Watford Football Club is an English football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. The club was founded in 1881 and has competed in the English football league system since 1920. Their first and so far only season in UEFA-sanctioned cup competition came when they reached the third round of the UEFA Cup in the 1983âÂÂ84 season.
Under Graham Taylor, The Hornets enjoyed their highest ever league finish in the 1982âÂÂ83 season when they finished second behind Liverpool, securing qualification to the UEFA Cup the following season, alongside compatriots Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur; the latter would go on to win the competition. Watford's first opponents were 1. FC Kaiserslautern. Watford lost the first leg 3âÂÂ1, however a 3âÂÂ0 win at Vicarage Road saw them safely through to the second round, where they faced Levski Spartak, a Bulgarian side. A 1âÂÂ1 draw in Hertfordshire was followed up with a 3âÂÂ1 win after extra time in the Vasil Levski National Stadium, ensuring Watford's progress to the third round.
The draw matched Watford with Czechoslovak club AC Sparta Prague. At home, Watford went 2âÂÂ0 down in the first half however recovered to 2âÂÂ2 with goals from Wilf Rostron and Jimmy Gilligan but a late winner from substitute ZdenÃÂk à  ÃÂasný sunk the Yellows. A 4âÂÂ0 away defeat sealed Watford's exit as a 7âÂÂ2 aggregate loss ended their European campaign.
The revival of the Anglo-Italian Cup for the 1992âÂÂ93 campaign saw Watford return to European cup competition for the first time since 1984, however it would only be a brief return, as Watford finished bottom of their group in the preliminary round having been beaten by Bristol City and drawing with local rivals Luton Town.
The next season Watford tried again, with another entry. Again, they fell at the preliminary round, as Southend United topped the group, although they did manage to beat their rivals Luton. They did not take part in the Anglo-Italian Cup again, and the tournament itself was scrapped after the 1995âÂÂ96 tournament because the two leagues could not agree on dates for fixtures.