How Elton John was the original Ryan Reynolds, buying a failing UK soccer team and taking them to the top

Elton John purchased Watford FC in 1976 , well before Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney became owners of Wrexham in 2020 .

Elton had grown up going to Watford games with his father, who was often distant otherwise, and the fond memories compelled him to get involved.

Under Elton and legendary manager Graham Taylor , Watford rose from the bottom of the Fourth Division to the top tier of the First Division .

Elton John played a concert in aid of Watford FC at Vicarage Road , topping a bill that included his friend and fellow football fanatic Rod Stewart .

Elton had hoped to appear dressed as the club’s mascot, Harry the Hornet back in 1959 Watford had changed their colours from blue and white to gold and black.

Elton John bought Watford from Graham Taylor after Graham Taylor left the club.

Elton played seven consecutive nights at Madison Square Garden in New York to a total of nearly 140,000 people.

Watford may have been one of the worst teams in the Football League , yet far from being put off by the club's plight, it brought out Elton 's competitive streak.