2007–08 Watford F.C. season

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.

Watford
2007–08 season
ChairmanGraham Simpson
ManagerAidy Boothroyd
Football League Championship6th
Football League Championship play-offsSemi final (eliminated by Hull City)
FA CupRound 4 (eliminated by Wolverhampton Wanderers)
League CupRound 2 (eliminated by Southend United)
Highest home attendance18,698: Watford v Queens Park Rangers, 29 December 2007
Lowest home attendance8,166: Watford v Gillingham, 14 August 2007

Season summary

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

Friendlies

Football League
For more information, see 2007–08 Football League Championship.
11 August 2007 Wolverhampton Wanderers1 – 2WatfordMolineux, Wolverhampton
Olofinjana  45' (Report) Stewart  87'
King  penalty 90',		 Attendance: 23,115
Referee: Neil Swarbrick
18 August 2007 Watford1 – 0Sheffield UnitedVicarage Road, Watford
Williamson  56' (Report) Attendance: 16,414
Referee: Andre Marriner
25 August 2007 Leicester City4 – 1WatfordWalkers Stadium, Leicester
Hume  15'
Campbell  51'
Sheehan  54'
De Vries  85'		 (Report) King  penalty 90' Attendance: 21,642
Referee: Anthony Taylor
1 September 2007 Watford2 – 0Ipswich TownVicarage Road, Watford
Henderson  6'
Smith  75'		 (Report) Attendance: 17,295
Referee: Michael Jones
16 September 2007 Watford3 – 2SouthamptonVicarage Road, Watford
Shittu  42'
Henderson  81',  90'		 (Report) Rasiak  45'
Dyer  69'		 Attendance: 15,915
Referee: Graham Salisbury
19 September 2007 Cardiff City1 – 2WatfordNinian Park, Cardiff
Hasselbaink  61' (Report) Henderson  17',  78' Attendance: 13,169
Referee: Lee Probert
22 September 2007 Queens Park Rangers1 – 1WatfordLoftus Road, London
Moore  59'
Leigertwood 		(Report) Johnson  49' Attendance: 14,240
Referee: Keith Hill
29 September 2007 Watford1 – 1BlackpoolVicarage Road, Watford
Johnson  49' (Report) Hoolahan  penalty 73' Attendance: 16,580
Referee: Richard Beeby
2 October 2007 Watford2 – 1Sheffield WednesdayVicarage Road, Watford
Henderson  6'
King  penalty 16'		 (Report) Kavanagh  36'
Johnson 		Attendance: 15,743
Referee: Andy Hall
6 October 2007 Scunthorpe United1 – 3WatfordGlanford Park, Scunthorpe
Forte  20' (Report) Johnson  10'
Henderson  61'
King  63'
Williamson 		Attendance: 7,515
Referee: Eddie Ilderton
20 October 2007 Watford1 – 0Hull CityVicarage Road, Watford
King  20' (Report) Attendance: 15,803
Referee: Andy Woolmer
23 October 2007 Coventry City0 – 3WatfordRicoh Arena, Coventry
(Report) Johnson  30'
King  42'
Henderson  46'		 Attendance: 17,032
Referee: Lee Probert
29 October 2007 Crystal Palace0 – 2WatfordSelhurst Park, London
(Report) Smith  32'
King  67'		 Attendance: 13,986
Referee: Keith Stroud
3 November 2007 Watford0 – 3West Bromwich AlbionVicarage Road, Watford
(Report) Miller  33'
Phillips  35'
Albrechtsen  49'		 Attendance: 18,273
Referee: Michael Jones
6 November 2007 Norwich City1 – 3WatfordCarrow Road, Norwich
Croft  65' (Report) Henderson  36'
Marshall  own goal 43'
King  88'		 Attendance: 24,192
Referee: Clive Penton
10 November 2007 Watford2 – 2Colchester UnitedVicarage Road, Watford
Johnson  4'
King  64'		 (Report) Platt  20'
Lisbie  46'		 Attendance: 16,069
Referee: Neil Swarbrick
