Watford FC
Ground: Vicarage Road
Capacity: 22,200
Club Founded: 1881
League: EFL Championship (current level)
Watford FC was transformed in the 1970s from the time Elton John became chairman, as Graham Taylor took the side through the divisions, leaving an established outfit for the years that followed.
Watford FC History
The Early Years
The club was formed as Watford Rovers FC in 1881, playing home games in Cassiobury Park. The club changed its name to West Hertfordshire in 1893 and became a member of the Southern League three years later. In 1898, West Herts merged with Watford St Mary's to become Watford FC, moving to a new ground at Cassio Road.
Early nicknames were 'The Brewers' because the club was sponsored by Ralph Thorpe, chairman of Wells Brewery and Benskins Brewery. The breweries sponsored the purchase of a new ground for the club at Vicarage Road in 1924, as 'The Wasps' played in coloured hoops.
1920-1970
Watford played in the Southern League until 1920, when they became members of Division Three South, where they remained for the next thirty-seven years. Promotion to the Third Division was won in 1960 after the Football League became four divisions, then going up to the second tier before the end of the decade.
The following season, Watford reached the FA Cup semi-final before crashing out to Chelsea, with striker Barry Endean being a hero of the day. Up until 1960, the side was nicknamed 'The Blues' owing to the club colours of the time, before they changed to gold and black, and the name of 'The Hornets' was adopted.
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| My drawing of Vicarage Road, former club crests, and team kits. Click on the images to enlarge them. |
The Elton John Era
After being relegated twice in five years, the club got its break in 1976 when singer, shareholder and lifelong fan Elton John became Chairman and appointed a young Graham Taylor as manager the following year. Consecutive promotions were won while Vicarage Road was shod of its dog track.
Taylor also ensured both benches were uncovered as the fans had to stand on an uncovered Vicarage Road End. It was one of many PR masterstrokes, along with the introduction of the team playing in yellow, black, and red. In 1982, Watford reached the top flight for the first time in their history.
Graham Taylor's Miracle Men
Prominent players of the day included Wilf Rostron, Luther Blissett, John Barnes, and Ross Jenkins. They finished their debut season as runners-up to champions Liverpool, qualifying for the UEFA Cup the following season when they also reached the FA Cup final, going down 2-0 to Everton at Wembley.
Mo Johnston provided the goals during a fine European run. In 1987, Taylor left the club to join Aston Villa. Dave Bassett took over for just eight months as John Barnes was sold to Liverpool, and the Hornets were relegated before dropping down another division.
The New Millennium
Taylor returned, as the club began to rely more on youth to stabilise finances. Successive promotions were achieved, the latter against Bolton Wanderers in the Wembley playoff final. Their Premier League spell lasted just one season. The appointment of new manager Gianluca Vialli and big signings by new owners crippled the club financially.
Ray Lewington was appointed manager, taking the side to the FA Cup semi-final, where Southampton ended their run. He later took the Hornets to a League Cup semi-final before being replaced by Aidy Boothroyd. He led the side to promotion the following season after a playoff victory over Leeds United.
Ups and Downs On and Off the Pitch
Star players of the day were Jay DeMerit and Ashley Young. Again, their spell in the top flight lasted just one season. Despite this, Watford reached the FA Cup semi-final, where they lost to Manchester United. By the following November, Boothroyd had been sacked. Elton John resigned as Honorary Life President in protest.
Brendan Rodgers was appointed as the new boss while Graham Simpson resigned as Chairman of the club's holding company, leading to John returning to his role. Former Watford defenders Malky Mackay and Sean Dyche had spells as manager.
The Pozzo Era
In June 2012, the Italian businessman Giampaolo Pozzo, who also owned Udinese and the Spanish club Granada, bought Watford from Laurence Bassini. He replaced Dyche with Gianfranco Zola. His side went all the way to the playoff final, only to be defeated by Crystal Palace at Wembley.
The Italian legend departed as the owners' reputation for hiring and firing managers in quick succession was already underway. Sannino, Óscar García, Billy McKinlay, and Slaviša Jokanović had spells before the opening of the Sir Elton John Stand in December 2014, making Vicarage Road a four-sided enclosed stadium to be proud of.
Manager Merry-Go-Round
Troy Deeney and
After a good start to the season, Silva was sacked in January 2018, with Javi Gracia replacing him, taking the team to fourteenth place. Flores returned to succeed him before Nigel Pearson was recruited within three months as the Hornets dropped back down to the Championship.
Recent Years
Rob Edwards became manager in August 2022, before heading to Luton Town to be replaced by Slaven Bilić. Chris Wilder was the next manager, followed by Valérien Ismaël and then Tom Cleverley. To the fans' disgust, he was replaced in May 2025 by Paulo Pezzolano, who lasted just a few months before being succeeded by a returning Javi Gracia.
