1914–15_Watford_F.C._season
1914–15 Watford F.C. season
1914–15 season of Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club are an association football team from the county of Hertfordshire, England. The 1914–15 season was their nineteenth season of league football, since joining the Southern League as West Hertfordshire for the 1896–97 season. Watford finished the season as champions of the Southern League First Division, winning 22 and drawing 8 of their 38 league matches.[1] In other competitions, Watford were eliminated from the FA Cup in the sixth qualifying round by Rochdale, and from the Southern Charity Cup by fellow Southern League team Luton Town. The club's manager was Harry Kent, and its top scorer George Edmonds, with 17 goals from 35 appearances.[2] Other notable players included Skilly Williams, who began what would be a 13-year period as the club's first choice goalkeeper,[3] and Fred Gregory, whose goal against Gillingham sealed the title for Watford.[4] Gregory and Williams were also the only two men to play in all 40 of Watford's games.[2]
| 1914–15 season | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stadium | Cassio Road | |
| Southern League First Division | 1st | |
| FA Cup | Sixth qualifying round (eliminated by Rochdale) | |
| Southern Charity Cup | First round (eliminated by Luton Town) | |
| Top goalscorer | League: George Edmonds (17) All: George Edmonds (17) | |
| Highest home attendance | 8,000 (vs Luton Town, 2 April 1915) | |
| Lowest home attendance | 1,000 (vs Southend United, 3 February 1915) | |
|
| ||
← 1913–14 | ||
As a result of the suspension of league football due to the First World War, Watford were the reigning champions for the next five years, until they were beaten to the 1919–20 title on goal average by Portsmouth.[5]
Although he had managed Watford since the departure of John Goodall in 1910, Harry Kent made two final competitive appearances in December 1913, before retiring completely as a player.[6][7] Watford lost both matches, and off the pitch Kent had an equally difficult season. Watford finished in 18th position in the Southern League First Division, and only managed to avoid relegation on the final day of the season with a 2–0 win over QPR. Despite a 10–0 thrashing of Bournemouth in their opening FA Cup match, they were defeated by Gillingham in the following round.[7][8] Furthermore, financial difficulties forced Kent to offload several key players at the end of the season. Top scorer Thomas Ashbridge and full back Harry Pantling were sold to Sheffield United for £500 each,[9] while first choice goalkeeper Joe Webster transferred to West Ham United for £300.[10] Other former first team regulars to leave the club before the start of 1914–15 included David Donald, Billy Dryden and Tommy Mitchell.[6]
Despite Britain's declaration of war in August 1914, the Southern League continued as normal for the 1914–15 season. Watford started their campaign on 2 September with a 2–1 win against Cardiff F.C. They continued their strong start to the season with a run of 6 wins and 3 defeats from the opening 9 fixtures, including a 3–0 home win against 1913–14 champions Swindon Town. However, the following two fixtures yielded consecutive league defeats to Reading and Southampton, and Watford's remaining 8 games of 1914 provided only two further wins.[11]
The new year brought a dramatic change in fortunes for Watford's season. Watford won 10 and drew 2 of their first 12 games of 1915, with George Edmonds, Peter Ronald and injured Charlie White's replacement Arthur Green all scoring freely.[2] A win and a defeat against Luton Town, a 2–0 defeat to West Ham United and a heavy 6–0 loss at Swindon enabled Reading and Cardiff to close in on Watford's points tally and goal average. But Watford secured the title in their penultimate match, with Fred Gregory scoring the decisive goal in a 3–2 win at Gillingham.[2]
Legend
Win Draw Loss
| 2 September 1914 | Watford | 2–1 | Cardiff City | Cassio Road |
 Ronald White |
|
Attendance: 1,500 |
| 5 September 1914 | Portsmouth | 2–3 | Watford | Fratton Park |
|
Edmonds Ronald White |
Attendance: 7,000 |
| 12 September 1914 | Watford | 3–0 | Swindon Town | Cassio Road |
| Edmonds White own goal |
Attendance: 3,000 |
| 16 September 1914 | Watford | 0–0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Cassio Road |
| Attendance: 1,500 |
| 19 September 1914 | Southend United | 0–0 | Watford | Kursaal |
| Attendance: 4,000 |
| 10 October 1914 | Watford | 2–0 | Bristol Rovers | Cassio Road |
| Val GregoryRonald |
Attendance: 3,000 |
| 17 October 1914 | Croydon Common | 0–1 | Watford | Croydon Common Athletic Ground |
| Edmonds |
Attendance: 6,000 |
| 31 October 1914 | Southampton | 3–1 | Watford | The Dell |
|
Hastings |
| 4 November 1914 First round | Luton Town | 2–0 | Watford | Kenilworth Road |
|
| 7 November 1914 | Watford | 0–0 | Northampton Town | Cassio Road |
| Attendance: 6,000 |
| 14 November 1914 | Watford | 1–0 | Crystal Palace | Cassio Road |
| Hastings |
| 21 November 1914 | Plymouth Argyle | 1–1 | Watford | Home Park |
|
own goal |
| 28 November 1914 | Watford | 0–1 | West Ham United | Cassio Road |
|
| 5 December 1914 | Norwich City | 2–0 | Watford | The Nest (football ground) |
|
Attendance: 3,000 |
| 12 December 1914 | Watford | 4–0 | Gillingham | Cassio Road |
| McLauchlan Waterall |
Attendance: 2,500 |
| 19 December 1914 Sixth qualifying round | Rochdale | 2–0 | Watford | Spotlands |
|
Attendance: 4,000 |