24 November 2007 Barnsley3 – 2WatfordOakwell, Barnsley
Howard 31'
Devaney  34'
Lee  own goal 66'		 (Report) Shittu  36',  45' Attendance: 10,117
Referee: Kevin Pike
27 November 2007 Watford1 – 2BurnleyVicarage Road, Watford
Shittu  86' (Report) Gray  58'
Guðjónsson  80'		 Attendance: 15,021
Referee: Kevin Friend
1 December 2007 Watford1 – 2Bristol CityVicarage Road, Watford
O'Toole  87' (Report) Showunmi  75'
Byfield  90'		 Attendance: 16,689
Referee: Phil Joslin
4 December 2007 Colchester United2 – 3WatfordLayer Road, Colchester
Platt  7'
Connolly  28'		 (report) King  40'
O'Toole  42'
Priskin  64'		 Attendance: 5,760
Referee: Trevor Kettle
9 December 2007 Stoke City0 – 0WatfordBritannia Stadium, Stoke
(report) Attendance: 15,516
Referee: Colin Webster
15 December 2007 Watford0 – 1Plymouth ArgyleVicarage Road, Watford
(report) Norris  88' Attendance: 18,532
Referee: Darren Deadman
22 December 2007 Sheffield Wednesday0 – 1WatfordHillsborough Stadium, Sheffield
(report) McAnuff  6' Attendance: 19,641
Referee: Clive Oliver
26 December 2007 Watford2 – 2Cardiff CityVicarage Road, Watford
DeMerit  49'
McAnuff  90'		 (report) Johnson  34'
Whittingham  56'		 Attendance: 17,014
Referee: Grant Hegley
29 December 2007 Watford2 – 4Queens Park RangersVicarage Road, Watford
Francis  52'
Shittu  84'		 (report) Rowlands  penalty 13',  40'
Stewart  29'
Buzsáky  80'		 Attendance: 18,698
Referee: Chris Foy
1 January 2008 Southampton0 – 3WatfordSt Mary's Stadium, Southampton
(report) Francis  45'
King  55'
Henderson  62'		 Attendance: 23,008
Referee: Fred Graham
12 January 2008 Preston North End0 – 1WatfordDeepdale, Preston
Attendance: 12,347
19 January 2008 Watford1 – 1Charlton AthleticVicarage Road, Watford
Attendance: 17,214
29 January 2008 Sheffield United1 – 1WatfordBramall Lane, Sheffield
Attendance: 23,161
2 February 2008 Watford3 – 0Wolverhampton WanderersVicarage Road, Watford
Attendance: 18,082
9 February 2008 Ipswich Town1 – 2WatfordPortman Road, Ipswich
Attendance: 24,227
12 February 2008 Watford3 – 0Leicester CityVicarage Road, Watford
Attendance: 15,944
16 February 2008 Charlton Athletic2 – 2WatfordThe Valley, London
Attendance: 26,337
23 February 2008 Watford0 – 0Preston North EndVicarage Road, Watford
Attendance: 16,798
1 March 2008 Burnley2 – 2WatfordTurf Moor, Burnley
Attendance: 13,677
4 March 2008 Watford1 – 1Norwich CityVicarage Road, Watford
Attendance: 16,537
11 March 2008 Bristol City0 – 0WatfordAshton Gate Stadium, Bristol
Attendance: 19,026
15 March 2008 Watford0 – 0Stoke CityVicarage Road, Watford
Attendance: 18,338
22 March 2008 Plymouth Argyle1 – 1WatfordHome Park, Plymouth
Attendance: 17,511
29 March 2008 Hull City3 – 0WatfordKC Stadium, Kingston upon Hull
Attendance: 23,501
5 April 2008 Watford2 – 1Coventry CityVicarage Road, Watford
Attendance: 17,188
9 April 2008 Watford0 – 3BarnsleyVicarage Road, Watford
Attendance: 16,129
12 April 2008 West Bromwich Albion1 – 1WatfordThe Hawthorns, West Bromwich
Attendance: 26,508
19 April 2008 Watford0 – 2Crystal PalaceVicarage Road, Watford
Attendance: 17,694
26 April 2008 Watford0 – 1Scunthorpe UnitedVicarage Road, Watford
Attendance: 16,454
4 May 2008 Blackpool1 – 1WatfordBloomfield Road, Blackpool
Attendance: 9,640

