in part by his cracked ribs and subsequent pneumonia after playing on in the rain at the M’Duck Cup in 2001, and morphed from a prolific striker to a committed centre half in his long WIFC career. So laid back he’s almost horizontal, until you put him on a pitch, where his will to win shines through, the Garston Gomes was top scorer in 2001/02 and skippered the A Team at two Worldnets. Now a local councillor, Wenham also scored a spectacular ten minute hat-trick in the last ten minutes to win a game at Crewe, supposedly notched his 500th career goal (all clubs) on the Stockholm trip in 2007 and made his 150th WIFC appearance in the 2013 London Cup Final.

Josh Freedman

Position – Centre Back
DOB – 21/3/1993
Debut v Preston B, Nov 2009
Nicknames – Pikey Student

Josh came to WIFC’s attention during 2009/10 when cousin and club legend Simon Devon brought him along to make up our numbers for the game against Preston B. An impressive debut was followed by further encouraging performances at centre half, showing a strength beyond his years. Josh was also the holder of WIFC’s well-worn pikey student mantle, while exiled in Nottingham at uni.

Jimmy Davis

Position – Right Midfield
DOB – 14/11/1992
Debut v Notts Forest – Feb 2009
Nicknames – Jimothy

With Dad Chris encouraging him from the sidelines, Jimmy impressed everyone with his pacy, skillful displays on the right wing since joining the club in 2009 via Bally. Voted best newcomer for 2008/09 and player of the season and top scorer the following year, we also managed to smuggle Jimmy in for some Cage fun and games during his first Worldnet, and it was the following year in Leeds that he first attracted the advances of the West Ham players, who still regard Jimmy as a pin-up to this day. Jimmy got his second top scorer award in 2013/14.

Jimmy’s Q and A

Describe yourself in a sentence
Reemtastico

What was the first WFC game you went to and what can you remember about it?
Southend, not sure if it was home or away but stuffed them 4-0. So my dad tells me.

Finest ever WFC memory
Toss up between the latest dramatic finale between Leicester and Watford or Lloyd Doyley catching the ball after being hoofed up the field.

Worst away trip and why
Away to Sheffield Wednesday in the cup and lost 4-0. Waste of Daddy’s money

WIFC playing highlight
Definitely coming off the bench to score against Barnet away. That felt toats amazeballs!

Favourite WIFC moment
Meeting Wenham.

All-time favourite Watford player
Heidar! Heidar Helguson!

All-time favourite Watford XI (not the best players – your favourites)
Ben Foster, Lloyd Doyley, Jay DeMerit, Paul Robinson, Paolo Vernazza, Micah Hyde, Ashley Young, Nicky Wright, Heidar Helguson, Gifton Noel-Williams and Allan smart.

Red shorts or black?
Red

Which actor would play you in ‘WIFC – The Movie?’
Will Ferrell

Mark Brennan

Position – Striker
DOB – 15/1/1988
Debut v Unknown – 2006
Nickname – Brendan

With skills and flicks to burn, it has to be noted that Mark’s a little short in the braincells department, and he once drove to Nottingham for a fixture against Leicester and wondered why he kept losing a trainer on the way to Hull in the funbus trip of 2008. On the pitch, Mark started to add some consistency towards the end of 2012/13, and helped turn the IFA Cup tie against Millwall in WIFC’s favour with an inspired second half display.