While in Watford

Official Review by Gary Foxall, Stadium Journey Special Correspondent

Vicarage Road stadium was opened in 1922 and is home to both Watford Football Club and Saracens Rugby Union Club. It currently has an all seated capacity of 17,477 with the final part of the stadiums redevelopment plan taking place shortly when the old main stand will be replaced.

Previously a typical English lower division ground, the club were forced to upgrade Vicarage Road following the club�s rapid rise to what is now the English Premiership during the 1980�s under the Chairmanship of Elton John. The stadium has been rebuilt stand by stand and the club has made a decent following from this considering the stadium�s location.

The peculiar looking floodlights give the stadium its own identity. With Watford currently stabilising in the Championship, the stadium is more than capable of hosting Premiership football should they return to the top flight from which they were last relegated a few years back.

Food & Beverage    3

Once inside, the stadium food kiosks offer drinks with Coke priced at �1.90, Tea (�1.10), Coffee (�1.90) and Bovril (�1.10). Food ranges include pasties (�2.70), chicken curry and other pies (�3.20), along with hot dogs and burgers (�3.20).

Atmosphere    3

Like many Championship stadiums, Vicarage Road has a good atmosphere when it is full to capacity, but can be quiet for lower profile games. The home fans tend to occupy the Rookery End and are most vocal in this part of the ground. Away supporters are located at the opposite end of the stadium. Some of the stadium atmosphere is lost due to the partial closure of the side of the ground where the East Stand is located. This should improve however once the refurbishment of the stadium is complete.

Neighborhood    3

Like many Championship stadiums, Vicarage Road has a good atmosphere when it is full to capacity, but can be quiet for lower profile games. The home fans tend to occupy the Rookery End and are most vocal in this part of the ground. Away supporters are located at the opposite end of the stadium. Some of the stadium atmosphere is lost due to the partial closure of the side of the ground where the East Stand is located. This should improve however once the refurbishment of the stadium is complete.

Fans    3

Watford have average home attendances of around 14,000 and have always possessed a loyal hard core support even when the club has struggled in the Premiership and the lower reaches of the Football League. Their arch enemies are Luton Town with any other London club also being deemed as a Derby game these days as Luton have suffered three relegations to non-league football.

Access    4

The stadium is easily reached by car exiting Junction 5 of the M1 motorway. Upon entering the town take the A4008 inner ring road which will take you towards the stadium. Street car parking has clamping in operation so a town centre car park which is ten minute walk is the safest option.

Vicarage Road Girls School charge �5 to park with the Fuller Life Health Centre charging �6. Both of these are within the vicinity of the stadium. Watford High Street Railway station is a ten minute walk with connecting trains from Watford Junction on the Main Line to all parts of the country. Watford also has its own Underground Station on the Metropolitan Line which is approximately one mile away. All London Airports are within easy reach of the town.

Return on Investment    3

Tickets for home games in the Championship are priced between �26 and �31 with concessions for O.A.P's and under 16's. Prices are often reduced for cup games and the club sometimes offer incentives to attend games to boost attendance. The return on investment is the norm for this level of football in the south of the country.

Extras    2

There is a club shop at the stadium selling replica shirts and other souvenirs. Match day programmes are on sale for every game priced at �3 and stadium tours are available as advertised on the club website.

Photo attributed to Khendon.