The end of an era

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Watford Home 2000-01	Program £2	Watford Away 2000-01

News

A season that starts with an attempt to return to the Premiership Watford decide to break their transfer record by purchasing two players from Spurs

Allan Neilsen costs 2.25 million making him the most expensive outfield player since the purchase of Heidar Helguson
Espen Baardsen costs 1.25 million making him Watford's most expensive goalkeeper

Dean Yates is forced to retire from football. Having sustained a knee injury in 1998, he never fully recovered and managed only 10 games in total for the hornets.

When the season gets underway Watford start like an express train...Unfortunately the train comes off the rails with a 3-1 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday on the 7th of November. this is followed by a horrendous run of results that meant we did not win until Friday 29th December

The damage is done in this period and the rest of the season is a a struggle as the team fails to put back to back wins together..

A referee called Rob Styles invokes Graham Taylor's rage by sending off both Robert Page and Heidar Helguson in a home defeat by Blackburn Rovers. Taylor calls  on the FA to stop him officiating at Watford again.

A home match against Burnley is postponed when a downpour makes the pitch unplayable with everyone inside the stadium just before kick-off.

The end of March arrives and Graham Taylor announces his decision to retire from club management.

He offers advice and help if needed in the future if the next manager requires it. Taylor's last home game is against Tranmere. A draw finally puts paid to any lingering Play-Off ambitions.

Considering the start we had Watford finish a disappointing 9th in the league.

May arrives and so does our new manager with great fanfare...Italian legend and ex Chelsea Boss Gianluca Vialli.
Watford fans everywhere check calendars to make sure it's not April Fools Day.

As Vialli comes in Luther Blissett, Kenny Jacket and Tom Walley are shown the exit so Vialli can bring his own backroom staff in. Ex England international Ray Wilkins comes in as Assistant Manager.

Cheif Executive Tim Shaw calls it a momentous day for Watford Football Club.

Seven Players are transfer listed by Vialli as he begins his transformation of the team....

Off the pitch..

The club after several months of discussions opt to stay at Vicarage Road and announce plans of a feasibility study to develop the eastern side of the ground. This then goes out to supporters and local interests for consultation. The capacity of the stadium would then be in the region of 23 to 25 thousand.

Harry The Hornet wins the Mascot Grand National beating Cyril the Swan I would like to say by a long neck..However Harry won by some distance

Former Director (1952-1990) Jim Harrowell dies.

Two shops are made into one as Watford close the Vicarage Road shop for all days except match day putting all operations into the Harlequin at the World of Watford store.

Phones 4 You end their Kit sponsorship.

In the League We finish 9th out of 24 of Division 1.
We Won 20 Drew 9 Lost 17
We Scored 68 Goals and conceded 72.

In the FA Cup 3rd Round

3rd Rnd Everton (H) 1-2

League Cup  3rd Round

1st Rnd Cheltenham Town (H) 0-0
1st Rnd Cheltenham Town (A) 3-0
2nd Rnd Notts County (A) 3-1
2nd Rnd Notts County (H) 0-2
3rd Rnd Manchester United (H) 0-3
 

Highest Scorer Tommy Mooney 22

Manager: Graham Taylor

IN for this season came

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road