Watford chairman Scott Duxbury has passed on his support and best wishes to Luther Blissett following reports that the club’s former striker had collapsed at a charity auction at the weekend.
Having hosted this year’s My Local Hero fundraiser at Watford’s Grove Hotel on Saturday, the ex-England international exited the main room and fell ill, according to event organisers.
The Watford Observer report that Blissett, 66, was rushed to Watford General Hospital before being transferred to a specialist in London for further assessments.
Blissett – capped 14 times by England and one of the first black footballers to represent the national team – had helped auction off a signed Watford shirt and four hospitality tickets for a Hornets match earlier in the day.
‘Watford FC is aware of reports that the club’s all-time record appearance-maker and goalscorer Luther Blissett OBE DL is currently receiving medical treatment in hospital,’ a statement on Watford’s official website said this afternoon.
‘The Hornets wish to confirm at this stage, however, that the club has had no direct confirmation of his circumstances from Luther or his family.
‘Everyone connected with Watford FC would like to wish Luther the fullest possible recovery.
‘”Watford’s Favourite Son” was helping raise money at a community event last weekend when he was taken ill.’
Watford chairman and CEO Scott Duxbury added: ‘Luther and all of his loved ones know they have our full support.
‘We will do all we can to help.’
Born in Falmouth, Jamaica, in 1958, Blissett moved to the UK with his family at the age of six and began his footballing career as an apprentice with Watford after leaving school in 1974.
Blissett turned professional at the start of the 1975/76 campaign and went on to establish himself as a fan favourite with the Hornets, spending eight years at Vicarage Road before completing a move to Serie A giants AC Milan.
After one season in Italy, Blissett rejoined Watford for a second spell before returning for a third time in 1991, while also representing the likes of Bournemouth, West Brom and Bury across a long and storied career.
The much-loved attacker retired from the game in 1995 after a brief stint with Fakenham Town and returned to Watford as a coach the following year – where he remained until 2001.
After taking up managerial positions with Chesham United and Burnham, Blissett received an OBE in the 2022 Birthday Honours for services to association football and charity.
‘That my career as a footballer can be used by the charities to touch the lives, not just of football fans, but their families and the community as a whole is in itself a great honour,’ he said at the time.
‘To receive an OBE not just for my achievements in football but for using that career for the good of others makes me immeasurably proud, even more so in this Platinum Jubilee year.’
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