A Rough Guide To Watford Wednesday, 10th Jan 2018 13:02 Major disruption on the rail line up to Waterloo means that those going by train need to read this for more information. The Stadium It's changed a little since we visited them a few years ago back in the Championship as those who went to the last game we played there will testify and indeed has now completely changed since they first got into the top flight back in the 1980's, the only thing that remains since those days is the location of the pitch with there now being four new stands built over the past three decades. The newest stand opened in 2014 is called The Sir Elton John stand and it doesnt take Rocket Man Science to work out why. This has now taken the capacity up to 20,877 A fairly simple trip by road which shouldn't take more than about 90 mins even accounting for the horrendous stretch of the M25 as you go past Heathrow. Take the M3 and then head on the m25 signposted Heathrow, stay on the motorway for around 20 miles, you come off at junction 17 for Rickmansworth and then follow signs to the A412 towards Watford, after about 2 miles take the A4145 in the direction of watford and follow this for around 4 miles, this road will bring you right to Vicarage Road which is situated to the South of the town centre. Parking Being not far from the Town Centre you can use the car parks there, or otherwise its the usual match day car parks that spring up in nearby schools and industrial estates, as normal if you park on the street watch out for the parking restrictions etc. By Train The train is usually a simple option but railworks are affecting the Southampton to London line on Saturday meaning that there is a replacement bus service from Southampton Central To the Aiport and the journey will now take almost 2 hrs or so to reach Clapham rather than the usual 1hr 15. For those wanting to save money, it is cheaper to buy split tickets than just one return ticket, that will cost you £48.50 (£32.50 with network card) but if you buy a day return to Basingstoke and then a day return from Basingstoke to Watford that works out at only £45.70 (£30.60 with network card) It's only a saving of a few pounds, but better in your pocket than theirs. From Clapham you can get a train to Watford Junction either direct or you can change at Willesden Junction, the journey will take just under an hour. Watford Junction Station is about a 20 minute walk from the ground, you would be cutting it fine to take a train after 12.25am. Alternatively you can go to Waterloo, take the tube to Euston and then a train to Watford Junction, although this has just about the same travel time as the first route. By Coach Independent providers Southampton Away Travel are doing coaches as normal and have space left, their trip includes food and drink and costs only £20.50, more inormation can be found at http://southamptonawaytravel.co.uk/premier-league-fixtures/watford/ Away Section Saints fans will be housed in the Vicarage Road Stand, in times gone by away supporters would get a bigger proportion of the end than the half that we get now, however Watford allocate half of it to there own supporters, meaning this will be another of those games when we will fill out the 2,200 capacity away section whilst in other parts of the ground there will be empty seats judging by their recent home games, most of which will be in the other half of our end. Underneath the stand is the smallest concourse ever, its basically a tunnel running the width of the stand about 6ft wide at best, leaving little room for queues for toilets and catering facilities. Alcohol is not sold in the away section of the ground. Eating Drinking Etc Given the availiability or lack of it in the ground its advisable to eat and drink before you get in, luckily enough being near the town centre there are plenty of outlets to let you do so, just behind the Vicarage Road end there is a retail street with plenty of takeaways etc as well as several pubs, the Oddfellows Arms always being popular wth away fans, walk another five minutes and you are right in the town Centre which has the usual selection of chain pubs etc Photo: Action Images Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
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