Quick-fire cult heroes

With goals number 24 & 25 this evening, Danny Graham is racing towards a record haul of strikes for Watford FC. In football, it is the strikers that do tend to grab the headlines, but after just over 18 months at the club, this particular forward player has already become something of a cult hero...

I've been a Watford fan for nearly 30 years now and during that time I have become very attached to many footballing heroes. Goalkeepers (Coton, James, B Foster), defenders (Gibbs, C Foster, DeMerit), midfielders (Johnson, Porter, Ramage) & wing-wizards (Barnes, Callaghan, Young) but it is inevitable that it's the strikers that stick in the memory. Luther Blissett & Mo Johnston in the early days, Paul Furlong, Kevin Phillips, Tommy Mooney, Heidar Helguson, Marlon King & Tommy Smith in more recent times.

But no one player has raced to hero status faster than Danny Graham. He signed in the summer of 2009 for what appeared to be an excessive £250 000 but despite a winter goal drought, he registered 14 for his first season at Vicarage Road. However, it is still March and Graham's heading for twice that many for year 2. Malky Mackay's current bargain basement squad are no one-man team but ultimately goals win games and Danny Graham is my latest footballing man of the hour.

Not only does he seem to have a natural instinct for goals as well as high confidence levels, but he also leads the line with strength and links up with others brilliantly. Like many of those mentioned above, you expect things to happen when he gets the ball or is running at goal and is capable of scoring with his head, from close range and from distance. But it is the ease with which he has settled to the task that makes Danny Graham such a cult hero already - most strikers take a little time to gel with the team mates and strike partner but Graham has been up and running from day one of both his first season and this one too.

It's interesting to me that despite him being Championship top scorer, Graham's not really attracting that much attention because of Watford's modest league position. That can only be a good thing for Hornets fans like me as there is a faint chance that we might keep him at the club.

If Graham does hit 30 this season, it is very likely that he won't be a Watford player next term but we can hope that our unglamorous reputation will continue to blind bigger clubs to our "hidden gem" of a hitman...

Subliminal messages

It took a while but we began to realise that maybe we'd had a visitor while we were away on holiday...

Actually we knew that Mrs Lees had been around but it did take two days for us to spot her subtle message to us both!

Come to the Summit

This is SO exciting! Last year, one of my working highlights was being a small part of a major new youth work event in London. In 2011, The Youthwork Summit heads north to the home of The Gallagher Brothers, Coronation Street and Gary Neville - Manchester - on October 21st & 22nd. This year I am involved in the plans a little earlier (and so am already getting pretty pumped about it!) and the event itself is growing too...

At this stage, I don't know much about the detail of the Summit (so don't ask!) but as things develop over the next few months do watch this space for any little hints on what is to come! For now, let me direct you to the just-launched, brand-new Youthwork Summit website and hope to see you in Manchester for the Summit!

Salvation comes...

Pete Greig posted this photo on Twitter a little while ago to stimulate some light-hearted discussion...

So, where do YOU think salvation comes from?! I know what I believe and it's probably not just from a bacon roll but...

Spring clear-out for Urban Saints

Is it time to declutter? Perhaps you've still got some of those unwanted Christmas gifts kicking about the house? Maybe it's just a chance to get rid of some unnecessary belongings? Whatever your reasons, why don't you think about removing some of the things around your home AND raise some money for Urban Saints into the bargain?!

For those of you who find yourself here as a result of my (ir)regular emails, I did promise you a way to turn the well-meant festive presents into donations to support my work with Urban Saints and here it is. Ebay for charity. I'm sure you'll have come across eBay (even if you haven't actually used it) - the auction website for people buying and selling independently and second-hand - and now you can give some or all of the proceeds going to your favourite Luton-based youth and children's charity...

If everyone who read this post was able to sell one thing, whatever it may be (although it does need to be something that has some saleable value e.g I once sold a car phone holder that didn't fit my phone), it would represent a very significant donation to the work of Urban Saints. It could be used to allow a young person with a talent for visual media or creative arts the chance to develop that talent as they serve the mission of Urban Saints. Alternatively it could subsidise a struggling youth group or pay for a series of meeting resources to be written; a house to be built for a poor family in Mexico or even see free family fun days held all over the country... Who knows?!

So, here's you go about helping via eBay for charity:-

1.) You sign up for an eBay account

2.) Once you have your eBay account, go to our Urban Saints page

3.) Click on "Save as favourite"

4.) Go sell some stuff...

If you've never sold anything using ebay before, here's a few tips on how to do so.

You don't even need to sell anything - you can add a donation when you buy something on ebay or just give a one-off donation instead

ALTERNATIVELY, you could send your items to Urban Saints or drop them off at the office and we could sell the items on your behalf. Let's face it, most people not already on eBay are not going to sign up just to sell things for Urban Saints. So we can help you with that but remember, we're not hosting a jumble sale - only give us something in a condition you would be prepared to buy yourself!

Who out there doesn't have one thing they couldn't spare to sell on behalf of our worthy cause?!
Get eBaying people...

[Don't forget, if you want to donate this way on behalf of my work with Urban Saints (rather than the general Urban Saints pot!) please let me know once you've sold your item! Thanks]