Watford F.C.

History

Main article: History of Watford F.C.

Early years

The origins of the club can be traced back to 1881 when Watford Rovers were formed by Henry Grover, who went on to play for the club as a full back.

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 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 to the league. Watford finished outside the top six league positions in every season between 1922 and 1934. Following Kent's departure in 1926, they finished 21st out of 22 clubs in 1926–27, but were unanimously re-elected to the league after a ballot of clubs in the top two divisions of The Football League. By contrast, under Neil McBain and subsequently Bill Findlay, the team recorded five consecutive top six finishes between 1934–35 and 1938–39, and won the Football League Third Division South Cup in 1937. The Football League was suspended in 1939 due to the Second World War.

Post-war era

McGarry joined Ipswich in 1964, and was replaced by player-manager Ken Furphy, from Workington Furphy's rebuilding came to fruition in 1969 with the signing of Barry Endean, whose arrival marked the start of an unbeaten run after Christmas. Watford secured the Third Division title in April, at home to Plymouth Argyle. A year later Watford reached the FA Cup semi-final for the first time, defeating First Division teams Stoke City and Liverpool along the way. Hampered by a lack of funds, however, Furphy eventually joined Blackburn Rovers, to be succeeded by George Kirby. Forced to sell players to survive, Watford fell back into the Third Division in 1972. The team continued to struggle in the third tier, and despite a managerial change, Watford were relegated again in 1975.

Elton John era

Musician Elton John, a lifelong Watford supporter, became club chairman in 1976. The singer declared an ambition to take the team into the First Division, and dismissed Kirby's successor Mike Keen in April 1977. When Graham Taylor was named as Keen's successor, the club was still in the Fourth Division. Taylor achieved promotion in his first season; Watford won the Fourth Division title, recording the most wins, fewest defeats, most goals scored and fewest goals conceded of any side in the division. Promotion to the Second Division followed in 1978–79, and Ross Jenkins finished the season as the league's top scorer with 29 goals. Watford consolidated with 18th and 9th-placed finishes over the following two seasons, and secured promotion to the First Division for the first time in 1981–82, finishing second behind rivals Luton Town.

Watford started the 1982–83 season with four league wins from the opening five fixtures; in the space of seven years, the club had climbed from bottom place in the lowest division of The Football League to top position in the highest division. Watford were unable to maintain a title challenge, but eventually finished the season second behind Liverpool, which ensured UEFA Cup qualification for the following season. Luther Blissett finished the season as the First Division top scorer, before signing for Italian Serie A side Milan for £1 million at the end of the season. An FA Cup Final appearance followed in the 1984 fixture, where they lost to Everton. After guiding Watford to a ninth-place finish in 1986–87, Taylor left the club to manage Aston Villa.

Following Taylor's departure, Wimbledon manager Dave Bassett was appointed as his replacement, and England winger John Barnes was sold to Liverpool. After 4 wins from his opening 23 league fixtures, Bassett was sacked in January 1988. Watford were bottom of the First Division at the time of his departure, and Steve Harrison could not prevent relegation at the end of the season. In 1988–89, Harrison's Watford failed to return to the First Division, after defeat in the Second Division play-offs. The under-18 team won the FA Youth Cup, beating Manchester City 2–1 after extra time, with future England international David James in goal for the Hornets. Harrison departed in 1990, and over the next few years, the closest Watford came to promotion was a seventh-placed finish in Division One in the 1994–95 season. However, in the following season – Glenn Roeder's third as manager – Watford struggled. Despite the return of Graham Taylor as caretaker manager in February 1996, the club was relegated to Division Two.

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 1996–97, Jackett was demoted to the position of assistant manager. Taylor returned as manager, and won the Second Division title in 1997–98 – Watford's second league title under his management. A second successive promotion followed in 1998–99 after a 2–0 play-off final victory over Bolton Wanderers. Watford's first Premiership season started with an early victory over Liverpool, but Watford's form soon faded, and the club were relegated. Graham Taylor retired at the end of the 2000–01 season, and was replaced by Gianluca Vialli. Wage bills at the club rose by £4 million during Vialli's tenure, and the club finished 14th in the division in 2001–02. Vialli was sacked at the end of the season, following a dispute with the club's board over the wage bill. He was replaced by Ray Lewington, who had joined the club the previous summer as Vialli's reserve team manager.

Financial struggles

Return to the Premier League

Watford finished third in the league in Boothroyd's first full season, Watford finished bottom after only winning five league games, Boothroyd continued as manager, and spent heavily on players, including a then-club record £3.25 million for Nathan Ellington. Watford led the Championship by several points early in 2007–08, but only finished sixth; Boothroyd left the club by mutual consent three months into the 2008–09 season, with Watford 21st in the Championship table.

