| 2011–12 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Graham Taylor | ||
| Manager | Sean Dyche | ||
| Stadium | Vicarage Road | ||
| Football League Championship | 11th | ||
| FA Cup | Fourth round (eliminated byTottenham Hotspur) | ||
| League Cup | First round (eliminated byBristol Rovers) | ||
| Top goalscorer | League:Troy Deeney: 11 All:Troy Deeney: 12 | ||
| Highest home attendance | 16,314 (vs.Blackpool, 6 April 2012) | ||
| Lowest home attendance | 10,592 (vsMillwall, 27 September 2011) | ||
Watford Football Club (also known simply asWatford, or asThe Hornets) is an Englishfootball club fromWatford,Hertfordshire. The team competed in theEFL Championship in2011–12, their fifth consecutive season in thesecond tier of English football since their relegation from the Premier League in2006–07.[1] The 2011–12 season consisted of pre-season friendlies in July 2011, followed by competitive matches in the Football League,FA Cup andEFL Cup between August 2011 and April 2012. Assistant managerSean Dyche became manager in July 2011, following the departure ofMalky Mackay. The club's captain for the season was central midfielderJohn Eustace. Watford's chairman wasGraham Taylor, who previously took Watford from theFourth Division to theFirst Division as manager.
The team was widely tipped for relegation in 2011–12, following the pre-season departures of attacking playersDanny Graham,Will Buckley andDon Cowie for a combined total of £4.5million. Following an early run of two wins from the first thirteen league fixtures, Watford's form improved, and the team lost just one of the remaining eleven games in 2011. Watford suffered four defeats in January 2012, and soldMarvin Sordell – then the team's top goalscorer – on the last day of the January transfer window. The team regained its form between February and April, and finished the league season in the top half of the table for the first time in four years.[2] Watford's top scorer wasTroy Deeney with 12 goals in all competitions, followed by Sordell with 10. Centre backAdrian Mariappa was votedWatford F.C. Player of the Season,[3] whileSean Murray received the young player award.[4]
Off the field, 2011 and 2012 marked a period of transition.Laurence Bassini purchased the club in March 2011, and after the 2010–11 season several senior members of staff left the club, including chief executiveJulian Winter and manager Malky Mackay.[5] Bassini himself attracted criticism from some Watford supporters, as well as chairman Graham Taylor, for his reluctance to speak to supporters or the media.[6] Taylor resigned as chairman at the end of the season,[7] and in June 2012 a company owned byGiampaolo Pozzo and his family took control of the club.[8]
The end of the 2010–11 season signalled the start of a period of change, on and off the pitch. Watford sold the club's top scorerDanny Graham to newly promotedSwansea City for £3.5 million.[9] They also sold Young Player of the seasonWill Buckley toBrighton & Hove Albion for £1m, andLiam Henderson left on a free transfer toYork City. Off the field, Watford's chief executiveJulian Winter left the club shortly after the sales of Buckley and Graham, and managerMalky Mackay joinedCardiff City the following week. On 21 June, 20-year-old defenderTom Aldred left on a season-long loan toInverness Caledonian Thistle andNathan Ellington went on a free transfer toIpswich Town.[10] Meanwhile, on the same day,Craig Forsyth came toWatford fromDundee United andSean Dyche was appointed as new manager.
