Historical Football Kits

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Watford

Formed 1881

Founder member of Division Three (South) 1920

Kit History

Background

The club takes the year of its formation as 1881 when Watford Rovers was formed. This club amalgamated in 1890 with West Hertfordshire Rangers, believed to have been formed in 1865. In 1896, the club joined the Southern League Second Division, turning professional the following year. For a period the town boasted two professional clubs but it quickly became clear that this was not sustainable and in 1898, West Herts Rangers and Watford St Mary’s FC merged to form Watford FC. The first mention of the club's colours dates from 1888, when they wore blue shirts. Over the next few seasons, press reports researched by Trefor Jones, describe their shirts as variously "olive and scarlet," "orange and yellow" and "amber and scarlet." There is no record of how these colours were arranged and I have used artistic license to present them. It is, however, established that in November 1904, Watford played in yellow, green and red hoops

In 1900 Watford won the Southern League Second Division title and in 1915 they won the Southern League championship itself.

Along with the rest of the Southern league First Division, Watford became founder members of the new Third Division of the Football League in 1920 by which time they played in black and white stripes. They made little impression and in 1927 they adopted new club colours of blue and white. In the early 1930s Watford's colours were registered as turquoise and white, a unique combination. It may be that this was a somewhat fanciful description by the club secretary but as all records of the period have been destroyed, we may never know!

In the seasons preceding the Second World War Warford's performances improved markedly and they finished in fourth place for four consecutive seasons. After the war, Watford continued to struggle and had to apply for re-election in 1951. In 1959 they adopted gold and black and the effect was more or less immediate. In 1960 they won promotion to the Third Division where they stayed for nine seasons before winning promotion to Division Two for the first time in 1969. A year later they reached the FA Cup semi-final where they were defeated by Chelsea.

Relegations in 1972 and 1975 took Watford back to Division Four when Watford made yet another change in their colours, this time to yellow, red and black but it was not until the arrival of pop star Elton John as chairman in 1977 that the club began their remarkable climb to the top. Graham Taylor was appointed manager and in 1978, “The Hornets” stormed to the Fourth Division title. The following season they reached the semi-finals of the League Cup and won promotion to Division Two.

In 1982 Watford’s dream was realised with promotion to Division One. Against all expectation, they finished in second place behind Liverpool the following season to secure a place in the UEFA Cup. In 1984 they reached the FA Cup final where they lost 0-2 to Everton.

In 1987 Taylor resigned and was replaced by Dave Bassett. Watford were relegated in 1988 and, having narrowly missed promotion in their first season, the club struggled. In 1996, Graham Taylor returned as general manager but he could not prevent relegation to what was now Nationwide Division Two (formerly the Third Division).

In 1998 they won the championship and a year later, they beat Bolton Wanderers in the play-off final to earn a place in the Premiership. This time they could not hold on to their status and were relegated the following season, seven points adrift at the foot of the table.

Watford made semi final appearances in the FA Cup (2003) and League Cup (2005) while in the second flight before they unexpectedly beat Leeds United in the play-off final to make their return to the Premiership. To mark the occasion, which coincided with their 125th anniversary, the club adopted a kit featuring red shorts not unlike the one worn in the First Division during the 1980s.

Sources

• (a) Club Colours (Bob Bickerton 1998)
• (b) Swindon Town FC - Images of Sport (Richard Mattick 2000)
• (c) empics
• (d) Football Focus
• (e) Classic Kits
• (f) Watford Official Website
• (g) The Football Encyclopaedia (Associated Sporting Press 1934)- information provided by Arthur Fergus
• (h) Trefor Jones
• (i) Greg Hattingh
• (j) Pete's Picture Palace
• (k) True Colours 2 (John Devlin 2006)
• (l) David King
• (m) Pat Heywood
• (n) Steve Atkinson
• (o) Alick Milne