Some players start at a Premiership Academy at the age of eight and their future with the elite of English football is mapped out from an early stage. However, for other players the route to the top isn't as straightforward as they have to battle to prove people wrong. Gavin Mahon is one such player and he has not had the easiest of routes to the Premiership. Starting out at Wolves, he enjoyed stints at Hereford and Brentford before landing at Watford. He has fought to get into the Premiership and, as givemefootball's Ian Clarkson discovered, he isn't about to let it slip easily.
Q:DISAPPOINTING RESULT AT THE WEEKEND AFTER YOU'D LED AGAINST NEWCASTLE?
A:I was coming back into the side after missing a game through suspension and we are disappointed because other teams have gone up there recently and got a result. We thought that Newcastle might be tired after their midweek game because I watched it and it looked like it took a lot out of them, but sadly it wasn't to be.
Q:HOW HAS THE SEASON GONE FOR YOU PERSONALLY?
A:Well, the gaffer keeps telling me I'm doing okay, so that's good enough for me.
Q:CAN YOU DEFY THE ODDS AND STAY UP?
A:We deserve to be in the Premiership. We were everyone's favourites to go down. But I think we have already surprised a few people this season. We will stick at it and we will keep going, make no mistake about that. Once you have played in the Premiership, you don't want to play anywhere else. Obviously, it's better for us financially to play in this league but as a professional, everyone will tell you that you want to see how you measure up to the best.
Q:WHAT WILL BE THE KEY TO SURVIVAL?
A:Our defensive record is pretty good. It's up there, considering our league position. And we have had the chances. I know it is a cliché but it really is a question of making them count because if you don't, other teams will do it to you first.
Q:DO YOU THINK THERE WILL BE ANY NEW ARRIVALS OR DEPARTURES IN JANUARY?
A:That's a question for the manager, not me! We have got some good players who are starting out. Ashley Young is the one who everyone is talking about and he's got a bright future in the game, no question, if he can continue improving. I think the manager is looking to do some work, but I'm not sure what.
Q:HAVE YOU RETAINED THE CONFIDENCE OF LAST SEASON?
A:When you are part of a successful team, your confidence grows in yourself and also those people around you. You need a certain level of confidence anyway to think that you can play professional football. But when you are part of a team that wins, week in, week out, the whole thing seems to snowball. Success breeds success.
Q:HOW LONG HAVE YOU GOT LEFT AT WATFORD?
A:I signed a contract last summer and I've got 18 months to go. At the moment, I'm happy and I'm going to do everything I can to stay in the Premiership. Myself and a few of the other boys didn't think we would get the chance to play at this level. When you get a taste of it, you want to keep it going because it really is the best place to play your football. That's why you won't see anyone at Watford giving up the ghost.
