Watford F.C. Player of the Season


are an English football club, from Watford, Hertfordshire. Founded in 1881 as Watford Rovers, the club has competed in the Football League since 1920 and since the 2015–16 season have competed in the Premier League. First introduced by the Watford Observer in the 1972–73 season, the Watford F.C. Player of the Season award is voted for annually by supporters of the club. It recognises the best overall performance by an individual player through the season. Winners were originally presented with the Watford Observer Trophy, but since 2016-17 the award has been named the Graham Taylor Player of the Season Award, after the club's former manager.
Goalkeeper Andy Rankin won the initial award in the 1972–73 season, ahead of Colin Franks and Duncan Welbourne. In the 1974–75 season, Rankin won the award for the second time, becoming the first of ten players to do so as of 2016. Another goalkeeper, Tony Coton, is the only player to have received the title for a third time. Coton is one of four players to have won the award in consecutive seasons, the others being Wilf Rostron in 1982–83 and 1983–84, Tommy Smith in 2007–08 and 2008–09, and most recently, Troy Deeney in 2013–14 and 2014–15. Eight winners of the award have represented their country at full international level, of whom only John McClelland went on to become Watford's Player of the Season for a second time.
Towards the end of each season, fans vote directly for the Player of the Season. Historically this has been conducted by post, but in recent years it has taken place on the Watford Observer's website. This system was earmarked for change to a match-by-match rating system in 2009, but in March 2010, the Observer decided to revert to the traditional method of voting.

Winners

is the only player to win the award having made fewer than 50 appearances.
's top scorer in the 2010–11 season.
won the award in consecutive seasons, in 2013–14 and 2014–15.
SeasonLevelNamePositionAppsGoalsNational teamNotes
1972–733Goalkeeper3290 England under-23
1973–743Forward10037 England youth
1974–753Goalkeeper3290 England under-23
1975–764Forward398142
1976–774Forward15453
1977–784Defender23216
1978–793Forward398142
1979–802Defender28736
1980–812Defender2198 England B
1981–822Midfielder21120
1982–831Defender40430 England schoolboys
1983–841Defender40430 England schoolboys
1984–851Defender2343 Northern Ireland
1985–861Goalkeeper2910 England B
1986–871Goalkeeper2910 England B
1987–881Defender2343 Northern Ireland
1988–892Midfielder10219 Wales
1989–902Goalkeeper2910 England B
1990–912Goalkeeper980 England
1991–922Defender4917 England under-21
1992–932Forward9141 England C
1993–942Midfielder47257 England under-21
1994–952Goalkeeper1510
1995–962Forward28764
1996–973Goalkeeper1510
1997–983Goalkeeper2880
1998–992Defender2729
1999–20001Defender2523 Wales
2000–012Forward28764
2001–022Goalkeeper2880
2002–032Defender1159 Jamaica
2003–042Midfielder2157
2004–052Forward22875 Iceland
2005–062Forward8737 Jamaica
2006–071Goalkeeper1190 England
2007–082Midfielder30664 England under-21
2008–092Midfielder30664 England under-21
2009–102Midfielder9413 England under-21
2010–112Forward9841 England under-20
2011–122Defender3175 Jamaica
2012–132Midfielder9223 Switzerland
2013–142Forward371123
2014–152Forward371123
2015–161Goalkeeper1560 Brazil
2016–171Defender823 Austria
2017–181Midfielder10213 France under-21
2018–191Midfielder14014 France

Statistics

PositionNumber of winners
Goalkeeper12
Defender13
Midfielder10
Forward12

CountryNumber of winners
18
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
1

Footnotes