Watford FC
The Hornets
Founded: 1881, Stadium: Vicarage Road (Watford), Capacity: 22,000
Watford are famous for having been owned by the singer Elton John, who was also chairman for twenty-five years, starting in 1976 and taking the club from the fourth to the first division under manager Graham Taylor. Watford finished second in the First Division in 1982-1983 and reached the FA Cup Final in 1984 which they unfortunately lost against Everton FC. Watford fans maintain a rivalry with those of Luton Town. The club’s nickname “The Hornets” was chosen in 1959. Watford’s initial nickname was The Brewers, in reference to the Benskins Brewery which owned the freehold of Vicarage Road. In 1959 the club introduced a crest depicting a hornet. In 1974 the design was changed to depict Harry the Hornet, the club’s mascot. In 1978 the hornet crest was replaced by a depiction of a hart (a male red fallow deer) on a yellow and black background. A hart represents the town’s location in the county of Hertfordshire.
