Watford FC is an English football club from the town of Watford, Hertfordshire. It was founded in 1881, first playing at Cassio Road ground, before moving to Vicarage Road in 1922, where they remain to this day. Since 1997, they have shared the ground with Saracens Rugby Club. The club has the nickame of The Hornets due to its yellow and black strip. They were formed as Watford Rovers, and first competed in the FA Cup in the 1886-87 season. In 1889 they won the County Cup and in 1893, Watford Rovers became West Hertfordshire and joined the Southern Football League in 1896, becoming professional a year later. West Hertfordshire merged with Watford St Mary's in 1898 to become Watford Football Club. In 1900 Watford won the Southern League Second Division title and in 1915 they won the Southern League championship. 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. In the seasons preceding the Second World War Watford's performances improved markedly and they finished in fourth place for four consecutive seasons. After the war, Watford began to struggle and had to apply for re-election in 1951. 

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. Relegations in 1972 and 1975 took Watford back to Division Four. The arrival of pop star Elton John as chairman in 1977 marked the beginning of a remarkable climb to the top. Graham Taylor was appointed manager in 1978 and guided the glub to the old Division One from the old Division Four, also reaching the FA Cup final in 1984 and competing in the UEFA Cup. 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 another brief return to the Premiership in 2006. After eight years, Watford returned top the Premier League 2015–16 season, after clinching promotion from the Football League Championship in the 2014–15 season.  They spent the next four season in the top tier and reached the FA Cup Final for the second time in 2019 but were thrashed 6-0 by a rampant Manchester City team. They were relegated the following season only to return to the Premier League for one season at the end of the 2021-22 season.