Watford FC

Watford FC is an English club founded in 1881, based in Watford, Hertfordshire. Known as The Hornets, the club has a long tradition in English football and became world famous for its connection with Sir Elton John and for revealing talents such as John Barnes.

History

Founded in 1881, Watford FC spent decades in the lower divisions of English football until the 1970s, when it underwent a radical transformation. The arrival of Sir Elton John as president in 1976 and the hiring of coach Graham Taylor marked the beginning of a glorious era. With Taylor in charge, the club rose from the Fourth Division to the First Division in just four seasons, an extraordinary feat in English football. During this period, striker Luther Blissett and left winger John Barnes became club legends. In 1984, Watford reached the FA Cup final, losing to Everton 2-0. In the decades that followed, Watford alternated between the Premier League and the Championship, becoming a club with regular presence in the two main divisions of English football. In 2019, the club reached an FA Cup final again, this time being defeated by Manchester City 6-0 in one of the most one-sided finals in the competition's history. Known for an aggressive international recruitment policy and for revealing players from around the world, Watford is a mid-size club with big ambitions and a passionate fanbase that has Vicarage Road as their sanctuary for over a century.