Watford F.C.

Watford Football Club is an English Football League team located in Watford, Hertfordshire. The team was formerly owned by Elton John, who is now honourary life president. Best known of the club's past managers is former England manager Graham Taylor, under whom the team rose from the Fourth Division to the old First Division (now the Premiership). In 1984 Watford reached the FA Cup final (they have also lost 3 semi-finals, most recently in 2003), and finished second in that Division the year before, but began a slow decline after that. Graham Taylor left the club in 1987, and they were relegated to the Second Division (now the Football League Championship) at the end of the 1987-1988 season. They remained there for eight seasons, during which time the Second Division became the First Division, and in 1996 they were again relegated to the Second Division.

Related Topics:
English Football League team - Watford - Hertfordshire - Elton John - Graham Taylor - Premiership - FA Cup - Football League Championship

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After his difficult years away at England and other clubs, fans' favourite Graham Taylor returned in 1997, and in his first season back led the team to an impressive Second Division championship, beating Bristol City into second place after a season-long struggle. Greater things were yet to come: the following season the team made it into the Play-offs, and beat Bolton Wanderers in the final at Wembley Stadium to gain promotion to the Premiership, the first club to get there from the Second Division in two straight seasons, but they were relegated after one season and have remained in the First Division (now the Championship) ever since.

Related Topics:
Bristol City - Play-offs - Bolton Wanderers - Wembley Stadium - Premiership - Championship

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The team plays at Vicarage Road, a stadium they share with Saracens Rugby Club. The team is known as the Hornets as a result of its yellow and black strip. The fans of the club maintain a rivalry with those of Luton Town F.C., which is generally good-natured but spilled over into violence in a cup tie between the clubs in 2002 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2249877.stm).

Related Topics:
Saracens Rugby Club - Luton Town F.C. - 2002

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