Featured post

9th March 2024- Championship, Watford 1 Coventry City 2 after which Valerien Ismael was dismissed and replaced by Tom Cleverley who was named as Interim Head Coach

https://www.skysports.com/football/watford-vs-coventry-city/teams/485145

WFC.Net Goal Commentary: 1

Sky: Haji Wright scored twice as Coventry came from behind to beat Watford 2-1 at Vicarage Road.

BBC: Ryan Porteous put the home side in front after a bright start from the out-of-form hosts. USA forward Wright scored a penalty just before half-time to level after Josh Eccles was fouled, before adding another 18 minutes from time.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Watford 1 Coventry City 2

The drop and the chop – could one or both happen to Ismael?

Hornets’ home misery continues with Coventry defeat

Around five and a half hours after the game finished the club confirmed that Valerin Ismael had been dismissed as Head Coach and would be replaced by Tom Cleverley on an interim basis.

BBC: Watford have sacked boss Valerien Ismael following a run of only one win in 10 league games, with Tom Cleverley named as interim head coach.

Sky: Ismael was Watford’s 20th different manager since the Pozzo family took control of the club in 2020.

Watford Observer: Ismael sacked – Cleverley takes interim charge

Ismael sacked: he got more time than many but couldn’t survive this run

Sacked in March but Ismael’s January decisions were his downfall

BHappy: And so midway through the writing of this report the news breaks that has been coming, however reluctantly. Ten months is probably not far from average for a managerial tenure these days and any number of statistics will support the fact that most clubs in this position would have taken the same steps by now, not that this will prevent any tired hacks from wheeling out tired gags.

Fran’s Watford Blog: I went to a gig in the evening and, while travelling home, picked up the news that Valerien had gone. Given the terrible run of results that we have had lately, it was hardly a surprise. I just hope that Tom Cleverley can bring some of the magic that he has had with the youngsters to the first team. I certainly wish him well.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68454825

Featured post

9th March 2019- Premier League, Manchester City 3 Watford 1

Leave a Reply

Referee:
Paul Tierney
Attendance:
54,104

Goal 1

Watford lose 3-1 away at Manchester City in the Premier League

Raheem Sterling scores a hat-trick as Watford are beaten at Manchester City

Javi Gracia believes Raheem Sterling goal was clearly offside as Watford lose to Manchester City

Pep Guardiola has apologised for Raheem Sterling’s first goal against Watford for Manchester City

Watford players rated following their Premier League defeat to Manchester City

A selection of images as Watford lose to Manchester City

Javi Gracia defends decision to make seven changes for Watford’s Premier League game away at Manchester City

Raheem Sterling’s quick-fire second-half hat-trick sent Manchester City four points clear at the top of the Premier League, but there was controversy over the opener that broke down a stubborn Watford side.

Sterling’s first goal, 40 seconds after half-time, was initially ruled out for offside but after a long discussion, referee Paul Tierney overturned his own decision, with Daryl Janmaat’s attempted block just before Sterling struck ruled as having played the winger onside.

Janmaat’s involvement did not change some basic facts, namely that Sterling had been offside from Agüero’s flick-on and was going for the ball, prominently involved in play. Yet Tierney came away from a lengthy discussion with his assistant, Adrian Holmes, by deciding to overrule the original decision and declare Sterling was, in fact, onside. Confused? Well, join the club. Javi Gracia, the Watford manager, tries not to be a critic of referees and showed commendable restraint afterwards, noting only his belief it was very much the wrong decision. As for Guardiola, he pointed out that English football should have had VAR in place long before now.

Minute by minute report

Like the majority of Watford fans, I don’t travel to places like City expecting anything out of the game, so the fact that the home side had the vast majority of the possession and Watford had only the single shot on target came as no surprise. Unlike the trip to Liverpool, Watford were more effective in defence and, had the referee not interfered, the result may have been more favourable.

