2010–11 Watford F.C. season

Watford sold several key players at the start of 2009–10, including 2008–09 Watford F.C. Player of the Season Tommy Smith, highest earner Jobi McAnuff and Hungary international striker Tamás Priskin. The team did well in their opening game, and were briefly in contention for a playoff position early in the season, but a series of postponements, poor away form and a run of one win in twelve games took Watford to within a point of relegation by April. A 3–0 home win in the penultimate game against Reading secured survival, and a 4–0 win at Coventry City on the last day of the season elevated Watford to a final position of 16th, as well as ending the team's six-month wait for an away win.

As part of financial restructuring at the club, a number of players on higher wages whose contracts expired in June 2010 were allowed to leave the club on free transfers. These included captain and USA international Jay DeMerit, former Chelsea player Jon Harley and ex-Rotherham United striker Will Hoskins.^[2] Young goalkeeper Jonathan North and winger Billy Gibson were both also released. Manager Malky Mackay did, however, decide to retain the services of Liam Henderson and Dale Bennett after the duo triggered one-year extension options in their contracts.^[3]

Watford began pre-season training on 1 July 2010, the same day that Tom Aldred and Rene Gilmartin officially became Watford players. The team's first friendly match was a 5–0 away win at local side Boreham Wood, in which Will Buckley scored a hat-trick. The club played several further away fixtures against local, lower division sides in July. Their only defeat in these fixtures was a 1–0 loss to Barnet at Underhill Stadium. Their final friendly game—the only pre-season match at Vicarage Road—was a 1–0 win against League One team Charlton Athletic, with Danny Graham scoring the only goal of the game.^[4] Graham was Watford's top scorer in pre-season fixtures, with four goals. Buckley and Stephen McGinn scored three goals each, Marvin Sordell scored two, and John Eustace scored one.^[5] Striker Troy Deeney joined Watford in the week after the Charlton match.

Legend

  Win  Draw  Loss  Postponed (P–P)

Borehamwood v Watford

10 July 2010	Borehamwood	0–5	Watford	Meadow Park, Borehamwood
		[6]	10', 13', 41' Buckley 15' Graham 17' McGinn

St Albans City v Watford

17 July 2010	St Albans City	0–2	Watford	Clarence Park, St Albans
		[7]	34' Eustace 58' McGinn	Attendance: 925

Barnet v Watford

21 July 2010	Barnet	1–0	Watford	Underhill Stadium, Barnet
	Holmes 77'	[8]		Attendance: 898

Northampton Town v Watford

24 July 2010	Northampton Town	3–3	Watford	Sixfields Stadium
	Jacobs 12', 19' Purcell 40'	[9]	26', 77' Graham 81' Sordell	Attendance: 1,722

Stevenage v Watford

27 July 2010	Stevenage	0–2	Watford	Broadhall Way, Stevenage
		[10]	57' McGinn 73' Sordell

Watford v Charlton Athletic

31 July 2010	Watford	1–0	Charlton Athletic	Vicarage Road, Watford
	Graham 8'	[4]		Attendance: 2,097

A total of 24 teams competed in the Football League Championship in the 2010–11 season. Each team played 46 matches; two against every other team, with one match played at each club's stadium. Three points were awarded for each win, one for a draw, and none for defeats. The provisional fixture list was released on 17 June 2010, but was subject to change in the event of clashes with other competitions, inclement weather, extraordinary circumstances, or matches being selected for television coverage. For instance, Watford's opening match of the season at Norwich City was moved from 7 to 6 August, thus becoming the first game of the 2010–11 Football League.^[11]

In the televised opening game of the season, away to Norwich City, Watford captain John Eustace scored the first goal of the 2010–11 Football League, after 14 minutes of play.^[12] Striker Danny Graham doubled Watford's lead before half time. Norwich pulled a goal back shortly after the interval, before Graham restored Watford's two-goal cushion in the 82nd minute. Norwich defender Michael Nelson halved Watford's lead in injury time, but the Hornets held on to win 3–2.^[13] The team's next league fixture was a home match against Coventry City, managed by former Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd. For the second match in succession, Watford took the lead, with winger Will Buckley opening the scoring just before half time. Former Coventry player Eustace scored Watford's second; an overhead volley that was later voted Goal of the Season by Watford fans.^[14] Watford led going into the last five minutes of the game, but Coventry secured a draw with late goals from David Bell and Lukas Jutkiewicz.

