WATFORD

("The Hornets")

Year formed1881
Turned professional1897
Limited company1909
Previous names

Watford Rovers: 1881 - 1893

West Herts: 1893 - 1898

Watford: 1898 - .

Ground

Vicarage Road Stadium, Vicarage Road, Watford, Hertfordshire WD18 0ER

(for pictures of the ground click here)

Pitch measurements115 x 75 yards (104 x 67 metres)
Ground capacity21,577
Record attendance at present ground34,099 v Manchester United, FA Cup 4th round replay, 3rd February 1969 (lost 0-2)
League career

Southern League Division Two: 1896 - 1900

Southern League Division One: 1900 - 1903

Southern League Division Two: 1903 - 1904

Southern League Division One: 1904 - 1920

Division Three: 1920 - 1921

Division Three (South): 1921 -  1958

Division Four: 1958 - 1960

Division Three: 1960 - 1969

Division Two: 1969 - 1972

Division Three: 1972 - 1975

Division Four: 1975 - 1978

Division Three: 1978 - 1979

Division Two: 1979 - 1982

Division One: 1982 - 1988

Division Two/One: 1988 - 1996

Division Two: 1996 - 1998

Division One: 1998 - 1999

Premiership: 1999 - 2000

Division One/Championship: 2000 - 2006

Premiership: 2006 - 2007

Championship: 2007 - 2015

Premier League: 2015 - 2020

Championship: 2020 - 2021

Premier League: 2021 - 2022

Championship: 2022 - .

First Football League game28th August 1920 v Queen's Park Rangers, Division Three, won 2-1
  
Honours 
European

None

Domestic - League

Division One runners-up: 1982-83

Division Two / Championship runners-up: 1981-82, 2014-15

Division Three/Two champions: 1968-69, 1997-98

Division Three runners-up: 1978-79

Division Four champions: 1977-78

Southern League Division One champions: 1914-15

Southern League Division One runners-up: 1919-20

Southern League Division Two champions: 1899-1900, 1903-04

Domestic - Cup

FA Cup runners-up: 1983-84, 2018-19

Division Three (South) Cup joint holders: 1936-37

Division Three (South) Cup runners-up: 1934-35

FA Youth Cup winners: 1981-82, 1988-89

FA Youth Cup runners-up: 1984-85

Best League positionsee above
Lowest League position15th, Division Four, 1958-59
Furthest in FA Cupsee above
Furthest in League CupSemi-final, 1978-79, 2004-05
  
Most League points 
2 for a win71, Division Four, 1977-78
3 for a win91, Championship, 2020-21
Fewest League points 
2 for a win19, Division Two, 1971-72
3 for a win24, Premiership, 1999-2000
Most League goals scored92, Division Four, 1959-60
Most League goals conceded89, Division Three (South), 1925-26
Fewest League goals scored24, Division Two, 1971-72
Fewest League goals conceded30, Championship, 2020-21
Most wins in a League season

30, Division Four, 1978-79

Fewest wins in a League season

5, Premiership, 2006-07

5, Division Two, 1971-72

Most draws in a League season19, Division Two, 1996-97
Fewest draws in a League season

5, Division One, 1982-83

5, Division Three (South), 1946-47

Most losses in a League season28, Division Two, 1971-72
Fewest losses in a League season5, Division Four, 1977-78
Record League win8-0 v Sunderland, Division One, 25 September 1982
Record Cup win10-1 v Lowestoft Town, FA Cup 1st round, 27 November 1926
Record League Cup win8-0 v Darlington, Littlewoods Challenge Cup 2nd round 2nd leg, 6 October 1987
Record defeat

0-10 v Wolverhampton Wanderers, FA Cup 1st round replay, 24 January 1912

Record League Cup defeat

3-7 v Nottingham Forest, Milk Cup 3rd round, 10 November 1982

  
Highest number of League goals scored 
in a season42, Cliff Holton, Division Four, 1959-60
in total148, Luther Blissett, 1976-83, 1984-88, 1991-92
  
Most League goals scored in one match5, Eddie Mummery v Newport County, Division Three (South), 5th January 1924
Most League appearances415, Luther Blissett, 1976-83, 1984-88, 1991-92

Most capped player

31, John Barnes for England

31, Kenny Jackett for Wales

Youngest League player16 years 125 days, Keith Mercer v Tranmere Rovers, 16th February 1973
Highest transfer fee received£35,000,000 for Richarlison to Everton, July 2018
Highest transfer fee paid£12,500,000 (reported) for Isaac Success from Granada, July 2016