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Watford
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Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire.
The club claims its foundation as 1881, but is disputed by many historians[who?], aligned with that of its antecedent, Watford Rovers, and was established as Watford Football Club in 1898.
Lifelong Watford supporter Elton John became club chairman in 1976.
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.
After guiding Watford to a ninth-place finish in 1986-87, Taylor left the club to manage Aston Villa.
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 club claims its foundation as 1881, but is disputed by many historians[who?], aligned with that of its antecedent, Watford Rovers, and was established as Watford Football Club in 1898.
Lifelong Watford supporter Elton John became club chairman in 1976.
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.
After guiding Watford to a ninth-place finish in 1986-87, Taylor left the club to manage Aston Villa.
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.
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.
In the following season - Glenn Roeder's third as manager - Watford struggled.
Following the relegation, Taylor became director of football, with former Watford midfielder Kenny Jackett as manager.
Watford finished third in the league in Boothroyd's first full season, and defeated Leeds United 3-0 in the play-off final to gain promotion to the Premier League.
Watford finished bottom after only winning five league games, but did reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
Watford led the Championship by several points early in 2007-08, but only finished sixth; Boothroyd's team were defeated 6-1 on aggregate by Hull City in the play-off semi-finals.
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.
Despite presiding over Watford's highest league position in four years, Dyche was dismissed as Watford manager in July 2012.
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.
In the following season - Glenn Roeder's third as manager - Watford struggled.
Following the relegation, Taylor became director of football, with former Watford midfielder Kenny Jackett as manager.
Watford finished third in the league in Boothroyd's first full season, and defeated Leeds United 3-0 in the play-off final to gain promotion to the Premier League.
Watford finished bottom after only winning five league games, but did reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
Watford led the Championship by several points early in 2007-08, but only finished sixth; Boothroyd's team were defeated 6-1 on aggregate by Hull City in the play-off semi-finals.
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.
Despite presiding over Watford's highest league position in four years, Dyche was dismissed as Watford manager in July 2012.
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.
At the end of the next season, in May 2017, Watford finished 17th and Mazzari resigned, replaced by Marco Silva.
30 minutes after he was sacked, former Watford manager Quique Sánchez Flores was yet again appointed.
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.
After a 4-1 loss to West Ham on the last league game of the season, Watford confirmed their highest ever points tally and finish in English Premier League football of 50 points and 11th place respectively, although they did finish 2nd with 71 points in the 1982-83 season of the English Football League.
In February 2020, Watford defeated Liverpool in a Premier League match, ending Liverpool's unbeaten run of 44 top-flight games in a row and 18 victories in a row.
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.
Watford Rovers played at several grounds in the late 19th century, including Cassiobury Park, Vicarage Meadow and Market Street, Watford.
The club's financial situation worsened following the purchase, and in 2002 Watford sold the ground for £6 million in a deal which entitled Watford to buy the stadium back for £7 million in future.
Luton remained in a higher division than Watford until 1963.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Watford and Luton met sporadically.
30 minutes after he was sacked, former Watford manager Quique Sánchez Flores was yet again appointed.
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.
After a 4-1 loss to West Ham on the last league game of the season, Watford confirmed their highest ever points tally and finish in English Premier League football of 50 points and 11th place respectively, although they did finish 2nd with 71 points in the 1982-83 season of the English Football League.
In February 2020, Watford defeated Liverpool in a Premier League match, ending Liverpool's unbeaten run of 44 top-flight games in a row and 18 victories in a row.
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.
Watford Rovers played at several grounds in the late 19th century, including Cassiobury Park, Vicarage Meadow and Market Street, Watford.
The club's financial situation worsened following the purchase, and in 2002 Watford sold the ground for £6 million in a deal which entitled Watford to buy the stadium back for £7 million in future.
Luton remained in a higher division than Watford until 1963.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Watford and Luton met sporadically.
The only meeting between those seasons - a League Cup tie in the 2002-03 season - was marred by violence inside Vicarage Road. 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 have played in a higher division than Luton between 2006-07 and the 2019-20 season, with Luton dropping out of the football league altogether for six seasons between 2009-10 and 2014-15.
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 1-0, so the spoils for the season were shared, but with Watford's promotion back to the Premier League for season 2021-22 confirmed just days later, the rivalry will once again have to be put on hold.
The head-to-head record between the clubs, in competitions which currently exist, stands at Luton 39 wins, Watford 27 wins, with 23 draws.
Watford have remained the higher ranked team at the end of every season since 1997 whilst Luton still have a many more years in a higher league throughout both teams history.
Over a fourteen-season span, Watford have played in a higher division than Luton between 2006-07 and the 2019-20 season, with Luton dropping out of the football league altogether for six seasons between 2009-10 and 2014-15.
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 1-0, so the spoils for the season were shared, but with Watford's promotion back to the Premier League for season 2021-22 confirmed just days later, the rivalry will once again have to be put on hold.
The head-to-head record between the clubs, in competitions which currently exist, stands at Luton 39 wins, Watford 27 wins, with 23 draws.
Watford have remained the higher ranked team at the end of every season since 1997 whilst Luton still have a many more years in a higher league throughout both teams history.
His three immediate successors - Fred Pagnam, Neil McBain and Bill Findlay - all played for Watford before and during the early part of their managerial tenures.
None were able to lead the team to promotion from the Third Division South, although Findlay did lead Watford to a Third Division South Cup win in 1937.
Up until Findlay's departure in 1947, Watford had been managed by five managers in 44 years, all of whom played for the team.
Of these, Aidy Boothroyd took Watford back to the Premier League in 2006, but Watford were relegated in 2007, and Boothroyd departed in 2008.
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.
None were able to lead the team to promotion from the Third Division South, although Findlay did lead Watford to a Third Division South Cup win in 1937.
Up until Findlay's departure in 1947, Watford had been managed by five managers in 44 years, all of whom played for the team.
Of these, Aidy Boothroyd took Watford back to the Premier League in 2006, but Watford were relegated in 2007, and Boothroyd departed in 2008.
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.