Under Boothroyd's successor, Brendan Rodgers, Watford finished 13th. Rodgers left to manage Reading at the end of the season; Malky Mackay, who had previously served as caretaker manager, was his replacement. Amid the departures of several key players during Mackay's tenure, including Tommy Smith and Jay DeMerit, and the club coming close to administration, Watford finished 16th in 2009–10 and 14th the following season. Mackay left to manage Cardiff City in June 2011 and was replaced by Sean Dyche. Despite presiding over Watford's highest league position in four years by finishing 11th, Dyche was dismissed as Watford manager in July 2012.

Pozzo family era

In June 2012, Laurence Bassini completed the sale of the club to the Pozzo family (Gino Pozzo and his father). Following Dyche's sacking, the new owners brought in former Italy international Gianfranco Zola to take charge. In the 2012–13 season Watford finished third in the Championship, and reached the play-off final where they were defeated in the final by Crystal Palace 1–0 via an extra-time penalty by Kevin Phillips. The following season, Giuseppe Sannino replaced Zola, as their new manager and the team finished the season in 13th place. Sannino resigned at the start of the 2014–15 season and was replaced by Óscar García, who left shortly afterwards for "health reasons".

Billy McKinlay replaced him but, despite winning four points out of a possible six under his stewardship, after just eight days he too was replaced, by Slaviša Jokanović. With Jokanović managing the team, Watford finished second in the Championship, after being edged out on the final day by champions AFC Bournemouth, and were promoted.

Watford did not renew Jokanović's contract and he was replaced by the Spaniard Quique Sánchez Flores ahead of the 2015–16 season. Under Sánchez Flores Watford finished 13th in the Premier League, and reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup, ending Arsenal's bid to win the competition for three successive times, but were beaten 2–1 by Crystal Palace. Near the end of the season, in May 2016, Sánchez Flores and the club enacted a break clause in his contract, and he was replaced by Italian coach Walter Mazzarri who signed a three-year contract. At the end of the next season, in May 2017, Watford finished 17th and Mazzari resigned, replaced by Marco Silva. The new coach was sacked after approximately six months, following interest from Everton, in January 2018, and the club hired Javi Gracia. In April 2019 Watford came back from 2–0 down to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers to reach the FA Cup final for the second time in their history, with Gerard Deulofeu scoring twice and Troy Deeney scoring a penalty in the 94th minute to take it to extra time. They met Manchester City in the final and were defeated 6–0, a joint record margin of victory for an FA Cup Final. In the league Watford finished 11th, with 50 points, both club records for the Premier League era.

After four games of being in charge in the 2019–20 season, Gracia was sacked due to poor form in the league. 30 minutes after he was sacked, former manager Quique Sánchez Flores was again appointed. He survived only until 1 December 2019 after getting only one win since his appointment in September. A caretaker manager was appointed for one game before Nigel Pearson was appointed. Watford ended Liverpool's unbeaten run of 44 top-flight games in February 2020, but Pearson was sacked 2 games before the end of the season, and the club were relegated, finishing 19th out of 20. Watford finished the 2020–21 Championship season in second place, gaining immediate promotion back to the Premier League, but again finished the following season 19th out of 20 and were relegated back to the Championship. On June 4, 2024, the Pozzo family decided to put up 10% of the club for sale under fan ownership in order to generate cash for the club.

Club identity

Watford's kit has changed considerably over the course of the club's 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. After a change of colours to gold shirts and black shorts for 1959–60, the team's nickname was changed to The Hornets, after a popular vote via the supporters club. These colours remained until 1976, when Watford's kits started featuring red, and the gold was changed to yellow. That colour scheme has continued into the 21st century. Watford's initial nickname was The Brewers, in reference to the Benskins Brewery, which owned the freehold of Vicarage Road. This nickname did not 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. When Watford changed kit colours in 1959, supporters chose The Hornets as the team's new nickname, and the club later introduced a crest depicting a hornet. The club's nickname remains, but in 1978 the hornet crest was replaced by a depiction of a hart – a male red fallow deer– on a yellow and black background. A hart represents the town's location in the county of Hertfordshire. It has now been confirmed by the club that it was in fact a Moose on the crest and not a Hart as previously thought by Watford fans. Until Barnet and, later, Stevenage joined the Football League, Watford were Hertfordshire's only league club. Other nicknames have since been adopted, including Yellow Army and The 'Orns.

