Fitzgerald aims to show Ranieri what he missed
The 24-year-old striker spent a week’s trial at Stamford Bridge last season after being spotted at non-league Northwood, but failed to earn a contract despite scoring in two reserve games.
Months later Watford snapped him up on a free transfer, and Fitzgerald now aims to show Ranieri what he missed by adding to a season’s tally of nine goals in their third-round clash at Vicarage Road on Saturday.
He said: “I was stunned when the draw was made. I couldn’t believe it. I made a lot of friends when I was on trial at Chelsea and I got to watch the first team train a few times. They sometimes came across to say hello, but now I will be lining up against them.
“When I left Chelsea I never dreamed I would one day be on the same pitch as a team full of World Cup stars. But if I score the winner they might remember my name. I was at Chelsea for just over a week and I scored goals for the reserves against QPR and Ipswich. I waited a couple of months for them to get back to me but I think there was some indecision there and they had some other things going on.
“I’m good friends with the reserve-team coach, Mick McGiven, and he was honest and told me they didn’t want to gamble on me. Money was a bit tight then because Roman Abramovich hadn’t come in yet. It might have been different if Abramovich had come in a few months earlier but I think my chances would have been few and far between.
“Watford happened to be at the Ipswich game and said they’d be interested if nothing happened at Chelsea. I came for a trial and the rest is history. I’m happy with how things worked out.”
Fitzgerald’s is a real rags-to-riches fairytale. A Ryman League player last season, he impressed Hornets manager Ray Lewington so much on trial he was rewarded with his first professional contract in February.
Thrown into the first team this season to inject some life into a goal-shy strike-force, he quickly blossomed into the club’s top scorer. Fitzgerald freely admits he still cannot quite believe how far he has come in a few short months.
He said: “Only a few months ago I was playing in the preliminary rounds of the FA Cup for Northwood and now I’m in the third round against Chelsea.
“Northwood almost got to the first round one year where we would have played Reading, who were top of Division Two at the time, but unfortunately we went out to Gray’s Athletic in a replay.
“I never thought a chance like this would ever come. The emotions are going to be running high and I can’t wait.
“Coming to Watford was a massive step, I’m the first to realise that. I know I’ve got a lot to work on in my game but hopefully the goalscoring instinct will always stay with me. I still have to pinch myself looking back and remembering where I was this time last year.”
But Fitzgerald reckons his humble roots could be his biggest weapon against Chelsea’s well-paid aristocrats, and he warned them not to underestimate a team that reached last year’s semi-finals.
He said: “I think it helps me because I know I have to try my hardest. Chelsea’s players know where the money’s coming from and they’re secure in their jobs. It’s different for players like me who come from non-league football. There’s no complacency.
“But there’s no pressure on us, it’s all on them. We’re going to enjoy it. Chelsea supporters are saying we haven’t got a chance but it’s the FA Cup and miracles do happen. We have nothing to fear.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
