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Watford

Watford Football Club were formed in 1898 when West Herts absorbed Southern League rivals Watford St Mary's. The merger proved a success - they went through the 1903/04 season unbeaten - and by 1920 Watford had risen to the Football League. They moved into their Vicarage Road home in 1922, but further progress was not immediate and, during a turbulent post-war period, nine managers came and left the club in 12 years.

Watford changed their club colours to black and gold in 1959 and legendary forward Cliff Holton notched a club-record 42 goals the following season. Watford were promoted to Division Two for the first time in 1969, but by 1975 they found themselves back in Division Four. However, Elton John then became chairman of the club and his financial input, plus the arrivals of striker Luther Blissett, manager Graham Taylor and midfielder John Barnes over the next few years, heralded an upturn in fortunes and Watford were promoted to Division One for the first time in 1982. They then finished as runners-up in their maiden top-flight season to qualify for the UEFA Cup and an FA Cup final appearance followed soon after.

Taylor resigned in 1987 and, under his replacement Dave Bassett, Watford went down to Division Two. John sold his shares in the club to Jack Petchey in 1987, but remained their honorary life president. The 1990s saw the side move between leagues - with John re-purchasing the club in 1997 - until Taylor returned to guide them into the Premier League for the first time in 1999. The Hornets were relegated before the end of April and John stepped down again in 2002. But they made a triumphant return to the top flight in 2006 after winning the Championship play-off final against Leeds.

After finishing third in the 2005/06 Championship table behind champions Reading and Sheffield United, Watford achieved the feat by dispatching Crystal Palace in the play-off semi-finals and overcoming Leeds 3-0 in the final at the Millennium Stadium. Key players during the season included Marlon King, who finished as the division's top scorer with 21 goals, and centre-back Jay DeMerit, who performed beyond expectation after coming from non-league football just two summers before.

Back during the Premier League's infancy in 1993, Division One Watford were laying the foundations for the future by completely redeveloping their Vicarage Road ground into an all-seater stadium. But it wasn't until 1999 that they realised their dream of reaching the Premier League for the first time, as Graham Taylor, in his second spell in charge at Vicarage Road, led them to a 2-0 win over Bolton Wanderers in the play-off final at Wembley. The Hornets' first season in the Premier League started promisingly with wins at Liverpool and at home to Chelsea, and Taylor broke the club's transfer record twice in quick succession to sign Nordin Wooter and Heidar Helguson.

But from then on they struggled, dropping to the foot of the table shortly after Christmas, and were relegated before the end of April. Former Chelsea star Gianluca Vialli took the reins from Taylor at the end of the next season, and brought in eight new players, but Watford endured a mediocre campaign and the Italian was replaced by Ray Lewington.

Semi-final appearances in the FA and League Cups followed, but the Hornets' league form remained disappointing and Lewington was relieved of his duties in March 2005. Replacement Boothroyd guided the side to safety and, after Helguson left for Fulham, the new boss made an inspired loan signing in King, who fired the goals that took Watford back to the Barclays Premiership.