All the information you will need before traveling to Vicarage Road for Watford v Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday 17th September (7.45pm)
Venue: Vicarage Road
Capacity: 19,900
Address: Vicarage Road, Watford, WD18 0ER
Main Telephone Number: 0844 856 1881
Official Website:www.watfordfc.com
Date: Tuesday 17th September 2013, K.O. 7:45pm
Sat Nav Postcode: WD18 0ER
Weather: Blustery and showers
Vicarage Road has been the home of Watford FC since 1922, although it has undergone extensive renovation since its opening.
The Main Stand was originally built in 1922 when the stadium opened, but was extended with an adjourning structure in the late 1960’s. This stand is now closed due to health and safety concerns, with only the director’s box being occupied. Opposite this is the Rous Stand. This stand is a two-tiered stand, which also houses corporate boxes.
This stand has an interesting roof design, which allows light into the stand. Both stands behind the goal have been redeveloped since the 1990’s, along with the lower tier of the Rous Stand. The two stands behind the goal are similar in appearance and design. The Rookery End houses home supporters, whilst the Vicarage Road Stand houses both home and away spectators. They are both single-tiered stands, with floodlights perched on top. In previous years, the corner between the Rous Stand and the Rookery Stand was due to be filled in, however this work was put on hold. The work however, was due to resume during pre-season.
Away Fans
Away fans are housed in the Vicarage Road Stand at one end of the ground. This stand is normally shared with home supporters. Around 2,200 visiting fans can be accommodated in this area. The stand has electronic turnstiles, meaning that you have to place your ticket into a bar code reader to gain entrance. You should also then expect to be searched by the stewards on the way in. The leg-room is good and the facilities are fairly modern. Some fans do note that the concourses are rather small.
Where to Drink
The Odd Fellows in Fearnley Street is only a couple of hundred yards from the ground. The bar is situated off Cassio Road and is clearly visible when taking the route to Vicarage Road from the town centre via Market Street. The pub is only a few minutes walk away from the away turnstiles. It has a large beer garden, with a covered area for smokers. Otherwise the ground is in walking distance of the town centre, where along the High Street you will find a few pubs including a large Wetherspoons outlet called the Moon Under Water, an O'Neils and a Walkabout. If you are feeling peckish then if you are walking to the ground from the town centre then there are a number of eating establishments en route. Please note that alcohol is not sold in the away section.
Travelling by Car
Leave the M1 at Junction 5 and take the A4008 into Watford. If on nearing the town centre you can't see the ground over on your left, just go left around the inner ring road (follow signs for Watford General Hospital as this is behind the ground) and you will soon spot it. There are also some private match day car parks available at some industrial units near the ground, as well as the Vicarage Road Girls School, which is close to the stadium and charges £7 per car. As the ground is almost right in the centre of town, then there are a number of car parks in walking distance.
Travelling by Train/Tube
The nearest station is Watford High Street, a ten minute walk away from the ground. However you are likely to come into Watford Junction train station, which is about a 20 minute walk. Either get a train to Watford High Street from Watford Junction or if you have time to walk to the ground then ;eave the station and take the main road straight opposite (Clarendon Road) all the way (over Ring Road at the traffic lights) up to the High Street. Turn left and go past Wetherspoons (Moon under Water) on your right and then take the first right after 100 yards into Market Street. Continue along again crossing Ring Road to T junction & then left at a chip shop. Vicarage Road is the next right turn. It should take around 15-20 minutes to walk.
Watford also has its own London Underground tube station, which is on the Metropolitan Line and is situated just under one mile from Vicarage Road. However overland trains from London normally have a shorter journey time.
Last Visit:
The last time Rovers travelled to Vicarage Road was on 31st December 2011, and it was a game to forget for the travelling fans. Marvin Sordell gave Watford the lead just before half-time, only for Billy Sharp to level the scores two minutes after the restart. The turning point of the game came on 64 minutes, when Herold Goulon was shown a red card by referee Darren Drysdale. Only four minutes after his dismissal, Sordell grabbed his second to regain the lead. John Eustace added a third with six minutes remaining, before Michael Kightly scored in injury time to wrap up a 4-1 win for the hosts.