League standings by round
For the complete final league table, see 2007–08 Football League Championship § League table.

  ♦ Automatic promotion position   ♣ Playoff position

Round01020304050607080910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHAHHAAHHAHAAHAHAHHAAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHHA
ResultWWLWWWDDWWWWWLWDLLLWDLWDLWLDDWWWDDDDDDDLWLDLLD
Points3669121516172023262932323536363636394040434444474748495255585960616263646565686869696970
Position5♣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♣

Play-offs

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 Watford0 – 2Hull CityVicarage Road, Watford
Attendance: 14,713

Semi final second leg

15 May 2008 Hull City4 – 1WatfordKC Stadium, Kingston upon Hull
Attendance: 23,155

FA Cup
For more information, see 2007–08 FA Cup.

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 Watford2 – 0Crystal PalaceVicarage Road, Watford

Fourth round

26 January 2008 Watford1 – 4Wolverhampton WanderersVicarage Road, Watford

League Cup
For more information, see 2007–08 Football League Cup.

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 Watford3 – 0GillinghamVicarage Road, Watford

Second round

28 August 2007 Southend United2 – 0WatfordRoots Hall, Southend

Ownership and finance

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.

Squad details

Player statistics

Key

  † Permanent player left club during the season.
  ‡ On loan at Watford from another club during season.
  ¤ On loan to another club from Watford during season.
  * First appearance(s) for Watford.

# = 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]
MFLionel Ainsworth 3(5)000001(1)04(6)000
DFCédric Avinel 000020002010
MFAl Bangura 3(4)01020006(4)020
DFLeigh Bromby 16100002018000
MFAlex Campana 00001(1)1001(1)100
MFEwan Clarke 000000000000
DFCalum Davenport 100000001000
DFJay DeMerit 30(5)120001(1)031(6)120
DFLloyd Doyley 36020001039040
FWNathan Ellington 18(16)41(1)0002021(17)410
MFJohn Eustace 13000002015032
MFKieran Forbes 00000(1)0000(1)000
MFDamien Francis 6(5)21000007(5)210
FWLiam Henderson 000000000000
FWDarius Henderson 34(6)1210001136(6)12101
FWWill Hoskins 0(1)00020002(1)000
DFMatt Jackson 600020008020
FWCollins John 3(2)00000003(2)000
MFAdam Johnson 11(1)500000011(1)510
FWSteve Kabba 7(7)11010009(7)121
FWMarlon King 25(2)1110000026(2)1120
GKRichard Lee 34(1)020202040(1)000
GKScott Loach 000000000000
DFMalky Mackay 00000(1)0000(1)000
MFGavin Mahon 19000000019030
DFAdrian Mariappa 13(12)00(2)0201016(14)010
MFJobi McAnuff 31(8)220002035(8)250
MFAnthony McNamee 000020002000
MFJohn-Joe O'Toole 23(12)3110(1)00(1)024(14)341
DFJunior Osbourne 00000(1)0000(1)000
DFJordan Parkes 000020002000
GKMart Poom 12000000012000
FWTamás Priskin 7(7)11(1)0210(2)010(10)220
DFDouglas Rinaldi 000021002120
DFMat Sadler 14(1)010002016(1)020
DFDanny Shittu 37(2)712001039(2)940
MFTommy Smith 4471(1)0002047(1)730
MFJordan Stewart 33(6)210000034(6)230
FWLee Williamson 27(5)210002030(5)251


Transfers

In
Date Player From Fee
26 May 2007 Mart Poom Arsenal
5 June 2007 Jobi McAnuffCrystal Palace
29 August 2007 Nathan EllingtonWest Bromwich Albion
5 January 2008 Lionel AinsworthHereford United
24 January 2008 Mat SadlerBirmingham City
31 January 2008 Leigh BrombySheffield United
31 January 2008 John EustaceStoke City

Out
Date Player To Fee
3 July 2007 Chris PowellCharlton Athletic
11 July 2007 Harry ForresterAston Villa
7 August 2007 Hameur BouazzaFulham
16 August 2007 Clarke CarlisleBurnley
18 January 2008 Anthony McNameeSwindon Town
25 January 2008 Marlon KingWigan Athletic

Loans in
Start date Player From End date
31 August 2007 Santiago AloiRiver Plate (Argentina)
14 September 2007 Adam JohnsonMiddlesbrough
22 November 2007 Lionel AinsworthHereford United
18 January 2008 Calum DavenportWest Ham United
25 January 2008 Collins JohnFulham

Loans out
Start date Player To End date
10 August 2007 Toumani DiagouragaHereford United
10 August 2007 Theo RobinsonHereford United
14 September 2007* Cédric AvinelStafford Rangers
17 September 2007 Scott LoachStafford Rangers
18 September 2007 Will HoskinsMillwall
30 November 2007 Alex CampanaWealdstone
1 January 2008 Scott LoachMorecambe
1 January 2008 Gavin MahonQueen's Park Rangers
17 January 2008 Jordan ParkesBrentford
18 January 2008 Moses AshikodiSwindon Town
18 January 2008 Anthony McNameeSwindon Town
28 January 2008 Scott LoachBradford City

Footnotes
  1. All players who were named in a Watford first-team matchday squad are listed. This includes players who only featured as unused substitutes.
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References
  1. "Watford 2007-2008 : English League Championship Table 10.11.2007". statto.com. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  2. "Watford 2007-2008 : Results". statto.com. Archived from the original on 13 May 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  3. "Transfers: January 2008". BBC Sport. 1 February 2008. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  4. Phil McNulty (14 May 2008). "Hull 4-1 Watford (agg 6-1)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  5. "Watford Leisure Plc Report and Financial Statements 2008" (PDF). Watford Leisure Plc. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  6. "Watford 2007/2008 player statistics". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  7. "Watford 2009/2010 player appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
  8. "Club statistics: Discipline". Watford F.C. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
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