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Watford Football Club is an English football club from Watford, Hertfordshire. Formed as Watford Rovers in 1881, the club entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886. In the same year, they also entered the county-wide Herts Senior Cup, reaching the final six times over the next ten years. Watford Rovers became West Hertfordshire in 1893, and joined the Southern League for the 1896–97 season. The team started to change from one composed entirely of amateurs to one including paid professionals. In 1898, West Hertfordshire merged with Watford St Mary's to form Watford Football Club.〔Jones, ''Watford Football Club Illustrated Who's Who'' p. 9〕 The club participated in the Southern League from 1896 until 1920, experiencing considerable success. They won six league titles in this period, including the Southern League First Division in 1914–15.〔Jones, ''Watford Season by Season'' pp. 60–61〕 After the resumption of Southern League football following a four-year hiatus due to the First World War, Watford missed out on a second consecutive title in 1919–20 on goal average. They joined the Football League Third Division in the 1920–21 season, and following its subsequent reorganisation became founder members of the Third Division South in 1921.〔Phillips pp. 52–53〕 Watford competed in the Third Division South for the next 37 years, with little success. Fred Pagnam finished as the Division's top scorer in 1922–23,〔Jones, ''Watford Season by Season'' p. 69〕 the club reached the final of the Third Division South Cup in 1935 and 1937 (winning on the latter occasion),〔Jones, ''Watford Season by Season'' pp. 92–98〕 and Len Dunderdale scored 21 goals for Watford in 1938–39 despite leaving mid-way through the season.〔Jones, ''Watford Season by Season'' p. 101〕 The team started to progress after the reorganisation of the Football League into four national divisions in 1958. They won promotion to the Third Division in 1960, the Second Division in 1969, and reached the FA Cup semi-final in 1970. However, the league progress was reversed with two relegations over the next five years, and in 1976–77 Watford were briefly bottom of the entire Football League.〔 A turning point in the club's history came in the late 1970s. Singer, shareholder and lifelong Watford supporter Elton John became chairman in 1976, and appointed Graham Taylor as manager in 1977. The club achieved consecutive promotions between 1977 and 1979, and reached the First Division for the first time in their history in 1982.〔Phillips pp. 196–223〕 Furthermore, in 1982–83 Watford finished second in the First Division, and Luther Blissett was the division's top scorer with 27 goals. Consequently, Watford qualified for the UEFA Cup in 1983–84. They also reached their first FA Cup final, losing 2–0 to Everton at Wembley Stadium.〔 Following Taylor's departure in 1987, Watford were relegated in 1988.〔Jones, ''Watford Football Club Illustrated Who's Who'' pp. 275–276〕 Watford remained in English football's second tier for eight seasons, until they were relegated in 1995–96.〔 Taylor returned as manager in 1997, and for the second time in his career led Watford to consecutive promotions, although he was unable to prevent relegation from the Premier League in 1999–2000.〔 In the 21st century Watford have reached two FA Cup semi-finals, one League Cup semi-final, and spent a further season in the Premier League after winning the 2006 Football League Championship play-off final under the management of Aidy Boothroyd.〔〔 ==Key== *South 1 = Southern League First Division *South 2 = Southern League Second Division *South 2L = Southern League Second London Division *Premier League = Premier League *Championship = Football League Championship *Division 1 = Football League First Division *Division 2 = Football League Second Division *Division 3 = Football League Third Division *Division 3S = Football League Third Division South *Division 4 = Football League Fourth Division *BCCL = Bucks & Contiguous Counties League *United = United League *P = Games played *W = Games won *D = Games drawn *L = Games lost *F = Goals for *A = Goals against *Pts = Points *Pos = Final position *PR = Preliminary Round *QR1 = First Qualifying Round *QR2 = Second Qualifying Round *QR3 = Third Qualifying Round *QR4 = Fourth Qualifying Round *QR5 = Fifth Qualifying Round *QR6 = Sixth Qualifying Round *R1 = Round 1 *R2 = Round 2 *R3 = Round 3 *R4 = Round 4 *R5 = Round 5 *QF = Quarter-finals *SF = Semi-finals *F = Final *W = Winners 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「List of Watford F.C. seasons」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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