Until April 2019, when Watford played at Vicarage Road their players traditionally entered the pitch at the start of the game to the Z-Cars theme tune. However, in mid-April 2019 the team changed their entrance song to Elton John's "I'm Still Standing". The club returned to Z Cars as the theme to welcome players to the pitch in August 2019 at the start of the 2019–20 Premier League season, following fan pressure and petitions.

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Stadium

Main article: Vicarage Road

Watford Rovers played at several grounds in the late 19th century, including Cassiobury Park, Vicarage Meadow and Market Street, Watford. In 1890, the team moved to a site on Cassio Road, and remained there for 32 years, before moving to Watford's current stadium at nearby Vicarage Road in 1922.

Vicarage Road is a four-sided ground with a capacity of 21,577. The East Stand, part of which was constructed in 1922, was closed to the general public in 2008 for health and safety reasons, although it still hosted the dressing rooms and the matchday press area. In November 2013, the East Stand was demolished and in its place a new steel-framed, 3,500-seater stand was constructed. The stand opened fully on Boxing Day 2014 and was named The Elton John Stand after the club's longstanding chairman. The Graham Taylor Stand (previously the Rous Stand), built in 1986, has two tiers and runs the length of the pitch, with the upper section containing the club's corporate hospitality. At either end of the pitch, The Vicarage Road Stand is split between the club's family section and away supporters, while the Rookery Stand is for home supporters only. Both stands were built in the 1990s, financed by proceeds from player sales. In the summer of 2015, The Elton John Stand was revamped in order to accommodate an extra 700 seats. This number was revised a day later to around 1,000 extra seats following the announcement of an expansion in the north-east corner.

Between 1997 and early 2013, Watford shared Vicarage Road with rugby union side Saracens. The stadium has hosted matches for the England under-21s, and senior international football between overseas teams. Elton John has also used Vicarage Road as a venue for concerts: He first played at the stadium in 1974 and returned in 2005 and 2010 to stage fundraising concerts for the club. Former events include horse and carriage shows

The Watford Training Ground is located on the University College London Union (UCLU) Shenley Sports grounds in St Albans, Hertfordshire.

Luton rivalry

Main article: Luton Town F.C.–Watford F.C. rivalry

Watford fans maintain a rivalry with those of Luton Town. The two sides met regularly in the Southern League between 1900 and 1920, and continued to do so in The Football League until 1937,

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Watford and Luton met sporadically. Despite this, the rivalry grew in significance, particularly following an ill-tempered match between the sides in 1969, in which three players were sent off.

On 2 January 2006, Watford won 2–1 at Kenilworth Road in the Championship, followed by a 1–1 draw between the sides, on 9 April 2006, a point that secured Watford's place in the 2006 Championship play-offs, from which they eventually won promotion to the Premier League for the second time, beating Leeds United 3–0 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Over a fourteen-season span, Watford played in a higher division than Luton (between the 2006–07 and the 2019–20 seasons), with Luton dropping out of the football league altogether for six seasons between 2009–10 and 2014–15.

The rivalry between the two clubs resumed in the 2020–21 season. On 26 September 2020, Watford won the first league match of the season between the two clubs, 1–0, at Vicarage Road. On 17 April 2021 in the reverse fixture at Kenilworth Road, Luton won the match 1–0. With Watford's promotion back to the Premier League for season 2021–22, the rivalry did not commence that year; although it resumed for the 2022–23 season after Watford's immediate relegation from the Premier League, whilst Luton remained in the Championship. Luton were promoted to the 2023–24 Premier League, but were relegated back to the Championship after one season.

The head-to-head record between the clubs, in competitions which currently exist, stands at Luton 55 wins, Watford 38 wins, with 29 draws.

In the community

Watford's Community Sports and Education Trust supports the club's community engagement causes. Watford and its players have participated in festivals and civic observances as part of the club's community activities. The club's Christmas community outreach activities have included visits to local hospitals during the holiday period. The club has participated in one of the longest-running Hanukkah events in English football with the Jewish Hornets supporters' group. Additionally, the club has observed Remembrance Day, with players and staff wearing poppies and holding a minute's silence at fixtures in support of the Royal British Legion.

Players

Current squad

Out on loan

Under-21s and Academy {{anchor|Under-21s and Academy}}

Main article: Watford F.C. Under-21s and Academy

Under-21s or academy players to have been given a senior squad number in 2025/26

Managers

Main article: List of Watford F.C. managers

Up until Findlay's departure in 1947, Watford had been managed by five managers in 44 years, all of whom played for the team. By contrast, six men managed the club between 1947 and 1956, only two of whom were former Watford players. After a further three years under McBain between 1956 and 1959, Watford's following three managers presided over improved teams. Ron Burgess led Watford to promotion from the Fourth Division in 1959–60. Bill McGarry was only in charge for one full season (1963–64), but Watford recorded a finish of third in the Third Division, the club's highest Football League finish until that point. His successor Ken Furphy matched that achievement in 1966–67, and led Watford to the Third Division title in 1969, before taking the club to its first FA Cup semi-final in 1970. Following Furphy's departure in 1971, Watford entered a period of decline, experiencing relegation under subsequent managers George Kirby and Mike Keen.

