Watford F.C

Full name	Watford Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Hornets, The Golden Boys, Yellow Army, The Horns
Founded	1881
Ground	Vicarage Road Watford England (Capacity: 19,000 (expanding to 24,500))
Chairman	Jimmy Russo
Manager	Malky Mackay
League	The Championship
2008–09	The Championship, 13th
Home colours Away colours
Current season

Watford Football Club (often referred to simply as Watford or Watford F.C., and often nicknamed The Hornets) are an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. They play in the Championship. The club was founded in 1881, and played at several grounds before moving to a permanent location at Vicarage Road in 1922, where they remain to this day.^[1] Since 1997, they have shared the stadium with Saracens Rugby Club. Watford have a long-standing rivalry with Luton Town.

The club is best known for two spells under the management of former England manager Graham Taylor. The first lasted from 1977 to 1987, when the club rose to the old First Division from the Fourth Division. Once in the highest division of English football, Watford finished second in the league in 1983, reached the FA Cup final in 1984,^[2] and competed in the UEFA Cup in the 1984–85 season. The second period spanned from 1997 to 2001, when Taylor took the club from the renamed Second Division to the Premier League in successive seasons. Taylor is currently a non-executive director of the club, and honorary life president alongside Sir Elton John, owned the club during both of these eras and has continued a long association with the club.^[3] Watford compete in the Football League Championship, following relegation from the Premier League in 2006–07. Their current manager is former Watford and Scotland central defender Malky Mackay, who was appointed on 15 June 2009.^[4]

[edit] History

For more information, see History of Watford F.C.

Watford Football Club were formed in 1881 as Watford Rovers, who played their first home games at a pitch in Cassiobury Park, before moving to Vicarage Meadow and later Market Street in Watford. They first competed in the FA Cup in the 1886-87 season, and in 1889 they won the County Cup for the first time. In 1893, Watford Rovers became West Hertfordshire and joined the Southern Football League in 1896, becoming professional a year later. West Hertfordshire merged with Watford St Mary's in 1898 to become Watford Football Club. In the same year the club moved to a ground in Cassio Road. Pressure from the owner to move eventually forced the manager, Harry Kent, to look for a new permanent ground which he found in 1914 at Vicarage Road, which remains the club's home today. They did not however move in until 1922.^[5]

They remained in the Southern League until 1920, when they became founder members of the southern section of the Football League Third Division. From 1921-22, the third tier of the Football League consisted of two parallel sections of 22 clubs, fighting both for promotion to the Second Division and also battling to hold on to their hard-won league status. There was a re-election system in place which meant the bottom two teams in each of the two divisions had to apply for re-election in favour of the champions of the Northern League and Southern League. Watford finished 21st in 1926–27, but were unanimously re-elected to the league after a ballot of the 44 Third Division clubs.^[6] Watford's results improved in the years immediately preceding the Second World War; they finished in the top six for five consecutive seasons between 1934–35 and 1938–39, while the club also won the Football League Third Division South Cup in 1937.^[7][8] Following the resumption of league football after the war, Watford remained in the Third Division South. A 23rd placed finish in 1950–51 meant that Watford had to apply for re-election once more, but again they were unanimously re-elected with all 48 clubs voting to retain them in the league.^[9]

Watford v Coventry at Vicarage Road, on the last day of the Football League season, 14 May, 2000

The club remained in the Third Division South until its dissolution in 1958. When the league was restructured into four national divisions for 1958-59, Watford were placed in the new Fourth Division. Watford spent two seasons there before they gained promotion to the Third Division in 1960. Ron Burgess, the former Tottenham Hotspur player was manager during the late 1950s and early 1960s, and promotion was gained with help from Division 4 top scorer Cliff Holton, who scored a club record 42 league goals in the season.^[10] Holton was sold to Northampton the following year after another 34 goals, and this along with other departures caused enormous unrest among supporters. Burgess was succeeded by Bill McGarry, who bought new players such as Charlie Livesey, Ron Saunders and Jimmy McAnearney. Northern Irish goalkeeper Pat Jennings was signed from Newry Town in 1963, and he made his international debut despite playing in the Third Division at the time. His performances earned him a transfer to Tottenham after less than one season.^[11]

