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6th May 2025- Tom Cleverley is sacked as Watford Head Coach

Club Statement: Tom Cleverley – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Watford have sacked head coach Tom Cleverley after the team failed to reach the Championship play-offs.

Sky: Though Cleverley’s dismissal represents Watford’s 10th sacking in the last five years, he leaves as the third-longest-serving manager since Gino Pozzo took over as owner in 2012.

Guardian: The sporting director, Gian Luca Nani, said: “We thank Tom for his service – not just in his role as head coach but for everything he has given Watford as a player and member of staff.

Watford Observer: Tom Cleverley sacked as Watford head coach

Blissett brands Cleverley sacking ‘a total and utter farce’

RECAP: reaction as Watford sack Tom Cleverley

Sorrow, sympathy and support – but sadly nothing Watford do shocks us anymore

‘Could this be the sacking that tips people over the edge?’

From the Rookery End: DCW was joined by Mike and Jas to discuss Gino Pozzo’s decision to sack one of the most popular Head Coaches in recent Watford history. The trio try to make sense of the decision, and in doing so question what future Watford can hope to have under the leadership of Pozzo, Duxbury and Nani.

The following day the club released a statement from Gino Pozzo

Owner Statement: Gino Pozzo – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Gino Pozzo: The man behind Watford’s manager churn

Watford Observer: Pozzo: ‘We believe we made correct decision for the good of the football club’

New name comes from nowhere to be bookies’ favourite for Watford job

‘94 per cent’ of Watford fans disagree with Cleverley sacking

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6th May 2017- Premier League, Leicester City 3 Watford 0

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https://www.watfordfcarchive.co.uk/fixture/2017-05-06
Watford Observer

RELIVE: Hornets throw in the towel as Leicester put three past Mazzarri’s men

More away misery for Watford following another defeat

Mazzarri cites footballing reasons for Deeney omission

Mazzarri: Margin of defeat doesn’t reflect how game went

RATINGS: Poor individual performances in King Power defeat

Doucoure frustrated by set-piece woes

BBC Sport Leicester City guaranteed their Premier League survival with a deserved home victory over struggling Watford.

sky Leicester maintained their perfect home record under Craig Shakespeare in the Premier League as they beat Watford 3-0 on Saturday.

Telegraph Walter Mazzarri’s future as Watford manager appears increasingly precarious and it is Craig Shakespeare who looks far more likely to be in the technical area next season.  A fifth successive away defeat without scoring will pile more pressure on Mazzarri, while his decision to drop Troy Deeney is unlikely to generate support with the majority of supporters.

Independent Leicester cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Watford to all-but seal Premier League safety.

guardian A year can be a long time in football. Twelve months after the 5,000-1 shots were crowned Premier League champions here, goals from Wilfred Ndidi, Riyad Mahrez and Marc Albrighton secured a victory for Leicester that moved them into the top half of the table for the first time since September.

BHappy image There are days when it’s just a bad idea all round.  The great empty swathes of seats in the away end for what should be a popular trip – local-ish, easy to get to, against the League Champions to boot – suggested that plenty had had the same thought.  Dad nearly didn’t make it, Daughter 1 pondered whether she should forego the afternoon in favour of preparation for her forthcoming SATs.  Meanwhile the pre-match pub turned out to be closed;  we opted for an alternative next to the station, but beat a disorientated path from the pub in entirely the wrong direction until we sorted ourselves out.  Sometimes the world is trying to tell you something.

English Premier LeagueTable »
Bournemouth2-2Stoke City 
Burnley2-2West Bromwich Albion 
Hull City0-2Sunderland 
Leicester City3-0Watford 
Manchester City5-0Crystal Palace 
Swansea City1-0Everton
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6th May 2006- Championship Playoff Semi-Final First Leg, Crystal Palace 0 Watford 3

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http://watford.fcdb.info?id=4713

BBC SportWatford scored three second-half goals to take a commanding lead into the second leg of their play-off tie.