He resigned in February 2026, with Ed Still replacing him, who lasted just a few months. Alessio Dionisi was appointed as head coach for the start of the new season.
My visits
Watford 3 West Bromwich Albion 1
Division One - Saturday 4th February 1984
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I was at college in Borehamwood and was pals with the college's librarian, called Mark. He was an avid football fan, particularly of Watford. We used to have plenty of chats about my visits to grounds, so he offered me a lift to Vicarage Road for a game, which I readily accepted.
After parking up and having a McDonald's for lunch, this being in a time when they weren't everywhere and definitely not in Scarborough!, before heading to the ground. This was in the good old days when you could just turn up at a top-flight game and pay at the turnstile to stand up.
We stood in the Rookery. This was a big cover, set back from the pitch like all the stands, owing to the old greyhound track, with shallow terracing. The view wasn't brilliant, but the acoustics were fantastic. To the right was the East Stand with one old stand and a clumsy addition, and open family seating beyond it.
The far Vicarage Road End was an open terrace curved around the track with an electronic scoreboard at the back. The final side was open terracing around the corners before the Shrodell Stand, which had open bench seating in front of covered seats. It wasn't the best ground, but it had character and atmosphere. It helped that the team was at its peak at the time.
Watford ran out easy winners in the end despite an Albion flurry for a while. Mo Johnston scored with a great header at our end, with Jimmy Gilligan netting the other two. I thoroughly enjoyed my day out.
Watford 0 Tottenham Hotspur 1
Nigel Gibbs Testimonial Match - Saturday 3rd August 2002
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Colm, my Irish drinking pal, new to London, and I were at a loose end, so I suggested going on the tube up to Vicarage Road. He thought it a good idea as the weather was warm and we were ready for some live action after the 2002 Euro Championships.
Both of us would ideally have liked to have found a cash machine. There was none between the Metropolitan line station and the stadium. Crowds were gathering, and for reasons best known to ourselves, we went inside and hoped there would be a machine inside. Of course, there wasn't!
We had just enough for a pint and a half each at the prices for beer inside the Rookery Stand, but we knew everything about Nigel Gibbs as we had an hour before kick-off to read the programme. At least our seats were good in the large stand behind the goal, which was one tier with an upper and lower section.
A similar Vicarage Road Stand was at the far end, although it didn't hold as many fans. The East Stand remained the same, but on the left was the Sir Stanley Rous Stand. This had two tiers of seats separated by a row of corporate boxes. It was a much-improved venue than on my previous visit.
Watford Old Boys played a curtain raiser against Watford Internet FC, which was as thrilling as it sounds, followed by the main match. Spurs ran out winners in a tight game despite most of their first team having been rested for a prestigious friendly the following day. The only goal was scored by Tim Sherwood three minutes from the end.
We got away at the end and headed for the cash machine back in Willesden, followed by beers!
Several Games as a Vicarage Road Steward during the 2003-04 Season
I worked at Lord's Cricket Ground and gradually made many contacts, especially on big match days. My good friend Jeff dealt with a stewarding company called Recruit Event Services, and he arranged a meeting so I had the opportunity to work with them at several venues to supplement my meagre winter wages.
After doing the required training, I was given a list of events and venues where staff were needed. One of these was Vicarage Road and entailed stewarding both Watford and Saracens RFC games.
I went on to have many varied experiences in all of the stands. Sometimes I was on duty just inside the gates, monitoring and frisking the crowd in the away end, including Alastair Campbell for Burnley's visit, before being redeployed into the stands on general crowd control, including the hopeless task of asking fans to remain seated.
I hated this rule anyway, so I used a bit of tact as a football fan to chat with the visiting supporters to try to get them on my side. On other occasions, I did the home end, which was generally easier. I did a decent job, and this was recognised when I was placed in front of the away section on a little stool on a few occasions.
As I understood the game, I was put in charge. Basically, I had to keep one eye on the game, which suited me perfectly! Then get up and face the crowd if a goal was scored or a controversial incident occurred, forming a human barrier to deter fans from encroaching.
If anyone attempted to, and thank goodness no one did on my watch, it was our job to stop them. Pitch encroachment was a definite black mark against the person/s responsible and the company.
I'm glad some of my team weren't in the same back four as me, trying to implement the offside trap, as their concentration was often found wanting! Strangely enough, I always seemed to be unavailable, or do gigs at Wembley Arena instead of Vicarage Road if West Ham, Millwall or Luton were in town, all of which, of course, was completely coincidental!
Overall, I didn't mind the job at all. I was certainly never going to retire on the wages they paid me. We always met at Wembley Arena and travelled to the stadium by minibus for a briefing before the gates opened. We then went to our positions, ready to greet the fans. I went to all areas of the stadium, which was always interesting to me.
