List of Watford F.C. players
Introduction John Barnes made 31 appearances for England during his Watford career.Watford Football Club is an English association football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. Formed on 15 April 1898 as a result of the amalgamation of two strong local clubs, Watford St. Mary's and West Herts. West Herts began life as Watford Rovers in 1881, and renamed West Herts in 1891, the team joined the Southern League in 1896.West Herts amalgamated with local rivals Watford St. Mary's for the start of the 1898–99 season, to form a new club, Watford Football Club. Between 1898 and 1920, Watford competed in the Southern League, winning the championship in 1914–15.The Southern League was suspended for the next four seasons due to the First World War. On the league's resumption in 1919–20, Watford finished as runners up on goal average. At the start of 1920–21, Watford joined the Football League Third Division, and transferred to the Third Division South when the league was reorganised the following season. They have played in the Football League ever since, with the exception of 1939–1946, when competitive football was suspended due to the Second World War, and the 1999–2000 and 2006–07 seasons, when they competed in the Premier League. In addition to the latter two seasons, the club also competed in the top division of English football between 1982 and 1988, achieving their highest league placing of second in the 1982–83 season.Many of Watford's individual records are held by former centre forward Luther Blissett. He has made more Watford appearances (503, including substitute appearances) and scored more goals for the club (186) than anyone else. His corresponding totals in the Football League (415 appearances and 148 goals) are also Watford records. Cliff Holton has scored the most goals for Watford in a single season; 48 in all competitions in the 1959–60 season, including 42 in the Football League. Eddie Mummery's five-goal haul against Newport County on 5 January 1924 is the club record for goals scored by a player in a Football League match. Watford's most-used goalkeeper is Skilly Williams, who played for the club 341 times between 1913 and 1926.John Barnes and Kenny Jackett share the record for the most international caps won while playing for Watford. Barnes made his first 31 England appearances before transferring from Watford to Liverpool in 1987.Jackett, a one-club man, made the same number of appearances for Wales. Seven people have played competitively for the club while managing them: John Goodall, Harry Kent, Fred Pagnam, Neil McBain, Bill Findlay, Ken Furphy, and most recently Mike Keen between 1973 and 1975.
Key This list contains players who have made 50 or more competitive appearances for Watford, since the amalgamation of West Herts and Watford St Mary's. Non-professional players (or any player who has not signed a first team contract) or any other academy player(s) are not on the list. It includes appearances and goals in the Premier League, Football League, Southern Football League, FA Cup, Football League Cup, Football League Trophy, Full Members Cup, UEFA Cup and Anglo-Italian Cup. Appearances and goals in other competitions or non-competitive matches are not included. The table does not include appearances and goals from 1939–40; the season was abandoned after three matches due to the Second World War, and playing records from those matches were annulled.+ PositionsGKGoalkeeperFBFull backDFDefenderHBHalf backMFMidfielderIFInside forwardFWForwardOFOutside forwardCFCentre forward+ KeySymbolMeaningPlayer still at the clubWon the Player of the Season award. Multiple symbols denote multiple wins.PMSpent time as player-manager*Player holds club record(s)'''Apps'''Number of appearances for Watford