The Hornets extended their unbeaten start to the season a week later. Their 0–0 draw at Hull City marked Watford's first clean sheet of 2010–11, but also the first time that the team had failed to score.^[15][16] Their unbeaten run ended in their final game of the month, at home to newly promoted Leeds United. Leeds captain Richard Naylor scored the only goal of the game in the 6th minute, while Troy Deeney made his first start for Watford in the absence of Graham.^[17]

After a two-week break for international matches, Watford hosted Doncaster Rovers on 11 September. Watford trailed 1–0 at half time, before taking a 2–1 lead with a brace from Marvin Sordell. Although behind after 90 minutes, Doncaster salvaged a draw with an injury time equaliser from George Friend.^[18] Sordell scored an early goal three days later at Bristol City. Graham doubled Watford's advantage shortly after half time, to give his team a second league win of the season.^[19]

The team's next opponents were Millwall, a side managed by ex-Watford player and manager Kenny Jackett.^{[citation needed]}The Hornets thrashed their opponents 6–1. Central defenders Adrian Mariappa and Martin Taylor and loanee Jordon Mutch scored their first goals of the season, while Graham, Sordell and Eustace also scored for Watford.^[20] This result took Watford into the playoff places, and was later voted by supporters as the Team Performance of the Season.^{[16][citation needed]}

Watford's wait for a first home league win of the campaign ended on 25 September, against Middlesbrough. Graham scored the opening goal after 17 seconds, and Watford were 3–0 up after 20 minutes. Middlesbrough scored a late consolation through an own goal from Mariappa, to make the final score 3–1.^[21] In the last game of the month, Watford hosted Swansea City, managed by Malky Mackay's predecessor, Brendan Rodgers. In contrast to the previous game, Watford trailed 2–0 at half time, and 3–0 after 70 minutes. Goals from substitute Troy Deeney and Martin Taylor reduced Watford's deficit to one goal, but Rodgers' side held on to win 3–2.^[22] Despite the defeat, Watford finished the month in a playoff position.^[16]

Watford started October with a 1–0 away win at Sheffield United, with Sordell scoring the game's only goal. After a two-week gap in the fixture list for international matches, the Hornets travelled to Portsmouth. Watford trailed 1–0 at half time, to a goal from Hayden Mullins. They equalised through Martin Taylor after 67 minutes, and Stephen McGinn's first league goal of the season three minutes later gave Watford the lead. However, Portsmouth equalised shortly afterwards, and Michael Brown scored Portsmouth's winner in the 80th minute. McGinn doubled his league tally three days later, opening the scoring at home to Ipswich Town, before Sordell doubled Watford's advantage. Ipswich improved in the second half, following the introduction of substitute Connor Wickham. After conceding in the 69th minute, Watford held on for a 2–1 win.

The team's next opponents were Scunthorpe United, who along with Watford had been tipped for relegation in 2010–11. Scunthorpe started strongly. They took the lead on 28 minutes, doubling their advantage shortly before half time. Watford improved after the break, but were unable to prevent a 2–0 defeat. Watford's final match of October was a trip to Pride Park, to face Derby County. In front of 27,119 spectators, the home side took a two-goal lead in the first half. Matthew Whichelow's first senior goal reduced Watford's deficit, but goals from Tomasz Cywka and Shefki Kuqi consigned Watford to a 4–1 defeat, which took them out of the playoff places.

After defeat at Derby County, Watford hosted Derby's rivals, Nottingham Forest. Mutch scored the opening goal with a header after three minutes, before Lewis McGugan equalised midway through the first half. Both teams created goal scoring opportunities in the second half, but the match finished 1–1.

Watford's next two games were away from home, to Crystal Palace and Burnley. The two matches followed a very similar pattern. In each match, the home side scored the opening goal in the first half. Watford were able to take 2–1 leads shortly into the second halves, but on each occasion the home side came back to win 3–2. Mackay expressed frustration at his side's inability to score goals against Palace, after creating nine chances in the first half. He was critical of the referee's decision to award Burnley a penalty, but made clear that there is "no room for hard luck stories" in football.