At full time, we waited for the crowds to leave before taking our tabards back and getting a lift back to Wembley. I enjoyed the rugby even more, especially the action on the pitch. Some fans were a bit snooty and couldn't see why they had to follow any alien ground regulations, but on the whole, they were fine.
Saracens were great with us, making sure we all got a baseball cap and club tie and ensuring we always got a hot drink and a pie in the second half. This was much appreciated and something the football club was often found wanting in.
My Matches as a Steward
Watford v Coventry City - Postponed
Division One - Saturday 9th August 2003
My debut tested the mettle of Watford and its people. We were in the stand awaiting our briefing when we were introduced to Chairman Graham Simpson. I thought that looked like a nice touch, him coming to introduce himself at the season's opener. His tone soon made me realise all was not well.
The match had been postponed owing to "tragic circumstances beyond their control". This saw all kinds of rumours circulating, some of which were pure guesswork in the days when social media was in its infancy. A bomb going off somewhere, problems with opponents, Coventry and Elton John dying were just some of them.
I was placed at the away turnstiles with a team at the corner of Vicarage Road and Occupation Road that ran behind the East Stand, so most fans would see us. We still weren't told the reasons for the postponement, but word was gathering pace that a Watford player had died overnight. We were pestered with questions as fans assumed we were in the know.
Some Coventry fans should have been ashamed of themselves for asking why they weren't informed to save a wasted journey and be told before the next of kin? The unofficial news broke that young winger Jimmy Davis, who was on loan from Manchester United, had been killed in the early hours in a road accident while twice over the drink-driving limit.
Naturally, there were many tearful home fans, some stoked with alcohol on a scorching day, as they began to lay flowers by the gates. At 3pm, many came from the pub, blew a whistle, and held a two-minute silence before leaving. We got away at about 4pm. It had certainly been a testing and emotional day for us all.
Here is a list of the other matches I worked at, with any standout memories from them.
Watford 1 AFC Bournemouth 0 - After Extra Time
League Cup Round One - Tuesday 12th August 2003
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The following game against AFC Bournemouth was also emotional, with some tremendous pre-match tributes. It was apparent that I was among many decent people, which put me at ease during my further shifts at Watford games.
Watford 0 West Bromwich Albion 1
Division One - Saturday 23rd August 2003
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I was placed in the away section towards the back. I got a decent bunch in my area who realised I was a football fan and helped me with requests.
Watford 1 Ipswich Town 2
Division One - Saturday 27th September 2003
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I thought I'd struck lucky when a gaggle of seats remained unoccupied in the away section, until a volatile bunch arrived late from the pub. They most certainly didn't help with requests.
Watford 1 Burnley 1
Division One - Tuesday 30th September 2003
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I got to frisk Alastair Campbell. Many suggested I should have turned him away.
Saracens 39 Harlequins 33
Rugby Premiership - Sunday 5th October 2003
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My first taste of top-level club rugby, and I loved it. Frenchman Thomas Castaignède quickly became my hero, producing a brilliant performance and bonding with the crowd.
Watford 1 Bradford City 0
Division One - Saturday 18th October 2003
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Watford 1 Coventry City 1
Division One - Tuesday 21st October 2003
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Watford 1 Rotherham United 0
Division One - Saturday 1st November 2003
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A wonderfully easy day with very few away fans. Those who had bothered attending picked up on my accent, making it even easier.
Saracens 31 London Irish 34
Rugby Premiership - Sunday 9th November 2003
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Saracens 29 Rotherham Titans 10
Rugby Premiership - Sunday 30th November 2003
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Saracens 82 Rugby Roma 5
European Challenge Cup - Sunday 14th December 2003
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I got to meet Richard Hill, one of England's World Cup winners, who seemed a nice bloke. I was less than happy being stuck behind the main stand while some pitchside staff couldn't care less about sport. I made my point vocally to get a half-time substitution.
Watford 1 Stoke City 3
Division One - Saturday 20th December 2003
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Saracens 32 Newcastle 27
Rugby Premiership - Sunday 22nd February 2004
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Watford 2 Derby County 1
Division One - Tuesday 16th March 2004
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Rams fans were not particularly happy, and I feared they were about to try to come onto the pitch as their team teetered just above the relegation zone. I was supposedly meant to block them if they did. Yeah, right!
Watford 2 Crewe Alexandra 1
Division One - Saturday 10th April 2004
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The downside of a team bringing hardly any supporters. I was redeployed into a busy home end for the second half. I was Mr Unpopular, stopping a fan with a bottle of beer from going back to his seat. It turned out to be my last game at the stadium as a steward, so in hindsight I should have looked the other way.
Return as a fan
England 6 Azerbaijan 0
Under-21 European Championship Qualifier - Thursday 1st September 2011
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This was an opportunity too good to miss. I had finished work for the weekend, and tickets were just £10 at the nearest League ground to where I now lived, plus I wanted my own photos of Vicarage Road.