McGarry joined Ipswich in 1964, and was replaced by player-manager Ken Furphy from Workington Town. Furphy rebuilt the team around players such as Keith Eddy and Dennis Bond, but after holding Liverpool to a draw in the FA Cup and narrowly failing to win promotion in 1966–67, Bond was sold to Spurs. Furphy's re-building came to fruition in 1969 with the signing of Barry Endean, who kicked off an unbeaten run after Christmas to secure the league title in the April home match against Plymouth. A year later Watford reached the FA Cup semi-final for the first time, beating First Division teams Stoke City and Liverpool, building up hopes that they could soon be playing First Division football. But Watford struggled to compete in the higher division and Ken Furphy was poached by Blackburn Rovers, to be succeeded by the late George Kirby. Hampered by a lack of funds and forced to sell players to survive, they fell back into the Third Division in 1972.^[12] Watford failed to make an impact in the Third Division, and in 1975 were relegated to the Fourth Division. However, they were adopted by pop star Elton John in 1973 first as president and from 1976 as chairman. The singer declared an ambition to take Watford into the First Division.^[12]

When 32-year-old Graham Taylor was named as Watford's new manager at the start of the 1976-77 season, the club were an unremarkable Fourth Division side.^[13] In 1977 the greyhound track that encircled the pitch was removed as it was seen to lower the clubs professional reputation by the manager Graham Taylor.^[5] His first success followed in 1977-78; Watford won the Fourth Division title whilst also recording the most wins, fewest defeats, most goals scored and fewest goals conceded of any side in the division.^[14] Promotion to the Second Division came in 1978-79, with Ross Jenkins the league's top scorer with 29 goals. Watford consolidated with 18th and 9th placed finishes in the subsequent seasons, and secured promotion to the First Division for the first time in their history in 1981-82, finishing second behind rivals Luton.^{[15] [13]}

Rookery Stand, 2007

Watford started the 1982-83 season with wins over Everton and Southampton.^[16] In the space of seven years, the club had climbed from the bottom place of the lowest division in the Football League, to the top position in the highest division.^[17] Watford were unable to mount a successful title challenge, but eventually finished the season in second, which secured UEFA cup qualification for the following season. Luther Blissett finished the season as the First Division top scorer, before signing for Italian giants A.C. Milan for £1m at the end of the season.^[18] An FA Cup final appearance followed in 1984, although Watford lost to Everton.^[2] After guiding Watford to a ninth-place finish in 1986-87, Taylor was lured away to Aston Villa.^[13]

After Graham Taylor left, Dave Bassett was placed in charge. The Hornets suffered a terrible start to the 1987-88 season, and Dave Bassett was let go after a short stint of only eight months. Watford were relegated from the First Division at the end of that season. The next season, 1988-89, Watford failed to return to the First Division after they lost Second Division playoffs. They did however win the FA Youth Cup, beating Man City 2-1 after extra time,^[19] with future England international David James in goal for the Hornets. Over the next few seasons, Watford never seriously challenged for promotion. Their highest finish was a Craig Ramage-inspired seventh in Division One at the end of the 1994-95 season. However, in the following season Watford struggled, and were relegated to the Second Division following a 23rd-placed finish.

