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2007–08 season of Watford F.C. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2007–08 football season was Watford Football Club's 62nd consecutive season of competitive football since the Second World War. It began on 1 July 2007, and concluded on 30 June 2008, although competitive games were only played between August and May.
2007–08 season | |||
---|---|---|---|
Chairman | Graham Simpson | ||
Manager | Aidy Boothroyd | ||
Football League Championship | 6th | ||
Football League Championship play-offs | Semi final (eliminated by Hull City) | ||
FA Cup | Fourth round (eliminated by Wolverhampton Wanderers) | ||
League Cup | Second round (eliminated by Southend United) | ||
Highest home attendance | 18,698: Watford v Queens Park Rangers, 29 December 2007 | ||
Lowest home attendance | 8,166: Watford v Gillingham, 14 August 2007 | ||
| |||
Following relegation from the Premier League in 2006–07, Watford started the 2007–08 season strongly, winning eleven of their opening sixteen games and opening up an 8-point gap at the top of the Championship table.[1] However, after the departure of Adam Johnson to Middlesbrough on 11 November 2007 Watford's form declined; they won six of their next sixteen Championship games, and only one of their final sixteen.[2] In January 2008 Watford sold captain Gavin Mahon and top scorer Marlon King, but purchased Mat Sadler, Leigh Bromby and John Eustace.[3] Watford finished the 2007–08 season in 6th position, and were eliminated in the play-off semi finals to Hull City.[4]
Legend
Win Draw Loss
![]() | This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2011) |
11 August 2007 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–2 | Watford | Molineux, Wolverhampton |
Olofinjana ![]() |
(Report) | Stewart ![]() King ![]() |
Attendance: 23,115 Referee: Neil Swarbrick |
18 August 2007 | Watford | 1–0 | Sheffield United | Vicarage Road, Watford |
Williamson ![]() |
(Report) | Attendance: 16,414 Referee: Andre Marriner |
25 August 2007 | Leicester City | 4–1 | Watford | Walkers Stadium, Leicester |
Hume ![]() Campbell ![]() Sheehan ![]() De Vries ![]() |
(Report) | King ![]() |
Attendance: 21,642 Referee: Anthony Taylor |
1 September 2007 | Watford | 2–0 | Ipswich Town | Vicarage Road, Watford |
Henderson ![]() Smith ![]() |
(Report) | Attendance: 17,295 Referee: Michael Jones |
16 September 2007 | Watford | 3–2 | Southampton | Vicarage Road, Watford |
Shittu ![]() Henderson ![]() ![]() |
(Report) | Rasiak ![]() Dyer ![]() |
Attendance: 15,915 Referee: Graham Salisbury |
19 September 2007 | Cardiff City | 1–2 | Watford | Ninian Park, Cardiff |
Hasselbaink ![]() |
(Report) | Henderson ![]() ![]() |
Attendance: 13,169 Referee: Lee Probert |
22 September 2007 | Queens Park Rangers | 1–1 | Watford | Loftus Road, London |
Moore ![]() Leigertwood ![]() |
(Report) | Johnson ![]() |
Attendance: 14,240 Referee: Keith Hill |
29 September 2007 | Watford | 1–1 | Blackpool | Vicarage Road, Watford |
Johnson ![]() |
(Report) | Hoolahan ![]() |
Attendance: 16,580 Referee: Richard Beeby |
2 October 2007 | Watford | 2–1 | Sheffield Wednesday | Vicarage Road, Watford |
Henderson ![]() King ![]() |
(Report) | Kavanagh ![]() Johnson ![]() |
Attendance: 15,743 Referee: Andy Hall |
6 October 2007 | Scunthorpe United | 1–3 | Watford | Glanford Park, Scunthorpe |
Forte ![]() |
(Report) | Johnson ![]() Henderson ![]() King ![]() Williamson ![]() |
Attendance: 7,515 Referee: Eddie Ilderton |
20 October 2007 | Watford | 1–0 | Hull City | Vicarage Road, Watford |
King ![]() |
(Report) | Attendance: 15,803 Referee: Andy Woolmer |
23 October 2007 | Coventry City | 0–3 | Watford | Ricoh Arena, Coventry |
(Report) | Johnson ![]() King ![]() Henderson ![]() |
Attendance: 17,032 Referee: Lee Probert |
29 October 2007 | Crystal Palace | 0–2 | Watford | Selhurst Park, London |
(Report) | Smith ![]() King ![]() |
Attendance: 13,986 Referee: Keith Stroud |
