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 return of Graham Taylor

Graham Taylor returned to Watford as Director of Football in February 1996, with former player Kenny Jackett as head coach, but was unable to stop the club from sliding into Division Two. After a mid-table finished in Division Two at the end of 1996-97, Jackett was demoted to the position of assistant manager and Taylor returned his old role as manager. The transition proved a success and Watford secured the Division Two championship in 1997-98. A second successive promotion followed in 1998-99, thanks to a playoff final victory which secured the club's promotion to the Premiership. The Premiership season started brightly with an early surpising victory over Liverpool, but soon faded away, and Watford were relegated after finishing bottom. Graham Taylor retired at the end of the 2000-2001 season (although just months later he returned to football management at Aston Villa), and was replaced in a surprise move by Gianluca Vialli, who had recently been sacked by Chelsea F.C.

Related Topics:
Liverpool - Aston Villa - Gianluca Vialli - Chelsea F.C.

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