It’s a story of home sweet home for Reggae Boy defender Adrian Mariappa as he looks to make a return to boyhood English club Watford FC.

The 29-year-old, a natural central defender who is quite capable at right-back, recently signed a move to the Premier League outfit after seeing out his contract at English rivals Crystal Palace last season.

“Moving clubs is always a period of excitement, and you kind of don’t know what to expect, but I’m going back to my old club. It’s my home, and I still live there in Watford, so as far as settling in, that won’t be a problem,” he told the Jamaica Observer on Thursday.

“I used to go there and watch games with my dad, so it’s literally like going home. I came through the youth system there from the age of eight, so I spent a long time there… until I was 25, so it’s a club I’m familiar with, although it’s changed a lot over the time I’ve been away.”

Mariappa, who is with the Jamaica squad for the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying matches away to Panama last night and at home to Haiti on Tuesday, is eager to link with his new club teammates at the end of the international break.

“I will have new teammates, and I’ll want to gel with them, and that’s something that will happen in time, but as to the club I know it,” said Mariappa, who spent the 2012-13 season at Reading FC before a spell at Crystal Palace between 2013 and 2016.

Hull City and other teams were interested when he allowed his contract to run out after getting limited playing time with the London-based club in the 2015-16 campaign.

But Watford’s place in England’s top-tier football competition and the yearning to return to his roots was too compelling.

“For me it was a no-brainer; I had offers from elsewhere, but as soon as Watford showed the interest that was the club I wanted to go to. I’ve been through a lot of stuff at that club; promotions, relegations, survival, and things like that. I’ve experienced everything there, and it’s a club that has taught me everything I currently know, so going back there is great for me and my family is delighted as well,” he stressed.

“Everyone wants to play in the Premier League and you want to play at the highest level that you can in your career,” Mariappa added.

Watford, who were promoted to the premiership for the 2015-16 season, finished 13th in the league.

— Sanjay Myers