| 25 December 1914 | Watford | 1–1 | Exeter City | Cassio Road |
| McLauchlan |
|
Attendance: 2,000 |
| 26 December 1914 | Exeter City | 4–1 | Watford | St James Park |
|
Hastings |
Attendance: 6,000 |
| 1 January 1915 | Cardiff City | 2–3 | Watford | Ninian Park |
|
Edmonds Green Tattersall |
Attendance: 1,900 |
| 2 January 1915 | Watford | 2–1 | Portsmouth | Cassio Road |
| Edmonds |
|
Attendance: 3,000 |
| 3 February 1915 | Watford | 2–1 | Southend United | Cassio Road |
| Ronald own goal |
|
Attendance: 1,000 |
| 13 February 1915 | Bristol Rovers | 2–3 | Watford | Eastville Stadium |
|
Edmonds Green |
Attendance: 1,000 |
| 20 February 1915 | Watford | 3–0 | Croydon Common | Cassio Road |
| Hastings Ronald |
Attendance: 3,000 |
| 27 February 1915 | Watford | 4–0 | Millwall | Cassio Road |
| Edmonds Green Hastings Ronald |
Attendance: 3,000 |
| 6 March 1915 | Watford | 5–2 | Southampton | Cassio Road |
| Green Hastings Kennedy Ronald Tattersall |
|
| 13 March 1915 | Northampton Town | 1–1 | Watford | Eastville Stadium |
|
Val Gregory |
Attendance: 10,000 |
| 18 March 1915 | QPR | 2–5 | Watford | Loftus Road |
|
Edmonds GreenVal Gregory Tattersall |
Attendance: 5,000 |
| 20 March 1915 | Crystal Palace | 0–1 | Watford | The Crystal Palace |
| Tattersall |
| 27 March 1915 | Watford | 2–0 | Plymouth Argyle | Cassio Road |
| Edmonds Tattersall |
Attendance: 3,000 |
| 2 April 1915 | Watford | 2–4 | Luton Town | Cassio Road |
| Kennedy Ronald |
|
Attendance: 8,000 |
| 3 April 1915 | West Ham United | 2–0 | Watford | Boleyn Ground |
|
Attendance: 10,000 |
| 5 April 1915 | Luton Town | 0–2 | Watford | Kenilworth Road |
| EdmondsFred Gregory |
Attendance: 7,000 |
| 6 April 1915 | Swindon Town | 6–0 | Watford | County Ground |
|
Attendance: 1,000 |
| 10 April 1915 | Watford | 2–1 | Norwich City | Cassio Road |
| Edmonds Kennedy |
|
| 17 April 1915 | Gillingham | 2–3 | Watford | Priestfield Stadium |
|
Edmonds Green Fred Gregory |
| 24 April 1915 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1–2 | Watford | Goldstone Ground |
|
Edmonds Green |
Attendance: 3,000 |
Two points were awarded for a win, one point for draws, and none for defeats.[12] Due to the war, no clubs were relegated at the end of the season, although Croydon Common ceased trading before the start of the 1919–20 season.[11]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Watford | 38 | 22 | 8 | 8 | 68 | 46 | 1.478 | 52 | |
| 2 | Reading | 38 | 21 | 7 | 10 | 68 | 43 | 1.581 | 49 | |
| 3 | Cardiff City | 38 | 22 | 4 | 12 | 72 | 38 | 1.895 | 48 | |
| 4 | West Ham United | 38 | 18 | 9 | 11 | 58 | 47 | 1.234 | 45 | Elected to the 1919–20 Football League Second Division after World War I |
| 5 | Northampton Town | 38 | 19 | 5 | 14 | 56 | 51 | 1.098 | 43 |
Rules for classification: The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976–77 season. The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.
Statistics
- Key
P: Games played
G: Goals scored
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| Name | Position | P | G | P | G | P | G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| League | Cups | Total | |||||
| Bob Barnshaw | Centre half | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Harold Bulling | Full back | 35 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| George Edmonds | Centre forward | 35 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 17 |
| Albert Green | Inside forward | 23 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 8 |
| Fred Gregory | Full back / Wing half | 38 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 2 |
| Val Gregory | Wing half | 32 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 3 |
| Ernie Grimsdell | Full back | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| William Hastings | Outside forward | 34 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 6 |
| Sam Hatton | Full back | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Jim Kennedy | Centre half | 32 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 3 |
| James McGuire | Outside forward | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Joe McLauchlan | Centre forward | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 3 |
| F.A. McMorran | Wing half | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Peter Ronald | Inside forward | 35 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 9 |
| Alex Stewart | Full back | 37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 0 |
| Tommy Waterall | Outside forward | 33 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 10 |
| Charlie White | Inside forward | 19 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 4 |
| Skilly Williams | Goalkeeper | 38 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 0 |
- General
- Jones, Trefor (1998). Watford Season by Season. ISBN 0-9527458-1-X.
- Jones, Trefor (1996). The Watford Football Club Illustrated Who's Who. ISBN 0-9527458-0-1.
- "Watford: Historical Football Kits". Historical Football Kits. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
- Specific
- Watford Season by Season p. 61
- Illustrated Who's Who p. 243
- Illustrated Who's Who p. 101
- Watford Season by Season p. 62
- Watford Season by Season p. 59
- Illustrated Who's Who p. 267
- Watford Season by Season p. 58
- Illustrated Who's Who p. 26, 181
- Illustrated Who's Who p. 237
- Watford Season by Season p. 60
- Dinant Abbink; Richard Rundle (24 July 2005). "England: Southern League final tables". RSSSF. Retrieved 7 July 2010.