Graham Taylor returned to Watford as Director of Football in February 1996,^[13] with former player Kenny Jackett as head coach, but was unable to stop the club from sliding into Division Two. After a mid-table finish in Division Two at the end of 1996-97, Jackett was demoted to the position of assistant manager and Taylor returned his old role as manager. The transition proved a success and Watford secured the Division Two championship in 1997-98, beating Bristol City into second place after a season-long struggle. A second successive promotion followed in 1998-99, thanks to a playoff final victory over Bolton which secured the club's promotion to the Premiership. The Premiership season started brightly with an early surprising victory over Liverpool, but soon faded away, and Watford were relegated after finishing bottom. Graham Taylor retired at the end of the 2000-01 season (although just months later he returned to football management at Aston Villa),^[13] and was replaced in a surprise move by Gianluca Vialli,^[20] who had recently been sacked by Chelsea F.C.^[21] Vialli made several high-profile signings, and wage bills at the club soared, with Vialli himself earning almost a million pounds a year. However the club finished 14th in the division, and Vialli was sacked after refusing to resign.^[22] He was replaced by Ray Lewington, who had joined the club the previous summer as Vialli's reserve team manager.

Championship Play-off final 2006. (Leeds United vs. Watford) which gained Watford promotion to the Premier League.

The extent of Watford's financial difficulties was exposed in 2002-03, along with many League clubs, following the collapse of ITV Digital, exacerbated by payoffs made to players following the termination of their contracts, as well as to Vialli.^[23][24] The club was facing administration, but an agreement by players and staff agreed a 12% wage deferral and a run to the FA Cup semi-final in 2003 generated vital cash.^[25][26] The financial difficulties saw a large number of players released that summer, including record signing Allan Nielsen and strikers Tommy Smith and Gifton Noel-Williams. After consolidating in 2003-04, the following season started well, with the club in the upper half of the Championship at the end of September. But poor form saw the club drop steadily towards the relegation zone. A run to the semi-final of the League Cup eased the club's financial position, however the league form did not improve, and Lewington was sacked in March. 34-year-old Aidy Boothroyd joined the club in his first managerial role, with Keith Burkinshaw joining as his assistant. Boothroyd led the team to survival in 2005 and in his first full season Watford generally sustained 3rd position all year, with Marlon King being the division's top scorer. A draw at home against rivals Luton Town secured Watford a play-off spot. Watford beat Leeds 3-0 in the play-off final to gain promotion to the Premier League.

Watford had to wait until November to record their first Premier League win, against Middlesbrough. This was despite continuing good performances by Ashley Young, who was sold to Aston Villa in January for a club record fee rising to £9.65 million.^[10][27] Watford finished bottom after only winning five league games all season, but did reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup, where they lost to Manchester United.^[28] Boothroyd's contract was renewed until 2010,^[29] and he spent heavily on players including Jobi McAnuff and new club record signing Nathan Ellington.^[10][30]

Despite leading the Championship by several points early in the season, Watford endured a poor run of form and only reached the play-offs on the final day of the season, where they were defeated by Hull City in the semi finals. Boothroyd left the club by mutual consent in November 2008, with Watford 21st in the Championship table.^[31] Reserve team manager Malky Mackay took temporary charge of the club,^[32] with 35 year old Chelsea reserve team manager Brendan Rodgers confirmed as Watford's new manager on 24 November 2008.^[33]. Watford recorded their first win under Rodgers against Norwich City in December, and eventually secured safety with one game to go, finishing 13th. At the end of the season, Rodgers replaced Steve Coppell as manager of Reading.^[34] Former coach and caretaker manager Malky Mackay was appointed as his replacement.^[4]

[edit] Club identity

Watford F.C. logo 1974–78

Watford's kit and badge have changed considerably over the course of their history. In their early history, the club's kit featured various combinations of red, green and yellow stripes, before a new colour scheme of black and white was adopted for the 1909–10 season. These colours were retained until the 1920s, when the club introduced an all-blue shirt. Up until 1959 the team was known as "The Blues".^[5][12] After a change of colours to gold shirts & black shorts, the teams nickname was changed to The Hornets, after a popular vote via the supporters club. The next major change came in 1976, when the colour was changed from gold to yellow, and the first of several kits featuring yellow, black and red was introduced, a colour scheme which has continued to the present day.^[35]

The club's initial nickname was The Brewers, in reference to the Benskins Brewery, who owned the freehold of Vicarage Road.^[36] This nickname didn't prove particularly popular, and upon the adoption of a blue-and-white colour scheme in the 1920s, the club became predominantly known as The Blues. Watford changed its colour scheme in 1959, and supporters chose to adopt the new nickname The Hornets, along with a new club crest depicting a hornet. Other nicknames have since been adopted, including The Golden Boys and The Yellow Army, the latter being the name of a popular chant at Vicarage Road.

