WATFORD - VICARAGE ROAD
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.
I've always found this club friendly and the stewarding relaxed on my four visits and have never had any hassle, although at times there can be a heavy police presence around the ground and in the town centre. My only real gripe is that the size of the concourse at the back of the stand is one of the tightest that I have come across and is wholly inadequate when there is a large away following. If you manage to get to the serving hatch, then you will find on offer the usual fayre available including; Pies (including the Chicken Balti Pie) £2.70, Pasties £2.30, Sausage Rolls £1.70, Pizza Pods £2.30 and Rollover Hot Dogs £3. Adam Hodson a visiting Stockport fan adds; 'I was very impressed with the ground and the modern facilities. There was plenty of leg room in the way end and a good atmosphere. However, the concourses are very small meaning that they easily get crowded'. There is also a Ladbrokes betting outlet available.
Where To Drink?
Christopher Harrison a visiting Middlesbrough fan recommends the '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 and offers from its barbecue, Burgers (£3) and Hot Dogs (£2.50). Even though it was very busy on my last visit, I was impressed with the service from behind the bar, getting served in reasonable time (even though it looked like you had no chance of getting near to the bar let alone being served!).
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. Rob Sterry adds, 'away fans should avoid the Red Lion, outside the ground' - but Matt Wells tells us the pub has closed down. 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 enroute. Please note that alcohol is not sold in the away section.
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.
Thanks to Albert Fuller for providing the above directions.