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.

Cup success, poor league form

Lewington took charge of Watford for the 2002-03 season and brought in influential players such as Neal Ardley and Sean Dyche. The 2002-2003 season saw the club in severe financial difficulties, along with many League clubs, following the collapse of ITV Digital. Exacerbating the club's difficulties were the large payoffs they had had to make to Vialli and several players on terminating their contracts, and Vialli's decision to sue the club early in 2003. However, an unexpected run to the FA Cup semi-final generated vital cash and the club survived. The difficulties left their mark, though, and the team looked in danger of relegation for much of the 2003-2004 season, before a strong finish to the season saw them reach the safety of mid-table.

Related Topics:
ITV Digital - FA Cup

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The 2004-2005 season saw a continuation of the good form of the end of the previous season, with the club well in the upper half of the Championship after the first few games. However, a long run of poor form subsequently saw the club drop steadily towards the relegation zone. Another good cup run further eased the club's financial position, with the team reaching the semi-final of the League Cup before losing narrowly to Liverpool, but the club's poor league form saw Lewington sacked in March 2005. His sacking was controversial, and many fans were unhappy at the loss of a man who had led the club to two cup semi finals in three seasons.

Related Topics:
League Cup - Liverpool

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