Graham Taylor took charge of Watford in 1977. He led the club to promotion to the Third Division in 1978, the Second Division in 1979, and the First Division for the first time in Watford's history in 1982. After a second-placed finish in the First Division in 1983, Watford competed in European competition for the first time in 1983–84, as well as reaching the 1984 FA Cup final. Taylor left the club at the end of 1986–87. Under the six subsequent permanent managers (Dave Bassett, Steve Harrison, Colin Lee, Steve Perryman, Glenn Roeder and Kenny Jackett), Watford slid from 9th in the top tier in 1987, to 13th in the third tier in 1997. Taylor returned as manager for the start of the 1997–98 season. He led the club to consecutive promotions, but could not prevent relegation from the Premier League in 1999–2000. Since Taylor's retirement in 2001, Watford have had twelve managers. Of these, Aidy Boothroyd took Watford back to the Premier League in 2006, but Watford were relegated in 2007, and Boothroyd departed in 2008.

Following Watford's takeover by the Pozzo family, Gianfranco Zola was appointed head coach, replacing former centre back Sean Dyche in July 2012,. Zola took Watford to third position in the Championship in 2012–13 but resigned on 16 December 2013. He was replaced by fellow Italian Beppe Sannino in December 2013. Sannino guided the team to a final league position of 13th.

Despite winning four of the first five league matches of the 2014–15 season, and with Watford sitting in 2nd place, Sannino's position had become the subject of much speculation following rumours of dressing-room unrest and some players taking a dislike to his style of management. Sannino resigned from his position as head coach on 31 August 2014 after just over eight months in charge. His final game in charge was a 4–2 win at home to Huddersfield Town the day before.

Sannino's departure initiated a bizarre sequence of events which led to Watford having three further head coaches in little more than a month. On 2 September, Watford confirmed the appointment of former Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Óscar García as the successor to Sannino. García, however, resigned from his position on 29 September 2014 for health reasons, having been admitted to hospital with chest pains a couple of weeks prior. Billy McKinlay, who had only been appointed first team coach on 26 September 2014, was appointed as his immediate successor on the same day – his first position in management. A week later, McKinlay was released by mutual consent and former Partizan coach Slaviša Jokanović appointed in his place, apparently because the club favoured a head coach with greater experience.

On 4 June 2015, Quique Sánchez Flores was announced as the new head coach as the replacement to Jokanović, who had failed to agree contract terms. Despite going on to lead the newly promoted Watford to a comfortable mid-table position in the Premier League and the semi-final of the FA Cup, it was announced on 13 May 2016 that Sánchez Flores would be leaving the club at the end of the season.

Following Sánchez Flores's departure, Walter Mazzarri was announced as Watford's head coach starting on 1 July 2016. Mazzari's tenure as manager was terminated at the end of the season. On 27 May 2017 Marco Silva was appointed head coach. On 21 January 2018, Javi Gracia was appointed as head coach following Silva's departure. Gracia guided the club to a successful 2018–19 Premier League campaign which saw Watford finish with their highest ever points tally in English Premier League football.

Since around 2019, the club have gained notoriety for an excessive number of managerial sackings and a lack of time given to managers, instead sacking them very quickly after a poor run of form. After a disappointing start to the 2019–20 season, Javi Gracia was dismissed and replaced by previous manager Quique Sánchez Flores. Then Quique Sánchez Flores was dismissed again after a 2–1 loss to Southampton on 1 December. On 6 December 2019, Nigel Pearson agreed to take manager's job, with Craig Shakespeare as his assistant, on a short-term contract to the end of the season. He was sacked on 19 July 2020 with two games to go with Hayden Mullins appointed as interim coach until the end of the season.

In the 2020–21 season, there were two more coaches, beginning with Vladimir Ivic, and followed by Xisco Munoz, who ultimately steered Watford towards promotion to the Premier League. Xisco continued to coach the team for the 2021–22 Premier League campaign until October 2021, and was subsequently followed by Claudio Ranieri from October 2021 to January 2022. Former England manager Roy Hodgson took hold of the reigns from February 2022 until the season's end, where Watford finished in 19th place and were relegated from the Premier League.