Norwich City v Watford

6 August 2010	Norwich City	2–3	Watford	Carrow Road, Norwich
	Crofts 52' Nelson 90+1'	[13]	24', 81' Graham 14' Eustace	Attendance: 24,348 Referee: Nigel Miller

Watford v Coventry City

14 August 2010	Watford	2–2	Coventry City	Vicarage Road, Watford
	Buckley 45 + 3' Eustace 58'	[24]	88' Bell 90 + 1' Jutkiewicz (pen.)	Attendance: 12,813 Referee: Trevor Kettle[n 1]

Watford v Leeds United

28 August 2010	Watford	0–1	Leeds United	Vicarage Road, Watford
		[25]	6' Naylor	Attendance: 14,039 Referee: James Linington

Watford v Doncaster Rovers

11 September 2010	Watford	2–2	Doncaster Rovers	Vicarage Road, Watford
	Sordell 63', 70'	[18]	6' Gillett 90+3' Friend	Attendance: 15,101 Referee: Darren Sheldrake

Bristol City v Watford

14 September 2010	Bristol City	0–2	Watford	Ashton Gate, Bristol
		[19]	3' Sordell 47' Graham	Attendance: 13,998 Referee: Phil Gibbs

Millwall v Watford

18 September 2010	Millwall	1–6	Watford	The Den, London
	Trotter 56'	[20]	7' Eustace 13' Mutch 45+2' Sordell 54' Mariappa 77' Graham 90+1' M Taylor	Attendance: 12,562 Referee: Rob Shoebridge

Watford v Middlesbrough

25 September 2010	Watford	3–1	Middlesbrough	Vicarage Road, Watford
	Graham 1', 20' Mutch 11'	[21]	77' (o.g.) Mariappa	Attendance: 12,185 Referee: Fred Graham

Watford v Swansea City

28 September 2010	Watford	2–3	Swansea City	Vicarage Road, Watford
	Deeney 76' M Taylor 85'	[22]	11' Sinclair 30' Dobbie 69' Nouble	Attendance: 11,485 Referee: Iain Williamson

Sheffield United v Watford

2 October 2010	Sheffield United	0–1	Watford	Bramall Lane, Sheffield
		[26]	16' Sordell	Attendance: 22,433 Referee: Colin Webster

Portsmouth v Watford

16 October 2010	Portsmouth	3–2	Watford	Fratton Park, Portsmouth
	Mullins 17' Kitson 72' Brown 80'	[27]	67' M Taylor 70' McGinn	Attendance: 16,606 Referee: Danny McDermid

Watford v Ipswich Town

19 October 2010	Watford	2–1	Ipswich Town	Vicarage Road, Watford
	McGinn 41' Sordell 43'	[28]	69' Norris	Attendance: 11,836 Referee: Graham Scott

Watford v Scunthorpe United

23 October 2010	Watford	0–2	Scunthorpe United	Vicarage Road, Watford
		[29]	28' Byrne 45+1' Woolford	Attendance: 12,366 Referee: Roger East

Derby County v Watford

30 October 2010	Derby County	4–1	Watford	Pride Park Stadium, Derby
	Brayford 14' Cywka 36', 81' Kuqi 65'	[30]	55' Whichelow	Attendance: 27,119 Referee: Paul Tierney

Watford v Nottingham Forest

6 November 2010	Watford	1–1	Nottingham Forest	Vicarage Road, Watford
	Mutch 3'	[31]	20' McGugan	Attendance: 13,708 Referee: Jon Moss

Crystal Palace v Watford

9 November 2010	Crystal Palace	3–2	Watford	Selhurst Park, London
	Ambrose 18' Garvan 56', 59'	[32]	48' Graham 52' Mutch	Attendance: 12,353 Referee: Andy Penn

Burnley v Watford

13 November 2010	Burnley	3–2	Watford	Turf Moor, Burnley
	Iwelumo Wallace Alexander 89' (pen)	[33]	30' Cowie 57' M Taylor	Attendance: 14,160 Referee: Chris Sarginson

Watford v Reading

20 November 2010	Watford	1–1	Reading	Vicarage Road, Watford
	Deeney 40'	[34]	15' Hunt	Attendance: 12,196 Referee: Simon Hooper

Watford v Leicester City

4 December 2010	Watford	3–2	Leicester City	Vicarage Road, Watford
	Eustace 15' Buckley 22' Graham 85'	[36]	50' (pen), 69' Gallagher	Attendance: 14,449 Referee: Kevin Wright

QPR v Watford

10 December 2010	QPR	1–3	Watford	Loftus Road, London
	Smith 89'	[37]	26', 48' Graham 30' Mutch	Attendance: 14,079 Referee: Darren Deadman

