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Watford Head Coach Rob Edwards is eager to start work on the training ground pitches at London Colney ahead of the new season.

The 39-year-old is delighted to be in the dugout at Vicarage Road and is looking forward to commencing preparations with his squad once the summer break comes to a conclusion next Monday (June 20).

In a busy few weeks for the boss, who recently met with supporters, the media and club staff members, Edwards’ focus has honed in on the upcoming campaign, and he is excited to embed his philosophy and values on the grass.

“That’s the best part of the job,” said Edwards. “When you have been in football full-time since you were young, it’s all you really know, and being out on the grass on a daily basis and being around people is great. We want to get down to work and start trying to build our way.

“Just being around the players will give you energy and you can feed off that energy, that’s the best part about the job. You can do all the work in the world on the computer and get to know the players by looking at past games, but there might be things that we see differently that other people haven’t seen.

“We are looking forward to seeing the lads up close and personal. For us to be able to work with them is really important and we can’t wait for that.”

The Head Coach already has a key link to the Hornets having been handed his playing debut by legendary manager Graham Taylor at Aston Villa back in 2002. Edwards is more than aware of GT’s values having enjoyed that first-hand experience. As such, it is something that the former defender will look to embrace.

“When I was at Aston Villa, there were a lot of people at the club who were pushing us younger players, but Graham was the one with his job on the line,” he said. “Graham was brave and I have spoken to a few people about his values and his standards. My first meeting with him was a little bit of a telling off because my house was a mess!

“When working and playing for someone like Graham, as well as all the footballing side and tactics which you learn, he knew what was important and respect is something which I talk about a lot.

“All sorts of things come under respect - time-keeping, manners, being honest - and I think that is what he stood for. I think I was lucky to work under him and with a number of people throughout my career.

“I try to surround myself with people who have those similar values because being a good person, as well as being good at what you do, is really important. If you are good at what you do, you’re a good person, and you work really hard, then you have half a chance, and Graham Taylor was all of those things.”

As well as meeting staff from both the Trust and the club, Edwards, inspired by their warm welcome, got the opportunity to look around Vicarage Road and experience the legacy and history that the stadium is steeped in as it approaches its centenary celebrations.

Edwards continued: “It was brilliant to look around Vicarage Road. You get a grasp of the size of the club as soon as you come to the stadium and going out there and looking around – it’s a proper club! It gave me goosebumps and I was really excited at the thought of coming out for that first game at Vicarage Road. We want to try and do everyone proud this year.

“Coming to meet the staff was great and I had such a warm welcome from everyone. That was brilliant and I couldn’t ask for any more from anyone so far, I really couldn’t. Everyone has been so genuine and so warm. I get a real sense of that family environment.

“That first day when we were able to step out before the Leicester City game, the club had got my children kits and my eight-year-old boy on his birthday was able to come out on the pitch. That was special. Those are things that we will remember forever.

“It has been a really warm welcome and I feel at home already. I’m really looking forward to getting to know everyone better. It’s a bigger club so getting to know everyone’s names will probably take a little bit of time, but I’m looking forward to doing that.”

The family, one-club mentality that was fostered by figures like GT is something that Edwards will look to continue to build upon during his tenure in Hertfordshire.

While visiting The Vic, he got the chance to meet Watford FC Women’s captain Helen Ward, and he has also been in communication with key Academy staff members as he looks to further integration between each facet at Watford.

“To meet Helen [Ward] was great,” Edwards said. “I was lucky enough to get a few caps for Wales, but she is a proper Welsh legend. That was really good to meet her and get to know her a little bit, and I’m looking forward to building on the relationship and trying to help and be a part of this one-club environment. I know there is always more we can do to try and help and support the women’s game.

“With the Academy, I’ve got an ‘in’ there straight away because I know Jimmy Gilligan [Head of Technical Development] really well and get on well with him, and I’ve met Richard Johnson [Academy Director] a few times already and he is a great guy. They have said that they want to support us and we want to support them. We want to work together, and I know there are some good young players and they have some high hopes.

“It’s the way I know, working with young players. It’s the way I came through as a coach through academies. I know the value and the importance of the Academy and them supporting the first-team. I’m really looking forward to working with them.”

Top of the agenda for Edwards is creating an unbreakable bond with the Watford faithful. After meeting and being interviewed by the likes of the From The Rookery End podcast and WD18 fan channel earlier this month, the Head Coach is looking forward to building that rapport and delivering for the supporters, as the Hornets bid to return to the top-flight at the first time of asking.

“The supporters are the most important people at any football club,” Edwards explained. “They are here well before us, and they will be here a long time after us.

“They are the lifeblood of the club and we want to try and build a real support and connection with them. The one thing I can say is that win, lose or draw we will go and applaud them and thank the fans to recognise their support and commitment.

“All I ask really of the supporters is to get behind the lads. That’s it. We want that connection and relationship, so we are all together and going for the same goals. The positivity around the place is so important, I can’t stress that enough.

“I know there will be times when we will have to get them going with our performances and there will be times when we will need them. I’m really looking forward to meeting them properly. We want the supporters to have a team that they are proud to watch and they want to get behind.

“To meet some of the supporters’ groups was brilliant and it was a really good thing to do. We want to be honest and open with everyone. We are going to give everything we can for the club. It’s just whetted my appetite for getting stuck in.”