When Troy Deeney headed home Watford’s third and the game’s clincher, he celebrated in front of the Aston Villa fans who had abused him throughout over his chequered relationship with the city and love of rivals Birmingham.
Despite being tipped to struggle after promotion from the Championship, the win at Villa Park sends the Horntes up to 11th in the Premier League table after an impressive start under boss Quique Sanchez Flores.
Denney’s goal in front of the Holte End was the striker’s fourth of the season and comes as further proof that he’s adapted to the division after what has certainly been an eventful journey to the top.
Here we profile Watford’s supper skipper….
Deeney gives the camera a wink after Watford’s 3-2 win at Aston Villa
Where did it all start for the Watford captain?
Born into the one-time biggest council estate in Europe, Chelmsley Wood in the West Midlands, Deeney never knew his biological father and was brought up surrounded by gangs and crime. Paul Anthony Burke became his father and though he was in and out of prison for much of Troy’s childhood, he looked out for his son.
At 15, Troy earned a four-day trial at Aston Villa, but failed to turn up until the final day. Instead he joined non-league Chelmsley Town, whilst training to become a bricklayer, before his talent was spotted by fellow-West Midlands club Walsall.
What happened next?
After an initial slow start which saw him loaned out and deployed on the wing, Deeney was given a chance up front and it paid dividends. In the 2009/10 season he scored 14 goals and was voted the club’s Player of the Season, attracting attention from a number of Championship clubs.
Watford paid £500,000 for his services but he struggled to make the step up and scored just three goals in his first season at the club wher, again, he was mostly used on the wing.
His off-field antics were becoming a problem too and it came to ahead in an incident in February 2012 which put his entire career in jeopardy.
Deeney was sentenced to 10 months at Winson Green prison for assaulting a student at a nightclub in Birmingham.
Having served two months of the sentence, the forward was released and, 10 days later, made his first appearance back for the club.
Amid a period of upheaval due to the Pozzo family takeover, Deeney has since reformed and became a mainstay, earning the club’s captaincy and enjoying three consecutive plus 20-goal seasons on the way to last term’s promotion.
Following a mini-goal drought at the start of the campaign, Deeney scored his first Premier League goal at Stoke and hasn’t looked back since.
What’s been his best moments?
The dramatic last-gasp goal against Leicester in the 2013 Championship play-offs is one that Deeney will always be remembered for by Watford fans, but that was quickly followed by the disappointment of defeat to Crystal Palace at Wembley.
Because of that, his opener in the 2-0 win at Brighton, which sealed the club’s return to the top flight after an eight-year absence is another which will always stick in the memory.
Why is he so effective?
Now in the big time, Deeney has continued to thrive in his partnership with Odion Ighalo. The burly forward represents somewhat of a throwback; an aerial threat and physical presence up top that chases down defenders whilst linking play with his strike partner and midfielders. Deeney’s physicality and willingness to harass the opposition has borne fruit for his side in a division that has moved away from playing two up front.
The striker can also thrive even with relatively little service and his pressure forces defences into mistakes. He is not afraid to take on shots from outside the box either and this direct style of play has proved effective so far.
What next for Deeney?
After seeing the likes of Jamie Vardy, Charlie Austin and Danny Ings earn international call ups soon after earning promotion to the Premier League, Deeney is one that could certainly put his name in the frame for an England cap if he is to keep performing well at the top level.
Despite having that carrot of representing the Three Lions, Deeney, who signed a new five-year contract with the club in the summer, is a strong character and the fact he’s been captain under a cluster of managers shows he’s transformed into a brilliant leader, meaning he will be totally focused on helping Watford and himself become a mainstay in the top flight.
