Wikipedia:Today's featured list/October 17, 2011

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Watford playing in front of the Rookery End at Vicarage Road
Watford playing in front of the Rookery End at Vicarage Road

The competitive history of Watford Football Club began in 1886, when English football club Watford Rovers competed in the FA Cup for the first time. The team joined the Southern League in the 1896–97 season, and renamed as Watford F.C. in 1898. Under Harry Kent's management, Watford won the Southern League title in the 1914–15 season, joined the Football League in 1920, and moved to Vicarage Road stadium (pictured) in 1922. After spending most of the following five decades at the third and fourth levels of English football, Watford's fortunes changed dramatically in the 1970s. With financial backing from local-born musician Elton John, and Graham Taylor as manager, the team ascended through the divisions. Watford won the Fourth Division title in the 1977–78 season; they came second in the First Division five seasons later, with Luther Blissett finishing as the division's top scorer. In the following campaign, Watford competed in the UEFA Cup for the first time, and also reached the 1984 FA Cup Final. Since relegation from the First Division in 1988, the team has spent all but four seasons competing at the second level of English football. (Full list...)