A Long Long Season.

The Table	The Fixtures	The Squad
1988-89 Programme £1	The Watford Home Kit 1988/89	Wilf Rostron...Hornet Hero

News New Sponsors in the form of Eagle Express who sign a 500k deal over 3 years.
The club launch a magazine called the Supporter.
Ray Graydon is appointed youth team coach.
Paul Wilkinson signs and Luther Blissett goes to Bournemouth (He will be back).

Its goodbye to Hornet Hero Wilf Rostron after a total of 404 appearances.
 
Elton John increases his stake in the club to 3.5 million by giving an extra million pounds to try to get us back into the top flight at the first attempt.

On the pitch it is a long season of 60 matches.
This is not helped by 4 FA cup ties against Newcastle United in the 3rd Round of the FA cup.
However in the league Watford start well winning five of their first six matches however over the Christmas period the Hornets loose top spot and despite a revival in April when we went nine games unbeaten we finish in fourth place. This is mainly down to our inability to turn draws into wins.

This is shown in the Play Off against Blackburn Rovers We draw both legs a go out on Away goals. (Blackburn earning a 1-1 draw at Watford in front of a disappointing attendance of 13,852)

During the season, Dean and David Holdsworth become the first twins to be named as substitutes for the same game. A bomb scare hits the dressing room for the Portsmouth game over Christmas.

Watford win the FA Youth Cup 2-1 aet.

The team is James, Towler, Drysdale, Price, Soloman, Ashby, Evans, Thomas, Bennett, Naylor, Gunn. Subs: Meara and Inglethorpe.

In the League we finish 4th out of 24 of Division 2. (Play off losers)
We Won 23 Drew 14 (Inc play offs) Lost 11
We Scored 72 Goals and conceded 50. (Inc play offs)

In the FA Cup 5th Round
3rd Rnd Newcastle United (A) 0-0
3rd Rnd Rpl Newcastle United (A) 2-2 (aet)
3rd Rnd 2nd Rpl Newcastle United (A) 0-0 (aet)
3rd Rnd 3nd Rpl Newcastle United (A) 1-0 (aet)
4th Rnd Derby County (W) 2-1
5th Rnd Nottingham Forest (L) 0-3

League Cup 2nd Round
2nd Rnd Leicester City (A) 1-4
2nd Rnd Leicester City (H) 2-2

Full Members Cup  Quarter Final
1st Rnd Leicester City (A) 2-0 (aet)
2nd Rnd West Ham United (H) 1-1 (won 4-2 on pens)
3rd Rnd Newcastle United (A) 2-1
Quarter Final QPR (H) 1-1 (lost 1-2 on Pens)

Highest Scorer Paul Wilkinson 21

Manager: Steve Harrison

In for this season came

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road