The word is out... Watford will have a dedicated outlet on CounterPress from 2026/27

The word is out… there’s a new home for dedicated coverage of Watford in 2026.

The Watford Word, fronted by former Daily Mirror chief sports writer Mike Walters, will set out its stall to become the go-to place for insight from inside Vicarage Road.

Mike is a lifelong Watford fan whose first game was 55 years ago - an FA Cup third round tie against Reading (which the Hornets won 5-0).

He worked at the Mirror for 30 years (and on Fleet Street titles for almost 40 years), covering five Olympic Games, serving six years as cricket correspondent and reporting on numerous Tour de France races, Wimbledon tournaments and darts world championships.

But his heart has always belonged to Vicarage Road, where his encyclopaedic knowledge of the club was conveyed in two volumes of the Tales From The Vicarage books, and he was a long-serving contributor to the matchday programme.

The Watford Word members can look forward to news, interviews, nostalgia and the inside track with an unrivalled quality of writing, perspective and agenda-setting commentary.

Mike said: “From promotions, cup runs and, yes, a dizzying cast of managers, head coaches and players, being a Watford fan is never dull.

“This is English football's original family club, built on the feats and wisdom of Graham Taylor and Elton John's leadership. Reminders of that golden age are prominent around the stadium and their successors are rightly held to the standards of Watford's greatest manager.

“More than ever, Hornets fans need a voice of reason to maintain the club's heartbeat and moral compass - The Watford Word will provide that balanced, informed analysis they deserve.”

The Watford Word’s early interest waiting list is now open, ahead of a full launch in August.

Watford supporters keen to explore the platform can secure an exclusive discount on membership by adding their details to the mailing list today.

The site is the latest in a succession of outlets covering the Premier League, EFL and National League to make CounterPress their home.

It joins the likes of The Moonraker (Swindon Town), From Bromley With Love (Bromley), For Fox Sake (Leicester City), The Brighton Base (Brighton & Hove Albion), The Quartermen (Wycombe Wanderers), Leyton Orientear (Leyton Orient), The Monkey’s Uncle (Hartlepool United), Medway On My Mind (Gillingham), The Biscuit (Reading), The Phoenix (Coventry City), Full Throstle (West Bromwich Albion), Saturday White Fever (Fulham), The 1878 (Manchester United), The Wanderers Post (Wolves), and The Sunderland Stories (Sunderland).

CounterPress offers the technical infrastructure and industry knowledge and support that journalists and creators need to build their own media brand.

Co-founder Sam Morshead said: “Mike has an abundance of knowledge and experience – both as a Watford fan, and in football media.

“The Watford Word promises to deliver entertaining, authoritative local coverage of a club that means so much to so many.

“CounterPress is delighted to be providing the infrastructure, brand design, and strategic support to give Mike the best possible start. Now it’s over to the community to make the most of what is bound to be a service of value and substance.”