Former Watford striker Gifton Noel-Williams says he has learnt from Hornets legends Graham Taylor and Kenny Jackett after taking a coaching role at Westfield Academy

The 35-year-old scored 41 times in 127 starts for the Hornets between 1996 and 2003 before a career which took him to Real Murcia, Elche, the Austin Aztex and DFW Tornados – via Burnley and Stoke City.

But after retiring in 2010 the Islington-born striker caught the coaching bug and after returning to England he has taken up a position at Westfield Academy’s Centre of Excellence for the 2015/16 season.

“I have learnt from everyone I worked with – the good and the bad,” said Noel-Williams, who became Watford’s youngest ever goalscorer in 1996. “I worked with people like Graham Taylor, who set a level of expectation from day one and if you dropped below he would remind you, often in a not very nice way.

“Then you have Kenny Jackett who understands how to break the very essence of the game down. Tony Pulis was a good manager and a great man manager too,” he added.

“I feel I have got a mixture of all the different managers I have worked with and I think I am trying to make my own little style – I am just not sure what it is yet.”

Westfield’s Centre of Excellence, in partnership with Watford’s Community Sports and Education Trust, is heading into its second year after taking on 40 more students following a successful first year.

Enrolled onto a two-year BTEC Level 3 in Sport, the course is a mix of formal lessons and training.

Noel-Williams, who has hardly missed a Watford first-team, Under-21 or Under-18 fixture since returning to the UK and describes himself as a Hornets fan, felt the project at Westfield was right for him.

He said: “I am coaching at Watford’s Academy so I wanted a Watford scheme. I looked around at different programmes and found Westfield’s was the best around.

“I had known (Community Director) Rob Smith for many years and he came to me last season about the role,” explained Noel-Williams.

It was adversity during his playing days which first led the striker to the idea of coaching and since he finished playing with amateur side DFW Tornados, Noel-Williams has dedicated himself to the development of players.

Gifton Noel-Williams in action for Watford in 2001 against Nottingham Forest. Picture: Action Images

“When I came back from the USA I started volunteering at Watford’s Academy,” he explained.

“Football is my love. After I was badly injured at 19 I was never the same again. I was in so much pain by 26 and I thought about coaching but I was never really serious. But the USA opened my eyes and now I am doing my UEFA ‘B’ Licence.”

His time abroad proved beneficial and Noel-Williams believes it will aid him in the future.

He said: “Spain was a culture shock at first. There were little tips and training styles I picked up – even the way they live and eat.”

Ultimately Noel-Williams' aim is to make it as a manager in the Football League or Premier League but that aim is in the distance.

“I am in no rush to become a manager because you need to do your apprenticeship first,” he said. “There is a time and a place for it. Right now I am just learning my craft. If I can keep learning then one day I will be ready.”