Watford v Cardiff City

28 December 2010	Watford	4–1	Cardiff City	Vicarage Road, Watford
	Graham 24' (pen), 84' Sordell 57' Eustace 64'	[40]	16' Whittingham	Attendance: 14,560 Referee: Mark Haywood

Watford v Portsmouth

1 January 2011	Watford	3–0	Portsmouth	Vicarage Road, Watford
	A Taylor 42' Sordell 52' Graham 69'	[41]	90' Halford	Attendance: 12,577 Referee: Andy D'Urso

Scunthorpe United v Watford

3 January 2011	Scunthorpe United	1–2	Watford	Glanford Park, Scunthorpe
	Woolford 60'	[42]	64' Graham 85' Whichelow	Attendance: 4,498 Referee: Andy Haines

Watford v Derby

15 January 2011	Watford	3–0	Derby	Vicarage Road, Watford
	Buckley 36' Graham 43' Sordell 45 + 2'	[43]		Attendance: 12,917 Referee: Gavin Ward

Cardiff City v Watford

22 January 2011	Cardiff City	4–2	Watford	Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff
	Bellamy 14' Chopra 17' Bothroyd 32' Gyepes 83'	[44]	33' Buckley 48' Sordell	Attendance: 23,702 Referee: Steve Tanner

Watford v Crystal Palace

1 February 2011	Watford	1–1	Crystal Palace	Vicarage Road, Watford
	Weimann 10'	[45]	40' Vaughan	Attendance: 12,664 Referee: Keith Stroud

Nottingham Forest v Watford

5 February 2011	Nottingham Forest	1–0	Watford	City Ground, Nottingham
	Tudgay 1'	[46]		Attendance: 23,393 Referee: Graham Scott

Watford v Burnley

12 February 2011	Watford	1–3	Burnley	Vicarage Road, Watford
	Graham 13'	[47]	8' (o.g.) Bennett 66' Eagles 75' Iwelumo	Attendance: 13,103 Referee: Anthony Bates

Watford v Preston North End

15 February 2011	Watford	2–2	Preston North End	Vicarage Road, Watford
	Whichelow 69' Thompson 79'	[48]	1' St Ledger 37' Clarke	Attendance: 10,620 Referee: Kevin Friend

Reading v Watford

19 February 2011	Reading	1–1	Watford	Madejski Stadium, Reading
	Hunt 50'	[49]	27' Weimann	Attendance: 16,934 Referee: Peter Walton

Watford v Bristol City

22 February 2011	Watford	1–3	Bristol City	Vicarage Road, Watford
	Cowie 19'	[50]	32' Maynard 69' Elliott 90+3' Pitman	Attendance: 12,125 Referee: Craig Pawson

Doncaster v Watford

26 February 2011	Doncaster	1–1	Watford	Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster
	Euell 45+1'	[51]	22' Graham  82' Eustace	Attendance: 8,954 Referee: Nigel Miller

Watford v Millwall

5 March 2011	Watford	1–0	Millwall	Vicarage Road, Watford
	Graham 51'	[52]		Attendance: 13,539 Referee: Graham Salisbury

Swansea v Watford

8 March 2011	Swansea	1–1	Watford	Liberty Stadium, Swansea
	Dobbie 26'	[53]	78' Graham	Attendance: 14,410 Referee: Lee Mason

Watford v Sheffield United

12 March 2011	Watford	3–0	Sheffield United	Vicarage Road, Watford
	Graham 10' Taylor 57' Jenkins 86'	[54]	28' Henderson  34' Williamson	Attendance: 12,441 Referee: Dean Whitestone

Ipswich v Watford

15 March 2011	Ipswich	0–3	Watford	Portman Road, Ipswich
		[55]	3', 61' Graham 90+1' Cowie	Attendance: 17,789 Referee: Grant Hegley

Middlesbrough v Watford

19 March 2011	Middlesbrough	2–1	Watford	The Riverside, Middlesbrough
	McDonald 33' Taylor 45'	[56]	28' Graham  88' Mariappa	Attendance: 16,090 Referee: Gary Sutton

Coventry City v Watford

2 April 2011	Coventry City	2–0	Watford	Ricoh Arena, Coventry
	McSheffrey 27' Jutkiewicz 66'	[57]		Attendance: 16,519 Referee: Carl Boyeson

