1982–83 Watford F.C. season

English football team season March 2015 March 2015 Watford 1982–83 Graham Taylor Elton John Vicarage Road First Division 2nd FA Cup Fifth round League Cup Third round Football League Trophy Quarter-finals Luther Blissett (27) Luther Blissett (33) 27,371 v Tottenham Hotspur (Division One, 19 March 1983) 3,837 v Colchester United (Football League Trophy, 17 August 1982) 19,454 8–0 v Sunderland (H), Division One, 25 September 1982 3–7 v Nottingham Forest (A), Milk Cup, 10 November 1982 1981–82 1983–84 During the 1982–83 English football season, Watford F.C. competed in the Football League First Division, after being promoted from the Second Division the previous season. Under Graham Taylor's management, Watford finished second in the First Division – their highest ever league finish. As a result, Watford qualified for European competition for the first time. Luther Blissett finished the season as the division's top scorer, with 27 league goals. Squad Substitute appearances indicated in brackets Pos.Nat.NameLeagueFootball League TrophyMilk CupFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKENGSteve Sherwood420303040520GKENGEric Steele0010000010DFENGIan Bolton370202(1)04045(1)0DFENGPaul Franklin1000000010DFENGCharlie Palmer0010000010DFENGAlan Paris0000000000DFENGNeil Price000(1)000000(1)0DFSCOKeith Pritchett001(1)000001(1)0DFNIRPat Rice401203040491DFENGWilf Rostron423303041524DFENGSteve Sims280402140381DFENGSteve Terry71211000102MFENGJohn Barnes42104230415313MFENGNigel Callaghan419403040529MFENGFrancis Cassidy0000000000MFWALKenny Jackett414303040514MFENGRichard Jobson131100000141MFNLDJan Lohman13(6)11(1)1102(1)217(8)4MFENGMartin Patching312(1)000005(1)1MFENGWorrell Sterling2(1)00000002(1)0MFENGLes Taylor37(2)500314044(2)6MFENGNeil Williams0000000000FWNIRGerry Armstrong8(11)22(1)10(1)10(1)010(14)4FWENGLuther Blissett41274331425233FWENGJimmy Gilligan420(1)100206(1)3FWENGRoss Jenkins18(2)533330024(2)11FWENGDavid Johnson2(2)01(1)00(1)0003(4)0FWENGIan Richardson0000000000 Rothmans 1983-84 377–378 League table First Division WAT y Results First Division 1982–83 Football League#First Division 1 28 August 1982 Watford 2–0 W Everton Armstrong 22Rice 66 Vicarage Road Watford 19,630 2 31 August 1982 Southampton 1–4 W Watford Lawrence 16 Callaghan 12 33Armstrong 48Jenkins 77 The Dell Southampton 19,714 3 4 September 1982 Manchester City 1–0 L Watford Tueart 76 Maine Road Manchester 29,617 4 7 September 1982 Watford 2–1 W Swansea City Blissett 44 pen.Callaghan 66 Stevenson 89 Vicarage Road Watford 15,535 5 11 September 1982 Watford 3–0 W West Bromwich Albion Blissett 39 68Taylor 54 Vicarage Road Watford 17,603 6 18 September 1982 Nottingham Forest 2–0 L Watford Walsh 20Birtles 75 City Ground West Bridgford 11,150 7 25 September 1982 Watford 8–0 W Sunderland Callaghan 12 23Blissett 26 58 83 88Jenkins 32 71 Vicarage Road Watford 16,744 8 2 October 1982 Birmingham City 1–1 D Watford Summerfield 89 Blissett 4 St Andrew's Birmingham 13,870 9 9 October 1982 Watford 2–2 D Norwich City Jackett 20Terry 43 Deehan 12Bertschin 61 Vicarage Road Watford 18,597 10 16 October 1982 Aston Villa 3–0 L Watford Withe 28Morley 51 89 Villa Park Birmingham 21,572 11 23 October 1982 Watford 0–0 D Coventry City Vicarage Road Watford 17,334 12 30 October 1982 Notts County 3–2 L Watford Kilcline 45McCulloch 51Hooks 81 Blissett 29Barnes 31 Meadow Lane Nottingham 9,171 13 6 November 1982 Tottenham Hotspur 0–1 W Watford Taylor 87 White Hart Lane London 42,215 14 13 November 1982 Watford 1–0 W Stoke City Barnes 20 Vicarage Road Watford 18,713 15 20 November 1982 Watford 4–1 W Brighton & Hove Albion Blissett 2 pen. 77 pen.Barnes 63Taylor 82 Ryan 88 Vicarage Road Watford 16,529 16 27 November 1982 Arsenal 2–4 W Watford Robson 39Talbot 72 Barnes 43 58Jackett 50Robson 76 o.g. Highbury London 34,287 17 4 December 1982 Watford 0–1 L Manchester United Whiteside 58 