A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH

Luther Blissett OBE,  or  "Luther" as football fans know him... an icon of the game.

Captaining the team behind "The Former Players Club  Luther  is Honorary Life President of Watford FC and is their all time record goal scorer and appearance maker as well as their first full England International.   Luther was the first black footballer to score wearing the three Lions

 (a hat-trick!) and was twice the Golden Boot winner. 

  Luther continues to inspire. 

He was named Watford's Favourite Son by former Club Chairman Sir Elton John, due to his tremendous popularity off the pitch not just his success on the pitch. The people's player, who from the age of 16 was influenced by the tremendous mentoring of the great Graham Taylor.

Luther  went on to play for AC Milan, AFC Bournemouth before eventually joining Graham Taylor's  Coaching team and then becoming Watford's first team coach. Luther also coached strikers for Harry Redknapp : "Luther was of those players that changes the attitude of a football club. He was a great trainer he’d been to Italy, he had played for England –  he had a different work ethic to the rest.  He taught the players about eating right, and coming  in with the proper attitude."

Since fully retiring from the professional game Luther has continued to use his personality and lived experiences to become an influential anti discrimination champion.  He is a popular motivational Speaker and strong Charity campaigner for causes such as mental well being, prostate cancer, dementia and the Armed Forces and Veterans. 

"I founded  the Former Players Club cic to make sure the values Graham taught us as players could still be championed in the community.  And that we as players were still in each others corner wherever we are in life. 

And importantly to unite our former Golden Boys through that.   We could still have each other's backs !

When you lose your team (through retirement or inury)  you also lose yourself.  Your identity is suddenly gone .  Talking with veterans, many of whom are football fans it is a shared loss.  Perhaps that is why being a football supporter unites us, a shared passion and kinship. 

But must we never forget one thing. Especially when you consider the money and celebrity that football now attracts.  Real heroes do not wear football boots. 

Graham once said " it is fantastic to see the nation’s game playing its part in helping our servicemen and women return to civilian life."

Being able to help those from our Armed Forces to understand ways to deal with  mental challenges, to look after their wellbeing and to regain team spirit is a real mission for me.