Reaction: Grieves On First Watford Start

Jack Grieves spoke to watfordfc.com after making his first start for his childhood club in the 1-0 win over Sunderland which ended the wait for a much-needed home win.

After being on the bench several times throughout the season, Grieves was given the opportunity from the beginning by new Head Coach Tom Cleverley.

Read what he had to say below...

It feels brilliant. It was a really nice feeling to be able to start the game today. I've been on the bench a few times this year, but not got on the pitch, so it was a nice moment for me getting some minutes under Clevs. It was a really good day.

The standard is obviously much higher, the game is quicker, and you have got to react faster. Everything is sped up, so it was a bit of an adjustment at the start, and I think sometimes I handled it well, sometimes I could have handled it a bit better, but it was good.

I found out [that I was starting] yesterday after training, and I had a meeting with Clevs. He just told me I would be starting the game, and told me what he expected from me, told me in and out of possession what he expected from me, and just told me to go out and enjoy it. That's when I found out.

I've been on the right wing a little bit in training. A few weeks ago Clevs said to me that he wanted to try me out there in training, so I'm not completely unaware of it. It is not my natural position but anywhere Clevs wants me to play, I'll go out there and give it my all.

Jack Clarke showed his qualities today, he is a good player and we have seen that this season. It was nice to come up against some tough opposition, it was a great experience for me, so I am not complaining.

I am extremely proud of the family connection [Grieves' relatives have played for Watford]. It is a big moment for me. I've played a little bit in the past, but to actually start a game today was a very proud moment for me and it was something I will cherish for the rest of my life.

It ranks as a solid top three [moments in career], especially in front of the fans who were class today by the way, so it was a really good moment for me.

I had pretty much my whole family here today, my brothers, my parents, my nan and grandad, my uncle, my little cousins, and my aunties - they have been a massive support for me, so it is nice to have them here to share this moment with me as well.

I am just going to keep working, keep doing what I'm doing, trying to show my quality in training, and in games when I am given the opportunity to do so. That's the ultimate aim for me, to start as many games for Watford, this is my childhood club so I don't really want to be anywhere else.