Watford v Hull City

9 April 2011	Watford	1–2	Hull City	Vicarage Road, Watford
	Taylor 90+2'	[58]	3' C Evans 90' Koren	Attendance: 13,355 Referee: Dave Phillips

Watford v Norwich City

12 April 2011	Watford	2–2	Norwich City	Vicarage Road, Watford
	Graham 26' Cowie 36'	[59]	2' Vokes 69' Jackson	Attendance: 13,777 Referee: Anthony Taylor

Leeds United v Watford

16 April 2011	Leeds United	2–2	Watford	Elland Road, Leeds
	Becchio 72' Deeney (o.g.) 88'	[60]	78' Hodson 86' Weimann	Attendance: 30,240 Referee: Andy Woolmer

Watford v Barnsley

23 April 2011	Watford	1–0	Barnsley	Vicarage Road, Watford
	Eustace 2'	[61]		Attendance: 14,098 Referee: Danny McDermid

Leicester City v Watford

25 April 2011	Leicester City	4–2	Watford	Walkers Stadium, Leicester
	Bruma 39', 73' Yakubu 62', 75'	[62]	28', 41' Sordell	Attendance: 21,473 Referee: Bates

Watford v QPR

30 April 2011	Watford	0–2	QPR	Vicarage Road, Watford
		[63]	Taarabt 77' Smith 90+3'	Attendance: 15,538 Referee: Swarbick

Preston North End v Watford

7 May 2011	Preston North End	3–1	Watford	Deepdale, Preston
	Nicholson 28' Hume 56' Proctor 88'	[64]	13' Weimann	Attendance: 10,953 Referee: Bates

Key

Correct as of 7 May 2011^[update].^{[n 2]}

The FA Cup is an annual knockout competition. It began in August with two preliminary rounds, followed by four qualifying rounds. The successful qualifiers progressed to the First Round, when teams from League One and League Two entered the competition. Watford, along with other Premier League and Championship clubs, entered at the Third Round stage. They were joined by the 20 winners from the Second Round for a total of 64 clubs in the Third Round draw.

The Third Round draw took place on 28 November 2010. It saw Watford drawn at home to the winners of the Second Round tie between League One teams Hartlepool United and Yeovil Town; Hartlepool eventually progressed.^[66][67] Watford designated the game as the club's "Marie Curie Match", in support of Marie Curie Cancer Care. In an English league football first,^[68] the club pledged to donate its share of the ticket sale profits to the charity, and launched a separate online fundraiser for fans who wanted to support the charity but couldn't attend the fixture, as well as those who wished to make an additional donation.^[69]

Watford v Hartlepool United

8 January 2011	Watford	4–1	Hartlepool United	Vicarage Road, Watford
	Mingoia 66' Sordell 68', 82' Graham 90'	[70]	45 + 1' Sweeney	Attendance: 8,950 Referee: Russell Booth

Watford v Brighton & Hove Albion

29 January 2011	Watford	0–1	Brighton & Hove Albion	Vicarage Road, Watford
		[71]	Barnes 16'	Attendance: 14,519 Referee: Eddie Ilderton

The draw for the first round of the Football League Cup took place on 16 June 2010, and saw Watford drawn away to League Two side Aldershot Town.^[72] Coincidentally, the two sides were due to play one another at Aldershot's stadium in a pre-season match at the end of July; that fixture was cancelled by mutual agreement following the draw.^[73] The ten outfield players that started Watford's opening match against Norwich kept their places in the starting line-up, while Rene Gilmartin kept a clean sheet on his competitive Watford debut. A brace from Danny Graham and a first goal of the season from Marvin Sordell gave Watford a 3–0 victory.^[13][74]

In the second round, the Hornets faced League One outfit Notts County at Vicarage Road. Watford made five changes from the team that started in the 0–0 draw against Hull City; Hodson, Taylor, Eustace, Graham and Loach were rested.^[15][75] Among the replacements were Troy Deeney, who made his first start for Watford, and academy scholar Adam Thompson, who was playing his first ever game of senior football.^[76] After a goalless first half, Notts County took a 2–0 lead. Deeney scored to reduce their lead to 2–1, but Watford were unable to score an equaliser. Ex-Watford player Jon Harley came on as a late substitute for Notts County, and was applauded by fans of his former club.^[75][77]

