Vicarage Road

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Vicarage Road is the home stadium of Watford FC. It has a capacity of 17,477 seats.

Watford FC moved to Vicarage Road in 1922 after it had been playing for 23 years at a ground on Cassio Road. The club played its first match at the new ground on the 30th of August 1922 against Millwall.

The ground back then consisted of two small stands and several terraces. One of these stands, Union Stand, had been brought from Watford’s ground on Cassio Road.

About a decade later the Union Stand got replaced by a new stand, the Shrodells Stand. Further developments to the ground were made in the 1950s and 60s, among which in 1969 an extension to the Main Stand.

The Shrodells Stand was again replaced by a new stand in 1986. The new Rous Stand consisted of two tiers and introduced corporate facilities to the ground.

In 1993 and 1995, following the Taylor report recommendations, two new stands were built at the short ends. This only left the original main stand from 1922 and its extension in place.

After the original part of the main stand had already been closed following safety concerns in 2004, it was demolished in 2010 following further doubts regarding the state of the stand.

Plans were made for the construction of a complete new main stand, but have as of now not been realised, leaving only the 1969 extension on that side of that ground.

Getting there

Vicarage Road is located at short walking distance from Watford’s High Street. Lying only half a mile south-west from Watford’s town centre, the walk should not take more than 10 minutes.

Regular trains depart from London Euston to Watford Junction rail station. The journey takes about 20 minutes. The stadium lies another 20 minutes walking from the station.

The London Overground metro stops at Watford Junction as well as Watford High Street Rail station. High Street station lies closer to the ground, just a 10-minute walk, but the journey takes more than twice as long as the train journey to Watford Junction.

From Watford Junction station one can also catch bus 10 in the direction of Holywell. Buses leave four to five times an hour for the 10-minute ride.

Watford is also connected to London by metro (tube). Watford station is the last stop of one of the branches of the Metropolitan line. From Baker Street it takes about 40 minutes to get to Watford Underground Station. The station lies about 1 mile north-west of Vicarage Road, which means an approximate 20-minute walk.

If arriving by car, take either junction 19 or 20 from the M25 motorway. Follow for A41 Watford and after about a mile for A411 Watford. After about 2.5 miles, at the roundabout, turn right onto the A412 Rickmansworth. From there on follow the signs for Watford General Hospital. After a few turns you will drive past the stadium on your left.

Address: Vicarage Road, Watford, WD18 0ER

Tickets

Tickets for Watford FC games can be bought online, by phone +44 (0) 844 856 1881, or at the Ticket Office at the stadium.

Before booking online one needs to have a Fan ID, which can be acquired by calling the above number.

If tickets remain available, these can also be bought at the Ticket Office on the day of the match, though Watford advices against doing so due to possible long queuing. On Saturdays the Ticket Office is open from 9:00 am until kickoff.

Watford tends to have average attendances of around 14,000.

Tickets cost either £26.00 or £31.00 (for the upper tier of the Rous Stand). Prices are increased with a few pounds if the ticket is bought at the Ticket Office on the day of the match.

For more information call +44 (0) 844 856 1881 or email ticket.office@watfordfc.com.

Relevant Internet links:

Watfordfc.com – Official website of Watford FC.
Watfordforyou.org – Information about the city of Watford.
Tfl.gov.uk – Website of the London Underground and other London public transport.
Journeyplanner.org – Public transport journey planner.
Nationalrail.co.uk – Check train times and fares.

Tags: 1922, Championship, England, Watford, Watford FC