Featured post

9th March 2013- Championship, Watford 1 Blackpool 2

http://watford.fcdb.info/index.php?page=matches

WFC.Net goal commentary: 1

BBC: Blackpool scored two late goals at Watford to give Paul Ince his first win in five games since becoming the Tangerines’s manager on 18 February.

BHappy: we have what amounts to an extraordinary injury crisis by any normal standards. I’ve heard comments along the lines of “we’ve been lucky to avoid injuries”, but the truth is that we’ve had a few players out throughout. The current list includes Almunia, Abdi, Chalobah, Eustace, Hoban, Hall, Neuton, Smith with Ekstrand and Cassetti not fit to start. That’s a more than decent defence/midfield, arguably stronger than what we fielded yesterday. We have key players looking tired and out of form – worth bearing in mind the next time that Zola opts to rotate his squad. We had a number of key refereeing decisions go against us, a couple of them quite perversely so as discussed. And yet we were still unlucky to lose the game.

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=2013-03-09

https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-championship/09-march-2013/

Featured post

9th March 2010- Championship, Watford 0 Swansea City 1

Leave a Reply

Shefki Kuqi’s early goal gave promotion-chasing Swansea the win in a rip-roaring encounter at Vicarage Road.

Before Swansea shut us down completely in the latter stages of the second half, this was very far from hopeless. The reality was that a great deal of blood, sweat and tears went into the creation of any chances, whereas our opponents appeared able to glide effortlessly over the halfway line whenever they could be bothered and absent-mindedly missed a whole bunch of absolute sitters (apart from one, sadly) in the early minutes. Nevertheless, the response to going behind was terrific, a clear sign for those of an optimistic leaning that we’re not just going to slump into abject self-pity.

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=2010-03-09

https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-championship/09-march-2010/

Featured post

9th March 2003-FA Cup Sixth Round, Watford 2 Burnley 0

Leave a Reply

Goals from Tommy Smith and Stephen Glass in the last 20 minutes sent Watford into the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Cut Glass strikes gold for Watford

Various reports

https://oldwatford.com/2019/03/16/16th-march-2019-fa-cup-sixth-round-watford-2-crystal-palace-1/

Featured post

9th March 2002- New Division One, Crystal Palace 0 Watford 2

Leave a Reply

Transfer-listed duo Allan Nielsen and Marcus Gayle made Gianluca Vialli think again when they both scored in Watford’s win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

In first-half injury-time Allan Nielsen converted Stephen Glass’s centre, then two minutes after the interval Marcus Gayle beat Matt Clarke to another Glass cross.

At its start, a rather feeble turn-out of Watford fans – in either this season’s away performances or our recent record at Selhurst Bloody Park, it’d be hard to find a logical reason to swap nineteen quid for a seat in the Arthur Wait Stand – was taunted and ridiculed by the ever-charming locals. “Why don’t you all sit together?” they queried, looking at expanses of empty seats and occasional clumps of people. By the end, the same chants were being cheekily returned to the rapidly emptying home stands.

Pre-match, looking at the programme, my ‘escort’ was his usual optimistic self. “We haven’t beaten this lot since 93”. “All the more reason to be here than, in case we witness this rare event”. Looking around the fleapit that is Selhurst, that is the only reason.

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=2002-03-09

https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-1/09-march-2002/

Featured post

9th March 1996- New Division One, Watford 2 Oldham Athletic 1

Leave a Reply

Approaching this match, I think most Hornets felt that if we were unable to beat Oldham, there would be little point in playing out the rest of the season. I mean, if you can’t beat Oldham, who can you beat?

Both sides must have seen this game as a vital one – a chance to start turning things around. That was reflected in the match – I think we’re unlikely to see much pretty football between now and the end of the season. Players like Tommy Mooney come into their own at times like these, simply because they never say die, never accept that a cause is lost and that attitude spreads to other players.

