2003–04 Watford F.C. season

During the 2003–04 English football season, Watford F.C. competed in the First Division.

Season summary The ongoing financial difficulties saw a large number of players released that summer, including record signing Allan Nielsen and strikers Tommy Smith and Gifton Noel-Williams. To make matters worse, Manchester United loanee Jimmy Davis was killed in a car crash on the opening day of the new campaign. This had a huge effect on the team's form at the beginning of the season, and notably on his close friend Danny Webber. But a strong finish to the season saw the club finish in mid-table.

Final league table

Results Watford's score comes first

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League First Division DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 16 August 2003 Crystal PalaceA0–115,333 23 August 2003 West Bromwich AlbionH0–115,023 25 August 2003 SunderlandA0–223,600 30 August 2003 GillinghamH2–212,793Helguson, Webber 13 September 2003 MillwallH3–111,305Dyer, Cox (pen), Young 17 September 2003 Derby CountyA2–318,459Gayle, Young 20 September 2003 Wigan AthleticA0–19,211 27 September 2003 Ipswich TownH1–215,350Fitzgerald 30 September 2003 BurnleyH1–111,573Fitzgerald 4 October 2003 Crewe AlexandraA1–07,055Webber 14 October 2003 WalsallH1–112,231Baird (own goal) 18 October 2003 Bradford CityH1–012,399Fitzgerald 21 October 2003 Coventry CityH1–113,487Fitzgerald 25 October 2003 WimbledonA3–16,115Devlin, Webber, Fitzgerald 28 October 2003 Cardiff CityA0–314,011 1 November 2003 Rotherham UnitedH1–018,067Webber 4 November 2003 Preston North EndA1–211,152Webber 8 November 2003 Nottingham ForestA1–121,229Cook 15 November 2003 Norwich CityA2–116,420Fitzgerald, Cox (pen) 22 November 2003 West Ham UnitedH0–020,950 29 November 2003 ReadingA1–214,521Cook 6 December 2003 Nottingham ForestH1–114,988Fitzgerald 13 December 2003 Sheffield UnitedA2–218,637Smith, Helguson 20 December 2003 Stoke CityH1–313,732Helguson 26 December 2003 GillinghamA0–18,971 28 December 2003 Cardiff CityH2–115,512Fitzgerald, Cook 10 January 2004 Coventry CityA0–012,226 17 January 2004 Crystal PalaceH1–515,017Helguson (pen) 31 January 2004 West Bromwich AlbionA1–323,958Fitzgerald 7 February 2004 SunderlandH2–216,798Mahon, Cox (pen) 14 February 2004 Preston North EndH2–012,675Bouazza, Devlin 21 February 2004 WalsallA1–06,684Cook 28 February 2004 WimbledonH4–015,323Cook, Cox (pen), Smith, Ardley 3 March 2004 Stoke CityA1–313,108Helguson 9 March 2004 Bradford CityA0–217,143 13 March 2004 Sheffield UnitedH0–213,861 16 March 2004 Derby CountyH2–113,931Helguson, Mahon 20 March 2004 Ipswich TownA1–423,524Fitzgerald 27 March 2004 Wigan AthleticH1–113,382Helguson 10 April 2004 Crewe AlexandraH2–118,041Hyde, Wright (own goal) 12 April 2004 BurnleyA3–211,413Devlin, Helguson, Cook 17 April 2004 Rotherham UnitedA1–17,221Dyer 20 April 2004 MillwallA2–110,263Dyer, Cook 24 April 2004 Norwich CityH1–219,290Blizzard 1 May 2004 West Ham UnitedA0–434,685 9 May 2004 ReadingH1–017,979Young

FA Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR33 January 2004 ChelseaH2–221,121Helguson, MahonR3R14 January 2004 ChelseaA0–438,763

League Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR112 August 2003 BournemouthH1–09,561FitzgeraldR223 September 2003 Bristol CityA0–15,213

Players First-team squad

Left club during season

References

Notes