Watford
1998–99 season
ChairmanElton John
ManagerGraham Taylor
StadiumVicarage Road
Football League First Division5th (promoted)
Play-offsWinners
FA CupThird round
League CupFirst round
Top goalscorerNoel-Williams (10)
Average home league attendance11,822

During the 1998–99 English football season, Watford F.C. competed in the Football League First Division.

Season summary

In the 1998–99 season, Watford's second successive promotion was achieved with a 2–0 victory over Bolton Wanderers in the playoff final, securing the club's promotion to the top flight for the first time since 1988.[1][2]

Final league table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
3 Ipswich Town 46 26 8 12 69 32 +37 86 Qualification for the First Division play-offs
4 Birmingham City 46 23 12 11 66 37 +29 81
5 Watford (O, P) 46 21 14 11 65 56 +9 77
6 Bolton Wanderers 46 20 16 10 78 59 +19 76
7 Wolverhampton Wanderers 46 19 16 11 64 43 +21 73
Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference
(O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted

Results

Watford's score comes first[3]

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
8 August 1998PortsmouthA2–115,275Thomson (own goal), Lee
15 August 1998Bradford CityH1–010,731Ngonge
22 August 1998Bristol CityA4–113,063Johnson (2), Yates, Hazan
25 August 1998SunderlandA1–436,587Smart
28 August 1998Wolverhampton WanderersH0–212,016
8 September 1998Huddersfield TownA0–29,811
12 September 1998Queens Park RangersH2–114,251Millen, Smart
19 September 1998Swindon TownA4–18,781Smart (2), Wright, Hazan
26 September 1998Ipswich TownH1–013,109Kennedy (pen)
29 September 1998Sheffield UnitedH1–19,090Noel-Williams
4 October 1998West Bromwich AlbionA1–411,840Kennedy (pen)
10 October 1998Birmingham CityH1–110,096Rowett (own goal)
17 October 1998Tranmere RoversA2–36,753Smart, Noel-Williams
20 October 1998Bolton WanderersA2–115,921Noel-Williams, Kennedy (pen)
24 October 1998Port ValeH2–28,750Guðmundsson (2)
31 October 1998BuryA3–14,342Bazeley, Ngonge, Smart
3 November 1998Norwich CityH1–110,011Jackson (own goal)
7 November 1998Oxford UnitedH2–010,137Palmer, Noel-Williams
14 November 1998Stockport CountyA1–18,019Johnson
21 November 1998Crewe AlexandraH4–29,405Noel-Williams (2), Bazeley, Wright
28 November 1998Crystal PalaceA2–219,521Wright, Kennedy
5 December 1998BarnsleyH0–010,165
12 December 1998Stockport CountyH4–29,250Johnson, Wright, Noel-Williams (2)
19 December 1998Grimsby TownA1–26,679Noel-Williams
26 December 1998Bristol CityH1–015,081Smart
29 December 1998Norwich CityA1–119,255Palmer
9 January 1999PortsmouthH0–012,057
16 January 1999Wolverhampton WanderersA0–023,408
23 January 1999West Bromwich AlbionH0–211,664
30 January 1999SunderlandH2–120,188Wright, Noel-Williams
6 February 1999Bradford CityA0–214,142
16 February 1999Huddersfield TownH1–110,303Mooney
20 February 1999Queens Park RangersA2–114,918Wright, Smith
26 February 1999Swindon TownH0–18,692
2 March 1999Ipswich TownA2–318,818Smith, Mooney
6 March 1999Sheffield UnitedA0–315,943
13 March 1999Oxford UnitedA0–08,137
20 March 1999BuryH0–09,336
3 April 1999Tranmere RoversH2–18,682Kennedy, Ngonge
5 April 1999Birmingham CityA2–124,877Mooney, Daley
10 April 1999Bolton WanderersH2–013,001Hyde, Mooney
17 April 1999Crewe AlexandraA1–05,461Mooney
24 April 1999Crystal PalaceH2–115,590Hyde, Mooney
27 April 1999Port ValeA2–17,126Mooney (2)
1 May 1999BarnsleyA2–217,098Ngonge, Mooney
9 May 1999Grimsby TownH1–020,303Kennedy

First Division play-offs

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
SF 1st Leg16 May 1999Birmingham CityH1–018,535Ngonge
SF 2nd Leg20 May 1999Birmingham CityA0–1 (won 7–6 on pens)29,100
F31 May 1999Bolton WanderersN2–070,343Wright, Smart

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R32 January 1999Tottenham HotspurA2–536,022Johnson, Kennedy

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg11 August 1998Cambridge UnitedA0–13,073
R1 2nd Leg18 August 1998Cambridge UnitedH1–1 (lost 1–2 on agg)6,817Ngonge

Players

First-team squad

Squad at end of season[4]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK England ENG Alec Chamberlain
GK England ENG Chris Day
DF England ENG Darren Bazeley
DF England ENG Clint Easton
DF England ENG Nigel Gibbs
DF England ENG Colin Miles
DF England ENG Keith Millen
DF England ENG Steve Palmer
DF England ENG David Perpetuini
DF England ENG Paul Robinson
DF England ENG Darren Ward
DF England ENG Dean Yates
DF Wales WAL Rob Page (captain)
DF Nigeria NGA Benedict Iroha
MF England ENG Tony Daley
MF England ENG Micah Hyde[notes 1]
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF England ENG Stuart Slater
MF England ENG Tommy Smith
MF Northern Ireland NIR Peter Kennedy
MF France FRA Alexandre Bonnot (on loan from Angers)
MF Iceland ISL Jóhann Guðmundsson
MF Israel ISR Alon Hazan
MF Australia AUS Richard Johnson
FW England ENG Jason Lee
FW England ENG Tommy Mooney
FW England ENG Gifton Noel-Williams
FW England ENG Guy Whittingham (on loan from Sheffield Wednesday)
FW England ENG Nick Wright
FW Scotland SCO Allan Smart
FW Israel ISR Ronny Rosenthal
FW Democratic Republic of the Congo COD Michel Ngonge[notes 2]

References

  1. "Watford back in the big time". BBC Sport. 31 May 1999. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  2. McGuinness, Mark (1 June 1999). "Football: You've Got Wat It Takes, Taylor: First Division Play-Off Special; Bolton 0 Watford 2 Graham back on a high with return to the top flight". The Free Library. The Mirror. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  3. "Watford 1998-1999 Home - statto.com". Archived from the original on 25 January 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  4. "Watford FC Player Appearances | Past & Present | Soccer Base".

Notes

  1. Hyde was born in Newham, England, but also qualified to represent Jamaica internationally and would make his international debut for Jamaica in 2001.
  2. Ngonge was born in Huy, Belgium, but also qualified to represent the Democratic Republic of the Congo internationally and made his international debut for the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1995.
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