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.

The Graham Taylor era

When 32-year-old Graham Taylor was named as Watford's new manager at the start of the 1976-77 season, the club had just been taken over by world famous pop star Elton John and were an ungainly Fourth Division side. But thanks to the efforts of chairman, manager and playing staff, Watford had reached the First Division by the start of the 1982-83 season. Players like John Barnes, Ross Jenkins and Luther Blissett were some of the most respected players in the English game during the 1980's. Watford finished their first top flight season in style, finishing league runners-up behind champions Liverpool. An FA Cup final appearance followed in 1984, although Watford lost to Everton. After guiding Watford to a ninth-place finish in 1986-87, Taylor was lured away to Aston Villa and his successor Dave Bassett was dismissed after eight months in charge after a terrible start to the 1987-88 season.

Related Topics:
John Barnes - Ross Jenkins - Luther Blissett

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