A Falmouth man who rose to the top of the English football tree has been hailed a hero yet again with a return to one of his favourite grounds 25 years later.

Kevin Miller was twice voted fans' Player Of The Year in his three seasons – 1994-97 – with Watford, then in the First Division (now Championship). Kevin, whose early Cornish clubs included Falmouth Town and Newquay, also had Premier League experience with Crystal Palace, as well as an historic promotion season with Exeter City, during his 18-year professional career.

Now he has another Watford memory to cherish after being invited to return to the club's Vicarage Road ground as a special "club legend" guest for the Premier League match against Brentford. Together with a photo of him on the stadium's big screen, he was interviewed on the pitch at half-time, broadcast live over the PA system to the crowd of 20,747 – who cheered him to the rafters.

"It was real VIP treatment and both an honour and a tremendous thrill," he said. "All the excitement and atmosphere of performing centre stage before big crowds came flooding back. There's nothing quite like it and I count myself privileged to have earned my living from playing the game I love."

Kevin's clubs also included Birmingham City, Barnsley, Bristol Rovers, and Southampton. He rates Watford as his happiest time – along with Exeter's promotion from the old Fourth Division in 1989-90, during his first of two spells with the Devon club.

In his recently-published autobiography, he wrote:

"I hope my story can inspire youngsters . . . I hope it can prove to any football-mad kid, even out in the far west 'sticks,' as I was, that it IS possible to live your dream."

Living the Dream – The Kevin Miller Story – is currently on sale at the Falmouth shop of Cancer Research UK, price £4.95 wholly in aid of the charity, over the counter or by mail order, tel 01326 212905, email [email protected].