It's up to Vicarage Road on Saturday, our last visit saw the game played behind closed doors, so for those that haven't been before or indeed those that are a bit rusty after not going for a while, here is all the info you will need, feel free to add your own tips in the comments section.
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 option but railworks are affecting the Southampton to London line on Saturday meaning that there is a replacement bus service from Southampton Central To Eastleigh and the journey will now take almost 2 hrs or so to reach Waterloo rather than the usual 1hr 20.
Train tickets seem to have rocketed since the pandemic, when we last went up there a Day Return to Watford cost £48.50 (£32.50 with a network card or group save) now it is a whopping £60 (£41 )
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 £14.50 (£9.70 and then a day return from Basingstoke to Watford £41 (£28) that works out at about £55 (£37 with network card etc) It's only a saving of a few pounds, but better in your pocket than theirs.
From Clapham you can usually get a train to Watford Junction but that line is closed for maintenance on Saturday, so you need to 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 Southampton Away Travel are doing coaches as normal and have space left, their trip includes food and drink and costs only £20.50, more information can be found at
http://southamptonawaytravel.co.uk
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
Premier League, 29th February 2020.