Watford Football Club (also known simply as Watford, or as The Hornets) is an English football club from Watford, Hertfordshire. The team competed in the EFL Championship in 2011–12, their fifth consecutive season in the second tier of English football since their relegation from the Premier League in 2006–07. The 2011–12 season consisted of pre-season friendlies in July 2011, followed by competitive matches in the Football League, FA Cup and EFL Cup between August 2011 and April 2012. Assistant manager Sean Dyche became manager in July 2011, following the departure of Malky Mackay. The club's captain for the season was central midfielder John Eustace. Watford's chairman was Graham Taylor, who previously took Watford from the Fourth Division to the First Division as manager.
The team was widely tipped for relegation in 2011–12, following the pre-season departures of attacking players Danny Graham, Will Buckley and Don Cowie for a combined total of £4.5million. Following an early run of two wins from the first thirteen league fixtures, Watford's form improved, and the team lost just one of the remaining eleven games in 2011. Watford suffered four defeats in January 2012, and sold Marvin Sordell – then the team's top goalscorer – on the last day of the January transfer window. The team regained its form between February and April, and finished the league season in the top half of the table for the first time in four years."Watford history 1975 to date" . Tony Brown. Statto.com. Retrieved 14 July 2012. Watford's top scorer was Troy Deeney with 12 goals in all competitions, followed by Sordell with 10. Centre back Adrian Mariappa was voted Watford F.C. Player of the Season,"2011/12 awards: Player of the season" . Watford Football Club. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012. while Sean Murray received the young player award."2011/12 awards: Young player of the season" . Watford Football Club. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
Off the field, 2011 and 2012 marked a period of transition. Laurence Bassini purchased the club in March 2011, and after the 2010–11 season several senior members of staff left the club, including chief executive Julian Winter and manager Malky Mackay.Ellender, Pete (17 September 2011) "Watford supporters long for a little stability" . When Saturday Comes. Retrieved 14 July 2012. Bassini himself attracted criticism from some Watford supporters, as well as chairman Graham Taylor, for his reluctance to speak to supporters or the media."Laurence Bassini's no-show disappoints Graham Taylor". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 July 2012. Taylor resigned as chairman at the end of the season,"Graham Taylor quits as chairman". BBC Sport. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012. and in June 2012 a company owned by Giampaolo Pozzo and his family took control of the club."Udinese's Pozzo family complete Watford takeover". BBC Sport. 29 June 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
Background
The end of the 2010–11 season signalled the start of a period of change, on and off the pitch. Watford sold the club's top scorer Danny Graham to newly promoted Swansea City for £3.5 million. They also sold Young Player of the season Will Buckley to Brighton & Hove Albion for £1m, and Liam Henderson left on a free transfer to York City. Off the field, Watford's chief executive Julian Winter left the club shortly after the sales of Buckley and Graham, and manager Malky Mackay joined Cardiff City the following week. On 21 June, 20-year-old defender Tom Aldred left on a season-long loan to Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Nathan Ellington went on a free transfer to Ipswich Town. Meanwhile, on the same day, Craig Forsyth came to Watford from Dundee United and Sean Dyche was appointed as new manager.
