Vicarage Road turns 100 this year, Watford playing their first game there against Millwall on 30 August 1922.
Built to replace The Hornets old Cassio Road ground, their home since 1898, Vicarage Road has been Watford's base ever since. During the 1990s and 2000s, it was also the home ground for Wealdstone FC and Saracens RFC.
The modern Vicarage Road took shape in the late 1980s and early 1990s. What is now the Graham Taylor Stand was built in 1986 with the Vicarage Road Stand and The Rookery Stand completed before 1995. The final stand to be re-developed was the old Main Stand. Unchanged since Watford moved to Vicarage Road, the Main Stand was closed in 2008 due to safety concerns but re-opened in 2014 as the Sir Elton John Stand.
Financial pressures forced Watford to sell and lease back the stadium in 2003. However, after a campaign entitled 'Let's Buy Back The Vic' with donations coming from fans, as well as celebrity former owner Elton John donating the entire proceeds of a concert held at the venue, the club was able to repurchase the stadium in September 2004.
DID YOU KNOW?
Greyhound racing was held at Vicarage Road between 1928 and 1978. The final race meeting took place on 30 October 1978 with the last winner was a greyhound called Chad Supreme.
HOW TO GET THERE
Vicarage Road is 0.5 miles from the High Street, providing a short walk to the stadium. It is south-west of the town centre.
London Overground
Watford High Street [WAT]
The station is located at 182 High Street WD17 2EG; 10 mins’ walk.
It offers the following services:
Directions to ground: Walk west along Lady’s Close; Turn right onto Wiggenhall Road, A4145; Turn left onto Vicarage Road.
This weekend there is no London Overground service between Kilburn High Road and Euston, please use local London Underground and London Buses connections. From West London, supporters can use the Richmond branch of the Overground or Bakerloo services through Paddington to re-join the Watford High Street branch at Willesden Junction.
London Underground
Watford [Metropolitan Line]
The station is located at Cassiobury Park Avenue WD18 7LE; 20 mins' walk.
It offers the following services:
Directions to ground: Walk east along Cassiobury Park Avenue; Turn right onto Shepherd’s Road; Turn left onto Rickmansworth Road; Turn right onto Harwood’s Road.
A special service is currently running on the Metropolitan line until further notice, please check before you travel.
National Rail
Watford Junction [WFJ]
The station is located at Station Road, WD17 1EJ; 25 mins’ walk.
It offers the following services:
Directions to ground: Walk south along Clarendon Road; Turn left onto High Street (passing Moon Under Water pub); Turn right onto Market Street (walk the full length); Turn left onto Cassio Road; Turn right onto Vicarage Road.
Between Good Friday and Easter Monday no trains will run to or from London Euston – services will start and finish at Milton Keynes. Rail Replacement bus services are in operation between Milton Keynes and Watford Junction and Euston and Watford Junction.
Bus
Routes 8, 10, 320, 322, 324, 501, W1, W19 serve Vicarage Road
Official Supporters Coaches park right outside the stadium entrances, on Vicarage Road.
By Car
The stadium (WD18 0ER) is served by the following main roads:
From the North or East, join the M25 and exit at Junction 20. Take the first exit onto the A41 to Watford. At the next roundabout, take the second exit onto A411 (Hempstead Road). Continue along Hempstead Road until you reach the town centre. At the large roundabout take the second exit feeding into the inner ring road, which is a one-way system. Stay in the right-hand lane and follow the Ring Road until you see the entrance to the Church Car Park (see below) on your right hand side.
From the South or West, join the M25 and exit at Junction 19. At the end of the link road, take the third exit onto A411 (Hempstead Road) Once on Hempstead Road, follow the directions detailed above.
From Central London, join the M1 and exit at Junction 5. Take the second exit onto the A4008. Cross the first roundabout, then take the second exit at the next towards the town centre. At the traffic lights, turn left onto the inner ring road at the T-junction and filter across to the right-hand lane. Follow the Ring Road until you see the entrance to the Church Car Park on your right hand side.
Stadium Area
Vicarage Road runs north of the stadium, passing Vicarage Road Stand. Access before and after games is for the General Hospital only. The stadium backs onto the hospital, restricting access by road on two sides. Occupation Road is a minor side street, which runs past the Elton John Stand.
A4178 (Wiggenhall Road from south / Cassio Road from north) meet at the A4145 gyratory, near to the stadium.
Parking
There is no parking available for fans at the ground and street parking is restricted for local residents with matchday permits. Watford General Hospital ensure that their security and parking staff monitor the entrances to the hospital carparks to prevent supporters from parking onsite.
Watford town centre has several car parks, the easiest of which for access to Vicarage Road is Church Car Park (WD18 0JD) on the inside of the ringroad, opposite the turn-off into Vicarage Road. All town centre car parks are within a 10-minute walk of Vicarage Road. Parking is also available at Gade Car Park (WD18 0JX) and Sutton Car Park (WD17 2PS).
Stadium Information
Away fans are housed in the Vicarage Road stand, Turnstiles 15-20. Any ticket collections will be from the collection point next to Gate 10.
Watford run a left luggage facility for cabin style luggage at the stadium, prior permission must be sought as space is limited and all luggage will be searched on arrival. Please contact [email protected] for more details and to obtain permission.
Flags and banners are not allowed inside the stadium unless express permission has been granted by the Operations Manager.
Where to Eat and Drink
The officially designated ‘away’ pub is The Oddfellows, 14 Fearnley Street, WD18 0RD.