American 'keeper joins Hornets

by MattWells

Watford have signed 22 year old American goalkeeper Ian Joyce on a non-professional contract following a successful trial last week which included a reserve team appearance against Southampton. '

Joyce, from Morristown, New York, played for Grays Athletic in the English Conference last season links up with fellow American Jay DeMerit at Vicarage Road and will be hoping to emulate his success with the Hornets. With first-choice 'keeper Mart Poom still out with a back injury Joyce finds himself fighting highly-rated youngster Scott Loach for a place on the bench at Coventry tonight with Richard Lee set to start.

Pittsburgh GunnyMajor Leaguer

750 days ago

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Thanks for the update Matt, I had to do a little research and discovered he played his college ball at Seton Hall. I hope he performs well at Watford.

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MetsJetsDevilsDraft Pick

750 days ago

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You sure he is from Morristown NY, and not from Morristown New Jersey?

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MattWellsJV Squad

750 days ago

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I'll openly admit my American geography is more than ropey - that was just the information from Watford's official site about where he's from - sorry!

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MetsJetsDevilsDraft Pick

750 days ago

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I bet it is that typical thing where overseas they put anything close to NY and being NY. Since Morristown is in New jersey and he went to Seton hall which is also in New Jersey, my guess, and it is only a guess, is that he is from NJ.

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MattWellsJV Squad

750 days ago

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Happens to us all the time too, I hate having to tell people I'm from "London" because they've never heard of Watford!

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Alex HolowczakHall of Famer

750 days ago

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Wow. I don't know of too many amateur players that play in the Football League... The whole point is that everyone that plays in it is professional? (Or at least, it originally was.)

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MattWellsJV Squad

750 days ago

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Yeah, all very strange, I guess Aidy's just not 100% on him yet but doesn't want him getting nicked by anyone else...either that or the guy's earning a shedload as an IT contractor somewhere local :)

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Dcsundevil2002Div-I Stud

749 days ago

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Good to hear that another one of our guys is getting time overseas.

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MattWellsJV Squad

748 days ago

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Just an update on this by the way - we went with Loach on the bench on Tuesday, so Joyce isn't quite there yet it seems. Poom's injury sounds pretty bad and I'm wondering if that's why we've brought Joyce in.

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