Members of the Hornets squad talk us through their careers so far, in their own words.

This time, it's James Morris...

Southampton Beginning       I grew up in Fareham in Hampshire which is close to Portsmouth, and I was the only Southampton fan in my school. I was known as the ‘Saints fan’. I think a lot of people just knew me as that and I also played for them as I joined Southampton when I was nine. I quite liked it, I took all the stick and also gave it back as Southampton were doing a lot better than Portsmouth at the time!

Before joining the Southampton Academy, I was playing for my local Sunday League side. A scout approached my mum and dad and asked if I wanted to come down for a trial. As I supported them at the time, and my whole family supported them, it was obviously a big thing for me. I did well at the trial and was signed, and I stayed there for 10 years until I was 19 which is a long time.

I was scouted as a winger but at Southampton I was moved to left-back and I’ve stayed there ever since. When I first joined we were only playing seven or eight-a-side so I didn’t start out as an actual full-back, but the coaches there did put me into the defence. When we started playing 11-a-side I was put to the side of the centre backs into the traditional full-back role.

When I joined Southampton the first team had been down in League One, so I saw things progress as the club climbed up to the Premier League and the facilities got better and better. In the 2015/16 season, the club finished sixth in the Premier League so I experienced a steady rise. It was an amazing training ground and they had great staff and great players.

I remember the year I joined, the under-18s team had players like James Ward-Prowse, Luke Shaw, Callum Chambers and Jack Stephens, so this was obviously a great age group for me to look up to. That’s one of my biggest memories, the players above me.

Watford Switch       I was released by Southampton when I was 19 and in the pre-season that summer, I received a phone call from Watford inviting me to a trial. Obviously, this was a great opportunity so I jumped at the chance.

During the trial, I luckily came on as a substitute in a friendly against West Bromwich Albion at Vicarage Road. Adam Masina was injured after around five minutes, and it meant I had the opportunity to come on and impress.

This was my first ever experience of any type of first-team football, so I think coming on unexpectedly almost helped as I was thrown in at the deep end and it was sink or swim. I didn’t have time to be nervous, it was just ‘you’re on’ and then all of a sudden I was playing.

I think being released is a good thing to go through. It has helped me as you learn how to deal with setbacks.

Nobody is going to have it easy throughout their footballing career and it cannot just be plain sailing, so to have a setback at a young age is only going to benefit you in the long run.

Happily, Watford signed me after the trial and it’s been good ever since.

Hornets Progression       Although I made my debut for Watford against Leicester City in the third round of the FA Cup during my first season with the club, I mainly played with the under-21s after signing in 2021.

It was only really at the beginning of the 2022/23 season, when Slaven Bilić came in, that I was moved permanently over to the first team. My debut against Leicester was under their former manager Claudio Ranieri and I remember him coming up to me the day before to tell me I was going to play.

I had been with the first team but this was my first competitive game so it was a big thing for me.

As a young kid you are always watching games on TV and then all of a sudden you are involved in one, so it was a bit surreal! Unfortunately we lost the game 4-1, but it was a great experience and I played the full 90 minutes - I thought I did well.

Since then I’ve racked up a few first team appearances and I always want to play more and more.

In April 2023 I signed a new three-year deal with the option for a further year. As a player it’s always nice if you are doing well to be rewarded with a new contract, and it’s also nice to know that I can be settled here. I’ve enjoyed every minute I have been here with the staff, players and fans, and I’ve felt a really good connection since I’ve been here.

I think I’ve played under eight managers in my three years here which can be a good thing, as I have learnt different styles of play and different tactics.

At such a young age I think that can only benefit me. I can’t see it hindering me as I have learnt different things from all of the different managers. I can combine all of that and it has helped me become the player I am today.

Replay Return       In February, I started the FA Cup third round replay with Southampton at St Mary’s, which I admit did feel a bit weird. I have played there a few times with under-18s teams, but never with fans in the stadium.

Despite our 3-0 defeat it was a nice experience to go back to the club I have always supported but also the club I got released from, to be able to say “I’ve managed to do alright since I’ve come away from here”.

I managed to get my mum and dad into the away end, even though my dad is a massive Saints supporter! I had family and friends dotted all around the ground which was nice to see, and I went on to play in the Championship game at St Mary's too.

Next season I would like to kick on, play more than this season, win more games and hopefully try to get this team back into the Premier League.

Competition for places is always good and I don’t think you are ever going to be completely comfortable in football. It helps you as you always want to improve and keep moving forward.

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