As the season ends, the hard work begins

I was contacted this week by one of my former colleagues, a man I respect very highly. A true wordsmith and a keen Watford fan, he asked me to contribute to a preview of this weekend's game for When Saturday Comes.

He reminded me of one of my first ever jobs. And the class of '92. He wasn't referring to Giggs, Scholes, Beckham et al, but was casting an eye back on our days at Thames Television.

What's this got to do with the Albion you may ask?

Well, as 95-odd staff learned by fax they had lost the London weekday franchise and would inevitably lose their jobs, life moved very fast.

After a far-from-brief trip to the pub, things in the coming months could have disintegrated. But with strong leadership from people such as Nick Milligan, who sadly died in an accident last year, success was ensured until the final day.

The key to success is manifold, but a focused leader and a driven workforce - fuelled by belief and hard work - can pay dividends. Experience is key, and, as I learned in one day, and in the years since, all you take for granted can be swept from under you in the blink of an eye.

As the season draws to a close, the hard work begins. It has been a disappointing campaign for Albion fans in some regards, but there is much for them to admire at the club. Nick believed in the power of collective will. Across sport, in football and in life, there are countless examples when the sum of the parts can outshine individual quality.

Put the two together and who knows what can be achieved.

Thanks, David, for your timely reminder.