| 9 July 2011 | Boreham Wood | 2–2 | Watford | Meadow Park |
| 15:00 | Noto Chabaan | Eustace Mingoia |
| 19 July 2011 | Wealdstone | 1–3 | Watford | St Georges Stadium |
| 19:45 | Jolly | Yeates Iwelumo Sordell |
| 23 July 2011 | AFC Wimbledon | 2–1 | Watford | Kingsmeadow |
| 15:00 | L. Moore | Eustace | Attendance: 1,613 |
| 26 July 2011 | Brentford | 0–0 | Watford | Griffin Park |
| 19:45 | Attendance: 2,491 |
| 30 July 2011 | Colchester United | 1–0 | Watford | Weston Homes Community Stadium |
| 15:00 | Odejayi |
| 6 August 20111 | Burnley | 2–2 | Watford | Turf Moor |
| 15:00 | Austin Treacy | [11] | Attendance: 14,617 |
| 13 August 20112 | Watford | 0–1 | Derby County | Vicarage Road |
| 15:00 | [12] | Attendance: 12,263 |
| 16 August 20113 | Watford | 0–4 | West Ham United | Vicarage Road |
| 19:45 | [13] | Attendance: 14,747 |
| 20 August 20114 | Coventry City | 0–0 | Watford | Ricoh Arena |
| 15:00 | [14] | Attendance: 13,043 |
| 28 August 20115 | Watford | 2–2 | Birmingham City | Vicarage Road |
| 15:00 | Sordell Taylor | [15] | Attendance: 11,937 |
| 10 September 20116 | Reading | 0–2 | Watford | Madejski Stadium |
| 15:00 | [16] | Attendance: 17,128 |
| 17 September 20117 | Barnsley | 1–1 | Watford | Oakwell |
| 15:00 | Gray | [17] | Attendance: 9,733 |
| 24 September 20118 | Watford | 0–1 | Nottingham Forest | Vicarage Road |
| 15:00 | [18] | Attendance: 11,437 |
| 27 September 20119 | Watford | 2–1 | Millwall | Vicarage Road |
| 19:45 | Dickinson Forsyth | [19] | Attendance: 10,592 |
| 1 October 201110 | Southampton | 4–0 | Watford | St Mary's Stadium |
| 15:00 | Lambert do Prado Holmes | [20] | Attendance: 23,574 |
| 15 October 201111 | Watford | 0–2 | Crystal Palace | Vicarage Road |
| 15:00 | [21] | Zaha Easter | Attendance: 12,559 |
| 19 October 201112 | Leicester City | 2–0 | Watford | King Power Stadium |
| 19:45 | Nugent Beckford | [22] | Attendance: 20,304 |
| 22 October 201113 | Hull City | 3–2 | Watford | KC Stadium |
| 15:00 | Fryatt Mclean Koren | [23] | Attendance: 18,324 |
| 29 October 201114 | Watford | 3–2 | Peterborough United | Vicarage Road |
| 15:00 | Yeates Sordell | [24] | Attendance: 15,031 |
| 1 November 201115 | Watford | 1–0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Vicarage Road |
| 19:45 | Deeney | [25] | Attendance: 11,818 |
| 5 November 201116 | Middlesbrough | 1–0 | Watford | Riverside Stadium |
| 17:20 | McDonald | [26] | Attendance: 14,366 |
| 19 November 201117 | Watford | 2–0 | Portsmouth | Vicarage Road |
| 15:00 | Kightly Sordell | [27] | Attendance: 12,864 |
| 26 November 201118 | Doncaster Rovers | 0–0 | Watford | Keepmoat Stadium |
| 15:00 | [28] | Attendance: 8,389 |
| 29 November 201119 | Watford | 2–2 | Bristol City | Vicarage Road |
| 19:45 | Dickinson Beattie | [29] | Attendance: 12,418 |
| 3 December 201120 | Ipswich Town | 1–2 | Watford | Portman Road |
| 15:00 | Andrews | [30] | Attendance: 16,262 |
| 10 December 201121 | Watford | 1–1 | Leeds United | Vicarage Road |
| 15:00 | Kightly | [31] | Attendance: 13,573 |
| 17 December 201122 | Blackpool | 0–0 | Watford | Bloomfield Road |
| 15:00 | [32] | Attendance: 11,652 |
| 26 December 201123 | Watford | 1–1 | Cardiff City | Vicarage Road |
| 12:00 | Buaben | [33] | Attendance: 14,604 |
| 31 December 201124 | Watford | 4–1 | Doncaster Rovers | Vicarage Road |
| 13:00 | Sordell Eustace Kightly | [34] | Attendance: 11,654 |
| 2 January 201225 | Portsmouth | 2–0 | Watford | Fratton Park |
| 15:00 | Futács Mullins | [35] | Attendance: 14,362 |
| 14 January 201227 | Watford | 1–2 | Reading | Vicarage Road |
| 17:20 | Cummings | [36] | Attendance: 11,291 |
| 21 January 201227 | Birmingham City | 3–0 | Watford | St Andrew's |
| 15:00 | Davies Burke | [37] | Attendance: 18,681 |
| 31 January 201228 | Millwall | 0–2 | Watford | The Den |
| 19:45 | [38] | Attendance: 9,294 |
| 4 February 201229 | Watford | 2–1 | Barnsley | Vicarage Road |
| 15:00 | Eustace | [39] | Attendance: 11,306 |
| 11 February 201230 | Nottingham Forest | 1–1 | Watford | City Ground |
