DT92 ~ Vicarage Road

GROUND HISTORY adapted from "The Ultimate Directory of English & Scottish Football League Grounds"

The site, a former gravel pit, had been in use as a recreation ground for a number of years before Watford FC moved here in 1922 from Cassio Road. The facilities included a new 3,500 seat main stand on the east side, stands on the west side and at the south end which had been brought from the previous ground and re-erected and a large embankment at the north end.

Within six years the venue was hosting greyhound racing and prior to WWII some of the terracing was concreted. In 1959 a new roof was installed at the south end and following the setting of the record attendance of 34,099 at the FA Cup 4th Round replay v. Manchester United (0-2) on February 3rd, 1969 the stand on the east side was extended with an additional 1,700 seats. In 1979 greyhound racing was finally dispensed with (it had ceased temporarily between 1970 and 1975) and in 1986 a new cantilever roofed all seat two tier stand was constructed on the west side.

Further improvements took place in the 1990s with the construction of new stands at each end and at the start of the 2007/8 season the all-seat capacity was 19,900 and the pitch size 115 x 75 yards.

GROUND DETAILS adapted from "The Extreme Groundhoppers Guide"

Ground address: Vicarage Road, Vicarage Road, Watford, WD18 0ER
Main phone: 0845 442 1881
Ticket prices: Adults £26, Concessions £15, Under 16's £10
Food & drink: The 'Odd Fellows (Macs Bar) in Fearnley Street 'It 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 from Watford Rail Station which is 400 yards away. Good pub just around the corner from the stadium. Patio area at the back, friendly and efficient staff there is a square bar with service on three sides and an island in the middle holding optics etc. There's a pool room out the back and a decent amount of covered outside seating.
If driving: Leave the M1 at Junction 5 and take the A4008 Stephenson Way into Watford. At Waterfield Roundabout take the second exit onto the A411 just past the Premier Inn and follow the signs for Watford General Hospital then follow the road into Breechen Grove. Continue down the road till you see the sign for Vicarage Road Girls School/ Watford General Hospital and take a left down Vicarage Road then at the bottom of the road take a left and get in the right hand lane and follow the road round and then get in the left lane and at the lights turn left into Vicarage Road and follow it down to the ground.

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 in Vicarage Road, which is 5 minutes walk down the lane to the stadium and charges £7 per car.

From the M25 get of a Junction 18 then turn right onto the A404 and follow it to the Rickmansworth roundabout then take the first exit onto the A412 Park Road go straight on at the first roundabout then take the third exit into Ascot Road at the second roundabout then after a few yards at the next roundabout take the second exit into Whippendell Road then at the lights take a right into Hagden Road then go on at one roundabout then at the crossroads take a left into Vicarage Road the ground is on the right after about 200yards.
Public transport: It is a choice of four Stations for this ground all within 20 minute walk these are on the underground Watford on the Metropolitan line and the is Watford Junction, Bushy and Watford High Street Stations overland.

The ground is well signposted from Watford junction it’s a left out of the station down Claedon Road through the precinct onto Vicarage Road and its 50 yards on the left. For those who like to sample the beer well there is plenty as plenty of pubs to quench your thirst.