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 driving forces for Forces United Veterans Together - supporting  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 is a huge honour .  As a former England players I know the passion and inspiration that lining up to do your duty for your country evokes.   Whilst I can never claim to know the trauma that serving in combat creates I and my fellow ex pros know all to well the challenges of trying to fit in with normal life  and navigate what you need as just a member of the public  in isolation after you leave your team. 

  THe more Veterans we talk with, I realise how much the  Former Players Club is a platform for shared experience and positivity.  Between us we look to understand ways to deal with mental challenges, to maintain fitness and wellbeing and to regain that vital cameraderie and team spirit . 

 Forces United Veterans Together is a  mission for us and one of which I believe Graham would have thoroughly approved.  

We are greatly  honoured that 

The Lord-Lieutenant 

Robert Voss CBE CStJ 

accepted the position of Patron of Forces United Veterans Together.   

Robert  gives invaluable support to our work and what we stand for across Hertfordshire.  In 2024 he opened our 

Forces United Lounge at 

Vicarage Road , home of Watford Football Club.  

The Lord-Lieutenant has attended many of our events supporting Veterans in the community.  The D Day 80  fish and chip lunch, with the D Day Darlings and our "Watford Remembers Launch" .  As well as leading our Remembrance parade  after inspecting our cadet forces and greeting Veterans from the area. 

We are also proud to be one of the community serving (not for profit) projects located at the Lord Lieutenant's charity hub based at Warner Studios. 

Veteran, novelist, screenwiter.  Dougie served for  18 years with the Royal Air Force, with tours including both the Falklands and the first Gulf War .  This ex-Sergeant engineer's literary career began in 1996 when he co-wrote a book exploring the culture of football hooliganism entitled, Everywhere We Go: Behind the Matchday Madness.  In 2005  his first full-length feature film , the Hollywood funded award winning cult football movie Geen Street starring Elijah Wood, was released.  

When it comes to undertanding how to navigate the Civic system on civvy street,  Bill's our man.   His experience as a Councillor in the local community means he can guide us through protocols and help us work in partnership with Local Authorities productively.  Bill is also Vice Chair of the Royal British Legion in Watord,  a standard bearer and someone who devotes a good deal of his time volunteering to support the community. 

If lived experience is the thing that counts there is plenty on offer from our co founder!   A journalist,  comms manager, brand strategist for starters.  Combined with work for a leading addiction centre and a family background that is all about community and Armed Forces.  My grandfather "Mr Bushey"  was Chairman of a local Council for 17 terms and a member of the Home Guard .  My other grandpa and two of my uncles were Veterans (Army and RAF) and my dad too a very proud RAF Veteran and the reason why my heart and soul go into this.  Being brought up with that background you learned all about respect, duty and manners.  Along with a good deal of community spirit which mum and dad inspired.