| 15:00 | McCleary | [40] | Attendance: 21,712 |
| 14 February 201231 | Watford | 3–2 | Leicester City | Vicarage Road |
| 19:45 | Mariappa Murray Forsyth | [41] | Attendance: 11,800 |
| 18 February 201232 | Crystal Palace | 4–0 | Watford | Selhurst Park |
| 15:00 | Zaha Martin Dikgacoi | [42] | Attendance: 13,324 |
| 25 February 201233 | Watford | 0–3 | Southampton | Vicarage Road |
| 15:00 | [43] | Attendance: 13,424 |
| 3 March 201234 | Watford | 3–2 | Burnley | Vicarage Road |
| 15:00 | Nosworthy Kacaniklic Deeney | [44] | Attendance: 11,612 |
| 7 March 201235 | West Ham United | 1–1 | Watford | Upton Park |
| 19:45 | Vaz Te | [45] | Attendance: 31,674 |
| 10 March 201236 | Derby County | 1–2 | Watford | Pride Park |
| 15:00 | S. Davies | [46] | Attendance: 23,130 |
| 17 March 201237 | Watford | 0–0 | Coventry City | Vicarage Road |
| 15:00 | [47] | Attendance: 12,563 |
| 20 March 201238 | Bristol City | 0–2 | Watford | Ashton Gate |
| 19:45 | [48] | Attendance: 12,017 |
| 24 March 201239 | Watford | 2–1 | Ipswich Town | Vicarage Road |
| 15:00 | Murray Deeney | [49] | Attendance: 12,757 |
| 31 March 201240 | Leeds United | 0–2 | Watford | Elland Road |
| 15:00 | [50] | Attendance: 21,766 |
| 6 April 201241 | Watford | 0–2 | Blackpool | Vicarage Road |
| 15:00 | [51] | Attendance: 16,314 |
| 9 April 201242 | Cardiff City | 1–1 | Watford | Cardiff City Stadium |
| 15:00 | Miller | [52] | Attendance: 21,259 |
| 14 April 201243 | Watford | 1–1 | Hull City | Vicarage Road |
| 15:00 | Deeney | [53] | Attendance: 11,596 |
| 17 April 201244 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2–2 | Watford | Falmer Stadium |
| 19:45 | Calderón Buckley | [54] | Attendance: 19,189 |
| 21 April 201245 | Peterborough United | 2–2 | Watford | London Road Stadium |
| 15:00 | Tomlin Taylor | [55] | Attendance: 8,725 |
| 28 April 201246 | Watford | 2–1 | Middlesbrough | Vicarage Road |
| 12:30 | Iwelumo Deeney | [56] | Attendance: 14,022 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Leicester City | 46 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 66 | 55 | +11 | 66 |
| 10 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 52 | 52 | 0 | 66 |
| 11 | Watford | 46 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 56 | 64 | −8 | 64 |
| 12 | Derby County | 46 | 18 | 10 | 18 | 50 | 58 | −8 | 64 |
| 13 | Burnley | 46 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 61 | 58 | +3 | 62 |
| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H |
| Result | D | L | L | D | D | W | D | L | W | L | L | L | L | W | W | L | W | D | D | W | D | D | D | W | L | L | L | W | W | D | W | L | L | W | D | W | D | W | W | W | L | D | D | D | D | W |
| Points | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 33 | 36 | 37 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 43 | 44 | 47 | 48 | 51 | 54 | 57 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 64 |
| Position[a] | 13 | 17 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 11 |
| 7 January 2012R3 | Watford | 4–2 | Bradford City | Vicarage Road |
| 15:00 | Deeney Sordell Forsyth | [57] | Attendance: 8,935 |
| 27 January 2012R4 | Watford | 0–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | Vicarage Road |
| 19:45 | [58] | Attendance: 15,384 |
| 10 August 2011 | Bristol Rovers | P–P | Watford | Memorial Stadium |
| [59] |
| 23 August 2011R1 | Bristol Rovers | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–2p) | Watford | Memorial Stadium |
| 19:45 | Harrold | Sordell | Attendance: 4,432 | |
| Penalties | ||||
| Kuffour McGleish Virgo Brown Carayol | Eustace Sordell Mariappa Dickinson | |||
No. = Squad number Pos = Playing position P = Number of games played G = Number of goals scored | GK =Goalkeeper DF =Defender MF =Midfielder FW =Forward | Yth = Whether player went through Watford's youth system Joined club = Year that player became a Watford first team player[n 1] Left club during 2011–12 Age = Age of player on final day of season (28 April 2012)
|
Correct as of 28 April 2012.
