Southampton make a trip to Vicarage Road for the second time this season and again have sold out the allocation, this time 4,000, but there is much rail disruption on Sunday, read on for all the details.
The Stadium
It's changed gradually over the years 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 doesn't take Rocket Man Science to work out why. This has now taken the capacity up to 21,577.
By Car
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 & quick option but there is engineering work going on and a replacement bus service running between Southampton & Basingstoke, this means that the journey will take just over 2 hours to reach Clapham Junction, a journey that is usually around 1 hr 10 mins, at Clapham you can then get the overground to Watford which takes just under an hour.
That means that you would need to get a train from Southampton at around 8am to be sure of getting to Watford somewhere around 11. 30.
Perhaps 9am at the latest, anything after that could see you miss kick off if there were any delays en route
Train tickets seem to have rocketed since the pandemic, when we went up there before Covid a Day Return to Watford cost £48.50 (£32.50 with a network card or group save) two years ago it was a whopping £60 (£41 ), but now it is £69 (£46)
For those wanting to save money, it is cheaper to buy split tickets than just one return ) but if you buy a day return to Basingstoke £18.40 (£12) and then a day return from Basingstoke to Watford £47 (£31) that works out at about £59 (£43 with network card etc) 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 or alternatively go through London and get a train from Euston.
Watford Junction Station is about a 20 minute walk from the ground, you would be cutting it fine to take a train after 11.25am.
Alternatively you can go to Waterloo and take the tube to Euston and then a tube to Harrow & Wealdstone on the Bakerloo line changing there for the short journey to Watford.
By Coach
Independent providers Nick's Saints Away Travel (No it's not me) are doing coaches as normal and have space left, their trip includes food and drink and costs only £24.95.
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.
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 availability 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 with away fans, walk another five minutes and you are right in the town Centre which has the usual selection of chain pubs etc.
Vicarage Road
Capacity: 21,577 (all seated)
Address: Vicarage Road, Watford, WD18 0ER
Telephone: 01923 496 000
Fax: 01923 496 001
Ticket Office: 01923 223 023
Pitch Size: 115 x 75 yards
Pitch Type: Grass
Club Nickname: The Hornets
Year Ground Opened: 1922
Undersoil Heating: Yes
Record Attendance
34,099 v Manchester United
FA Cup 4th Round Replay, 3rd February 1969.
Modern All Seated Attendance Record
21,634 v Liverpool