During the 1997–98 English football season, Watford F.C. competed in the Football League Second Division.

Season summary In the 1997–98 season, Kenny Jackett was demoted to the position of assistant manager and Graham Taylor returned for a second spell as Watford manager. The transition proved a success; Watford secured the Division Two title, beating Bristol City into second place after a season-long struggle.

Final league table

Results Watford's score comes first

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League Second Division DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 9 August 1997 BurnleyH1–011,155Lee 16 August 1997 Carlisle UnitedA2–07,395Kennedy, Johnson 23 August 1997 BrentfordH3–110,125Millen, Melvang, Johnson 30 August 1997 Preston North EndA0–211,042 2 September 1997 Plymouth ArgyleA1–05,141Noel-Williams 7 September 1997 Wycombe WanderersH2–112,100Hyde, Lee 13 September 1997 ChesterfieldH2–111,204Rosenthal, Lee 20 September 1997 GillinghamA2–27,780Rosenthal (pen), Johnson 27 September 1997 York CityH1–113,812Lee 4 October 1997 Luton TownA4–09,041Johnson, Thomas, Kennedy (2) 14 October 1997 Bristol RoversA2–18,110Kennedy, Rosenthal (pen) 18 October 1997 MillwallH0–112,530 21 October 1997 FulhamH2–011,486Rosenthal, Robinson 25 October 1997 Grimsby TownA1–05,699Rosenthal 1 November 1997 BlackpoolH4–19,723Lee (2), Johnson, Rosenthal 4 November 1997 Southend UnitedA3–04,001Kennedy (3) 8 November 1997 WalsallA0–05,077 18 November 1997 Oldham AthleticH2–18,397Thomas, Mooney 22 November 1997 Northampton TownA1–07,373Kennedy 29 November 1997 Wigan AthleticH2–19,455Thomas, Mooney 2 December 1997 WrexhamA1–13,702Rosenthal 13 December 1997 Bristol CityH1–116,072Noel-Williams 20 December 1997 BournemouthA1–06,081Kennedy 26 December 1997 Wycombe WanderersA0–08,090 28 December 1997 Plymouth ArgyleH1–111,594Mooney 10 January 1998 BurnleyA0–29,551 17 January 1998 Preston North EndH3–110,182Kennedy (2), Hyde 24 January 1998 BrentfordA2–16,969Mooney, Johnson 31 January 1998 ChesterfieldA1–05,975Noel-Williams 8 February 1998 GillinghamH0–210,498 14 February 1998 Luton TownH1–115,182Robinson 21 February 1998 York CityA1–14,890Palmer 25 February 1998 MillwallA1–17,126Mooney 28 February 1998 Bristol RoversH3–212,186Noel-Williams, Rosenthal, Mooney 3 March 1998 WalsallH1–28,096Noel-Williams 7 March 1998 BlackpoolA1–15,237Bazeley 14 March 1998 Southend UnitedH1–110,750Hyde 17 March 1998 Carlisle UnitedH2–17,274Palmer, Bazeley 21 March 1998 Oldham AthleticA2–25,744Bazeley, Gibbs 28 March 1998 Northampton TownH1–114,268Johnson 4 April 1998 Wigan AthleticA2–34,262Foley, Hyde 11 April 1998 WrexhamH1–012,340Lee 13 April 1998 Bristol CityA1–119,141Lee 25 April 1998 Grimsby TownH0–014,002 28 April 1998 BournemouthH2–112,834Lee, Noel-Williams 2 May 1998 FulhamA2–117,114Noel-Williams, Lee

FA Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR115 November 1997 BarnetA2–14,040Rosenthal (2)R26 December 1997 Torquay UnitedA1–13,416Noel-WilliamsR2R16 December 1997 Torquay UnitedH2–1 5,848Noel-Williams (2)R33 January 1998 Sheffield WednesdayH1–118,306KennedyR3R14 January 1998 Sheffield WednesdayA0–0 (lost 3–5 on pens)18,707

League Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR1 1st Leg 13 August 1997 Swindon TownA2–06,271Noel-Williams, RosenthalR1 2nd Leg 26 August 1997 Swindon TownH1–1 (won 3–1 on agg)7,712HydeR2 1st Leg 16 September 1997 Sheffield UnitedH1–17,154KennedyR2 2nd Leg 23 September 1997 Sheffield UnitedA0–4 (lost 1–5 on agg)7,511

Football League Trophy

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersSR19 December 1997 FulhamA0–13,364

Players First-team squad Squad at end of season

Reserve squad

References

Notes