Watford

by **NIGHTMARE** Thu 1 Apr - 9:11:58

How To Get There By Car & Where To Park
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 £5 per car. As the ground is almost right in the centre of town, then there are a number of car parks in walking distance. On most of my visits I have parked in the Church multi storey car park (which cost £2.50 for four hours and is located on the inner ring road). It is then about a 10 minute walk to the away turnstiles.

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:

Leave the station & take main road straight opposite (Clarendon Road) all the way (over Ring Road at lights) up to the High Street. Turn left and go past 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 an excellent chip shop. Vicarage Road is the next right turn. 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.

Where To Drink?
'Odd Fellows' (previously called 'Macs Bar') in Fearnley Street. 'It is only a couple of hundred yards from the ground and they even had a barbeque in the beer garden'. 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 St you will find a few pubs including a large Wetherspoons outlet called the Moon Under Water, O'Neils and a Walkabout.

What's The Ground Like?
Overall a tidy looking ground, that is somewhat let down by the old East Stand on one side. I am normally a fan of old stands, but the East side is a mish mash of a couple of tired looking structures and an open seated area in one corner. The stand has now been closed admist health and safety concerns and apart from the Directors Box will remain empty of spectators. The players though will continue to use the dressing rooms in this stand.

The ground has had both ends re-developed during the 1990's along with the front of the Rous stand. Both ends are large single tiered stands, with some strange looking floodlights perched on the roof. Away fans are housed in one of these ends the Vicarage Road Stand. On the other side is the Rous Stand. This two tiered stand has an interesting roof design, with a row of executive boxes across the back. There is a large video screen in the corner between the Rous & Vicarage Road Stands. Vicarage Road is shared with Saracens rugby club

What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?
Away fans are housed in the Vicarage Road Stand at one end of the ground. This stand is normally shared with home supporters (with the obligatory 'no-mans land' comprised of empty seats covered in netting
in-between). 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.