Aldershot Town v Watford

10 August 2010	Aldershot Town	0–3	Watford	Recreation Ground, Aldershot
		[74]	14', 48' Graham 45' Sordell	Attendance: 3,292 Referee: Andy Woolmer

Watford v Notts County

24 August 2010	Watford	1–2	Notts County	Vicarage Road, Watford
	Deeney 78'	[75]	46' Davies 45' Smith	Attendance: 6,434 Referee: Phil Crossley

Club career lengths correct as of 14 July 2012^[update]. Only players that were named in at least one matchday squad are listed.^[78]

2010–11 Watford player details

No.	Pos	Name	P	G	P	G	P	G	P	G			Age	Club career	Yth	Notes
			Championship		FA Cup		League Cup		Total		Discipline
1	GK	Scott Loach	46	0	0	0	0	0	46	0	3	0	22 years, 345 days	2006–	No	—
2	DF	Lee Hodson	29	1	1	0	1	0	31	1	1	0	19 years, 217 days	2009–	Yes	—
3	DF	Tommie Hoban	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	17 years, 103 days	2011–	Yes	—
3	DF	Andrew Taylor	19	1	0	0	0	0	19	1	4	0	24 years, 279 days	2010–2011	No	[n 3]
4	MF	John Eustace	41	6	0	0	1	0	42	6	11	1	31 years, 185 days	2008–	No	—
5	DF	Martin Taylor	46	6	2	0	1	0	49	6	1	0	31 years, 179 days	2010–	No	—
6	DF	Adrian Mariappa	45	1	2	0	2	0	49	1	2	1	24 years, 216 days	2005–	Yes	—
7	MF	Don Cowie	37	4	0	0	2	0	39	4	3	0	28 years, 81 days	2009–2011	No	—
8	MF	Josh Walker	5	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	0	0	22 years, 75 days	2010–2012	No	[n 4]
9	FW	Troy Deeney	36	2	2	0	2	1	40	3	2	0	22 years, 312 days	2010–	No	—
10	FW	Danny Graham	45	24	2	1	2	2	49	27	4	0	25 years, 268 days	2009–2011	No	—
11	MF	Will Buckley	33	4	2	0	2	0	37	4	3	0	21 years, 167 days	2010–2011	No	—
12	DF	Lloyd Doyley	36	0	2	0	2	0	40	0	2	0	28 years, 157 days	2001–	Yes	—
13	GK	Rene Gilmartin	0	0	2	0	2	0	4	0	0	0	23 years, 341 days	2010–2012	No	—
14	MF	Ross Jenkins	19	1	1	0	2	0	22	1	2	0	20 years, 179 days	2008–	Yes	—
15	MF	Stephen McGinn	29	2	2	0	2	0	33	2	0	0	22 years, 156 days	2010–	No	—
16	MF	Michael Bryan	5	0	0	0	2	0	7	0	0	0	21 years, 75 days	2009–2012	Yes	—
17	DF	Dale Bennett	10	0	1	0	1	0	12	0	1	0	21 years, 121 days	2008–	Yes	—
18	MF	Jordan Mutch	23	5	0	0	0	0	23	5	3	0	19 years, 156 days	2010–2011	No	[n 5]
19	FW	Liam Henderson	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	21 years, 130 days	2007–2011	Yes	—
20	FW	Marvin Sordell	42	12	2	2	2	1	46	15	3	0	20 years, 79 days	2009–2012	Yes	—
21	MF	Rob Kiernan	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	20 years, 114 days	2009–2011	Yes	—
22	FW	Andreas Weimann	18	4	1	0	0	0	19	4	2	0	19 years, 275 days	2011	No	[n 6]
23	MF	Piero Mingoia	5	0	2	1	0	0	7	1	0	0	19 years, 199 days	2010–	Yes	—
24	FW	Matthew Whichelow	19	3	2	0	0	0	21	3	0	0	19 years, 221 days	2010–	Yes	—
25	DF	Eddie Oshodi	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	19 years, 113 days	2009–2011	Yes	—
26	MF	Sean Murray	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	17 years, 208 days	2010–	Yes	—
27	FW	Gavin Massey	3	0	1	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	18 years, 215 days	2010–	Yes	—
28	DF	Tom Aldred	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	20 years, 238 days	2010–2011	No	—
29	DF	Adam Thompson	10	1	0	0	1	0	11	1	3	0	18 years, 221 days	2010–	Yes	—
30	GK	Jonathan Bond	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	17 years, 353 days	2010–	Yes	—
31	MF	Andros Townsend	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	19 years, 295 days	2011	No	[n 7]
31	MF	Chez Isaac	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	18 years, 172 days	2011–2012	Yes	—
32	MF	Danny Drinkwater	12	0	0	0	0	0	12	0	1	0	21 years, 63 days	2011	No	—
33	MF	Connor Smith	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	18 years, 78 days	2011–	Yes	—
34	MF	Britt Assombalonga	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	18 years, 152 days	2011–	Yes	—

Unless a country is specified, all clubs play in the English football league system.