3 November 2007 | Watford | 0–3 | West Bromwich Albion | Vicarage Road, Watford |
(Report) | Miller ![]() Phillips ![]() Albrechtsen ![]() |
Attendance: 18,273 Referee: Michael Jones |
6 November 2007 | Norwich City | 1–3 | Watford | Carrow Road, Norwich |
Croft ![]() |
(Report) | Henderson ![]() Marshall ![]() King ![]() |
Attendance: 24,192 Referee: Clive Penton |
10 November 2007 | Watford | 2–2 | Colchester United | Vicarage Road, Watford |
Johnson ![]() King ![]() |
(Report) | Platt ![]() Lisbie ![]() |
Attendance: 16,069 Referee: Neil Swarbrick |
24 November 2007 | Barnsley | 3–2 | Watford | Oakwell, Barnsley |
Howard![]() Devaney ![]() Lee ![]() |
(Report) | Shittu ![]() ![]() |
Attendance: 10,117 Referee: Kevin Pike |
27 November 2007 | Watford | 1–2 | Burnley | Vicarage Road, Watford |
Shittu ![]() |
(Report) | Gray ![]() Guðjónsson ![]() |
Attendance: 15,021 Referee: Kevin Friend |
1 December 2007 | Watford | 1–2 | Bristol City | Vicarage Road, Watford |
O'Toole ![]() |
(Report) | Showunmi ![]() Byfield ![]() |
Attendance: 16,689 Referee: Phil Joslin |
4 December 2007 | Colchester United | 2–3 | Watford | Layer Road, Colchester |
Platt ![]() Connolly ![]() |
(report) | King ![]() O'Toole ![]() Priskin ![]() |
Attendance: 5,760 Referee: Trevor Kettle |
9 December 2007 | Stoke City | 0–0 | Watford | Britannia Stadium, Stoke |
(report) | Attendance: 15,516 Referee: Colin Webster |
15 December 2007 | Watford | 0–1 | Plymouth Argyle | Vicarage Road, Watford |
(report) | Norris ![]() |
Attendance: 18,532 Referee: Darren Deadman |
22 December 2007 | Sheffield Wednesday | 0–1 | Watford | Hillsborough Stadium, Sheffield |
(report) | McAnuff ![]() |
Attendance: 19,641 Referee: Clive Oliver |
26 December 2007 | Watford | 2–2 | Cardiff City | Vicarage Road, Watford |
DeMerit ![]() McAnuff ![]() |
(report) | Johnson ![]() Whittingham ![]() |
Attendance: 17,014 Referee: Grant Hegley |
29 December 2007 | Watford | 2–4 | Queens Park Rangers | Vicarage Road, Watford |
Francis ![]() Shittu ![]() |
(report) | Rowlands ![]() ![]() Stewart ![]() Buzsáky ![]() |
Attendance: 18,698 Referee: Chris Foy |
1 January 2008 | Southampton | 0–3 | Watford | St Mary's Stadium, Southampton |
(report) | Francis ![]() King ![]() Henderson ![]() |
Attendance: 23,008 Referee: Fred Graham |
12 January 2008 | Preston North End | 1–0 | Watford | Deepdale, Preston |
Attendance: 12,347 |
19 January 2008 | Watford | 1–1 | Charlton Athletic | Vicarage Road, Watford |
Attendance: 17,214 |
29 January 2008 | Sheffield United | 1–1 | Watford | Bramall Lane, Sheffield |
Attendance: 23,161 |
2 February 2008 | Watford | 3–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Vicarage Road, Watford |
Attendance: 18,082 |
9 February 2008 | Ipswich Town | 1–2 | Watford | Portman Road, Ipswich |
Attendance: 24,227 |
12 February 2008 | Watford | 3–0 | Leicester City | Vicarage Road, Watford |
Attendance: 15,944 |
16 February 2008 | Charlton Athletic | 2–2 | Watford | The Valley, London |
Attendance: 26,337 |
23 February 2008 | Watford | 0–0 | Preston North End | Vicarage Road, Watford |
Attendance: 16,798 |
4 March 2008 | Watford | 1–1 | Norwich City | Vicarage Road, Watford |
Attendance: 16,537 |
11 March 2008 | Bristol City | 0–0 | Watford | Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol |
Attendance: 19,026 |
15 March 2008 | Watford | 0–0 | Stoke City | Vicarage Road, Watford |
Attendance: 18,338 |
22 March 2008 | Plymouth Argyle | 1–1 | Watford | Home Park, Plymouth |
Attendance: 17,511 |
29 March 2008 | Hull City | 3–0 | Watford | KC Stadium, Kingston upon Hull |
Attendance: 23,501 |
5 April 2008 | Watford | 2–1 | Coventry City | Vicarage Road, Watford |
Attendance: 17,188 |
9 April 2008 | Watford | 0–3 | Barnsley | Vicarage Road, Watford |
Attendance: 16,129 |
12 April 2008 | West Bromwich Albion | 1–1 | Watford | The Hawthorns, West Bromwich |
Attendance: 26,508 |
19 April 2008 | Watford | 0–2 | Crystal Palace | Vicarage Road, Watford |
Attendance: 17,694 |