Featured post

9th March 1991- Division Two, Watford 1 Newcastle United 2

Leave a Reply

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=1991-03-09

https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-two/09-march-1991/

Featured post

9th March 1985- FA Cup Fifth Round Second Replay, Luton Town 1 Watford 0

Leave a Reply

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=1985-03-09

Featured post

9th March 1982- Division Two, Watford 4 Queens Park Rangers 0

Leave a Reply

Watford Observer match report

Featured post

9th March 1979- Watford Observer

Featured post

9th March 1977- Division Four, Barnsley 1 Watford 1

The game was originally scheduled for 3rd January 1977 but was postponed.

https://watford.fcdb.info/index.php?page=matches

Watford Observer match report

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=1977-03-09

https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-four/09-march-1977/

Featured post

9th March 1974- Division Three, Watford 1 AFC Bournemouth 1

Leave a Reply

Watford Observer match report

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=1974-03-09

https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/09-march-1974/

Featured post

9th March 1973- Division Three, Southend United 0 Watford 0

Leave a Reply

Watford Observer match report

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=1973-03-09

https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/09-march-1973/

Featured post

9th March 1973- Watford Observer

Apologies that some of the text is missing on the right side of the newspaper. Unfortunately this was how the original copy was scanned.

Featured post

9th March 1968- Division Three, Mansfield Town 1 Watford 2

Watford Observer match report

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=1968-03-09

https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/09-march-1968/

Featured post

9th March 1963- Division Three, Watford 0 Barnsley 1- Match abandoned at half time due to a waterlogged pitch

Leave a Reply

The scoreline written on the programme relates to the rearranged game played just three days later.

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=1963-03-09

https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/09-march-1963/

Featured post

9th March 1962- Division Three, Watford 1 Southend United 3

Leave a Reply

Watford Observer match report

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=1962-03-09

https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/09-march-1962/

Featured post

9th March 1962- Watford Observer

Featured post

9th March 1921- Friendly, Watford 4 Queens Park Rangers 1

Benefit game for Fred Gregory and Reg Williams.

Many thanks to Nick Guoth who runs the excellent www.qpr-prog.co.uk site for the programme scan.

https://www.watfordfcarchive.co.uk/fixture/1921-03-09

27th February 2026- Championship, Bristol City 1 Watford 2

Watford Observer: Team news: Goglichidze should return and ‘probably too early’ for Bove to start

Watford aiming to maintain good record after referee named for City trip

Still on back three option and where Bove and ‘class act’ Ekwah fit

Still: ‘It’s up to me to get Chakvetadze shining again’

Still claims Mfuni’s potential compares to current Man City centre-back Khusanov

Bristol City have one fit centre-back for Watford clash

Still addresses the need for Watford to string wins together quickly

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY AS IT HAPPENED: Bristol City 1-2 Watford

Match Report: Ngakia stunner earns crucial 2-1 win at Bristol City

Still: Watford starting to believe in each other after Ngakia ‘worldie’

Still asked ‘knackered’ players and staff for one more push at half-time

Head coach on Selvik’s response to Ipswich and Kjerrumgaard’s ‘high-level’ movement

Mfuni: ‘I’m loving every second of it’

In the race? Assessing Watford’s play-off chances

BBC: Jeremy Ngakia’s sublime second-half strike gave Watford victory at Championship play-off rivals Bristol City, who they leapfrogged in the table up to seventh.

Sky: The visitors took a seventh-minute lead when Giorgi Chakvetadze’s penetrating run down the right found Edo Kayembe, who pulled the ball back from the byline for Luca Kjerrumgaard to fire home from six yards. But City were level in the 36th minute when Scott Twine powered a close-range header past Egil Selvik from an inviting Adam Randell cross from the right.

Fran’s Watford Blog: The celebrations after the final whistle were joyous. The crowd was bouncing and, once the pleasantries with the officials and the opposition had been completed, the players all came over to greet the crowd. Ed Still came over pumping his fist at the crowd. Then Irankunda and Mfuni joined in, taking it in turns and fist pumping in unison as the crowd cheered. Finally, after finishing their interviews with Sky Sports, Ngakia and Kjerrumgaard came over to celebrate. Ngakia was beaming as he clutched his man of the match award. His smile broadened even further when he was serenaded with “Came from West Ham on a free. His name is Jeremy.” Wonderful stuff. I may have gone to the game on my own, but I was treated to lots of smiling faces and hugs on my way out of the ground.