Rob Edwards was announced as the new manager for the 2022–23 season, but was released by the club in September 2022 after 11 games in charge. Slaven Bilić was announced as his replacement on an 18-month contract. Bilic was subsequently sacked on 7 March 2023 and replaced by Chris Wilder on a short-term contract until the end of the season, making it the third time in four seasons the club has had three head coaches in one season. On 10 May 2023, French coach Valérien Ismaël was appointed head coach ahead of the 2023–24 Championship season. Following the dismissal of Valérien Ismaël on 9 March 2024, Tom Cleverley was named as interim head coach. On 24 April 2024, Cleverley was given the head coach role on a permanent basis having lost only once in his seven matches in interim charge.In May 2025, he was dismissed from his role as manager of Watford.

Club officials

Honours

League

• First Division (level 1)
  • Runners-up: 1982–83
• Second Division / First Division / Championship (level 2)
  • Runners-up: 1981–82, 2014–15, 2020–21
  • Play-off winners: 1999, 2006
• Third Division / Second Division (level 3)
  • Champions: 1968–69, 1997–98
  • Runners-up: 1978–79
• Fourth Division (level 4)
  • Champions: 1977–78
• Southern Football League
  • Champions: 1914–15
  • Runners-up: 1919–20

Cup

• FA Cup
  • Runners-up: 1983–84, 2018–19

Records

Main article: List 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 appearances in The Football League during the same period is also a club record. Blissett 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.

Watford's biggest ever competitive win came in 1900, when the team defeated Maidenhead 11–0 in the Southern League Second Division. The team's biggest Football League winning margin is 8–0; this first occurred in a Third Division South match against Newport County in 1924, and was repeated in a First Division match against Sunderland in 1982. Both of these matches were at home – Watford have won an away league match by five goals on six occasions, most recently in the 6–1 win against Leeds United at Elland Road in 2012. The most goals scored in a Football League game involving Watford is 11, in Watford's 7–4 victories against Swindon Town, Torquay United and Burnley in 1934, 1937 and 2003 respectively. The club's highest home attendance is 34,099, for a fourth round FA Cup match against Manchester United on 3 February 1969. The record home league attendance is 27,968 against Queens Park Rangers in August of the same year. Watford's home capacity has since been reduced due to all-seater requirements; it currently stands at 21,577.

