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- South-eastern English football clubs Luton Town and Watford have been rivals since their respective formations in the late 19th century. The clubs are respectively from Luton, Bedfordshire, and Watford, Hertfordshire, and for this reason a match between the two teams is sometimes called a "Beds–Herts Derby". Another name occasionally used in the press is "M1 Derby", which comes from the M1 motorway, which passes both towns. The clubs were both founded during the 1880s (Watford in 1881 and Luton Town in 1885), with the first recorded game between them on 5 December 1885, when Watford Rovers beat Luton Town 1–0 in a friendly match at Vicarage Meadow. The two clubs met competitively for the first time in the Third Round Qualifying of the 1898–99 FA Cup on 29 October 1898 at Dunstable Road. This resulted in a 2–2 draw, with Luton Town winning the replay at Cassio Road on 2 November 1898, 1–0. Since then, there have been 119 competitive Beds–Herts Derbies. Luton Town hold the superior record in these matches, with 54 victories to Watford's 37; there have been 29 draws. The most decisive result in a Luton Town–Watford game was Luton Town's 5–0 victory at Kenilworth Road in January 1926. There have been three incidences of 4–0, two won by Watford; in September 1929, Luton Town beat Watford 4–0 at Vicarage Road, in October 1997, Watford beat Luton Town 4–0 at Kenilworth Road, and 25 years later, Watford won 4-0 in October 2022 at Vicarage Road. Watford and Luton Town played each other regularly in the Southern League and, following the formation of Third Division South in season 1920–21, played every season until 1936–37, when Luton Town won promotion to Division Two. This and the Second World War separated the teams from league competition until 1963–64 when they met again, this time in Division Three. The animosity between the clubs, both players and fans, intensified during the late 1960s and the 1970s, and reached a peak during the 1980s, when both teams played in the top-flight First Division. Watford were relegated at the end of the 1987–88 season, while Luton Town followed four years later. The clubs played against each other regularly in the league for six seasons during the 1990s, in the second and third tiers of English football. Since the 1997–98 season, at the end of which Watford won promotion, the teams have not met regularly, as Watford have played in higher divisions than Luton Town for 21 of the last 23 seasons, including when Luton Town was relegated to non-league football. In the last sixteen seasons there have been only four league meetings between the two teams, played during the 2005–06 season and the 2020–21 season. All four meetings have taken place in the Football League Championship, English football's second level. During the 2005–06 season, Watford won 2–1 at Kenilworth Road and drew 1–1 at Vicarage Road at the end of that season Watford once again won promotion. During the 2020–21 season Watford won 1–0 at Vicarage Road on 26 September 2020. Luton Town won the reverse fixture 1–0 at Kenilworth Road on 17 April 2021. So the spoils for the season were shared; but with Watford's promotion back to the Premier League for season 2021–22 confirmed just days later, the rivalry was once again put on hold. However, with Watford relegated from the Premier League back to the 2022–23 EFL Championship the team met on 23 October 2022, with Watford easily winning 4-0 at Vicarage Road. (en)
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- South-eastern English football clubs Luton Town and Watford have been rivals since their respective formations in the late 19th century. The clubs are respectively from Luton, Bedfordshire, and Watford, Hertfordshire, and for this reason a match between the two teams is sometimes called a "Beds–Herts Derby". Another name occasionally used in the press is "M1 Derby", which comes from the M1 motorway, which passes both towns. (en)
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