List of Watford F.C. seasons

In the background and to the left are two large stands, each of which seem capable of holding thousands of people. In the foreground is a well maintained grass pitch. Yellow balloons can be seen in the sky.
The Rookery and Main stands at Vicarage Road, at the end of the 1999–2000 season

Watford Football Club is an English football club from Watford, Hertfordshire. Formed on 15 April 1898 as a result of the amalgamation of two strong local clubs, Watford St. Mary's and West Herts. West Herts began life as Watford Rovers in 1881, the club entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886. In the same year, they also entered the county-wide Herts Senior Cup, reaching the final six times over the next ten years. Watford Rovers became West Herts in 1891, and joined the Southern League for the 1896–97 season. The team started to change from one composed entirely of amateurs to one including paid professionals. In 1898, West Herts amalgamated with Watford St Mary's to form a new club, Watford Football Club.[1]

The club participated in the Southern League from 1896 until 1920, experiencing considerable success. They won six league titles in this period, including the Southern League First Division in 1914–15.[2] After the resumption of Southern League football following a four-year hiatus due to the First World War, Watford missed out on a second consecutive title in 1919–20 on goal average. They joined the Football League Third Division in the 1920–21 season, and following its subsequent reorganisation became founder members of the Third Division South in 1921.[3]

Watford competed in the Third Division South for the next 37 years, with little success. Fred Pagnam finished as the Division's top scorer in 1922–23,[4] the club reached the final of the Third Division South Cup in 1935 and 1937 (winning on the latter occasion),[5] and Len Dunderdale scored 21 goals for Watford in 1938–39 despite leaving midway through the season.[6] The team started to progress after the reorganisation of the Football League into four national divisions in 1958. They won promotion to the Third Division in 1960, the Second Division in 1969, and reached the FA Cup semi-final in 1970. However, the league progress was reversed with two relegations over the next five years, and in 1976–77 Watford were briefly bottom of the entire Football League.[1]

Watford Performances from 1920 until 2023

A turning point in the club's history came in the late 1970s. Singer, shareholder and lifelong Watford supporter Elton John became chairman in 1976, and appointed Graham Taylor as manager in 1977. The club achieved consecutive promotions between 1977 and 1979, and reached the First Division for the first time in their history in 1982.[7] Furthermore, in 1982–83 Watford finished second in the First Division, and Luther Blissett was the division's top scorer with 27 goals. Consequently, Watford qualified for the UEFA Cup in 1983–84. They also reached their first FA Cup final, losing 2–0 to Everton at Wembley Stadium.[8] Following Taylor's departure in 1987, Watford were relegated in 1988.[9]

Watford remained in English football's second tier for eight seasons, until they were relegated in 1995–96.[1] Taylor returned as manager in 1997, and for the second time in his career led Watford to consecutive promotions, although he was unable to prevent relegation from the Premier League in 1999–2000.[10] In the 21st century Watford have reached three FA Cup semi-finals, one League Cup semi-final, and spent three further season in the Premier League after winning the 2006 Football League Championship play-off final under the management of Aidy Boothroyd and following automatic promotion under Slaviša Jokanović in 2015.[11][12]

  1. ^ a b c Jones, Watford Football Club Illustrated Who's Who p. 9
  2. ^ Jones, Watford Season by Season pp. 60–61
  3. ^ Phillips pp. 52–53
  4. ^ Jones, Watford Season by Season p. 69
  5. ^ Jones, Watford Season by Season pp. 92–98
  6. ^ Jones, Watford Season by Season p. 101
  7. ^ Phillips pp. 196–223
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference fac was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Jones, Watford Football Club Illustrated Who's Who pp. 275–276
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference profile was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference Lewington was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference Boothroyd was invoked but never defined (see the help page).