THE final list includes three players who played for the club before professionalism was adopted - Coles, Peacock, Sargent.

Walter Coles was a phenomenal goalscorer; Fred Sargent was generally recognised as the best player of the early years; Charlie (CH) Peacock was a stalwalt for club and county and a founder member.

Throughout the decades, all-time best lists have been cobbled together by fans, journalists and officials, and reprinted in various local publications. The judges have noted who was rated in the lists of 1910, 1928 etc. If they were highly rated then, they have to be considered now.

There are some names in the final list with whom some fans will be unfamiliar.

The following is a guide to their achievements and claims to the All-Time Top 100.

Jimmy Armstrong, strong stopper in halcyon 1930's team.

George Badenoch, popular and energetic Scotsman, who gave a lot for Watford before the First World War and gave his life for his country during it.

Tommy Barnett, would be in the club's all time Top Five.

Billy Biggar was a giant of a keeper and the only one to make over 200 Southern League appearances for the club.

Dennis Bond, pint-sized home-produced midfielder of occasional genius.

Joe Brooks was a strong full back who went on to play for Sheffield United subsequently in the top flight after four years. Watford sold him for a record fee £275 in 1907 beating the previous recored of £20.

Bill Brown, long-serving, rampaging full-back played for seven years at Vicarage Road into the mid-1930's.

Tommy Brown is remembered as a skilful wing-half or inside forward in the early 1950's.

Jimmy Bowie was a gifted, quicksilver inside-forward from the early to mid-1950's.

Roy Brown was one of the outstanding headers of the ball either as a striker or defender (1950's). George James, George Harris and Billy Jennings were probably the club's best-ever headers.

Billy Chapman was the other half of the celebrated 1930's Barnett-Champan wing.

Tony Collins was an elegant left winger had two spells with the club in 1950's. Was at the Reebok watching the Hornets the other night, coincidentally.

Maurice Cook, a dreadnaught forward, joined Fulham in the top flight for record fee.

Darkie Cother, was a robust, dusky full back from the formative Watford St Mary's among others who played up to and beyond the turn of century for Watford.

Joe Davison, captain and full-back, fine player for five years from late 1920's.

Taffy Davies: 19 years for one club is an unmatchable qualification for the list.

Len Dunderdale pre- and post-war striker with a prodigous shot. Sold to Leeds for then record £3,750.

Tommy Eggleston, stylish full back and wing half from 1950's.

George Edmonds, two spells, top class and top flight striker at one stage in pre and post WW1 days.

Tiny Fayers, had to be classy to be that short as a centre half. The club's first England honours winner (amateur) pre WW1.

George Fyfe was a Scottish wing half who gave five years unstinting service up until 1910.

John Goodall, probably the most nationally famous player ever to come to Watford (1900).

Fed Gregory stalwart full back for years post and pre WW1.

Val Gregory sold to Wolves for £1500 in 1920.

Arthur Grimsdell, possibly the best export from Watford until Pat Jennings. Arguably the greatest defender the club has ever produced.

Frank Hoddinott, the club's first full international, a club record fee.

George James, most prolific of the major scorers, best goals per game ratio of all time leading Watford scorers (1930's).

Jimmy Kelly, Watford golden boy for five years, sold to Blackpool in top flight for £15,000.

Billy Lane prolific scorer, claimed records for club's fastest goal and hat-trick.

Arthur Lockett. Former England winger who played full back and was the subject of a fan petition when released at start of century.

Johnny Meadows, stylish midfielder, scorer of rolling penalty kicks.

Jim McLaren, massive Scotish keeper of the 1930's.

Jack McNee; best pedigree of early professionals before turn of the century.

Frank McPeherson, prolific goalscorer, whose left foot was legend; had two spells with club.

Commanding wing-half and captain Frank Mitchell is still rated by some as among the top ten all-time best.

Geoff Morton enjoyed eight successive league shut outs, as a big, acrobatic keeper.

Mick O'Brien, big Irishman, dominant centre half, strong personality.

Vic O'Brien was a versatile player and big appearance-maker for the time.

Harry Oliver was a popular hard man of the 1950's.

Fred Pagnam, revered legend of the early 1920's. The Holton of his time.

Pat Rice, captain of the club's best-ever era.

Frank Smith stalwart, all-action, wing half, big appearance maker.

Jimmy Stephenson came from famous football family. A class act on 1920's right wing.

George Toone, held record for consecutive appearances, playing in all of Watford's first 159 Football League games.

Dave Underwood, three spells as keeper.

Dennis Uphill, hit 36 in a season which no one has ever beaten, apart from the Big Fella playing in the same team, who scored 48.

Dai Ward, prolific goalscorer who captured the imagination betweeen Holton and Livesey.

Joe Webster was one of three successful, outstanding keepers between Biggar and Skilly Williams. Played in an international trial.

Charlie White was a stylish, local product 1909 up to and after WW1.

Skilly Williams, revered keeper, one of the half dozen all-time Watford legends.

Paul Wilkinson, not the most popular striker but the only one in the club's history to top-score in three Watford seasons.

Arthur Woodward, all-action local boy from the 1930's, big hearted Arthur played at Vicarage Road before Watford moved there.

More recently, which is in itself a relative term, there are contrasting full backs Bobby Belland and Ken Nicholas; scampering winger Freddy Bunce and industrious George Catleugh who played in the 1959-60 Holton-era team.

Nicholas, Bell and Catleugh also played in the near-miss 1963-64 side along with long-serving, all-action Duncan Welbourne, ace keeper Pat Jennings, versatile winger George Harris, and my own favourite, Charlie Livesey of whom Trefor Jones wrote as having "individual virtuosity comparable with almost anything ever seen at Vicarage Road".

The combative, workaholic Tom Walley; the majestic Keith Eddy; durable unorthodox striker Barry Endean; deft link-man Dixie Hale; the unflagging Terry Garbett; long-serving Johnny Williams and steady, dependable Walter Lees played in the side to have reached Watford's current status for the first time in the club's history.

Arguably the biggest star of that side was Stewart Scullion, a winger of remarkable individuality and pace.

Former Player of the Season are included, such as pacy Colin Franks, goal-hungry Billy Jennings, Cinderella man Ross Jenkins, cultured Alan Garner, battling striker Keith Mercer, ace penalty-saver Andy Rankin,and the colossus that was Steve Sims. Other winners of the Award were Ian Bolton with his arrowing long-ball accuracy, Les "he's here, he's there, he's everywhere" Taylor; the spirited, versatile Wilf Rostron and the majestic John McClelland.

Steve Sherwood who played in all four divisions for the club along with Luther Blissett Bolton and Jenkins, is also in the list. Andy Hessenthaler and David Holdsworth worked hard for the club during the inter-regnum and made the list. So too are Nigel Gibbs, the versatile Kenny Jackett and long-serving Gary Porter and Mo Johnston, who might have won Player of the Season if he had stayed around long enough after the FA Cup Final season.

Also included are the big, revenue-raising exports, Tony Coton, Kevin Miller, Gary Penrice, David James, and Paul Furlong, whose assets surely need no further endorsement.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.