| Club: | Watford |
| Season: | 1997–98 |
| Manager: | Graham Taylor |
| Chairman: | Elton John |
| Stadium: | Vicarage Road |
| League: | Second Division |
| League Result: | 1st (champions) |
| Cup2: | FA Cup |
| Cup2 Result: | Third round |
| Cup3: | League Cup |
| Cup3 Result: | Second round |
| Cup4: | Auto Windscreens Shield |
| Cup4 Result: | First round |
| League Topscorer: | Kennedy (11) |
| Season Topscorer: | Kennedy (13) |
| Average Attendance: | 11,532 |
| Prevseason: | 1996–97 |
| Nextseason: | 1998–99 |
During the 1997–98 English football season, Watford F.C. competed in the Football League Second Division.
In the 1997–98 season, Kenny Jackett was demoted to the position of assistant manager and Graham Taylor returned for a second spell as Watford manager. The transition proved a success; Watford secured the Division Two title, beating Bristol City into second place after a season-long struggle.
Watford's score comes first[1]
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 August 1997 | Burnley | H | 1–0 | 11,155 | Lee | |
| 16 August 1997 | Carlisle United | A | 2–0 | 7,395 | Kennedy, Johnson | |
| 23 August 1997 | Brentford | H | 3–1 | 10,125 | Millen, Melvang, Johnson | |
| 30 August 1997 | Preston North End | A | 0–2 | 11,042 | ||
| 2 September 1997 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 1–0 | 5,141 | Noel-Williams | |
| 7 September 1997 | Wycombe Wanderers | H | 2–1 | 12,100 | Hyde, Lee | |
| 13 September 1997 | Chesterfield | H | 2–1 | 11,204 | Rosenthal, Lee | |
| 20 September 1997 | Gillingham | A | 2–2 | 7,780 | Rosenthal (pen), Johnson | |
| 27 September 1997 | York City | H | 1–1 | 13,812 | Lee | |
| 4 October 1997 | Luton Town | A | 4–0 | 9,041 | Johnson, Thomas, Kennedy (2) | |
| 14 October 1997 | Bristol Rovers | A | 2–1 | 8,110 | Kennedy, Rosenthal (pen) | |
| 18 October 1997 | Millwall | H | 0–1 | 12,530 | ||
| 21 October 1997 | Fulham | H | 2–0 | 11,486 | Rosenthal, Robinson | |
| 25 October 1997 | Grimsby Town | A | 1–0 | 5,699 | Rosenthal | |
| 1 November 1997 | Blackpool | H | 4–1 | 9,723 | Lee (2), Johnson, Rosenthal | |
| 4 November 1997 | Southend United | A | 3–0 | 4,001 | Kennedy (3) | |
| 8 November 1997 | Walsall | A | 0–0 | 5,077 | ||
| 18 November 1997 | Oldham Athletic | H | 2–1 | 8,397 | Thomas, Mooney | |
| 22 November 1997 | Northampton Town | A | 1–0 | 7,373 | Kennedy | |
| 29 November 1997 | Wigan Athletic | H | 2–1 | 9,455 | Thomas, Mooney | |
| 2 December 1997 | Wrexham | A | 1–1 | 3,702 | Rosenthal | |
| 13 December 1997 | Bristol City | H | 1–1 | 16,072 | Noel-Williams | |
| 20 December 1997 | Bournemouth | A | 1–0 | 6,081 | Kennedy | |
| 26 December 1997 | Wycombe Wanderers | A | 0–0 | 8,090 | ||
| 28 December 1997 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 1–1 | 11,594 | Mooney | |
| 10 January 1998 | Burnley | A | 0–2 | 9,551 | ||
| 17 January 1998 | Preston North End | H | 3–1 | 10,182 | Kennedy (2), Hyde | |
| 24 January 1998 | Brentford | A | 2–1 | 6,969 | Mooney, Johnson | |
| 31 January 1998 | Chesterfield | A | 1–0 | 5,975 | Noel-Williams | |
| 8 February 1998 | Gillingham | H | 0–2 | 10,498 | ||
| 14 February 1998 | Luton Town | H | 1–1 | 15,182 | Robinson | |
| 21 February 1998 | York City | A | 1–1 | 4,890 | Palmer | |
| 25 February 1998 | Millwall | A | 1–1 | 7,126 | Mooney | |
| 28 February 1998 | Bristol Rovers | H | 3–2 | 12,186 | Noel-Williams, Rosenthal, Mooney | |
| 3 March 1998 | Walsall | H | 1–2 | 8,096 | Noel-Williams | |
| 7 March 1998 | Blackpool | A | 1–1 | 5,237 | Bazeley | |
| 14 March 1998 | Southend United | H | 1–1 | 10,750 | Hyde | |
| 17 March 1998 | Carlisle United | H | 2–1 | 7,274 | Palmer, Bazeley | |
| 21 March 1998 | Oldham Athletic | A | 2–2 | 5,744 | Bazeley, Gibbs | |
| 28 March 1998 | Northampton Town | H | 1–1 | 14,268 | Johnson | |
| 4 April 1998 | Wigan Athletic | A | 2–3 | 4,262 | Foley, Hyde | |
| 11 April 1998 | Wrexham | H | 1–0 | 12,340 | Lee | |
| 13 April 1998 | Bristol City | A | 1–1 | 19,141 | Lee | |
| 25 April 1998 | Grimsby Town | H | 0–0 | 14,002 | ||
| 28 April 1998 | Bournemouth | H | 2–1 | 12,834 | Lee, Noel-Williams | |
| 2 May 1998 | Fulham | A | 2–1 | 17,114 | Noel-Williams, Lee |
See main article: 1997–98 FA Cup.
| R1 | 15 November 1997 | Barnet | A | 2–1 | 4,040 | Rosenthal (2) | |
| R2 | 6 December 1997 | Torquay United | A | 1–1 | 3,416 | Noel-Williams | |
| R2R | 16 December 1997 | Torquay United | H | 2–1 | 5,848 | Noel-Williams (2) | |
| R3 | 3 January 1998 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 1–1 | 18,306 | Kennedy | |
| R3R | 14 January 1998 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 0–0 (lost 3–5 on pens) | 18,707 |
See main article: 1997–98 Football League Cup.
| R1 1st Leg | 13 August 1997 | Swindon Town | A | 2–0 | 6,271 | Noel-Williams, Rosenthal | |
| R1 2nd Leg | 26 August 1997 | Swindon Town | H | 1–1 (won 3–1 on agg) | 7,712 | Hyde | |
| R2 1st Leg | 16 September 1997 | Sheffield United | H | 1–1 | 7,154 | Kennedy | |
| R2 2nd Leg | 23 September 1997 | Sheffield United | A | 0–4 (lost 1–5 on agg) | 7,511 |
See main article: 1997–98 Football League Trophy.
| SR1 | 9 December 1997 | Fulham | A | 0–1 | 3,364 |
Squad at end of season[2]