Vicarage Road Watford 25,669 18 11 December 1982 Liverpool 3–1 L Watford Rush 21Neal 33 pen. 42 pen. Rostron 54 Anfield Liverpool 36,690 19 18 December 1982 Watford 2–1 W Ipswich Town Jenkins 18Taylor 27 Mariner 81 Vicarage Road Watford 18,048 20 27 December 1982 Luton Town 1–0 L Watford Goodyear 37 Kenilworth Road Luton 21,145 21 29 December 1982 Watford 2–1 W West Ham United Jackett 39Jenkins 58 Stewart 77 pen. Vicarage Road Watford 24,870 22 1 January 1983 Brighton & Hove Albion 1–1 D Watford Ward 85 Jackett 79 Goldstone Ground Hove 15,139 23 3 January 1983 Watford 2–0 W Manchester City Gilligan 25 37 Vicarage Road Watford 20,049 24 15 January 1983 Everton 1–0 L Watford Johnson 76 Goodison Park Liverpool 19,233 25 22 January 1983 Watford 2–0 W Southampton Nicholl 66 o.g.Blissett 72 Vicarage Road Watford 17,189 26 6 February 1983 Swansea City 1–3 W Watford Latchford 37 Blissett 56 89Barnes 81 Vetch Field Swansea 14,461 27 26 February 1983 Watford 2–1 W Aston Villa Blissett 7Rostron 88 Walters 21 Vicarage Road Watford 19,318 28 2 March 1983 Norwich City 3–0 L Watford Watson 19Van Wyk 76Deehan 88 Carrow Road Norwich 16,662 29 5 March 1983 Coventry City 0–1 W Watford Taylor 43 Highfield Road Coventry 11,235 30 12 March 1983 Watford 5–3 W Notts County Blissett 10 31 55Barnes 45Callaghan 58 Christie 2Worthington 52Fashanu 79 Vicarage Road Watford 16,273 31 19 March 1983 Watford 0–1 L Tottenham Hotspur Falco 39 Vicarage Road Watford 27,371 32 22 March 1983 Watford 2–1 W Birmingham City Blissett 52 90 Ferguson 69 Vicarage Road Watford 14,229 33 26 March 1983 Stoke City 4–0 L Watford Thomas 12Painter 63Chamberlain 67McAughtrie 81 Victoria Ground Stoke-on-Trent 14,276 34 2 April 1983 West Ham United 2–1 L Watford Van der Elst 12Swindlehurst 61 Callaghan 6 Upton Park London 22,647 35 4 April 1983 Watford 5–2 W Luton Town Blissett 6 48 pen.Jobson 42Barnes 49Callaghan 78 Aylott 16Horton 29 Vicarage Road Watford 20,120 36 9 April 1983 West Bromwich Albion 1–3 W Watford Jol 77 Barnes 42Callaghan 64Lohman 71 The Hawthorns West Bromwich 11,828 37 16 April 1983 Watford 1–3 L Nottingham Forest Blissett 19 pen. Bowyer 47Hodge 56Davenport 69 Vicarage Road Watford 17,537 38 23 April 1983 Manchester United 2–0 L Watford Cunningham 50Grimes 62 pen. Old Trafford Stretford 43,048 39 30 April 1983 Watford 2–1 W Arsenal Barnes 64Blissett 75 pen. McDermott 46 Vicarage Road Watford 20,043 40 2 May 1983 Sunderland 2–2 D Watford Atkins 10James 33 Blissett 4 87 Roker Park Sunderland 13,971 41 7 May 1983 Ipswich Town 3–1 L Watford McCall 2Wark 35 72 Rostron 62 Portman Road Ipswich 19,921 42 14 May 1983 Watford 2–1 W Liverpool Patching 40Blissett 49 Johnston 62 Vicarage Road Watford 27,148 Rothmans 1983-84 376https://evertonresults.com/match28081982.html Watford 2 - 0 Everton at Vicarage Road Saturday 28 August 1982 - 3.00pm EVERTON RESULTShttps://www.citytilidie.com/posts/manchester-city-v-watford-198283 Manchester City v Watford 1982/83 City Til I Diehttps://thecityground.com/game.php?game_id=19820918 FOREST 2 - 0 WATFORD - Sat Sep 18, 1982 (League Tier 1) THE CITY GROUND - NOTTINGHAM FOREST 1865-2026https://avdb.co.uk/aston-villa/matches/first-team/1982-83-villa-3-0-watford Division One · Saturday, 16 October 1982 AVDBhttp://upthemaggies.atwebpages.com/utm/maggies15.html Notts County FC 1982/83 Up the Maggieshttps://www.mufcinfo.com/manupag/match_data/match_sql.php?my_match_date=1982-12-04 Watford 0 v 1 Manchester United - 04/12/1982 MUFCINFOhttps://www.lfchistory.net/games/1307 Saturday 11 December 1982 at 15:00 UK local time LFC Historyhttps://hattersheritage.co.uk/matches/luton-town-fc-vs-watford-27th-dec-1982 Match Date Dec 27, 1982 Hatters' Heritagehttps://www.citytilidie.com/posts/watford-away-198283 Watford v Manchester City 1982/83 City Til I Diehttps://evertonresults.com/match15011983.html Everton 1 - 0 Watford at Goodison Park Saturday 15 January 1983 - 3.00pm EVERTON