A lifelong Watford F.C. fan from River Court Care Home in Watford, Hertfordshire, celebrated her 76th birthday in unforgettable style on 24 February 2026 after attending the Watford vs Ipswich match at Vicarage Road, thanks to a generous birthday surprise from Watford Football Club.
Eileen Davison, a resident at River Court Care Home, received complimentary tickets to the match as a special birthday gift from Watford F.C. The club kindly provided three tickets so that Eileen could attend alongside two carers, ensuring she could enjoy the experience safely and comfortably.
On her birthday, 24 February 2026, Eileen travelled from River Court Care Home to Vicarage Road, arriving in plenty of time thanks to the home’s minibus driver, Nikhil Sebastian. Chris Hall, Supporter Liaison Officer at Watford F.C., arranged convenient pick-up and drop-off points close to the stadium entrance, ensuring a smooth and accessible arrival.
Arriving 50 minutes before kick-off gave the group time to enjoy some traditional matchday chips and a cup of tea before taking their seats. Eileen was absolutely ecstatic, especially as the last time she attended a live match at Vicarage Road was more than nine years ago.
Born and raised in Watford, Eileen is a devoted lifelong supporter. Her room at River Court is filled with Watford memorabilia, and she faithfully keeps up with fixtures, recording results and tracking the league table in her personal notebook. As soon as the players stepped onto the pitch, Eileen beamed with excitement, proudly cheering, “Come on Watford, come on Watford!” throughout the match.
Although Watford were defeated 2–0 by Ipswich Town F.C., Eileen thoroughly enjoyed every moment of the experience, chatting with stewards and fellow fans and bonding over their shared love of the club.
Eileen said:
“Thank you so much for bringing me, it’s been such a good birthday.”
Maisie Ali, Wellbeing Manager at River Court Care Home, added:
“It was truly heartwarming to see how much this meant to Eileen. She loved every minute, and we are so grateful to Watford F.C. for making this special birthday experience possible.”
After the final whistle, Eileen and the team returned to River Court Care Home, with Eileen excitedly sharing all the highlights of the match on the journey home.
River Court Care Home would like to extend a huge thank you to Chris Hall and everyone at Watford F.C. for organising such a memorable experience, as well as to Maisie Ali for chaperoning Eileen and to Nikhil Sebastian for giving his time on his day off to ensure she could attend safely and comfortably. For Eileen, it was truly a birthday to remember.
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River Court - Care home in Watford, Hertfordshire | HC One