Sunday Telegraph, 7 May 2006
Independent, 7 May 2006
Daily Telegraph, 8 May 2006
Mirror, 8 May 2006
Evening Standard, 8 May 2006

BSAD imageBSAD reports: It had to be Selhurst. Of all the places, it had to be Selhurst. Scene of so many humiliations, disappointments, and dreary fizzles over so many years. The place where Curcic and his ludicrous goatee cheated us out of a deserved win. Where Glenn Roeder’s tenure came to such a decisive end. Where our short trip to the Premiership found its nadir, hammered by a team that was eventually relegated with us. Where Wayne Brown once had a shot that not only went out for a throw, but a throw level with where he’d struck the ball.

I haven’t slept for a week. The ambivalent feelings that I’ve had all season about the prospect of Premiership football next year have disappeared and been replaced by an overwhelming desire to see this wonderful group of lads playing ‘where they should be’.

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6th May 2001- New Division One, Burnley 2 Watford 0

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GT’s last game in charge of Watford.

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http://watford.fcdb.info?id=4453

BSAD imageIt wasn’t supposed to end like this, was it? Not with a pretty comprehensive defeat against a side that is the very definition of the word “functional”. Not with ninth place, perching uncomfortably between the playoffs and the mid-table wastelands. Not with farewell waves and kisses in front of hundreds of rudely intruding Burnley fans, held back by a fragile line of police and stewards. Not with the bitterness and acrimony that surrounds the simultaneous departures of Messrs Jackett, Blissett and Walley.

Then again, it wasn’t supposed to end at all. Fairytales always conclude with “happily ever after”.

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To mark the occasion of Graham Taylor’s retirement all the Watford fan publications came together to produce a special fanzine paying tribute to our Greatest Manager.

https://oldwatford.com/2017/01/12/theres-only-one-graham-taylor/

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6th May 2000- Premier League, Middlesbrough 1 Watford 1

This was the game where a big ‘We’re out of your league’ relegation party was held by the travelling Hornets supporters.

http://watford.fcdb.info/index.php?page=matches
Sunday Telegraph, 7 May 2000
Guardian, 8 May 2000
Daily Telegraph, 8 May 2000

BSAD: This is our reality. We shouldn’t have to explain or justify it, and we’ve finally stopped trying. Which is perhaps why I was walking through Middlesbrough town centre on Saturday, accompanied by a bunch of freaks in shorts, wigs, hats, face (and beard) paint and t-shirts, playing kazoos and carrying Winnie the Pooh balloons. There were a few sarcastic comments…mostly, though, we were greeted with looks of comical bemusement.

BSAD: Slowly the faces were painted, the kazoos given out (we finally all worked out which end to blow them!), the balloons handed round and the yellow pages torn into tiny shreds of confetti! The police walked in – “Z Cars” on kazoos is a wonderful sound – and offered us an escort to the ground. By this time the pub was resounding to the sound of upwards of two hundred Hornets singing their hearts out with renditions of “EJ’s Taylor-made army”, “GT’s having a party” and a variety of others to numerous to mention here

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=2000-05-06
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/premier-league/06-may-2000/
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6th May 1982- FA Youth Cup Final Second Leg, Watford 4 Manchester United 4 (After Extra Time, Watford won 7-6 on aggregate)

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The Guardian, 7 May 1982
Daily Telegraph, 7 May 1982

Watford Observer match report

https://oldwatford.com/1982/05/11/11th-may-1982-friendly-watford-2-royal-sporting-lokeren-1/

3rd May 2026- Ed Still is sacked as Watford Head Coach

Watford Observer: Ed Still sacked as Watford head coach after miserable end of season

LIVE: Reaction as Ed Still is sacked as Watford head coach

WATCH: Immediate video reaction to Ed Still leaving Watford

Ed Still sacked – but that won’t fix the dysfunction at Watford

BBC: Watford have sacked head coach Ed Still after less than three months in charge at Vicarage Road.