From the Rookery End: Back at their spiritual home of The Railway Arms in Oxhey, Jon, Jordi and Jason reflect on a week that perfectly sums up Watford’s season so far. From the frustrating 2-0 home defeat to Ipswich to the much brighter 2-1 response away at Bristol City, the lads dig into what Ed Still tweaked — and what it might mean going forward.

24th February 2026- Championship, Watford 0 Ipswich Town 2

Watford Observer: Team news: Maamma and Baah unlikely to feature against Ipswich

How Still has changed the way Watford train, with 45 minutes on pitch pre-Ipswich

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY AS IT HAPPENED: Watford 0-2 Ipswich Town

Five talking points from Watford’s defeat to Ipswich

Match Report: Ipswich inflict first defeat on Still with 2-0 win at Watford

WATCH: Immediate reaction to Watford 0-2 Ipswich Town

Still reflects on ‘game of two halves’ after Watford beaten 2-0 by Ipswich

Still explains change in system was due to injured wingers

Watford striker Doumbia handed three-match ban for Ipswich shove

BBC: Ipswich Town revived their hopes of automatic promotion as Sindre Walle Egeli and George Hirst gave them victory over Watford at Vicarage Road.

Sky: Kieran McKenna’s visitors moved up to third by getting the better of Ed Still’s play-off hopefuls, who saw Tom Ince’s late penalty saved by Town goalkeeper Christian Walton.

Fran’s Watford Blog: It was a disappointing performance after the great showing against Derby. Still started with five at the back, but we didn’t really get going in the first half. There was a better showing in the second half, and we created some decent chances, but Ipswich were worthy winners. I have to say that in both games that we have played against them, I thought that Ipswich were the best team that I have seen this season. While the team performance left something to be desired, Mfuni was outstanding again, his composure on the ball is remarkable in one so young. Abankwah, who had been outstanding on Saturday had a few dodgy moments on this occasion. Our attacking play definitely suffered due to the absence of Maamma. The news that he will be missing for some time is a cause for concern. It was good to see Bove get some time on the pitch. He is clearly a talented footballer, and I look forward to seeing a lot more of him in the future.

21st February 2026- Championship, Watford 2 Derby County 0

Watford Observer: Eustace is winless from his five matches against Watford as a manager

Derby County preview: Play-off hopes on the line in three-game week

Irankunda ‘itching’ to return and accepts blame for suspension

‘The Matchday Edition’ – Watford launch new physical post-match publication

Team news: Pollock ‘touch-and-go’, Ngakia returns, Baah trains ‘really well’

Still knows it’s a big week for play-off hopes – but wants to stay present

Still wants balance between patience and ‘vertical football’ to beat Derby

https://www.watfordfc.com/news/2026/february/21/digital-digest-derby-edition

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY AS IT HAPPENED: Watford 2-0 Derby County

Five talking points as Watford beat Derby to give Still first victory

Match Report: Kjerrumgaard and Doumbia end winless run as Derby beaten 2-0

WATCH: Immediate reaction to Watford 2-0 Derby County

Still believes Watford are ‘connecting again’ after Derby win

Maamma and Baah to be assessed after Derby injuries

Derby shut-out proved Abankwah is becoming the complete defender

Still on ‘winner’ Goglichidze, ‘big brother’ Kayembe and scoring strikers

Derby boss Eustace: Watford wanted it more than us

Still identifies where Watford can improve further after first win

BBC: Watford ended a run of seven Championship games without victory by beating play-off rivals Derby County.

Sky: It also extended a remarkable streak in this fixture, with Watford recording their sixth successive win over their opponents.

