Unreliable History
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To be written
Famous Players : – Ross Jenkins, Barry Stagecoach, Luther Blissett, Ray Train, Michael Bicycle, Famous Fans : – Elton John (musician) |
Club Records
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| Formed | 1891 |
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| Turned Professional | 1897 |
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| Became a Limited Company | 1909 |
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| Former names | Watford Rovers = 1881-1893 West Herts = 1893-1898 |
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| Previous grounds | Vicarage Meadow, Rose and Crown Meadow 1883-1889 Colney Butts 1889-1890 Cassio Road 1899-1922 |
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| Nickname | “The HORNETS” |
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| Record Premier League Win | 1-5 v Cardiff City (Away) 22.02.2019 |
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| Record Premier League Defeat | 0-8 v Manchester City (Away) 21.09.2019 |
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| Record Football League Win | 8-0 v Sunderland Division 1 25.08.1992 |
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| Record Football League Defeat | 1-8 v Crystal Palace Division 4 23.09.1959 |
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| Record Cup Win | 10-1 Lowestoft Town FA Cup First Round 27.11.1926 |
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| Record Cup Defeat | 0-10 Wolverhampton Wanderers FA Cup First Round Replay 24.01.1912 |
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| Record Fee Paid | £40,000,000 to Rennes (France) for Ismaila SAAR (8 August 2019) |
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| Record Fee Received | £50,000,000 from Everton for RICHARLISON (24 July 2018) |
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| Record Appearances | 503 – Luther BLISSETT (1976-1983, 1984-88, 1991-92) |
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| Record Football League Appearances | 415 – Luther BLISSETT (1976-1983, 1984-88, 1991-92) |
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| Record Premier League Appearances | 163 – Troy DEENEY (2015-2020) |
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| Record Premier League goal-scorer | 47 – Troy DEENEY (2015-2020) |
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| Record goal-scorer in a Premier League season | 15 – Odion IGHALO (2015-2016) |
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| Record goal-scorer in a League season | 42 – Cliff HOLTON (Division 4 – 1959-1960) |
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| Record all-time goal-scorer | 186 Luther BLISSETT (1976-1983, 1984-1988, 1991-1992) |
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| Record League goal-scorer | 148 Luther BLISSETT (1976-1983, 1984-1988, 1991-1992) |
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| Most goals in a match | 5 – Eddie MUMMERY v Newport County Division Three (South) 05.01.1924 5 – Thomas ASHBRIDGE v Bournemouth FC FA Cup Fourth Qualifying round 29.11.1913 |
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| Record Attendance (all-time) | 34,099 v Manchester United FA Cup Fourth Round Replay 03.02.1969 |
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| Record Premier League Attendance | 21,590 v Sunderland 27.11.1999 |
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| Record total of goals in a League season | 92 – 1959-1960 Division 4 |
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| Record total of goals in a Premier League season | 52 – 2018-2019 (38 games) |
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| Record points total in a Premier League season | 50 – 2018-2019 (38 games) |
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| Record points total in a League season | 2 points for a win – 71 – 1977-1978 Division 4 3 points for a win – 89 – 2014-2015 Championship |
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| Most Capped player while at club | 31 – John BARNES (England) 31 – Kenny JACKETT (Wales) |
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| Youngest Player | Keith MERCER – 16 years and 125 days v Tranmere Rovers 16.02.1973 |
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| Oldest Player | Alec CHAMBERLAIN – 42 years and 327 days v Newcastle United 13.05.2007 |
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Stadium details
Address : Vicarage Road Stadium, Watford WD1 0ER
Telephone : 01923 496000
01923 223023 (Ticket Office)
Capacity : 22,200
Pitch size : 105m x 68m (115 yards x 74 yards)
Official website : www.watfordfc.com
Directions
The Watford website has details of how to reach the ground.
