Stephen Leonard Palmer

Seventy-four years after Watford were last represented in the Football League by a university blue, Steve Palmer, who played in contact lenses, was signed to improve stability in midfield. He was also to serve the club solidly as a defender. Possessing height, strength and energy, he’d captained Cambridge in 1988/89 in the second of his three Varsity matches (as well as playing for the University in one first-class cricket match under Michael Atherton) before embarking on his long professional football career. In 1997/98 he wore every first-team shirt (1-14, inclusive), although his one spurious appearance on the teamsheet as the nominated goalkeeper led to a matter of seconds under the crossbar before he changed places with “midfielder” Alec Chamberlain. The following season, of eight Watford players who took part in the penalty-kick shoot-out which decided the Play-off semi-final, he was the only one to fail from the spot, but went on to share in the Wembley triumph which followed.

West Herts / Watford Career