[edit] Stadia

The East stand has been standing since the ground was opened in 1922.

Watford Rovers and its successor West Hertfordshire played at several grounds in their early history, including Cassiobury Park, Vicarage Meadow, and the Rose and Crown pitch on Market Street, Watford. In 1898, the newly merged Watford F.C. moved to a site on Cassio Road. However, the landlady was keen for the club to find a new permanent home, and in 1922 the club moved to its current stadium at Vicarage Road. The site was owned by Benskins Brewery, and the club rented the ground until 2001, when it purchased the freehold outright. However, the club's financial situation worsened following the purchase, and in 2002 Watford sold the ground for £6m, in a deal which entitled Watford to buy the stadium back for £7m in future. Watford took up this option in 2004.^[37] From the start of the 1997–98 season, Watford have shared Vicarage Road with rugby union side Saracens F.C.

[edit] Rivalry

Graph of Watford's historical Football League placing, represented by the yellow line, in comparison with Luton Town's, represented by the orange line.
Horizontal black lines represent league divisions.

Watford fans maintain a rivalry with those of Luton Town. The two sides met regularly in the Southern Leagues and Football League from 1900 to 1937 when Luton gained promotion from Div 3 (S). Aside from a Southern Cup meeting the two sides did not meet again until 1964. Throughout the sixties and seventies the two sides met sporadically, and the rivalry gradually grew in significance, bringing with it trouble in the ground and outside of it. The two sides were promoted to the First Division in the 1981–82 season, with Luton taking the championship ahead of Watford. The two sides were also relegated together from the new Division 1 in 1995–96. Watford's promotion from Division 2 in 1997–98 meant that the two sides did not meet again in the League until the 2005–06 season, when Luton were promoted into the Championship. Clashes in the nineties had seen a decrease in violence, but a one-off League Cup tie in the 2002–03 season was marred by violence inside Vicarage Road.^[38] The clubs' first League meeting in eight years, on 2 January 2006, passed largely without incident. The all time head to head record between the clubs stands at Luton 53 wins, Watford 36 wins, with 29 draws.

[edit] Players

As of 15 September 2009.^[39]

[edit] Current squad

No. Position Player 1 GK Scott Loach 2 DF Adrian Mariappa 3 DF Jure Travner 4 MF Scott Severin 5 MF Henri Lansbury (on loan from Arsenal) 6 DF Jay DeMerit (captain) 7 MF Don Cowie 10 FW Danny Graham 11 FW Heiðar Helguson (on loan from Queens Park Rangers)[40] 12 DF Lloyd Doyley 13 GK Jonathan North 14 MF Ross Jenkins 15 DF Jon Harley 16 GK Richard Lee 17 DF Dale Bennett 18 FW Will Hoskins

No. Position Player 19 FW Liam Henderson 20 MF Tom Cleverley (on loan from Manchester United) 21 FW Lewis Young 22 DF Craig Cathcart (on loan from Manchester United) 23 DF Jordan Parkes 25 FW Nathan Ellington 27 DF Mat Sadler 28 MF John Eustace 29 MF Michael Bryan 30 DF Rob Kiernan 31 FW Marvin Sordell 32 MF Billy Gibson 33 DF Lee Hodson 34 DF Eddie Oshodi 35 GK Bo Antal 36 MF Kurtney Brooks 37 GK Jonathan Bond

[edit] Out on loan

No. Position Player 26 MF John-Joe O'Toole (on loan to Colchester United)

[edit] Coaching staff

• Manager: Malky Mackay
• Assistant Manager: Sean Dyche
• First Team Coach: David Kerslake
• Head of Conditioning/Coach: Martyn Pert
• Goalkeeping Coach: Alec Chamberlain
• Head of Academy: Mark Warburton
• Head of Medical: Richard Collinge

[edit] Managers

As of 16 October 2009. Statistics given are for league games only. Only managers in charge for 100 games or more are included.