Footnotes

References

References

1. "Premier League Handbook 2019/20". Premier League.
2. "Club Statement". watfordfc.com.
3. "History – Club History".
4. (29 May 2008). "They shaped the club". Watford Football Club.
5. Rovers, originally composed entirely of [[amateur football. amateur players]], held home games at several locations in the [[Watford
6. The team first competed in the [[FA Cup]] in the [[1886–87 FA Cup. 1886–87 season]], and in 1889 Watford won the [[Herts Senior Cup
7. Despite financial constraints, Watford won the Southern League title in the [[1914–15 Watford F.C. season. 1914–15 season]] under his successor, [[Harry Kent (footballer). Harry Kent]]. Watford held the title for five years following the suspension of the Southern League during the First World War – after finishing the [[1919–20 Watford F.C. season. 1919–20 season]] runners-up on [[goal average]], the club resigned from the Southern League to join the new [[Football League Third Division]].Jones 1996, p. 267.
8. Hodgson, Guy (17 December 1999). [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-how-consistency-and-caution-made-arsenal-englands-greatest-team-of-the-20th-century-1133020.html "How consistency and caution made Arsenal England's greatest team of the 20th century"]. ''The Independent.'' Retrieved 21 April 2012.
9. Titford, Roger (July 2006). [http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/1287/29/ "Fifth amendment"] {{Webarchive. link. (19 May 2012 . ''[[When Saturday Comes]]''. Retrieved 19 April 2012.)
10. Inglis, Simon. (1988). "League Football and the Men Who Made It". Willow Books.
11. Brown, Tony. [http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/division-three-south-cup/honours "English Division Three South Cup : Honours"] {{webarchive. link. (4 December 2008. Statto.com. Retrieved 19 April 2012.)
12. Twdell, Dave. (2001). "Denied F.C.: The Football League Election Struggles". Yore Publications.
13. Holton was sold to Northampton the following year after another 34 goals, to the anger of supporters.Jones 1996, p. 123.
14. Jones 1996, pp. 147, 151, 205, 272–273.
15. "Pat Jennings". [[Irish Football Association]].
16. Furphy rebuilt the team around players such as [[Keith Eddy]] and [[Dennis Bond (footballer). Dennis Bond]], but after holding [[Liverpool F.C.. Liverpool]] to a draw in the FA Cup and narrowly failing to win promotion in [[1966–67 in English football. 1966–67]], Bond was sold to [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.. Tottenham Hotspur]] for [[Pound sterling
17. Jones 1996, p. 80.
18. Brown, Tony. [http://www.statto.com/football/teams/watford/1969-1970/results "Watford 1969–1970: results"] {{webarchive. link. (27 July 2014 . Statto.com. Retrieved 4 May 2012.)
19. "Classic Cup Finals: 1984". [[The Football Association]].
20. Phillips, Oliver (21 January 2002). [http://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/35787.print/ "Bitter times give way at last"]. ''Watford Observer''. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
21. (5 February 2002). "Graham Taylor profile". BBC Sport.
22. Brown, Tony. [http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/division-four-old/1977-1978/table "English Division Four (old) 1977–1978 : Table] {{webarchive. link. (28 July 2016. Statto.com. Retrieved 19 April 2012.)
23. Brown, Tony. [http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/division-two-old/1981-1982/table "English Division Two (old) 1981–1982 : Table"] {{webarchive. link. (9 April 2017. Statto.com. Retrieved 19 April 2012.)
24. Brown, Tony. [http://www.statto.com/football/teams/watford/1975-1976/table/1975-08-23 "Watford 1975–1976 : English Division Four (old) Table"] {{webarchive. link. (24 September 2015. Statto.com. Retrieved 19 April 2012.)
25. Brown, Tony. [http://www.statto.com/football/teams/watford/1982-1983/table/1982-09-11 "Watford 1982–1983 English Division One (old): Table on 11.09.1982."] {{webarchive. link. (24 September 2015 . Statto.com. Retrieved 2 May 2012.)
26. (6 July 1983). "Star striker Blissett heads for new life at Italy's AC Milan". Watford Observer.
27. "FA Youth Cup winners". The Football Association.
28. link. (20 May 2012 . ''When Saturday Comes''. Retrieved 2 May 2012.)
29. Johnson, William. (1 May 2001). "Vialli unveiled as new Watford manager". Daily Telegraph.
30. Hughes, Matt (14 June 2002). [http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/vialli-sacked-by-watford-6307763.html "Vialli sacked by Watford"]. ''[[Evening Standard]]''. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
31. (14 June 2002). "Vialli sacked". BBC Sport.
32. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/3030941/Watford-appoint-Lewington.html "Watford appoint Lewington"]. ''[[The Daily Telegraph. The Telegraph]]''. 11 July 2002. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
33. (24 September 2002). "Watford in financial peril". BBC Sport.
34. (7 February 2003). "Vialli sues Watford". BBC Sport.
35. (13 March 2003). "Hornets eye stadium repurchase". BBC Sport.
36. (25 September 2002). "Watford players agree pay cut". BBC Sport.
37. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/watford/4371469.stm "Watford dismiss manager Lewington"]. BBC Sport. 22 March 2005. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
38. (23 January 2007). "Young completes £9.65m Villa move". BBC Sport.
39. (29 August 2007). "Watford sign Ellington for £3.25m". BBC Sport.