Players Maurice Cook (right) missed only four games between his debut and final appearance for Watford.Troy Deeney (left) celebrates a goal with Nyron NosworthyDanny Graham was the Football League Championship's top scorer in the 2010–11 season.Heiðar Helguson played for the club in two periods between 1999 and 2010.Andy Hessenthaler played for the team between 1991 and 1996.David James started his career at Watford, and went on to play for England.Scott Loach playing in goal for WatfordMalky Mackay played for Watford as a centre back, and later managed the team.Jack McNee played for West Hertfordshire, prior to their merger with Watford St. Mary's in 1898.Midfielder Gavin Mahon was voted Watford F.C. Player of the Season in 2003–04.Adrian Mariappa graduated from Watford's academy, and has captained the team.Tommy Mooney made 287 Watford appearances between 1994 and 2001.Academy graduate Gifton Noel-Williams played for Watford between 1996 and 2003.Hungary striker Tamás PriskinTommy Smith won the Player of the Season award twice during his second spell at the club.Centre back Martin Taylor joined Watford in 2010.Skilly Williams was Watford's goalkeeper as they won the 1914–15 Southern League.Ashley Young left Watford for a club record fee of £9.65 million in 2007. ''Current players' statistics correct at end of 2022-23 season. ''NamePositionYears at WatfordAppsGoalsInternational honoursNotes/refsMF2012–201613125OF1954–1956826—CF1985–19885813—GK2012–2014810—IF / OF1957–1958, 19657516 Scotland schoolboysDF2013–20158210 Italy under-21—MF2012–20161389—MF2002–20051287 England under-21CF1980–19839719—HB1933–19392012DF1989–19941273—FB1905–19081101— GK2017-840—HB / OF1903–19068910—HB1906–1908565—MF2005–2009781DF1983–19871219—OF1931–19338311—*MF1981–198729685IF1928–1939431160HB1914–1921614—OF1919–1921739—FB1954–1957560— MF2012-667 Italy under-21—DF / MF1990–199928127 England under-21—FB1957–19643002—GK1953–1956860 Great Britain England amateurOF1959–196212215—FB1907–19101000—FB1953–19561201—GK1904–19102341—*CF1976–1983, 1984–1988, 1991–1993503186DF / MF1977–198328736HB / MF1964–1966, 1972–197730142 England youthMF1977–19801172—FW2004–200710013IF1952–195513040—FB1903–19071140—OF1901–1904615—HB / CF1953–195714741—IF / HB1949–195311312—FB1928–19352410—HB1911–1914685—FB1911–19151031OF1955–196217340 England youth—DF1970–19751863—CF1991–1992739 England C—MF1980–1987, 199129852 England BHB1920–19251314—MF2015–202018114—DF2012–2014811—HB1954–196431816—GK1996–20072880 DF2004–20071062 England youthOF1928–193423210—CF1992–19935313 England CHB / CF1957–196524324—MF1975–1977697—OF1950–1953, 195711210OF1951–1952569—MF2001–2004647—CF1953–195821877—FB1898–19051230—GK1984–19902910 England B  MF2009–2011949DF1999–200524821 England under-21MF / DF1973–1976724—HB / IF1961–196510117—OF1948–1950667—OF1926–193014617—OF / IF1931–195031272 HB1933–1937613—FB1927–19311472— FW2010–365122—FW2018–20207017—DF2004–201021310IF1933–19379534—MF2003–2006886CF1911–19138026—MF2016–202014117—MF1974–197923022— DF2001–4432DF / MF1989–199416011 England youth—DF1990–19941902 England youth—CF1938–1939, 1946–19488136DF2002–2005780—CF1993–1994, 2003–200511623 England under-21MF1996–2001792 DF / MF1966–197227431—CF1913–1920, 1926–192711260HB / FB1948–19521869—HB1923–1926522—FW2007–2011565— DF2012-1002 Sweden—CF1968–19719337—MF2008–201316816—IF1937–19489632MF1988–199111613 —MF1971–19741159—HB1946–1949810MF1966–19675611 —HB1908–1910692 —HB1932–19391376PMHB1947–19511102—FW2003–20055912—GK2005–20072018–20222070FW2012–20159221 Italy under-21DF1994–1996788—IF1925–19287124—CF1905–19075930—MF2006–2008579MF1969–19731249—HB1927–1929590—CF1992–19949141 England CDF1964–19681111PMHB / FW1905–19101287FB1937–1946750FW1966–197123150—DF1975–197923216MF1965–19702012—DF/FW2002–20051159DF1976–1978610—DF1983–20024917 England under-21MF2001–2003695*IF1903–19076917PMDF1974–1976735—FW2009–20119841 IF1955–19579432—FW2017-202112521—IF1913–19155013FB1911–192633317OF / HB1960–196311917 England youth—HB1911–192016116HB1909–1911681—MF1967–197011310—MF2001–2006610—CF1898–19005535—DF2008–2010832 England under-21IF1960–1962747 England B—HB1946–19521701—OF1962–196617860—FB1936–19481026—DF1978–19811020—FB1956–19601170—OF1949–19517121—FW1999–2005, 2009, 201022875 IcelandFW2005–200811731—DF1979–1982670—MF1991–199621715 England C—GK1927–19311100—OF1898–19005519 Scotland juniorHB1906–1908722—DF2011-572 Republic of Ireland under-21—CF1919–19215432—MF1987–199010219DF2009–2013911 Northern IrelandMF2011-2013840—MF1988–19895410—DF1988–199630314 England under-21—GK1930–1932730—*CF1958–1961, 1965–1966163104CF1975–19778316 England youth—FB1919–19241380—FW2007–2010709 HB1964–1966513 England youth—DF1975–19791012—CF1957–1959, 1962–19639924IF1908–19095320—MF2017–20211188 England Under 21s—MF1997–200428644*DF / MF1980–199042834GK1990–1992980CF1930–19339476—MF2008–2014952 CF1972–1983398142 CF1970–197410037 England youthGK1963–1964520 Northern Ireland—FB1920–19241021—MF1991–200327722 AustraliaFB / DF1963–1966991—FB1947–19541670 amateur—OF1935–194613126MF1974–197921421—DF2016–20231667—DF1972–19751366PMOF1905–1909508—HB1950–19541234—HB1913–1915523—MF1997–200113422 