100 Years At The Vic | Part Four: 1980s & 1990s

Watch the fourth instalment of a six-part series documenting the history of Vicarage Road, as we celebrate our home ground's centenary!
In this episode we celebrate Watford's meteoric rise to reach the First Division and Europe under Graham Taylor and Elton John's leadership in the 1980s. We also learn more of the club's pioneering work which attracted so many families to the stadium during a time when hooliganism was rife around the country, including the launch of Junior Hornets and the Family Stand.
The following decade was a turbulent one, with relegations, stadium developments and ground sharing agreements causing some disdain among supporters, but the millennium ended on a high as Graham Taylor and Elton John returned to take the club back to the top tier in 1999.
Supporters Bob Mayho, Sabena Cripps, Fred Pigram, Maurice Rose and Peter Morgan all reflect on this era, providing first-hand accounts of how The Vic was once again transformed alongside the club during 20 memorable years.
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Welcome to the official home of Watford Football Club on TH-cam. The only place you’ll be able to find fresh content from throughout the club, including behind-the-scenes access at training, interviews with stars past and present and all the best action from each and every Watford FC fixture.
See all the latest from stars such as Ismaïla Sarr, João Pedro, Hassane Kamara, Maduka Okoye, Francisco Sierralta and many more.
You’ll also be able to find out much more about the history of the club, including legends such as Graham Taylor OBE, Sir Elton John, Luther Blissett, John Barnes and Troy Deeney.

[@GilbertTV]

the 80's years were the best the club has ever had . great memories

[@alexmarsh2992]

Nothing like we’ve got now. Pozzo and his lot an embarrassment.

[@kevinshanahan6064]

Lots of moans about the Pozzos and revolving door of managers.
My first game was Workington Town in April 1967 with home games following against Grimsby Bristol Rovers Oldham and Colchester. Our only home defeats were Scunthorpe, Orient and Mansfield.
Next season the 4 promoted clubs were Stockport Southport Barrow & Tranmere.
Everyone of these have at some point dropped out of the Football League and many not returning. Whereas we have had 14 seasons in the top division and 31 in the second tier.
Thanks to Graham & Elton for the wonderful times and lest we forget 6 years in the top flight under the Pozzos.
COYH!

[@rjjcms1]

Well said. A lot of fans are very fickle about the Pozzos,but where would we have been these past few years without them?

[@rjjcms1]

As well as next to no hooliganism at Vicarage Road when it was gripping the country in the 80s,it's worth noting that,unlike so many grounds in the decade+ or so leading to Hillsborough,there were never any of those horrible perimeter fence cages at Vicarage Road. This had a significant bearing on my desire to attend Watford matches.

[@rjjcms1]

One factual inaccuracy here: Watford were relegated to the third tier (and therefore not obliged to become entirely all-seater under the recommendations of the Taylor Report) in 1996 not 1995. In 1995 the Hornets,managed by the late Glenn Roeder,finished 7th in the second tier (equivalent to today's Championship),one place short of the play-offs!
However,the ground was already almost entirely all-seater following the replacement of the old Vicarage Road terrace with the new stand at that end in 1993 followed by the rebuilding of the Rookery End in 1994-95.

[@rjjcms1]

I was thoroughly disgusted by the negative slants written,and sometimes spoken,against Watford FC by certain national critics,particularly in the printed media in spite of our achievements on the pitch and the lack of hooligan trouble that blighted so much elsewhere,the pioneering community work and establishment of the family club traditions during this era. Brian Glanville in particular can rot in a particularly hot,fiery place as far as I am concerned for calling the club "poison". How dare he?

[@alexmarsh2992]

Support the team not the regime! Pozzo out - our collective name is in the mud. Gino no more.

[@panos_gaming791]

First

[@alexmarsh2992]

Second

[@rjjcms1]

Ninth,tenth,eleventh and on as sub in twelfth.

[@memeguyTM]

STOP FIRING MANAGERS. THIS POZZO FAMILY NEEDS TO GO.

[@alexmarsh2992]

Yes! More of this!