- 1898
- 1999
-
New Club Watford FC in 1898
This was reported by the Watford Observer on 7 May 1898. It was agreed that the two clubs should complete their remaining fixtures for the season. The new club was named Watford Football Club. Long-serving Skilly Williams was Watford’s first-choice goalkeeper between 1914 and 1926. Following relegation to the Southern League Second Division in 1903, Watford appointed its first manager ... -
Premier League Here We Come 1999
Following the relegation, Taylor became Director of Football, with former Watford midfielder Kenny Jackett as manager. After a mid-table finish in Division Two in 1996 – 1997, Jackett was demoted to the position of assistant manager. Taylor returned as manager and won the Second Division title in 1997 – 1998 – Watford’s second league title under his management. A second ...
History of the Watford FC
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. They play in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. They will compete in the EFL Championship in the 2022–23 season following their relegation.
The club’s original foundation is 1881, aligned with that of its antecedent, Watford Rovers, and was established as Watford Football Club in 1898. After finishing the 1914–15 season as Southern League champions under the management of Harry Kent, Watford joined the Football League in 1920. The team played at several grounds in their early history, including what is now West Herts Sports Club, before moving to Vicarage Road in 1922. They have a long-standing rivalry with nearby club Luton Town.
Graham Taylor's tenure as manager at the club between 1977 and 1987 saw Watford rise from the fourth tier to the first. The team finished second in the First Division in 1982–83, competed in the UEFA Cup in 1983–84, and reached the 1984 FA Cup Final. Watford declined between 1987 and 1997, before Taylor returned as manager, leading the team to successive promotions from the renamed Second Division to the Premier League for one season in 1999–2000. The club played again in the highest tier in 2006–07 under Aidy Boothroyd's management, and then again from 2015 to 2020, reaching the 2019 FA Cup Final but losing to a record-breaking scoreline, their second FA Cup Final. In April 2021, Watford was promoted back into the Premier League having spent just one season in the Championship.
Founded
1898
Location
Watford, Hertfordshire
Team History
1898 - Present / Watford Football Club
1896 - 1898 / West Hertfordshire
1881 - 1896 / Watford Rovers
Nickname
The Hornets
The nickname for Watford was also taken from the colors of their kit, yellow and black – making them ‘The Hornets’. The crest of the club used to have a hornet on it until it was changed to picture a hart, (a male deer) as the county of Hertfordshire, where Watford is, contains many deer.
Championships
Premier League / 0
FA Cup / 0
Premier League - FA Cup Double / 0
Stadium
1922 - Present / Vicarage Road
1890 - 1922 / West Herts Sports Ground
1889 - 1890 / Colney Butts Meadow
1883 - 1889 / Rose and Crown Meadow
1881 - 1883 / Cassiobury Park
Current Owner
2012 - Present / Gino Pozzo
*Blue is this team’s history
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.