BHappy: So it’s hugely reassuring when we score within the first few minutes. It’s never anything but a delight to score at any time of course but here it’s particularly pivotal… the goal affords us the luxury of being able to hold Derby at arm’s length and, when they’re forced to commit forward to recover the game, to hit them with blistering counterattacks. Pretty much exactly what Derby would have chosen to be able to do to us, you suspect, and one caveat to the afternoon is the uncertain answer to the question, “How well would we have coped with having to chase the game?”.

From the Rookery End: After a winless run of 7 games, Watford marked Ed Still’s first home game in charge with a comprehensive win over fellow Play Off hopefuls Derby County.

14th February 2026- Championship, Preston North End 2 Watford 2

Watford Observer: Still calls on Watford to unite for play-off push

Bove will be on the bench at Preston as Still targets front-foot style

Preston preview: Still needs wins straight away, that’s the reality

Match Wrap: Preston North End 2-2 Watford – Watford FC Download

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY AS IT HAPPENED: Preston North End 2-2 Watford

Match Report: Still’s Watford bow ends in ding-dong 2-2 at Preston

Still felt Watford did enough to win after Baah changed the game at Preston

Bove received dressing-room applause after emotional return to football

Still on why he selected four centre-backs: ‘It’s Preston away’

Preston verdict: How did Ed Still fare in his first match as Watford head coach?

BBC: Second-half substitute Milutin Osmajic rescued a draw for Preston to deny Ed Still victory in his first game as Watford’s new head coach.

Sky: Preston had taken the lead through a well-taken Lewis Dobbin strike in the 19th minute but were pegged back by Othmane Maamma’s cool 55th-minute leveller and fell behind due to an unfortunate own goal from Odel Offiah two minutes later.

BHappy: Since the half is characterised by North End being run ragged, they end the game utterly exhausted as every passing minute brings the possibility of victory closer. They’ll argue that the blocks and the deflections and the bodies earned their point, but nobody could have argued if one of the many chances had gone in to decide the game, least of all a sublime volley from Formose Mendy which span off the inside of the post, rolled along the goalline, by-passed the far post and went out for a goal kick. By this time a fine chant (new to my ears) had gained traction, celebrating Big and Little Mendy in turn to the tune of 2 Unlimited’s “No Limit”.

From the Rookery End: Watford travelled to Deepdale and returned with a 2-2 draw against Preston — a result that, for a first game under a new Head Coach, looks decent… but still leaves the same lingering annoyance. With the season entering the business end, draws aren’t enough, and the pressure is building to start turning draws into wins.

9th February 2026- Ed Still appointed as new Watford Head Coach

Official: Hornets Appoint Still As Head Coach – Watford FC Download

Watford Observer: Ed Still profile: Find out more about Watford’s new head coach

Watford announce Ed Still as their new head coach

Ed Still and Scott Duxbury’s first words on head coach appointment

Scepticism is understandable – but Pozzo’s left-field appointments often work best

National journalists and Troy Deeney react to Ed Still appointment

Still’s coaching staff takes shape as duo stay on

Still: ‘I know I’m not the biggest name – but stick with us’

BBC: Championship side Watford have appointed Edward Still as their head coach on a two-and-a-half-year contract.

Ed Still has promised Watford fans “fast, attacking football” from his team as he looks to make a winning start as head coach.

From the Rookery End: Ed Still Special: In Conversation with Watford’s new Head Coach

7th February 2026- Championship, Southampton 1 Watford 0

Watford Observer: Why Southampton v Watford will kick off at 12.31 on Saturday

Referee named for Watford’s trip to Southampton

Daniels demanding ‘same energy, enthusiasm and quality’ at Saints

‘We want to be effective with the ball’ – How Daniels wants Watford to play

When we next play them it would be lovely if we could come up with a similar image for that leaflet that now masquerades as a programme featuring the 7-1, the 4-1 win in 1982, the Chris Nicholl nightmare in 1983, the 3-2 in 1999, the 5-2 in 2004 and the 5 consecutive wins against them from 2005-2008.