Watford's reserve side compete in the Totesport.com Combination East Division, which they won in 2009–10. They play their home games at Meadow Park, home of Conference South side Borehamwood. They also played in the Herts Senior Cup, where they went out to Stevenage.^[119]

Watford's academy consists of 22 scholars:

• In the second year, goalkeepers Jonathan Bond and Jamie Irving, defenders Oliver Archer, Adam Fenwick, Faisal Hemati and Adam Thompson, midfielders Greg Deer, Chez Isaac and Britt Assombalonga and strikers Gavin Massey and Jake Rosier.
• In the first year, goalkeeper Jack Bonham, defenders Chimdi Akubuine, Matt Bevans, Tommie Hoban, Brandon Horner and Aaron Tumwa, midfielders Stephan Hamilton Forbes and Sean Murray, and strikers Dereece Gardner, Michael Kalu and Connor Smith.

Schoolboys Mohamed Bettamer, Kamaron English and Bernard Mensah also played for the academy side, along with trialist Peter Grant.^[120] Hoban, Massey, Murray and Thompson have made first-team appearances in 2010–11, while Assombalonga, Bond, Isaac and Smith have been unused substitutes.

Massey, Murray and Bond signed professional contracts during the 2010 pre-season, with Murray signing his alongside his scholarship forms. Bonham and Thompson signed contracts in September and November respectively.^{[121][122][123][124][125]} In April Watford announced the fates of the remaining second year scholars; Assombalonga and Isaac were given professional contracts and Archer, Deer, Fenwick, Hemati, Irving and Rosier were released.^[126]

The under-18s play their home games at Watford's training base at the UCL training ground, London Colney. They are members of the FA Premier Academy League. They also played in the FA Youth Cup, where they defeated Swindon Town (at home), Wigan Athletic (at home) and Fulham (away),^[127] before losing to Chelsea 2–1 at Stamford Bridge in the quarter-finals.^[128] Watford also sent an under-15 side to the 2010 Milk Cup in Northern Ireland, where they finished seventh.^[129][130]

Watford Football Club is owned by the holding company Watford Leisure Plc (LSE: WFC). The holding company's 2009–10 financial year ran from 1 July 2009 until 30 June 2010. It released its audited accounts and annual report on 31 October 2010, which included details of the club's major shareholders. At the time of the report Fordwat Limited, the investment company of Michael Ashcroft, owned 37.16% of Watford Leisure. Valley Grown Salads (VGS), owned by former Watford Leisure directors Jimmy and Vince Russo, held a 29.98% stake. Previous Watford chairman Graham Simpson had a 16.79% share. No other individual or organisation held more than 3% of the company's shares.^[131]

As 2009–10 was the club's third consecutive season in the Championship, it stopped receiving parachute payments from the Premier League. Consequently, money received from the Premier League fell from £12,298,000 in 2008–09 to £993,000 in 2009–10. This was the primary contributor in Watford Leisure's total revenue dropping by 51.2% from £23.049 million to £11.258 million.^[131] A reduction in salary costs of £4.121 million and a profit of £4.111 million on player trading helped to mitigate the reduction in revenue.^[131] Nonetheless, the company's loss before taxation was £4.063 million, up from a loss of £1.987 million in the previous financial year.^[131]

In December 2010, the Board of Directors announced to the stock exchange that discussions were underway between Ashcroft and a potential buyer of his shares, but stressed that these discussions were at an early stage. If a buyer were to acquire over 30% of Watford Leisure's shares, they would be required by stock exchange rules to make an offer for all remaining shares.^[132]

A takeover offer for Watford Leisure plc was initiated on 10 March 2011, by newly formed holding company Watford FC Limited, owned by Laurence Bassini.^[133]

• Watford Football Club official site
• The Football League official site