| No. | Pos | Name | P | G | P | G | P | G | P | G | Age | Joined club | Yth | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Championship | FA Cup | League Cup | Total | Discipline | ||||||||||||
| 1 | GK | Scott Loach | 31 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 23 years, 337 days | 2006 | No | — |
| 2 | DF | Lee Hodson | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 years, 209 days | 2009 | Yes | — |
| 3 | DF | Carl Dickinson | 39 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 25 years, 28 days | 2011 | No | — |
| 4 | MF | John Eustace | 39 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 32 years, 177 days | 2008 | No | — |
| 5 | DF | Martin Taylor | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 32 years, 171 days | 2010 | No | — |
| 6 | DF | Adrian Mariappa | 39 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 25 years, 208 days | 2005 | Yes | — |
| 7 | MF | Mark Yeates | 33 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 27 years, 108 days | 2011 | No | — |
| 8 | MF | Josh Walker | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 years, 67 days | 2010 | No | — |
| 9 | FW | Troy Deeney | 43 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 23 years, 304 days | 2010 | No | — |
| 10 | FW | Chris Iwelumo | 39 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 33 years, 271 days | 2011 | No | — |
| 11 | MF | Craig Forsyth | 20 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 23 years, 64 days | 2011 | No | — |
| 12 | DF | Lloyd Doyley | 33 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 4 | 1[n 3] | 29 years, 149 days | 2001 | Yes | — |
| 13 | GK | Rene Gilmartin | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 years, 333 days | 2010 | No | — |
| 14 | MF | Ross Jenkins | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 21 years, 171 days | 2008 | Yes | — |
| 15 | MF | Stephen McGinn | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 years, 148 days | 2010 | No | — |
| 16 | MF | Michael Bryan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 years, 67 days | 2009 | Yes | — |
| 17 | DF | Dale Bennett | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 years, 113 days | 2008 | Yes | — |
| 18 | FW | Alexander Kacaniklic | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 20 years, 290 days | 2012 | No | Loan player |
| 18 | FW | Michael Kightly | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 26 years, 95 days | 2011 | No | Loan player |
| 18 | FW | Andreas Weimann | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 years, 267 days | 2011 | No | Loan player |
| 19 | MF | Prince Buaben | 29 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 24 years, 5 days | 2011 | No | — |
| 20 | FW | Marvin Sordell | 26 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 21 years, 71 days | 2009 | Yes | — |
| 20 | FW | Marcello Trotta | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 years, 212 days | 2012 | No | Loan player |
| 21 | DF | David Mirfin | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 years, 10 days | 2011 | No | — |
| 22 | MF | Sean Murray | 18 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 18 years, 200 days | 2010 | Yes | — |
| 23 | MF | Piero Mingoia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 years, 191 days | 2010 | Yes | — |
| 24 | FW | Matthew Whichelow | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 years, 213 days | 2010 | Yes | — |
| 25 | FW | Joe Garner | 22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 24 years, 16 days | 2011 | No | — |
| 26 | MF | Britt Assombalonga | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19 years, 144 days | 2011 | Yes | — |
| 27 | FW | Gavin Massey | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 years, 207 days | 2010 | Yes | — |
| 28 | MF | Chez Isaac | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 years, 164 days | 2011 | Yes | — |
| 29 | DF | Adam Thompson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 years, 213 days | 2010 | Yes | — |
| 30 | GK | Jonathan Bond | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 years, 345 days | 2010 | Yes | — |
| 31 | DF | Tom James | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 years, 161 days | 2011 | No | — |
| 32 | MF | Jonathan Hogg | 40 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 23 years, 144 days | 2011 | No | — |
| 33 | DF | Nyron Nosworthy | 32 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 31 years, 200 days | 2011 | No | Initially on loan; signed permanently |
| 34 | GK | Jack Bonham | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 years, 227 days | 2010 | Yes | — |
| 35 | GK | Tomasz Kuszczak | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 years, 39 days | 2012 | No | Loan player |
| 37 | FW | Craig Beattie | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 28 years, 103 days | 2011 | No | Loan player |
Unless a country is specified, all clubs play in theEnglish football league system.

