Elton John - Watford FC (England)

This article was generously provided to ClubFootball by the British Council, which operates in China as the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy.

Not only is Sir Elton John one of the world's most successful solo artists but he could also claim to be the most famous football club chairman in the world! He is now in his second spell as Chairman of Watford FC, the local club which he has supported from childhood.

Sir Elton is widely credited with having rescued his local club from certain bankruptcy when he bought them in 1978. Under the management of Graham Taylor, Sir Elton's team rose dramatically to the First Division, finishing as runner-up in the club's first ever season in the top flight.
 
In 1989, Sir Elton resigned as club chairman due to the increasing pressures of his music career and personal life only to return to the club in 1998, coinciding with the return to the club of his close friend Graham Taylor as manager.
 
Explaining his return to Watford FC, Sir Elton explained, "I missed the team, footballers, and the people in Watford, I missed the camaraderie that I had at the club. You know, you don't spend 15 years of your life at a club ... and it wasn't just the football that I loved. It was the community spirit, the spirit after the game whether you won or lost. It was very, very good for me. And now I am delighted to be back."
 
Sir Elton's all-time favourite player is Watford, Liverpool and England legend John Barnes.

May 2001