26 April 2008 | Watford | 0–1 | Scunthorpe United | Vicarage Road, Watford |
Attendance: 16,454 |
4 May 2008 | Blackpool | 1–1 | Watford | Bloomfield Road, Blackpool |
Attendance: 9,640 |
♦ Automatic promotion position ♣ Playoff position
Round | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ground | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | H | A |
Result | W | W | L | W | W | W | D | D | W | W | W | W | W | L | W | D | L | L | L | W | D | L | W | D | L | W | L | D | D | W | W | W | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | L | W | L | D | L | L | D |
Points | 3 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 35 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 39 | 40 | 40 | 43 | 44 | 44 | 47 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 52 | 55 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 65 | 68 | 68 | 69 | 69 | 69 | 70 |
Position | 5♣ | 1♦ | 4♣ | 2♦ | 1♦ | 1♦ | 1♦ | 1♦ | 1♦ | 1♦ | 1♦ | 1♦ | 1♦ | 1♦ | 1♦ | 1♦ | 1♦ | 1♦ | 1♦ | 1♦ | 1♦ | 2♦ | 1♦ | 2♦ | 2♦ | 2♦ | 3♣ | 2♦ | 3♣ | 2♦ | 1♦ | 1♦ | 2♦ | 3♣ | 3♣ | 2♦ | 3♣ | 3♣ | 4♣ | 5♣ | 4♣ | 5♣ | 5♣ | 5♣ | 5♣ | 6♣ |
Watford's sixth-placed finish meant that they qualified for the play-off semi finals, where they would play a home and away match against third-placed Hull City. As 6–1 aggregate winners, Hull qualified for the final at Wembley Stadium, and as a result of victory in that match they earned qualification to the Premier League for the 2008–09 season.
Semi final first leg
11 May 2008 | Watford | 0–2 | Hull City | Vicarage Road, Watford |
Attendance: 14,713 |
Semi final second leg
15 May 2008 | Hull City | 4–1 | Watford | KC Stadium, Kingston upon Hull |
Attendance: 23,155 |
As a Championship club, Watford did not enter the FA Cup until the third round stage. Their potential opponents were the 20 Premier League teams, the 23 other Championship clubs, and 20 teams from lower divisions which had progressed through the first and second rounds, and in some cases additional qualifying games.
Third round
5 January 2008 | Watford | 2–0 | Crystal Palace | Vicarage Road, Watford |
Fourth round
26 January 2008 | Watford | 1–4 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Vicarage Road, Watford |
For the 2007–08 season, all Football League clubs entered the League Cup in the first round. For the first round, the draw was split into two regional sections of 36 teams. The 18 highest placed teams in the league from the previous season were seeded in each region. Watford, having been relegated from the Premier League, were therefore seeded, and placed in the southern section of the draw.
First round
14 August 2007 | Watford | 3–0 | Gillingham | Vicarage Road, Watford |
Second round
28 August 2007 | Southend United | 2–0 | Watford | Roots Hall, Southend |
Watford Football Club is owned by the holding company Watford Leisure Plc (LSE: WFC). Its 2007–08 financial year coincided with the football season, running from 1 July 2007 until 30 June 2008. The company's annual accounts were released in November 2008, showing an operating loss of £10.977 million, but a net profit of £426,000 as a result of the sale of player registrations and land.[5] Watford Leisure's chief executive was Mark Ashton, while their chairman was self-professed lifelong Watford fan Graham Simpson, who also owned shares in the company. The club's other major shareholders were Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party Michael Ashcroft through his investment company Fordwat, and brothers Jimmy and Vince Russo through their business Valley Grown Salads.
Key
# = Squad number; Pos = Playing position; P = Number of games played; G = Number of goals scored; = Yellow cards;
= Red cards; GK = Goalkeeper; DF = Defender; MF = Midfielder; FW = Forward
Statistics do not include games played for other clubs. Starting appearances are given first, followed by substitute appearances in parentheses where applicable. [nb 1][6]
This table of statistics is incomplete. You can help by expanding it.