Pre-season friendlies
Championship
League table
Round by round summary
FA Cup
Football League Cup
Players
Statistics
No. = Squad number
Pos = Playing position
P = Number of games played
G = Number of goals scored
= Yellow cards
GK = Goalkeeper
DF = Defender
MF = Midfielder
FW = Forward
= Red cards
Yth = Whether player went through Watford's youth system
Joined club = Year that player became a Watford first team player
Age = Age of player on final day of season (28 April 2012)
Correct as of 28 April 2012. +2011–12 Watford player detailsNo.PosNamePGPGPGPGAgeJoined clubYthNotesChampionshipFA CupLeague CupTotalDisciplineGK3101000320012006No—DF2001000210102009Yes—DF3921010412902011No—MF3942010424502008No—DF2210000221002010No—DF3912010421712005Yes—MF3332010363102011No—MF10001020002010No—FW431121104612702010No—10FW3941000404202011No—11MF2031210225502011No—12DF3302010360412001Yes—13GK20001030002010No—14MF90000090202008Yes—15MF00000000002010No—16MF00000000002009Yes—17DF20000020002008Yes—18FW1210000121102012NoLoan player18FW1230000123102011NoLoan player18FW30000030002011NoLoan player19MF2911010311202011No—20FW26821112910302009Yes—20FW10000010002012NoLoan player21DF40001050002011No—22MF1871000197102010Yes—23MF00000000002010Yes—24FW20100030002010Yes—25FW2212000241202011No—26MF40000040102011Yes—27FW30001040002010Yes—28MF00000000002011Yes—29DF00000000002010Yes—30GK10100020002010Yes—31DF00100010002011No—32MF4001000410902011No—33DF3222000342702011NoInitially on loan; signed permanently34GK00000000002010Yes—35GK1300000130002012NoLoan player37FW41000041002011NoLoan player
Transfers Unless a country is specified, all clubs play in the English football league system.
In
DatePlayerFromFee21 June 2011 Craig Forsyth Dundee Undisclosed 4 July 2011 David Mirfin Scunthorpe United Free (end of contract)13 July 2011 Mark Yeates Sheffield United Undisclosed 14 July 2011 Prince Buaben Dundee United Free (end of contract)19 July 2011 Chris Iwelumo Burnley Undisclosed 29 July 2011 Carl Dickinson Stoke City Undisclosed 4 August 2011 Tom James Stratford Town Free 27 August 2011 Jonathan Hogg Aston Villa Undisclosed 31 August 2011 Joe Garner Nottingham Forest Undisclosed 10 January 2012 Nyron Nosworthy Sunderland Undisclosed
Out
DateFor players whose contract expired, the date given refers to when they signed for their new club, apart from Rob Kiernan whose signature date for Wigan Athletic is unknown. Therefore, his date refers to when he left Watford.PlayerToFee26 May 2011 Liam Henderson York City Free (end of contract, released)"York City sign striker Liam Henderson". BBC Sport. 26 May 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2012.6 June 2011 Will Buckley Brighton & Hove Albion £1mCamillin, Paul (6 June 2011). "Albion sign Buckley in record deal" . Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club. Retrieved 2 May 2012.7 June 2011 Danny Graham Swansea City £3.5m"Swans agree terms with Danny boy" . Swansea City Association Football Club. 7 June 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2012.21 June 2011 Nathan Ellington Ipswich Town Free (end of contract, released)"Watford's Nathan Ellington seals move to Ipswich Town". BBC Sport. 21 June 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2012.27 June 2011 Mat Sadler Walsall Free (end of contract, released)"Walsall sign ex-Birmingham City defender Mat Sadler". BBC Sport. 27 June 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2012.28 June 2011"Rob Kiernan leaves Watford after rejecting deal". BBC Sport. 28 June 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2012. Rob Kiernan Wigan Athletic Free (end of contract, rejected renewal)Smith, Frank (6 July 2011). "Released Watford defender set for Premier League move". Watford Observer. Retrieved 2 May 2012.1 July 2011 Don Cowie Cardiff City Free (end of contract, rejected renewal)"Cardiff City snap up Watford midfielder Don Cowie". BBC Sport. 1 July 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2012.31 August 2011 Tom Aldred Colchester United Free (contract terminated)"Tom Aldred completes Colchester United move". BBC Sport. 1 September 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2012.31 August 2011 Eddie Oshodi Forest Green Rovers Free (contract terminated)31 January 2012 Marvin Sordell Bolton Wanderers Undisclosed