| Date | Player | From | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 June 2011 | Craig Forsyth | Dundee | Undisclosed[61] |
| 4 July 2011 | David Mirfin | Scunthorpe United | Free (end of contract)[62] |
| 13 July 2011 | Mark Yeates | Sheffield United | Undisclosed[63] |
| 14 July 2011 | Prince Buaben | Dundee United | Free (end of contract)[64] |
| 19 July 2011 | Chris Iwelumo | Burnley | Undisclosed[65] |
| 29 July 2011 | Carl Dickinson | Stoke City | Undisclosed[66] |
| 4 August 2011 | Tom James | Stratford Town | Free[67] |
| 27 August 2011 | Jonathan Hogg | Aston Villa | Undisclosed[68] |
| 31 August 2011 | Joe Garner | Nottingham Forest | Undisclosed[69] |
| 10 January 2012 | Nyron Nosworthy | Sunderland | Undisclosed[70] |

| Date[n 4] | Player | To | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 May 2011 | Liam Henderson | York City | Free (end of contract, released)[71] |
| 6 June 2011 | Will Buckley | Brighton & Hove Albion | £1m[72] |
| 7 June 2011 | Danny Graham | Swansea City | £3.5m[73] |
| 21 June 2011 | Nathan Ellington | Ipswich Town | Free (end of contract, released)[74] |
| 27 June 2011 | Mat Sadler | Walsall | Free (end of contract, released)[75] |
| 28 June 2011[76] | Rob Kiernan | Wigan Athletic | Free (end of contract, rejected renewal)[77] |
| 1 July 2011 | Don Cowie | Cardiff City | Free (end of contract, rejected renewal)[78] |
| 31 August 2011 | Tom Aldred | Colchester United | Free (contract terminated)[79] |
| 31 August 2011 | Eddie Oshodi | Forest Green Rovers[n 5] | Free (contract terminated) |
| 31 January 2012 | Marvin Sordell | Bolton Wanderers | Undisclosed[81] |

| Start | Player | From | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 August 2011 | Andreas Weimann | Aston Villa | 23 September 2011[n 6] |
| 11 October 2011 | Michael Kightly | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3 January 2012[n 7] |
| 24 October 2011 | Craig Beattie | Swansea City | 8 January 2012[86] |
| 28 October 2011 | Nyron Nosworthy | Sunderland | 8 January 2012[87] |
| 30 January 2012 | Alexander Kacaniklic | Fulham | End of the season[n 8] |
| 21 February 2012 | Tomasz Kuszczak | Manchester United | 28 April 2012 ‡[90] |
| 23 February 2012 | Marcello Trotta | Fulham | 24 March 2012[91] |

Watford's reserve side played friendlies in 2011–12, following their withdrawal from the Totesport.com Combination East Division. The under-18s played their home games at Watford's training base at the UCL training ground, London Colney. They are members of theFA Premier Academy League. They went out of theFA Youth Cup in the fourth round away atNewcastle United, losing 2–1,[146] having beatenMillwall 2–1 away in the third round.[147] They also played in theHerts Senior Cup, going out toBishop's Stortford in the first round.[148] The side were coached by technical skills coach Adam Pilling from the end of August until the first week of October, whenDavid Hughes, who had been appointed on 22 September,[149] took up his position as youth team coach.[150]
Watford's academy consists of 20 scholars:
Murray signed a professional contract during the 2010 pre-season, alongside his scholarship forms.[151] Bonham and Hoban signed a professional deals in September 2010 and May 2011 respectively.[152] In July 2011 Mensah signed a contract that saw him turn professional on his 17th birthday. Ferrier joined Watford on 20 September after a trial period, having previously been inArsenal's youth system.[153] Connolly joined on 1 December at second year scholar age, following a trial period.[154] In April Watford announced the fates of the remaining second-year scholars; Hamilton Forbes, Smith and Tumwa were given professional contracts, Akubine, Horner, Kalu and Gardner were released, while Bevans had his scholarship extended due an injury which kept him sidelined from October.[155]
Hoban and Murray both made first-team appearances during 2010–11, while Smith was an unused substitute. Murray has played for the first-team in 2011–12, while Bonham has been an unused substitute. Bonham, Hamilton-Forbes, Hoban, Smith and Tumwa have all been loaned to non-league sides in 2011–12.