I booked the tickets online, and they arrived by post. I was going with fellow Scarborough Athletic fan Ian Anderson, who was to come on the train from Milton Keynes after work so he could have a couple of beers. He arrived at Watford Junction before me, so he had a quick beer in The Flag while waiting. We then wandered towards the town centre.
I had done my research in advance, and before long, we were sitting in The One Crown sampling a fine pint of Speckled Hen. We were impressed with the pub but decided to try another one nearer the ground. We found The Oddfellows, which served us a pint bottle of London Pride, which was a perfect alternative to a draught pint.
Two minutes later, we were outside the stadium, where we tried food from a burger van, and walked down towards the Rookery End. This had changed since my last visit. A large block of flats was now in the corner over the turnstiles. We went in around the back and were soon in the sparsely populated stand. At least we had plenty of room to spread out.
To our left, a block in the corner built for hospitality and access had still not been completed, owing to cash running out. The whole Occupation Road stand was closed to spectators. The changing rooms were still in use, and a large set of dugouts, a TV gantry, and a studio were in place. The old Main Stand seats were covered with the old roof now removed.
England came out and dominated from the off. I really was proving to be an unlucky mascot to Azerbaijan, as on their previous visit to England I'd also been there when they shipped in seven at Milton Keynes. This evening in Watford was nearly as bad.
A free header from Craig Dawson, a spectacular volley from previous Watford loanee Henri Lansbury, and a special from the skipper, Jordan Henderson, sent the home side in at the break with the game already wrapped up. A visiting forward somehow managed to put a shot over the roof of our stand, which really did defy belief.
The second half offered more of the same, if a little more disjointedly. The team boss, Stuart Pearce, made a very popular call by bringing on Watford striker Marvin Sordell. Further goals were added by Lansbury, Dawson, and a thirty-yarder from Martyn Waghorn. Some of the goals were excellent, but it has to be said that some of the defending and goalkeeping certainly weren't.
I used my local knowledge so we could get up to the Vicarage Road End via the Rous Stand and therefore catch the action as we went. It also assisted my photography. At full time we got away rapidly, knowing we had time for a pint before our trains took us in different directions. Ian said he could catch one from Watford High Street, which suited me perfectly.
We went back to the One Crown, which was just a couple of minutes' walk away. I returned to Kingsbury to enjoy a few pints in my local Wetherspoons, knowing full well that I could relax the following morning. To round off a top evening, the goals were shown on TV before I called it a night.
Watford U23 1 Sheffield Wednesday U23 4
Professional Development League - Monday 19th September 2016
👨👨👧👧 c300 🎟️ Free
Checking through the fixtures for the forthcoming week on the excellent Soccerway site, I noticed that this fixture was due to be played at Vicarage Road rather than the training ground. A quick look at the Watford website confirmed the news. Even better, admission was free!
The trains were playing up on the Metropolitan line, so I travelled to Stanmore and then took the 142 bus, which deposited me near Watford High Street station. I walked up to the ground as quickly as I could, but realised that I’d probably miss kick-off.
There were no signs or stewards, so I tried to get in via the new stand and at the old Rookery End. Eventually, I got round to the Graham Taylor Stand, where a steward told me that they’d been up the road before the match but had been redeployed. I got my free teamsheet and took a seat upstairs with an excellent view.
One of the reasons I wanted to go along was to see how Vicarage Road looked now that the Sir Elton John Stand was finished. I was most impressed, especially with the lyrics to “Your Song” adorning the back wall.
I’d missed the opening goal, which saw the Hornets 1-0 up through Jerome Sinclair, their £4M signing from Liverpool. The home side also fielded their Jamaican international defender, Adrian Mariappa. Their coach was Harry Kewell.
Despite the experienced players, it was Wednesday who took the game by the scruff of the neck and bounced back when their captain, Jack Stobbs, saw his long-range shot slip from the grasp of Charlie Bannister and into the net.
Mariappa’s woeful back pass was pounced on by Devante Rodney, who slotted past Bannister. At the break, I had a look along the concourse at the fine displays of the club history. I was delighted to see Tommy Mooney, one of my all-time Scarborough heroes, had been remembered.
Watford put in a better display in the second half. Although they could have conceded further, they created a couple of decent efforts. Skipper Carl Stewart hit the outside of the post. However, it would be the Owls youngsters who travelled back up the M1 in a happy mood when Warren Clarke’s deflected effort made it 4-1.
I took the train from High Street to Kenton after the game. I had intended an early dry night as the deciding County Championship game between Middlesex and Yorkshire was starting the following day, when Wednesday fan and occasional drinking pal Mick Dev also got off. I ended up heading to the Moon under the Water at Colindale with beers with the usual suspects.
The old photos of Vicarage Road have been taken from the internet.
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