Watford F.C.

association football club in Watford, England

Watford F.C. are an English football club who play in Watford, near London.[1]

Watford F.C.
Full nameWatford Football Club
Nickname(s)Hornets
Founded1881
GroundVicarage Road
Watford
Capacity21,438
ChairmanScott Duxbury
ManagerRoy Hodgson
LeagueChampionship
2023–24Championship, 15th of 24
Current season

They wear yellow and black shirts and black shorts when they play at their home ground, Vicarage Road. For away games they wear green shirts and shorts. The club was founded in 1881.[2] Roy Hodgson is the current manager.

History

The club was at first called "Watford Rovers." It changed its name to "West Hertfordshire" in 1893, and "Watford F.C." in 1898. Watford won the Southern League in 1915 and joined the Football League in 1920. They stayed in the Football League's bottom division until 1960 when they were promoted to the Third Division as champions. Watford played in the Second Division for the first time in 1969 when Ken Furphy was the manager.[3]

Watford are best known for what they did between 1977 and 1987. Singer Elton John bought the club and made Graham Taylor manager in 1977. The team won the Fourth Division in 1978. They then came 2nd in the Third Division in 1979, and 2nd in the Second Division in 1982. Finally, they came 2nd in the First Division in 1983, and Luther Blissett was the league's top scorer. Watford also got to the FA Cup final in 1984. John Barnes, Nigel Callaghan, Tony Coton and Ross Jenkins were among Watford's star players during the period.

Taylor left Watford in 1987 and Watford were relegated to the then Second Division the following year. In the last 30 years they have mostly played in the second tier of English football. However, they enjoyed two seasons in the Premier League under Taylor, in his second spell as manager (1999/2000), and Aidy Boothroyd (2006/07), before Slaviša Jokanović again led them to promotion in 2015 to begin their current spell in the top flight.

League position

SeasonLeaguePosition
2000/01First Division9th
2001/02First Division14th
2002/03First Division13th
2003/04First Division16th
2004/05League Championship18th
2005/06League Championship3rd
2006/07Premier League20th
2007/08League Championship6th
2008/09League Championship13th
2009/10League Championship16th
2010/11League Championship14th
2011/12League Championship11th
2012/13League Championship3rd
2013/14League Championship13th
2014/15League Championship2nd
2015/16Premier League13th
2016/17Premier League17th
2017/18Premier League14th
2018/19Premier League11th
2019/20Premier League19th
2020/21League Championship2nd

Former position


References