2nd May 2026- Championship, Watford 0 Coventry City 4

Watford Observer: Coventry are a great example for Watford to follow, says Still

Ed Still reacts to reports he is set to leave Watford

Duxbury outlines recruitment plan as he addresses mistakes and ‘strong foundations’

Watford Observer: Pollock crowned Watford’s 2025/26 Player of the Season

MATCHDAY AS IT HAPPENED: Watford 0-4 Coventry City

Match Report: 4-0 Coventry loss completes Watford’s worst end to a second-tier season

WATCH: Immediate reaction to Watford 0-4 Coventry City

‘You can evaluate the team by the energy in the stands’

Still reflects on miserable finale to Watford’s season – and what next

BBC: Ellis Simms scored a hat-trick as Premier League-bound Coventry City waved goodbye to the second tier with victory over Watford at Vicarage Road.

Sky: Cheered on by around 2,000 fans bedecked in sky blue, Frank Lampard’s side ended a memorable season with 95 points and 97 goals. By contrast, swathes of empty seats in the Watford sections spoke volumes about the apathy that has engulfed a club which appears to be directionless after another mediocre mid-table campaign.

BHappy: The low key awards ceremony was the right call, I think. Pomp and ceremony in the middle of the pitch would have been inappropriate, misreading the room… but at the same time, not doing the awards would have felt dreadfully performative, perversely. Melodramatic. As if an(other) underwhelming season is somehow beyond the pale. We’re Watford, after all. Lower mid table is going to happen and is part of the story. “Watford ’til I die”, not “Watford ’til I die unless we’re a bit crap again”. That doesn’t mean you have to enjoy it, but let’s not go clutching our pearls.

Fran’s Watford Blog: The awards were presented prior to kick-off with Mattie Pollock deservedly winning Player of the Season. Maamma was equally deserving of the Young Player of the Season award. While Jeremy Ngakia won Goal of the Season for his tremendous strike away to Bristol City.

From the Rookery End: A season that promised something—maybe not everything, but something—ends with a whimper, five straight defeats, and a performance that barely felt worth dissecting.

25th April 2026- Championship, Middlesbrough 5 Watford 1

Watford Observer: Team news: Ekwah returns for Middlesbrough, Ngakia and Bola closer to starts

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY AS IT HAPPENED: Middlesbrough 5-1 Watford

Match Report: Watford complete miserable away run with 5-1 Boro loss

WATCH: Immediate reaction to Middlesbrough 5-1 Watford

Still: Reset needed ‘on many points’ as Boro defeat shows lack of togetherness

BBC: Middlesbrough remain in the race for automatic promotion from the Championship as they demolished mid-table Watford.

Sky: Boro’s 5-1 victory was their joint-biggest win of the season and came courtesy of doubles from Morgan Whittaker and Tommy Conway plus a goal from David Strelec. Watford’s goal came at the start of the second half from James Abankwah, but while the visitors were a match for their opponents for most of the first period, they were comprehensively outplayed after the break.

Fran’s Watford Blog: Ed Still’s team selection had been interesting. He had dropped the youngsters for a more experienced line up and it had worked. Not only did the team look more solid, but it was a surprisingly attacking performance and we were very unlucky to be behind at half time. Once the wholesale changes were made and the youngsters brought on just after the hour mark, it fell apart. But the hosts certainly had luck on their side with a couple of the goals, and the penalty was a silly mistake by Abankwah.

21st April 2026- Championship, West Bromwich Albion 3 Watford 0

Watford Observer: Can Watford provide some optimism at motivated West Brom?

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY LIVE: West Brom 3-0 Watford

Match Report: Watford sink without a trace again in 3-0 West Brom defeat

Still insists Watford players are hurting after ‘hugely painful’ defeat

Non-response at West Brom marks this out as Watford’s worst end-of-season run

BBC: West Bromwich Albion secured their Championship survival as they eased past sorry Watford at The Hawthorns.

Sky: Isaac Price scored the first goal and made the second for Daryl Dike’s second in as many games before half-time as James Morrison’s side made it nine games unbeaten. On-loan Crystal Palace right-back Danny Imray scored a deserved third goal for the Baggies, who made it 488 minutes without conceding.