Honours
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| Division One Runners-up (Top Tier) | 1982-1983 |
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| Championship Runners-Up (Second Tier) | 2014-2015 |
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| Division Two Runners-up (Second Tier) | 1981-1982 |
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| Division Two Champions (Third Tier) | 1997-1998 |
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| Division Three Champions (Third Tier) | 1968-1969 |
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| Division Three Runners-up (Third Tier) | 1978-1979 |
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| Division Four Champions (Fourth Tier) | 1977-1978 |
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| FA Cup Finalists | 1984, 2019 |
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| Division Three (South) Cup (joint holders) | 1936-1937 |
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| Division Three (South) Cup Finalists | 1934-1935 |
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Managers
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| John GOODALL | May 1903 – May 1910 |
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| Harry KENT | May 1910 – May 1926 |
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| Fred PAGHAM | May 1926 – May 1929 |
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| Neil McBAIN | May 1929 – August 1937 |
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| Bill FINDLAY | August 1938 – February 1947 |
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| Jack BRAY | March 1947 – January 1948 |
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| Eddie HAPGOOD | February 1948 – March 1950 |
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| Ron GRAY | March 1950 – August 1951 |
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| Haydn GREEN | August 1950 – October 1951 |
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| Len GOULDEN | November 1952 – October 1955 |
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| Johnny PATON | October 1955 – February 1956 |
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| Len GOULDEN | February 1956 – July 1956 |
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| Neil McBAIN | August 1956 – February 1959 |
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| Ron BURGESS | February 1959 – May 1963 |
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| Bill McGARRY | July 1963 – October 1964 |
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| Ken FURPHY | November 1964 – July 1971 |
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| George KIRBY | August 1971 – May 1973 |
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| Mike KEEN | June 1973 – April 1977 |
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| Graham TAYLOR | June 1977 – May 1987 |
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| Dave BASSETT | May 1987 – January 1988 |
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| Steve HARRISON | January 1988 – March 1990 |
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| Colin LEE | March 1990 – November 1990 |
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| Steve PERRYMAN | November 1990 – July 1993 |
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| Glenn ROEDER | July 1993 – February 1996 |
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| Graham TAYLOR | February 1996 – June 2001 |
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| Kenny JACKETT | June 1996 – June 1997 |
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| Graham TAYLOR | June 1997 – May 2001 |
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| Gianluca VIALLI | June 2001 – June 2002 |
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| Ray LEWINGTON | July 2002 – March 2005 |
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| Adrian BOOTHROYD | 29 March 2005 – 4 November 2008 |
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| Malky MACKAY (caretaker) | 4 November 2008 – 24 November 2008 |
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| Brendan RODGERS | 24 November 2008 – June 2009 |
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| Malky MACKAY | June 2009 – June 2011 |
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| Sean DYCHE | June 2011 – July 2012 |
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| Gianfranco ZOLA | 7 July 2012 – 16 December 2013 |
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| Giuseppe SANNINO | 18 December 2013 – 31 August 2013 |
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| Oscar GARCIA | 2 September 2013 – 29 September 2013 |
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| Billy McKINLAY | 29 September 2013 – 7 October 2013 |
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| Slavisa JOKANOVIC | 7 October 2013 – 4 June 2015 |
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| Quique SANCHEZ FLORES | 4 June 2015 – 13 May 2016 |
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| Walter MAZZARRI | 1 July 2016 – May 2017 |
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| Marco SILVA | May 2017 – January 2018 |
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| Javi GRACIA | January 2018 – September 2019 |
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| Quique Sanchez FLORES | September 2019 – December 2019 |
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| Hayden MULLINS (Caretaker) | December 2019 |
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| Nigel PEARSON | December 2019 – July 2020 |
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| Hayden MULLINS (Caretaker) | July 2020 |
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| Vladimir IVIC | August 2020 – December 2020 |
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| Xisco MUNOZ | December 2020 – October 2021 |
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| Claudio RANIERI | October 2021 – January 2022 |
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| Roy HODGSON | January 2022 – May 2022 |
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| Rob EDWARDS | May 2022 – September 2022 |
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| Slaven BILIC | September 2022 – March 2023 |
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| Chris WILDER | March 2023 – May 2023 |
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| Valerian ISMAEL | May 2023 – |
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League Record
The Football League structure has historically been as follows …
| 1888-1892 | 1892-1920 | 1920-1921 | 1921-1958 | 1958-1992 | 1992-2004 | 2004 to date | |
| First tier | Football League | Division One | Division One | Division One | Division One | Premiership | Premier League |
| Second tier | Division Two | Division Two | Division Two | Division Two | Division One | Championship | |
| Third tier | Division Three | Division Three (North) and (South) |
Division Three | Division Two | League One | ||
| Fourth tier | Division Four | Division Three | League Two | ||||
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| Founder member of Division Three (Third tier) | 1920 |
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| Division Three (Third tier) | 1920-1921 |
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| Division Three (South) (Third tier) | 1921-1958 |
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| Division Four (Fourth tier) | 1958-1960 |
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| Division Three (Third tier) | 1960-1969 |
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| Division Two (Second tier) | 1969-1972 |
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| Division Three (Third tier) | 1972-1975 |
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| Division Four (Fourth tier) | 1975-1978 |
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| Division Three (Third tier) | 1978-1979 |
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| Division Two (Second tier) | 1979-1982 |
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| Division One (Top tier) | 1982-1988 |
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| Division Two (Second tier) | 1988-1992 |
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| Division One (Second tier) | 1992-1996 |
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| Division Two (Third tier) | 1996-1998 |
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| Division One (Second tier) |
1998-1999 |
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| Premier League (Top tier) | 1999-2000 |
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| Division One (Second tier) | 2000-2004 |
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| The Championship (Second tier) | 2004-2006 |
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| Premier League (Top tier) | 2006-2007 |
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| The Championship (Second tier) | 2007-2015 |
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| Premier League (Top tier) | 2015-2020 |
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| The Championship (Second tier) | 2020- |
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