On the road to…Watford
Second away game, and somewhere slightly nearer than Doncaster, and somewhat easier to get to (i.e. no additional tickets that cost a lot), Watford. Although with it being a midweek game, the journey started with me leaving work.
Date: 16 August 2011
Stadium: Vicarage Road
Capacity: 17,477
Attendance: 14,747
Away Section: Vicarage Road Stand
Score: Watford 0-4 West Ham United
Nearest station: Watford High Street
Local Rozzers: Hertfordshire Constabulary
Total Travel Cost: £6.90p (2 x Oystercard PAYG Single)
Rail journeys:
17:47 – West Brompton to Watford Junction (Southern Class 377 Electrostar)
18:41 – Watford Junction to Watford High Street (London Overground Class 378 Capitalstar)
22:00 – Watford High Street to Watford Junction (London Overground Class 378 Capitalstar)
21:59 (arr 22:04) – Watford Junction to London Euston (London Midland Class 350 Desiro)
Northern Line – Euston to Charing Cross (1995 Stock)
22:52 – London Charing Cross to New Cross (Southeastern Class 465 Networker)
Station to Stadium: Vicarage Road is but a mere 7-10 minute walk from Watford High Street station. However, being an old ground and built in and among a residential area, it is not what you would call “as the crow flies”; if you don’t know the walking route, you could easily take a wrong turn somewhere (hell, even I have done that). Best advice is to follow the crowd; you’d hope the home fans know the way.
Anything else?: If you’re heading back to London, for heaven’s sake don’t take a direct train from Watford High Street – it’s 17 stops on the Watford DC Line between there and Euston. Go one stop onward to Watford Junction and catch the first train from there, as that will probably be non-stop to the terminus.
Watford High Street railway station
Up the Hammers!