RESULTShttps://avdb.co.uk/aston-villa/matches/first-team/1982-83-villa-1-2-watford-a Division One · Saturday, Saturday, 26 February 1983 AVDBhttps://hattersheritage.co.uk/matches/watford-vs-luton-town-fc-4-apr-1983 Match Date Apr 4, 1983 Hatters' Heritagehttps://thecityground.com/game.php?game_id=19830416 WATFORD 1 - 3 FOREST - Sat Apr 16, 1983 (League Tier 1) THE CITY GROUND - NOTTINGHAM FOREST 1865-2026https://www.mufcinfo.com/manupag/match_data/match_sql.php?my_match_date=1983-04-23 Manchester United 2 v 0 Watford - 23/04/1983 MUFCINFOhttps://www.lfchistory.net/games/1340 Saturday 14 May 1983 at 15:00 UK local time LFC History Football League Trophy 1982–83 Football League Trophy First round group A 14 August 1982 Watford 4–1 W Orient Jenkins 36 42Gilligan 47Terry 82 Rice 61 o.g. Vicarage Road Watford 4,063 First round group A 17 August 1982 Watford 2–1 W Colchester United Blissett 73Jenkins 79 Allinson 80 Vicarage Road Watford 3,837 First round group A 21 August 1982 Southend United 1–4 W Watford Pennyfather 41 May 25 o.g.Armstrong 55Lohman 70Blissett 87 pen. Roots Hall Southend-on-Sea 3,837 Quarter-final 8 December 1982 Reading 5–3 L yes Watford Donnellan 31 89 96O'Sullivan 85Dixon 115 Blissett 2Barnes 54 75 Elm Park Reading 3,517 oldwatford.comRothmans 1983-84 518-520https://wfc.net/Database/Match_Details.php?ID=3450 Southend United (A) 4 - 1 (HT: 1-1) Saturday, 21st August 1982 WFC.NET Milk Cup 1982–83 Football League Cup Second round first leg 5 October 1982 Bolton Wanderers 1–2 W Watford Hoggan 31 Armstrong 40Jenkins 72 Burnden Park Bolton 5,664 Second round second leg 26 October 1982 Watford 2–1 W yes Bolton Wanderers Sims 99Blissett 106 McGovern 23 Vicarage Road Watford 11,520 Third round 10 November 1982 Nottingham Forest 7–3 L Watford Young 25Proctor 33 77Birtles 40 44Bowyer 67Wallace 84 Jenkins 12 42Taylor 69 City Ground West Bridgford 14,973 Rothmans 1983-84 506-512https://thecityground.com/game.php?game_id=19821110 FOREST 7 - 3 WATFORD - Wed Nov 10, 1982 (League Cup) THE CITY GROUND - NOTTINGHAM FOREST 1865-2026 FA Cup 1982–83 FA Cup Third round 8 January 1983 Watford 2–0 W Plymouth Argyle Rostron 40Blissett 72 Vicarage Road Watford 17,630 Fourth round 29 January 1983 Watford 1–1 D Fulham Lohman 80 Coney 55 Vicarage Road Watford 24,574 Fourth round replay 1 February 1983 Fulham 1–2 W Watford Lewington 53 Lohman 15Barnes 85 Craven Cottage London 22,206 Fifth round 19 February 1983 Aston Villa 4–1 L Watford Shaw 32Morley 37Gibson 57Cowans 86 Blissett 90 pen. Villa Park Birmingham 34,330 Rothmans 1983-84 545-548https://avdb.co.uk/aston-villa/matches/first-team/1982-83-villa-4-1-watford FA Cup · Saturday, 19 February 1983 AVDB References https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/mar/29/newsstory.sport11 Graham Taylor factfile The Guardian 8 February 2012 29 March 2001 http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/nostalgia/memories/8239117.Les_Taylor_recalls_1984_final/ Les Taylor recalls 1984 final Watford Observer Michael Pickard 8 February 2012 25 June 2010 https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engtops.html English league leading goalscorers Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation James M. Ross 8 February 2012 15 July 2011 Bibliography Rothmans 1983-84 Rothmans Football Yearbook 1983-84 (Editor: Jack Rollin) Queen Anne Press 0-356-09727-7 Further reading Birnie Lionel Enjoy the Game – Watford FC, The Story of the Eighties Peloton Publishing 2010 978-0-9567814-0-6 Phillips, Oliver The Golden Boys: A Study of Watford's Cult Heroes Alpine Press Ltd 2001 0-9528631-6-2 Jones Trefor 1998 Watford Season by Season T.G. Jones 0-9527458-1-X Jones Trefor 1996 Watford Football Club Illustrated Who's Who T.G. Jones 0-9527458-0-1 Phillips Oliver The Official Centenary History of Watford FC 1881–1991 Watford Football Club 1991 0-9509601-6-0 Category:Watford F.C. seasons Watford