Northern IrelandHB1909–1913699PMFW2005–20088737OF1950–1952608—IF1932–193612768HB1962–1964573—DF1992–19951473 —OF1906–1908667—GK2001–20101100—DF1968–197625311 Scotland junior—MF1967–1970579 under-23—FB1931–19391160FB1903–1906680—MF1971–19737313—GK1959–1963870—CF1962–19657128—GK2008–20121630 England under-21FB1908–19121541—MF1981–19868110 Netherlands under-21—IF1929–193513047MF1969–1972676—IF1963–19668819—FW2007–2009925HB1928–1931945PMHB1903–19069114—DF1984–1989, 19902343 Northern Ireland MF1971–1974553—DF2005–2008615IF1908–191110735—GK1933–19392080 Scotland schoolboys—DF1990–1992532 —MF2002–20081033—IF1898–19005227HB1957–19642591—CF1928–1930, 1933–193610275MF2002–20082157HB1904–1911751—HB1961–1965760 Republic of Ireland—DF2005–20122474DF2018–2022903—CF1974–197915736—HB / IF1951–196023646—*CF1973–197915453DF1994–19991916—GK1994–19971510 HB1952–19572050—OF1912–1914639—DF / FW1994–200128764 CF1994–1996617—FB1932–19351060—RB1946–1947540 Scotland schoolboys—HB1935–19381136—HB1925–1928504—DF1987–1989532—CF1971–197411729 Republic of Ireland under-23—GK1948–19511130—*IF / HB1921–192512623MF2010-20158514 Republic of Ireland under-21—FW1998–20005711FB1959–19642196 England youth—FB / GK1900–1902600MF2000–200311319FW1996–200319341CF1991–199411730—IF1947–1954958—DF2011-2014612HB1931–1933716—FB1934–194620210MF2007–20096612 Republic of Ireland under-21FB / HB1948–19521284 —CF1963–19646328—MF1963–197017020—DF1968–1973772—DF / DF1993–20012523CF1921–192715774PMMF1995–20012729OF1952–19559117 Scotland schoolboys—HB1948–19521491—FW2016–202011518—CF1989–1991, 1995–19979322CF1994–19976525MF1977–1979858 England youth—HB1960–1963804—MF / DF1984–199747257 England under-21CF1980–19828031—FB1924–19301893—FW2006–20098219 HungaryDF1976–19821719—DF2015–20208513 Austria—DF2012–20151083 Czech Republic—MF1991–1993652—MF1994–199712029 England under-21—GK1971–19793290  HB1935–19391335CF1983–19856119—DF1980–19841371 Northern Ireland—HB1898–19091795MF1986–1987502—GK1946–1948850—CF1986–19908312—DF1996–20032529 England under-21DF1989–1991863 England B—IF1914–192110229—DF1979–198940430  GK1951–1954590—MF1966–1971, 1973–197634855FB / HB1898–1901693—IF1927–19299539—GK1977–19872691—MF1987–1989512FB / HB1954–19591530—DF2006–20087511 NigeriaDF1978–1984, 1986–19872198 England BDF1983–1987952 England under-21—FB1921–19291240—GK1965–19691520—FW1998–20016413—HB1925–1927551 Ireland—IF / HB1921–193134131—FW1997–2003, 2006–200930664 England under-21 DF1989–19951166 England youth—FW2009–20128127 England under-21 Great BritainMF2005–2007539—IF1909–191311625GK1979–1984650 England youth—OF1922–192720920—MF1983–198812217—FB1910–19151604MF2005–20081172 England under-21DF1978–1979600 England youth—HB1921–19271936—CF1925–19275931—MF1985–1986598—OF1910–1912728—MF1980–198521120DF2010–20129510 England under-21OF1902–19059221 Scotland junior—DF1980–198820820—CF1948–195011143—FW1988–1992959 England under-21—CF1951–19538341— MF2014-665—MF1978–19821124—IF1904–190710822 Scotland junior—GK1952–1953, 1956–1957, 1960–19631920CF1959–19605836—MF2000–20041083 England under-21 FW2012-13, 2014-9238—GK1968–19731590 under-23—CF1954–196218342—HB1967–1971, 1976–197724818OF / IF1921–1922535—DF1974–1977700—CF1935–19385925CF1962–19636632—DF1996–2001, 2008774IF1926–193011525—OF1914–192111220—FW2002, 2003–20058021 GK1910–19141480*HB / DF1963–197445725CF1985–19865623—IF1909–192537286CF1970–197311027—HB1919–1921741—OF1921–1923657—CF1988–1991, 199515955 England under-21DF1964–19754192—*GK1913–19263410MF2007–2009785—CF / HB1951–19575112—HB / IF1898–1901612IF / OF1947–1951646—HB / GK1926–193942018IF1930–19336716—FW1999–2002703 Netherlands under-21MF2011-2013667 Republic of Ireland BMF2003–200711022
Notes
References ;Bibliography* * * *  Watford Football Club archive 1881-2017;General* Positions, playing statistics and career spans from 1898–99 to 1997–98 sourced to: Jones, ''Watford Season by Season.'' pp. 225–241.Players with multiple spells at the club are cited individually. * Positions, playing statistics and career spans from 1998–99 onwards sourced to:  Career spans for players with multiple spells at the club are cited individually. * International representation up to and including May 1996 sourced to: Jones, ''The Watford Football Club Illustrated Who's Who.'' pp. 279–284.Players who made their international debut after May 1996 are cited individually. * Players of the Season up to 2010–11 sourced to:  Subsequent winners are cited individually. ;Specific