Fran’s Watford Blog: This was an awful game with almost no redeeming features. There was a lack of energy in the performance, but I put that down to a lack of confidence among a group of young players for whom nothing seems to be working. I don’t see a lack of effort from the majority of the players. Maamma was, again, a constant threat and I really wish his late shot had gone in as he deserved a goal. The other positive was the return of Ngakia who we have missed since he was injured. But we were well beaten on the night, and it is hard to see us getting any more points this season.

18th April 2026- Championship, Watford 0 Sheffield United 2

Watford Observer: ‘This is what Watford do’ narrative has made me angrier since Oxford, Still says

Still knows he needs results to secure Watford future – ‘I’m not kidding myself’

Team news: Maamma in contention to start, Ngakia and Bola could return

‘The summer is the time to discuss what leadership looks like at Watford’

Supporters’ anger ‘totally normal’ and not an overreaction, says Still

Nabizada: The fans want to see creativity – that’s what I’m trying to do

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY AS IT HAPPENED: Watford 0-2 Sheffield United

Match Report: Watford beaten 2-0 by Sheff Utd as lifeless season finale continues

WATCH: Immediate reaction to Watford 0-2 Sheffield United

Still: ‘Baah hasn’t had the impact I wanted’

Still adamant he is the man to lead significant change after another defeat

BBC: Patrick Bamford’s second-half double helped Sheffield United to victory at out-of-form Watford.

Sky: The striker’s sharpness in front of goal made the difference and lifted Chris Wilder’s side above their opponents in the bright spring sunshine at Vicarage Road.

Fran’s Watford Blog: It was another disappointing game. We should have taken the lead in the first half and certainly started the second half very brightly. The first United goal was fortunate and against the run of play. Their second was rather better and, once that went in, the fight seemed to go out of the players, and we never really looked like getting back in the game. Again, Irankunda and Maamma were the bright sparks, working to create chances, but shots from distance and a well organised United defence frustrated them.

From the Rookery End: Jon, Kieran, Mike and Jason are back outside the Hornet Shop after another tough afternoon as Watford FC fall to a 2–0 defeat at home to Sheffield United. There’s no hiding from it — this was a flat, lifeless performance that summed up where the football team is right now. The lads reflect on some hints at something successful, before everything unravelled in depressingly familiar fashion. With belief draining from both pitch and stands, attention turns to the bigger picture — from recruitment failures to the direction under Gino Pozzo, who was in attendance at the game.

11th April 2026- Championship, Oxford United 2 Watford 0

Watford Observer: Oxford call for ‘relentless support’ on Saturday – can Watford rise to the occasion?

Team news: Maamma set for return, Abankwah and Kayembe fully fit

Bove needs more time and Kjerrumgaard ‘hasn’t quite been on it’, says Still

Pre-season planning ongoing – but not Still’s priority for now

Still on Oxford: ‘I want our fans to see we wanted it more’

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY AS IT HAPPENED: Oxford United 2-0 Watford

Match Report: Abject Watford beaten 2-0 at Oxford United

Pollock asks to apologise publicly after ‘lowest point’ of his Watford career

Still on Watford fans’ reaction: ‘You have to stand up and take it’

BBC: Oxford United moved within a point of Championship safety and extended their unbeaten run at the Kassam Stadium to five matches with victory over out-of-form Watford.

Sky: Watford, who have a poor away record this campaign, were on a winless streak of three going into the game but they had beaten the U’s 2-1 at Vicarage Road at the start of October.

Fran’s Watford Blog: It had been a very poor performance with only Irankunda coming away with much credit. He created some decent chances and, if one had gone in, it would have been a different afternoon. Maamma was also bright when he came on and showed how much we have missed him. But apart from them, it was a miserable afternoon of football.

From the Rookery End: On From The Rookery End this week, Jon and Mike are joined by Watford Observer’s Adam Drury after Watford’s defeat at Oxford — but rather than pick apart another bad away day,the take a step back and the conversation goes bigger.