Watford Football Club: Introduction
Watford Football Club, commonly referred to simply as Watford, is a professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire, England.
The club currently plays football in the English Championship League. The staff at the Fanbase hope both the club and supporters do well in the future. Here’s an overview of the club, including its history, achievements, and other key details:
Before we continue, here’s a link to the club’s official website.
History and Background
- Founded: 1881
- Nickname: The Hornets, The Golden Boys, Yellow Army and The ‘Orns.
- Stadium: Vicarage Road, which has a capacity of around 22,200.
- In the early years, the club has played at Cassiobury Park, Vicarage Meadow and Market Street, Watford. However, in 1890, the club moved to a site on Cassio Road, and there they stayed for 32 years.
- Colours: Traditionally, Watford’s home colours are yellow and black, with red often featured in the design.
Watford Football Club: Early Years
Watford FC was originally formed as Watford Rovers in 1881 and went through several name changes before settling on Watford Football Club in 1898 after the merger of Watford St. Mary’s and West Hertfordshire. The club spent its early years playing in various regional leagues.
League and Cup Performance
- Football League Entry: Watford entered the Football League in 1920, joining the newly created Third Division.
- Promotions: The club has spent much of its history bouncing between the lower divisions. However, they experienced their most significant rise under the management of Graham Taylor in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Graham Taylor Era
Graham Taylor is perhaps the most iconic figure in Watford’s history. Elton John appointed Taylor in 1977. Of course, Elton John is a famous musician and lifelong Watford supporter.
- Rise to the First Division: Under Taylor, Watford achieved multiple promotions, moving from the Fourth Division to the First Division (now the Premier League) in just five years.
- 1982-83 Season: Watford finished second in the First Division in their debut season, the club’s highest-ever league finish.
- 1984 FA Cup Final: Watford reached the FA Cup final in 1984, losing 2-0 to Everton.
Watford Football Club: Recent History
- Premier League Years: Watford has experienced several promotions to the Premier League, with the most recent stints starting in 2015. The club has generally been considered a yo-yo club, often moving between the Premier League and the Championship.
- 2019 FA Cup Final: Watford reached the FA Cup final for the second time in their history in 2019, but suffered a heavy 6-0 defeat to Manchester City.
- Relegation and Promotion: Watford was relegated from the Premier League in the 2019-20 season but secured promotion back to the top flight in the 2020-21 season after finishing second in the Championship.
Ownership and Management
- Owners: The Pozzo family, who also own Udinese in Italy and previously owned Granada in Spain, have owned Watford since 2012. Their ownership has brought financial stability and a broader network for player recruitment.
- Managers: Watford is known for frequently changing managers. The club has seen numerous managerial changes, especially under the Pozzo family, as they seek quick results and avoid relegation.
Watford Football Club: Rivalries
Watford’s most significant rivalry is with Luton Town, with matches between the two often referred to as the “M1 Derby” due to the motorway connecting the two towns. The rivalry is intense, though the two clubs have not met frequently in recent years due to playing in different divisions.
Notable Players
Some notable players in Watford’s history include:
- John Barnes: A legendary winger who started his career at Watford before moving to Liverpool.
- Luther Blissett: The club’s all-time leading goalscorer, who also had a spell at AC Milan.
- Troy Deeney: A modern-day icon for Watford, known for his leadership and crucial goals, particularly during the club’s promotion campaigns.
Current Squad
As of the 2023-24 season, Watford is competing in the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football. The squad typically includes a mix of experienced professionals and young talents, often with a significant number of players coming from international backgrounds due to the Pozzo family’s recruitment network.
Community and Culture
Watford FC has a strong community focus, with various initiatives to engage with local supporters. The club also has a significant following, with a loyal fan base known for their passionate support, particularly at their home ground, Vicarage Road. Watford FC is also a very friendly, family-type club.
Watford Football Club Mascot
Watford’s mascot is a hornet named Harry the Hornet, reflecting the club’s nickname, “The Hornets.”
Honours and Achievements
- League: Watford has won the Championship (or equivalent second division) title once and has several other promotions from lower divisions.
- Cups: Watford has reached the FA Cup final twice but has yet to win a major trophy.
Watford FC remains a respected club in English football, known for its resilience and ability to compete at various levels of the football pyramid.
Watford Football Club Promotion
The Football Fan Base allows Watford FC supporters the chance to write about their club. So, join in with us and do just that!
The best way to promote Watford FC is getting the name out there in the footballing world, of course. Therefore, you can use the Football Fan Base to do just that.
Firstly, here you can post some relevant news or views about your beloved club. Then we have the massive Football Forum for all football fans. With this in mind, pop over and ensure Watford FC gets a mention.
You can even create a Watford supporters website complete with a forum. Indeed, all you need to do is join the Football Fan Base here and start designing it. This is because we provide you with everything necessary to do just that.
Watford Fans Forum
As well as the massive soccer blogs here at the Football Fan Base, we also have message boards. Both of our football platforms are the biggest of their type on the internet.
Now we are expanding the Football Forum even further! Indeed, now we incorporate the Watford Fans Forum within our message boards. So, Watford supporters have no excuses. Join in with the football banter today.
The Fanbase here is the ideal way to project your favourite football team above others. If you don’t promote Watford FC here, other fans will start pulling you down, of course.
Therefore, get ahead of the game and start telling the world just exactly which team is the best!
** Information updated on the 4th of December, 2017.