40. (3 November 2008). "Boothroyd leaves Watford position". BBC Sport.
41. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/reading/8081467.stm "Rodgers confirmed as Reading boss"]. BBC Sport. 5 June 2009. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
42. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/watford/8098749.stm "Mackay appointed Watford manager"]. BBC Sport. 15 June 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
43. Parker, Ian (16 December 2009). [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/watford-on-brink-of-administration-1842309.html "Watford on brink of administration"]. ''The Independent''. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
44. "Watford manager history". Centurycomm.
45. (17 June 2011). "Cardiff City appoint Watford's Malky Mackay as manager". BBC Sport.
46. Matthews, Anthony (6 July 2012). [http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/9804084.Hornets_terminate_Dyche_s_contract/ "Hornets terminate Dyche's contract"]. ''Watford Observer'' Retrieved 14 July 2012.
47. Short, Paul (8 July 2012). [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/zola-confirmed-as-watford-manager-7922452.html "Zola confirmed as Watford manager"]. ''The Independent''. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
48. (25 April 2015). "Watford seal Premier League return as Brighton are put to the sword". The Guardian.
49. (2 May 2015). "Bournemouth top and Derby denied". ESPN.
50. (5 June 2015). "Watford appoint Quique Sánchez Flores as manager". The Guardian.
51. Walters, Mike. (16 May 2016). "Watford skipper Troy Deeney slams 'crazy' decision to sack Quique Sanchez Flores". [[The Daily Mirror]].
52. (13 March 2016). "Arsenal 1–2 Watford". BBC Sport.
53. Jacob, Gary. (9 September 2019). "No break clause for Quique Sánchez Flores as he replaces Javi Gracia as manager at Watford". [[The Times]].
54. Cross, John. (17 May 2017). "Watford's ruthless owners sack another manager in Walter Mazzarri — but will stick with their hire-and-fire approach". The Daily Mirror.
55. Wallace, Sam. (27 May 2017). "Watford appoint Marco Silva as new head coach". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
56. (21 January 2018). "Watford name Gracia as new head coach". Premier League.
57. (2019-04-07). "Watford 3–2 Wolves: Deulofeu inspires stunning comeback to reach FA Cup final".
58. "Premier League Table – Football".
59. Ames, Nick. (2020-02-29). "We should have seen Liverpool's defeat coming".
60. (19 July 2020). "Nigel Pearson to be replaced as Watford manager for final two games of season".
61. Johnston, Neil. (26 July 2020). "Arsenal 3–2 Watford: Hornets relegated from Premier League on final day". BBC Sport.
62. "Watford relegated from the Premier League as defeat at Crystal Palace seals their fate".
63. "News: Watford FC To Offer Ownership To Fans".
64. "Watford – Historical football kits".
65. Conn, David. (21 September 2002). "New owners of Vicarage Road revealed as Watford wither". The Independent.
66. In 1974 the design was changed to depict Harry the Hornet, the club's mascot.Moore, Glenn (19 April 2008). [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/anyones-race-top-of-the-league-811847.html "Anyone's race: Top of the league"]. ''The Independent''. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
67. (2024-07-03). "Introducing Watford FC Moose: Your New Supporter Services X Account".
68. (15 June 2007). "The history of Barnet FC – 1939 to the 1950s". Barnet Football Club.
69. Ronayne, James. (13 April 2011). "Bees sting Boro in Senior Cup Final". The Comet.
70. Murray, Scott. (21 February 2001). "Whatever happened to Third Lanark?". The Guardian.
71. Wilson, Paul. (15 April 2007). "Feisty Watford a credit to 'best league in the world'". The Guardian.
72. Bagchi, Rob. (4 December 2010). "Premier League clockwatch". The Guardian.
73. (14 February 2009). "FA Cup fifth round as it happened". BBC Sport.
74. Gray, Ryan. (16 April 2019). "Watford change Z-Cars for Elton John's I'm Still Standing as Vicarage Road match day song". Watford Observer.
75. Gray, Ryan. (29 April 2019). "Watford fans start petition to bring back Z-Cars as match day music". Watford Observer.
76. Leventhal, Adam. (9 August 2019). "Z-Cars is more than music – but will Watford's walk-on song return?". The Athletic.
77. (11 August 2019). "Welcome back Z Cars, Watford FC, 10/08/19".
78. Hunt, Holly. (2021-07-22). "Watford inks 'club-record' principal partnership with Stake.com".
79. "Official: Watford FC & MrQ Announce New Partnership".
80. (9 June 2015). "Stadium Update: North-East Corner Transformation To Begin". Watford F.C..
81. Affleck, Kevin (31 July 2008). [https://web.archive.org/web/20130611063339/http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/localsport/3559565.Watford_forced_to_close_East_Stand/ "Watford forced to close East Stand"]. ''[[Watford Observer]]''. Retrieved 18 April 2012. Archived from [http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/localsport/3559565.Watford_forced_to_close_East_Stand/ the original] on 18 April 2012.
82. (16 December 2014). "VIDEO: Watch the construction of the Sir Elton John Stand". Watford Observer.
83. "BBC Sport – Ex-England boss Graham Taylor 'honoured' by Watford gesture". BBC Sport.
84. [http://www.wfc.net/stadium.htm "The stadium"]. ''wfc.net''. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
85. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120403004940/http://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/295444.the_details_are_petchey/ "The details are Petchey"]. ''Harrow Times''. 7 May 2003. Retrieved 18 April 2012. Archived from [http://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/295444.the_details_are_petchey/ the original] on 18 April 2012.
86. (7 June 2015). "Stadium Update: Extra Sir Elton John Stand Capacity". Watford F.C..
87. Smith, Frank (10 May 2011). [http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/9017371.Saracens_will_be_staying_at_Vicarage_Road/ "Saracens will be staying at Vicarage Road"]. ''Watford Observer''. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
88. (20 January 2013). "Last game at Vicarage Road sees Saracens through to Heineken Cup quarters". Watford Observer.
89. Hershman, Josh (1 September 2011). [https://www.uefa.com/under21/news/0257-0deb3b49784a-bd7080cb8d57-1000--england-begin-with-six-goal-victory/ "England begin with six-goal victory"]. [[UEFA]]. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
90. Smith, Frank (13 October 2011). [http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/9305515.Ghana_friendly_was_a_success/ "Ghana friendly was a success"]. ''Watford Observer''. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
91. Smith, Frank (4 June 2010). [http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/8200643.Elton_John_gig_to_raise_around___600_000_for_players/ "Elton John gig to raise around £600,000 for players"]. ''Watford Observer''. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
92. Jones 1998, pp. 27–63.
93. link. (23 May 2012 . ''[[When Saturday Comes]]''. Retrieved 19 April 2012.)
94. link. (14 October 2018. Statto.com. Retrieved 2 May 2012.)
95. (11 September 2002). "Joint probe launched into trouble". BBC Sport.
96. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/4867690.stm "Watford 1–1 Luton"]. BBC Sport. 9 April 2006. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
97. Brown, Tony. [http://www.statto.com/football/teams/watford/history/modern "Watford history 1975 to date"] {{webarchive. link. (16 April 2011. Statto.com. Retrieved 19 April 2012.)
98. Brown, Tony. [http://www.statto.com/football/teams/luton-town/history/modern "Luton Town history 1975 to date"] {{webarchive. link. (8 June 2012. Statto.com. Retrieved 19 April 2012.)
99. Affleck, Kevin. (26 August 2020). "Watford 1–0 Luton Town". Watford Football Club.
100. [http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/head_to_head.sd?team_id=2741&team2_id=1628 "Head-to-head: Watford vs Luton"]. ''Soccerbase''. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
101. "Watford's FA Cup history". Watford Football Club.
102. (22 August 2024). "Skechers named headline sponsor of Watford FC charity". Watford Observer.
103. (19 December 2025). "Watford's hospital visit lights up Christmas smiles for sick children". Watford Observer.
104. (23 December 2025). "Watford FC Chanukah event as goalkeeper reveals Jewish identity publicly". Jewish News.
105. (10 November 2025). "Hundreds gather to mark Remembrance Sunday in Watford". Watford Observer.
106. "First-team squad". Watford F.C..
107. Phillips 1991, pp. 38–41.
108. Jones 1996, pp. 267–274.
109. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/watford/7707054.stm "Boothroyd & Watford part company"]. BBC Sport. 3 November 2008. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
110. (4 November 2014). "Bill McKinlay left bemused following his spell at Watford". Sky Sports.
111. Smith, Frank. (8 October 2014). "Must be more to Watford's disgraceful - yet brave - decision to replace Billy McKinlay". Watford Observer.
112. Matthews, Anthony. (4 June 2015). "Former Atletico Madrid boss Quique Sanchez Flores is Watford's new head coach". Watford Observer.
113. (14 May 2016). "Quique Sánchez Flores was no longer the answer to Watford's question". The Guardian.
114. (21 May 2016). "Walter Mazzarri Appointed Head Coach At Watford". Watford F.C..
115. (27 May 2017). "Silva Named Hornets' Head Coach". Watford F.C..
116. (27 January 2018). "Gracia Named Hornets' Head Coach". Watford F.C..
117. (6 December 2019). "Nigel Pearson agrees to take Watford manager's job till end of season". The Guardian.
118. (20 June 2020). "Pearson sacked after 3–1 defeat against West Ham". Watford F.C..
119. "Club Statement: Edwards Departs Hornets".
120. "Official: Bilić Appointed Hornets' Head Coach".
121. (2023-03-07). "Watford sack Slaven Bilic and appoint Chris Wilder as new manager". The Guardian.
122. "Official: Ismaël Appointed Head Coach".
123. (2024-03-09). "Watford: Tom Cleverley named interim boss after Valerien Ismael sacked". BBC Sport.
124. Association, Press. (2025-05-06). "Watford sack yet another manager".
125. (2025-05-06). "Tom Cleverley: Watford sack head coach after falling short of play-offs".
126. (21 May 2006). "Leeds 0–3 Watford". BBC Sport.
127. [https://archive.today/20110718004727/http://www.watfordfc.com/page/History/0,,10400~65910,00.html "Watford FC club records"]. Watford Football Club. 15 December 2008. Retrieved 18 April 2012. Archived from [http://www.watfordfc.com/page/History/0,,10400~65910,00.html the original] {{webarchive. link. (22 July 2012 on 18 July 2011.)
128. Brown, Tony. [http://www.statto.com/football/teams/watford/records "Watford records"]. ''statto.com''. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
129. "Watford Football Club". [[English Football League.