Loans Loan end date was end of season Watford academy scholar
In
StartPlayerFromEnd26 August 2011 Andreas Weimann Aston Villa 23 September 2011 11 October 2011 Michael Kightly Wolverhampton Wanderers 3 January 2012 24 October 2011 Craig Beattie Swansea City 8 January 2012 28 October 2011 Nyron Nosworthy Sunderland 8 January 2012 30 January 2012 Alexander Kacaniklic Fulham End of the season 21 February 2012 Tomasz Kuszczak Manchester United 28 April 2012 23 February 2012 Marcello Trotta Fulham 24 March 2012
Out
StartPlayerToLevelEnd 21 June 2011 Tom Aldred Inverness Caledonian Thistle Scottish Premier League 25 August 2011 11 August 2011 Michael Bryan Bradford City League Two 3 January 2012 13 August 2011 Jonathan Bond Brackley Town Southern League Premier Division 13 October 2011 25 August 2011 Adam Thompson Brentford League One 25 October 2011 30 August 2011 Josh Walker Stevenage League One 17 November 2011 12 September 2011 Gavin Massey Yeovil Town League One 14 January 2012 15 September 2011 Chez Isaac Boreham Wood Conference South 16 December 2011 15 September 2011 Matthew Whichelow Exeter City League One 11 October 2011 27 October 2011 Dale Bennett Brentford League One 27 November 2011 4 November 2011 Jonathan Bond Forest Green Rovers Conference 1 December 2011 23 November 2011 Rene Gilmartin Yeovil Town League One 19 January 2012 25 November 2011 Britt Assombalonga Wealdstone Isthmian League Premier Division 3 February 2012 25 November 2011 Connor Smith Wealdstone Isthmian League Premier Division 2 May 2012 1 January 2012 Dale Bennett Brentford League One 1 February 2012 1 January 2012 Chez Isaac Tamworth Conference 28 March 2012 5 January 2012 Piero Mingoia Brentford League One 23 January 2012 13 January 2012 Josh Walker Scunthorpe United League One 14 April 2012 19 January 2012 Gavin Massey Colchester United League One 16 February 2012 31 January 2012 David Mirfin Scunthorpe United League One 5 May 2012 31 January 2012 Matthew Whichelow Wycombe Wanderers League One 28 February 2012 2 February 2012 Tommie Hoban Wealdstone Isthmian League Premier Division 2 May 2012 9 February 2012 Adam Thompson Brentford League One 5 May 2012 10 February 2012 Britt Assombalonga Braintree Town Conference 10 March 2012 16 February 2012 Rene Gilmartin Crawley Town League Two 18 March 2012 17 February 2012 Jack Bonham Harrow Borough Isthmian League Premier Division 1 April 2012 17 February 2012 Stephan Hamilton-Forbes Harrow Borough Isthmian League Premier Division 14 March 2012 17 February 2012 Aaron Tumwa Harrow Borough Isthmian League Premier Division 28 April 2012 23 February 2012 Jonathan Bond Dagenham & Redbridge League Two 22 March 2012 17 March 2012 Gavin Massey Colchester United League One 14 April 2012 22 March 2012 Jonathan Bond Bury League One 5 May 2012 22 March 2012 Piero Mingoia Hayes & Yeading Conference 28 April 2012
Reserves and academy Watford's reserve side played friendlies in 2011–12, following their withdrawal from the Totesport.com Combination East Division. The under-18s played their home games at Watford's training base at the UCL training ground, London Colney. They are members of the FA Premier Academy League. They went out of the FA Youth Cup in the fourth round away at Newcastle United, losing 2–1, having beaten Millwall 2–1 away in the third round. They also played in the Herts Senior Cup, going out to Bishop's Stortford in the first round. The side were coached by technical skills coach Adam Pilling from the end of August until the first week of October, when David Hughes, who had been appointed on 22 September, took up his position as youth team coach.
Watford's academy consists of 20 scholars: In the second year, goalkeeper Jack Bonham, defenders Chimdi Akubuine, Matt Bevans, Tommie Hoban, Brandon Horner and Aaron Tumwa, midfielders Stephan Hamilton Forbes, and Sean Murray, and strikers Dereece Gardner, Michael Kalu and Connor Smith. In the first year, defenders Kyle Connolly, David O'Connor and Jordan Wilmore, midfielders Austin Eaton, Kamaron English, Luke O'Nien, Jack Westlake, and strikers Bernard Mensah and Morgan Ferrier.