Name	Nationality	From	To	P	W	D	L	F	A	Win %
John Goodall		May 1903	May 1910	246	90	63	93	347	358	36.59%
Harry Kent		May 1910	May 1926	484	187	121	176	661	663	38.64%
Fred Pagnam		May 1926	May 1929	126	45	28	53	204	239	35.71%
Neil McBain[nb 1]		May 1929	August 1937	336	137	71	128	591	516	40.77%
		August 1956	February 1959	122	42	33	47	187	203	34.43%
Bill Findlay		August 1937	February 1947	114	50	25	39	179	152	43.86%
Len Goulden		November 1952	October 1955	136	52	39	45	210	198	38.24%
		February 1956	July 1956	16	6	3	7	17	23	37.50%
Ron Burgess		February 1959	May 1963	200	80	45	75	347	326	40.00%
Ken Furphy		November 1964	July 1971	295	115	79	101	388	331	38.98%
Mike Keen		June 1973	April 1977	178	67	48	63	237	236	37.64%
Graham Taylor		June 1977	May 1987	428	191	105	132	692	544	44.63%
		February 1996	June 1996	18	5	8	5	31	30	27.78%
		June 1997	May 2001	176	71	45	60	243	241	40.34%
Steve Perryman		November 1990	July 1993	121	42	35	44	140	151	34.71%
Glenn Roeder		July 1993	February 1996	120	39	32	49	148	166	32.50%
Ray Lewington		June 2002	March 2005	131	42	37	52	155	189	32.06%
Aidy Boothroyd[41]		March 2005	November 2008	176	65	51	60	200	206	36.93%

[edit] League history

[edit] Honours

Watford's major honours are listed below. For a complete record of the club's achievements, see List of Watford F.C. seasons.

[edit] Records

For more information, see History of Watford F.C.#Records and statistics.

Striker Luther Blissett holds the record for Watford appearances, having played 503 matches in all competitions between 1976 and 1992, and his 415 Football League appearances during the same period is also a club record. Blissett also holds the corresponding goalscoring records, with 186 career Watford goals, 148 of which were in the league. The records for the most league goals in a season is held by [[Cliff Holton, having scored 42 goals in the 1959–60 season. The highest number of goals scored by a player in a single game at a professional level is the six registered by Harry Barton against Wycombe Wanderers in September 1903.

The team's biggest ever competitive win was an 11-0 defeat of Maidenhead F.C. in the Southern Football League in 1900, a match which shares the record for the highest scoring game involving Watford with the club's victories over Torquay United and Burnley F.C. in 1937 and 2003 respectively. The club's record home attendance is 35,099, for an FA Cup match against Manchester United on 3 February 1969, while their highest home league attendance is 27,968 against Q.P.R. in August of the same year. Watford's home capacity has since been reduced to 19,920, as a result of the Taylor report, and the closure of the Main stand at Vicarage Road due to health and safety concerns.

[edit] See also

• Watford L.F.C., the affiliated women's team.
• Harry the Hornet, club mascot

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Watford FC official homepage
• Watford on BBC Sport: Club News – Recent results – Upcoming fixtures – Club stats

• Soccerbase - a large amount of Watford data at Soccerbase
• Interviews with former Watford players
• Hornet History:History of Watford Football Club from 1940s
• History of Watford Kits
• AIM: WFC