Watford Football Club is an English association football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. Formed on 15 April 1898 as a result of the amalgamation of two strong local clubs, Watford St. Mary's and West Herts. West Herts began life as Watford Rovers in 1881, and renamed West Herts in 1891, the team joined the Southern League in 1896. West Herts amalgamated with local rivals Watford St. Mary's for the start of the 1898–99 season, to form a new club, Watford Football Club.[2] Between 1898 and 1920, Watford competed in the Southern League, winning the championship in 1914–15. The Southern League was suspended for the next four seasons due to the First World War. On the league's resumption in 1919–20, Watford finished as runners up on goal average.[3] At the start of 1920–21, Watford joined the Football LeagueThird Division, and transferred to the Third Division South when the league was reorganised the following season. They have played in the Football League ever since, with the exception of 1939–1946, when competitive football was suspended due to the Second World War, and the 1999–2000 and 2006–07 seasons, when they competed in the Premier League. In addition to the latter two seasons, the club also competed in the top division of English football between 1982 and 1988,[4] achieving their highest league placing of second in the 1982–83 season.[5]
Many of Watford's individual records are held by former centre forwardLuther Blissett. He has made more Watford appearances (503, including substitute appearances) and scored more goals for the club (186) than anyone else. His corresponding totals in the Football League (415 appearances and 148 goals) are also Watford records.[5]Cliff Holton has scored the most goals for Watford in a single season; 48 in all competitions in the 1959–60 season, including 42 in the Football League.[5][6]Eddie Mummery's five-goal haul against Newport County on 5 January 1924 is the club record for goals scored by a player in a Football League match.[5] Watford's most-used goalkeeper is Skilly Williams, who played for the club 341 times between 1913 and 1926.[7]John Barnes and Kenny Jackett share the record for the most international caps won while playing for Watford. Barnes made his first 31 England appearances before transferring from Watford to Liverpool in 1987.[8] Jackett, a one-club man,[9] made the same number of appearances for Wales.[1] Seven people have played competitively for the club while managing them: John Goodall, Harry Kent, Fred Pagnam, Neil McBain, Bill Findlay, Ken Furphy, and most recently Mike Keen between 1973 and 1975.[10]
Key
This list contains players who have made 50 or more competitive appearances for Watford, since the amalgamation of West Herts and Watford St Mary's. Non-professional players (or any player who has not signed a first team contract) or any other academy player(s) are not on the list.[a] It includes appearances and goals in the Premier League, Football League, Southern Football League, FA Cup, Football League Cup, Football League Trophy, Full Members Cup, UEFA Cup and Anglo-Italian Cup. Appearances and goals in other competitions or non-competitive matches are not included. The table does not include appearances and goals from 1939–40; the season was abandoned after three matches due to the Second World War, and playing records from those matches were annulled.[12]
^Appearances made before the start of the 1898–99 season are not included, because West Hertfordshire and Watford St Mary's competed in the FA Cup as separate entities.[11]
^Years given denote the span between a player's first and last peacetime appearance—they do not take into account appearances for Watford while peacetime competitions were suspended due to the First and Second World Wars. Where a player spent multiple periods at the club, these periods are denoted as multiple ranges of years.
^ abBarnes and Jackett share the record for the most senior international caps won by a player while at Watford. Barnes made 31 appearances for England while at Watford; Jackett made 31 appearances for Wales during his one-club career.[1]
^Blissett holds the record for the most total appearances and goals for Watford. He also holds the club's records for the most Football League games and goals (415 games, 148 goals).[5]
^ abcdefghijkAlso played for Watford during the First World War.[29]
^Davies played for the senior Wales team in a wartime international match. Matches played during the Second World War were not subsequently recognised as full internationals, and are regarded as "unofficial".[35]
^Findlay was player-manager between 1937 and 1944, and continued managing until 1947.[10]
^Furphy was player-manager for the entirety of his Watford playing career, and continued as manager until 1971.[10]
^Goodall was player-manager for the entirety of his Watford playing career. He continued managing the club until 1910.[10] He is the oldest player ever to play for the club; on his last appearance he was 44 years 87 days old.[5]
^ abcdPlayer made additional appearances for West Hertfordshire prior to the start of the 1898–99 season.[52]
^Holton holds the Watford record for the most goals in a season; 48 in 1959–60.[6] His 42 goals in the Football League that season is also a club record.[5]
^Keen was player-manager between 1973 and 1975, and continued as manager until 1977.[10]
^Kent was player-manager between 1910 and 1913, and continued to manage the club until 1926.[10]
^McBain player-managed the club between 1929 and 1931. He continued managing until 1937, and returned for a second spell as manager between 1956 and 1959.[10]
^Mercer was the youngest player to play for Watford in a competitive match, aged 16 years 125 days.[5]
^Mummery holds the record for the most goals by a Watford player in a Football League match. He scored five times against Newport County on 5 January 1924.[5]
^Pagnam was player-manager between 1926 and 1927, and continued managing until 1929.[10]
^Although primarily a midfielder, Palmer played in every position for the club during the 1997–98 season.[76]
Positions, playing statistics and career spans from 1898–99 to 1997–98 sourced to: Jones, Watford Season by Season. pp. 225–241. Players with multiple spells at the club are cited individually.
Positions, playing statistics and career spans from 1998–99 onwards sourced to: "Watford player appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 April 2016. Career spans for players with multiple spells at the club are cited individually.
International representation up to and including May 1996 sourced to: Jones, The Watford Football Club Illustrated Who's Who. pp. 279–284. Players who made their international debut after May 1996 are cited individually.
^Courtney, Barrie (2 February 2005). "1996 matches: Africa". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 6 March 2011.
^Mamrud, Roberto; Stokkermans, Karel (11 December 2009). "Denmark:Record international appearances". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 26 February 2010.
^Alpuin, Luis Fernando Passo (6 November 2009). "Wales record international players". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 26 February 2010.
Clubs are grouped by their division in the 2023–24 season. Includes the Welsh clubs where lists have been created. 'POTY' = 'Player of the Year / Season'.