The Watford 1998–99 Home Retro Football Shirt represents one of the most memorable promotion seasons in the club’s modern history, when Graham Taylor guided the Hornets to the Premier League through the First Division play-offs.
The shirt features Watford’s traditional bright yellow base with contrasting red sleeves and black detailing, creating a bold late-1990s appearance. The original design was produced by Le Coq Sportif and carried the CTX front sponsor.
This shirt is particularly significant because it was worn during the season in which Watford achieved a remarkable second consecutive promotion, culminating in the famous play-off final victory over Bolton Wanderers at Wembley.
Please refer to the size guidance on this product page for detailed measurements.
Watford 1998–99 Home Jersey
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Size Guidance (Retro Jersey)
Size Chest (in) Length (in) Rec. Height (ft/in) Rec. Weight (lb) S 39 28 65–67 121–132 M 41 28 67–69 132–154 L 43 29 69–71 154–176 XL 44 30 71–75 176–198 XXL 46 31 75–79 198–220 Note: All sizes are for reference only. Manual measurement may result in an error of ±1 inch.
IN BETWEEN SIZES?
That's easier said than done. Because what do you do if you are in between two sizes?
Well, that's up to you. Do you like a tight fit? Go for the smaller size. Loving a loose fit? Go for the larger size.
TOP FIT
If your body measurements for chest and waist result in two different suggested sizes, order the size from your chest measurement.
Season Information
Season: 1998/99
Club: Watford FC
Country: England
Competition: Football League First Division / FA Cup / Football League Cup
League Finish: 5th
Play-offs: Winners – Promoted to Premier League
Kit Type: Home Shirt
Category: Retro Football ShirtWatford entered the 1998/99 First Division immediately after winning promotion from Division Two. Under legendary manager Graham Taylor, the Hornets exceeded expectations and finished fifth, earning a place in the promotion play-offs.
After overcoming Birmingham City in the semi-finals, Watford faced Bolton Wanderers at Wembley on 31 May 1999, with a place in the Premier League at stake.
The final produced one of the defining moments in Watford history. Nick Wright opened the scoring with a spectacular overhead kick shortly before half-time, before Allan Smart scored late in the match to secure a 2–0 victory.
The result sent Watford into the Premier League and completed consecutive promotions in 1997/98 and 1998/99. The team featured important figures such as Peter Kennedy, Micah Hyde, Richard Johnson, Robert Page, Gifton Noel-Williams, Allan Smart and Nick Wright.
Because of that Wembley success, the 1998/99 home shirt remains strongly associated with one of the club’s greatest promotion campaigns.
Rec. Player Printing Options
Printing Recommendation KENNEDY 3 Northern Ireland international and one of Watford’s most influential players during the promotion campaign. An excellent choice from Graham Taylor’s 1998/99 side. HYDE 8 Energetic central midfielder and an important part of Watford’s midfield throughout the promotion era. A strong choice for fans of the core first-team squad. JOHNSON 10 Australian international midfielder and an influential figure in the centre of Watford’s team, making the No.10 an especially attractive period choice. WRIGHT 11 Forever associated with the 1999 Wembley play-off final after scoring the spectacular overhead-kick opener against Bolton. One of the most historically meaningful options. SMART 12 Scottish striker who scored Watford’s second goal in the 2–0 play-off final victory over Bolton, sealing promotion to the Premier League. PAGE 4 Wales international centre-back and an important defensive leader during Watford’s successful late-1990s period. NOEL-WILLIAMS 15 Powerful young forward who was a regular attacking presence during the season and an important member of the promotion-winning squad. Late-1990s squad-number records are less consistently preserved than modern numbering. For an exact match-specific reproduction, the player/number combination should be checked against the particular fixture.
WHY WRIGHT 11?
WRIGHT 11 is the most historically distinctive printing recommendation for the Watford 1998–99 Home Retro Football Shirt.
Nick Wright produced the defining image of Watford’s promotion campaign in the 1999 First Division play-off final at Wembley. With the match still goalless, he scored an outstanding overhead kick to put Watford ahead against Bolton. Allan Smart later completed the 2–0 victory, sending the Hornets into the Premier League.
For collectors looking for a printing directly connected to the biggest moment of the 1998/99 season, WRIGHT 11 is an especially memorable choice.