Pos | Name | P | G | P | G | P | G | P | G | P | G | ![]() |
![]() |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
League | FA Cup | League Cup | Playoffs | Total | Discipline | [7][8] | ||||||||
MF | Lionel Ainsworth | 3(5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 4(6) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
DF | Cédric Avinel | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
MF | Al Bangura | 3(4) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6(4) | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
DF | Leigh Bromby | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
MF | Alex Campana | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
MF | Ewan Clarke | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
DF | Calum Davenport | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
DF | Jay DeMerit | 30(5) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 31(6) | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
DF | Lloyd Doyley | 36 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
FW | Nathan Ellington | 18(16) | 4 | 1(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 21(17) | 4 | 1 | 0 | |
MF | John Eustace | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 2 | |
MF | Kieran Forbes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
MF | Damien Francis | 6(5) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7(5) | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
FW | Liam Henderson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
FW | Darius Henderson | 34(6) | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 36(6) | 12 | 10 | 1 | |
FW | Will Hoskins | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
DF | Matt Jackson | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
FW | Collins John | 3(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
MF | Adam Johnson | 11(1) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11(1) | 5 | 1 | 0 | |
FW | Steve Kabba | 7(7) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9(7) | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
FW | Marlon King | 25(2) | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26(2) | 11 | 2 | 0 | |
GK | Richard Lee | 34(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 40(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
GK | Scott Loach | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
DF | Malky Mackay | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
MF | Gavin Mahon | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
DF | Adrian Mariappa | 13(12) | 0 | 0(2) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16(14) | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
MF | Jobi McAnuff | 31(8) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35(8) | 2 | 5 | 0 | |
MF | Anthony McNamee | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
MF | John-Joe O'Toole | 23(12) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0(1) | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 24(14) | 3 | 4 | 1 | |
DF | Junior Osbourne | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
DF | Jordan Parkes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
GK | Mart Poom | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
FW | Tamás Priskin | 7(7) | 1 | 1(1) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0(2) | 0 | 10(10) | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
DF | Douglas Rinaldi | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
DF | Mat Sadler | 14(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
DF | Danny Shittu | 37(2) | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 39(2) | 9 | 4 | 0 | |
MF | Tommy Smith | 44 | 7 | 1(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 47(1) | 7 | 3 | 0 | |
MF | Jordan Stewart | 33(6) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34(6) | 2 | 3 | 0 | |
FW | Lee Williamson | 27(5) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 30(5) | 2 | 5 | 1 | |
Date | Player | From | Fee |
---|---|---|---|
26 May 2007 | ![]() |
Arsenal | Undisclosed[9] |
5 June 2007 | ![]() | Crystal Palace | £1.750.000[10] |
29 August 2007 | ![]() | West Bromwich Albion | £3,250,000[11] |
5 January 2008 | ![]() | Hereford United | |
24 January 2008 | ![]() | Birmingham City | £750,000 |
31 January 2008 | ![]() | Sheffield United | £600,000[12] |
31 January 2008 | ![]() | Stoke City | £250,000[13] |
Date | Player | To | Fee |
---|---|---|---|
3 July 2007 | ![]() | Charlton Athletic | Free[14] |
11 July 2007 | ![]() | Aston Villa | |
7 August 2007 | ![]() | Fulham | £3,000,000 (can rise up to £4,000,000)[15] |
16 August 2007 | ![]() | Burnley | £200,000[16] |
18 January 2008 | ![]() | Swindon Town | |
25 January 2008 | ![]() | Wigan Athletic | Undisclosed[17] |
Start date | Player | From | End date |
---|---|---|---|
31 August 2007 | ![]() | River Plate (Argentina) | |
14 September 2007 | ![]() | Middlesbrough | |
22 November 2007 | ![]() | Hereford United | |
18 January 2008 | ![]() | West Ham United | |
25 January 2008 | ![]() | Fulham | |
Start date | Player | To | End date |
---|---|---|---|
10 August 2007 | ![]() | Hereford United | 31 December 2007 (later extended)[18] |
10 August 2007 | ![]() | Hereford United | 31 December 2007 (later extended[18] |
14 September 2007 | ![]() | Stafford Rangers | |
17 September 2007 | ![]() | Stafford Rangers | |
18 September 2007 | ![]() | Millwall | |
30 November 2007 | ![]() | Wealdstone | |
1 January 2008 | ![]() | Morecambe | |
1 January 2008 | ![]() | Queen's Park Rangers | End of Season[19] |
17 January 2008 | ![]() | Brentford | |
18 January 2008 | ![]() | Swindon Town | |
18 January 2008 | ![]() | Swindon Town | |
28 January 2008 | ![]() | Bradford City | |
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