# Watford F.C. Player of the Season

Watford Football Club 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

    † Inducted into the Watford Hall of Fame
    Statistics correct at end of 2018–19 season.
Watford F.C. Player of the Season winners :
| Season | Level | Name | Position | Apps | Goals | National team | Notes |
| 1972–73 | 3 | Andy Rankin | Goalkeeper | 329 | 0 | England under-23 | |
| 1973–74 | 3 | Billy Jennings | Forward | 100 | 37 | England youth | |
| 1974–75 | 3 | Andy Rankin | Goalkeeper | 329 | 0 | England under-23 | |
| 1975–76 | 4 | Ross Jenkins | Forward | 398 | 142 | None | † |
| 1976–77 | 4 | Keith Mercer | Forward | 154 | 53 | None | |
| 1977–78 | 4 | Alan Garner | Defender | 232 | 16 | None | |
| 1978–79 | 3 | Ross Jenkins | Forward | 398 | 142 | None | † |
| 1979–80 | 2 | Ian Bolton | Defender | 287 | 36 | None | † |
| 1980–81 | 2 | Steve Sims | Defender | 219 | 8 | England B | |
| 1981–82 | 2 | Les Taylor | Midfielder | 211 | 20 | None | † |
| 1982–83 | 1 | Wilf Rostron | Defender | 404 | 30 | England schoolboys | |
| 1983–84 | 1 | Wilf Rostron | Defender | 404 | 30 | England schoolboys | |
| 1984–85 | 1 | John McClelland | Defender | 234 | 3 | Northern Ireland | † |
| 1985–86 | 1 | Tony Coton | Goalkeeper | 291 | 0 | England B | † |
| 1986–87 | 1 | Tony Coton | Goalkeeper | 291 | 0 | England B | † |
| 1987–88 | 1 | John McClelland | Defender | 234 | 3 | Northern Ireland | † |
| 1988–89 | 2 | Glyn Hodges | Midfielder | 102 | 19 | Wales | |
| 1989–90 | 2 | Tony Coton | Goalkeeper | 291 | 0 | England B | † |
| 1990–91 | 2 | David James | Goalkeeper | 98 | 0 | England | † |
| 1991–92 | 2 | Nigel Gibbs | Defender | 491 | 7 | England under-21 | † |
| 1992–93 | 2 | Paul Furlong | Forward | 91 | 41 | England C | |
| 1993–94 | 2 | Gary Porter | Midfielder | 472 | 57 | England under-21 | † |
| 1994–95 | 2 | Kevin Miller | Goalkeeper | 151 | 0 | None | |
| 1995–96 | 2 | Tommy Mooney | Forward | 287 | 64 | None | † |
| 1996–97 | 3 | Kevin Miller | Goalkeeper | 151 | 0 | None | |
| 1997–98 | 3 | Alec Chamberlain | Goalkeeper | 288 | 0 | None | |
| 1998–99 | 2 | Steve Palmer | Defender | 272 | 9 | None | |
| 1999–2000 | 1 | Rob Page | Defender | 252 | 3 | Wales | † |
| 2000–01 | 2 | Tommy Mooney | Forward | 287 | 64 | None | † |
| 2001–02 | 2 | Alec Chamberlain | Goalkeeper | 288 | 0 | None | |
| 2002–03 | 2 | Marcus Gayle | Defender | 115 | 9 | Jamaica | |
| 2003–04 | 2 | Gavin Mahon | Midfielder | 215 | 7 | None | |
| 2004–05 | 2 | Heiðar Helguson | Forward | 228 | 75 | Iceland | † |
| 2005–06 | 2 | Marlon King | Forward | 87 | 37 | Jamaica | |
| 2006–07 | 1 | Ben Foster | Goalkeeper | 119 | 0 | England | |
| 2007–08 | 2 | Tommy Smith | Midfielder | 306 | 64 | England under-21 | |
| 2008–09 | 2 | Tommy Smith | Midfielder | 306 | 64 | England under-21 | |
| 2009–10 | 2 | Tom Cleverley | Midfielder | 94 | 13 | England under-21 | |
| 2010–11 | 2 | Danny Graham | Forward | 98 | 41 | England under-20 | |
| 2011–12 | 2 | Adrian Mariappa | Defender | 317 | 5 | Jamaica | |
| 2012–13 | 2 | Almen Abdi | Midfielder | 92 | 23 | Switzerland | |
| 2013–14 | 2 | Troy Deeney | Forward | 371 | 123 | None | |
| 2014–15 | 2 | Troy Deeney | Forward | 371 | 123 | None | |
| 2015–16 | 1 | Heurelho Gomes | Goalkeeper | 156 | 0 | Brazil | |
| 2016–17 | 1 | Sebastian Prödl | Defender | 82 | 3 | Austria | |
| 2017–18 | 1 | Abdoulaye Doucouré | Midfielder | 102 | 13 | France under-21 | |
| 2018–19 | 1 | Etienne Capoue | Midfielder | 140 | 14 | France | |

## Statistics

Wins by playing position :
| Position | Number of winners |
| Goalkeeper | 12 |
| Defender | 13 |
| Midfielder | 10 |
| Forward | 12 |
Wins by international representation :
| Country | Number of winners |
| England | 18 |
| Jamaica | 3 |
| France | 2 |
| Northern Ireland | 2 |
| Wales | 2 |
| Austria | 1 |
| Brazil | 1 |
| Iceland | 1 |
| Switzerland | 1 |

## Footnotes

* ↑ The official "Level" of competition in the structure of the English league system.
* 1 2 For a full description of positions see association football positions.
* 1 2 "Apps" is short for appearances, and refers to competitive first team appearances for Watford. Goals refers to competitive first team goals scored for Watford.
* ↑ Where a player represented his country at multiple levels, only the highest level is given.
* 1 2 Not to be confused with Ross Jenkins (footballer, born 1990), who won the Watford Young Player of the Season award in 2008–09.
* ↑ Gibbs spent his entire playing career at Watford.
* ↑ Palmer is listed as a defender as he played most games this season as a central defender. He has played in every position for the club.
* 1 2 Multiple winners are counted multiple times.