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Hornets
nest
Watford v Darlington
Carling Cup Round Two
Tuesday 26th August
2008 (7.45pm)
It may be not quite the glamour
Premiership draw some wanted, but this trip to Watford will be a tricky
enough task, although problems at the club may leave them a little
vunerable.
Although their time in the top flight was short lived, Adie Boothroyd
had built a good young side. Last season ended in disappointment
for those who hoped the club would quickly bounce back. A bit like
Darlo (also losing play-off semi-finalists), they looked to be coasting
to promotion, before a bad late run saw them scrape into the play-offs.
They have recently faced cost-cutting and financial problems looming
in the background, with an exodus of players, including the Hornets'
top scorer and lack of funds to recruit. The club played striker
Tamas Priskin up front on his own at the start of the season due
to lack of options, but they've since signed Polish international Grzegorz Rasiak from Southampton on extended loan.
Man
to watch
Jobi McAnuff Winger who has had his share of south east clubs.
Full match previews on the D@rlo
Uncovered website.
Vicarage Road used to be pretty
shambolic but it has at least mostly been modernised. Visiting fans
are usually given the Vicarage Road Stand behind the goal. Ticket
prices are a reasonable £10 (£5 concessions).
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Watford
FC
Vicarage Road, Watford, Herts, WD1 8ER
(01923) 496000
History: Founded 1881, the club spent 40 years in Cassio
Road before moving to its present home. But you have to skip forward
to 1977 for a decade with Graham Taylor in charge and the glory
days. It saw the club rise four divisions, have the attention of
Elton John as chairman and reach a Cup Final. Remarkably, Taylor
managed two successive promotion a second time in 1997 and the club
also enjoyed a more recent return. A disastrous and costly spell
with Gianluca Vialli and financial problems followed before more
success under Ray Lewington and Adie Boothroyd.
Record Attendance: 34,099 v Man Utd, FA Cup 4th Rd replay
1969
Capacity: 22,000
Last season: 6th (play-off semi-finals)
Honours: Div 1 runners-up 1982/83; Div 2 runners-up 1981/82; play-off winners 1998/99, 2005/2006; Div 3 champions 1968/69, 1997/98; Div 4 champions 1977/78; FA Cup finalists 1983/84
Record victory: 10-1 v Lowestoft Town, FA Cup 1926
Defeat: 0-10 v Wolverhampton, FA Cup 1912
Nickname: The Hornets.
Colours: Yellow and Black.
Manager: Adie Boothroyd
Chairman: Graham Simpson
Players in: Jon Harley (Burnley), Grzegorz Rasiak (Southampton,
season loan)
Players out: Jordan Stewart and Nathan Ellington (Derby,
loan), Steve Kabba, Darius Henderson (Sheffield Utd £2m), Danny Shittu (Bolton), Moses Ashikodi (Hereford, loan)
Famous fans/connections: Graham Taylor, Gianluca Vialli, Ray Lewington (managers), Elton John (fan, life president and ex-chairman), Luther Blissett, John Barnes (players)
Click for Streetmap
of ground |
Leave the M1 at Junction 5
and follow A4008, signposted for the town centre. Take the slip-road,
by-passing the roundabout and continue on the A4008. Through a railway
arch and take the second turn at the next roundabout; then approach
traffic lights at the junction of the ring road. Continue on the
ring road, following signs to West Watford/Hospital. At the T-junction,
turn left and immediately join the right hand lane, then follow
the roada round into Fearnley St. Bear left at traffic lights.
Parking: The advice is to park in the town centre and walk
or use one of the private carparks set up at nearby business units
or Vicarage Road Girls School
Reachers 01923 212223
.
Lucketts Tel: 01923 223456
Kingswood Cars Tel: 01923 662233
Darlington
FC Supporters' Club
Coach TIME
TBC. Contact: 01325 243911. See Darlington
Supporters' Club
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Trains: The
nearest mainline station is Watford High Street; or Watford Junction
for express services to and from London Euston and Birmingham New
Street.
Walking from Watford Junction: It's a 20 minute walk. From
the station, head towards the High St down Clarendon Road, including
walking over the ring road. Walk up the High St, then turn left
and go past past the Moon Under Water on the right and then take
the first right after 100 yards into Market Street. Continue walking,
cross the ring road and turn left at the T-junction and then left
again - Vicarage Road is then a right turn. long again crossing
ring road to T junction & then left at an excellent chip shop. Vicarage
Road is the next right turn. .
Nearest Tube station: Watford (Metropolitan
Line).
No late overland trains back to Darlington or
Sheffield.
Birmingham New Street: Trains are blighted by engineering
work and the last one back is 21.47, with a replacement bus from
Northampton. Fare: £21 retur advance or £39.40 saver return.
London Euston: Plenty of trains to Watford Junction, a 20 minute journey if you catch the quick service. Rtn: 22.48-23.13 or 23.10-23.32. Cheap day return £7.80
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Real ale:
Southern Cross, 41 Langley Road
CAMRA-recommended traditional pub, but refurbished. Has a record of regularly changing ales. No loud music or TVs. Serves food. A mile from the town centre.
Escourt Arms, 2 St John's Road
Friendly local which is a well-established home for a good choice
of real ales, as well as Fuller's. Close to Watford Junction station. DAFTS recommended.
The White Lion, 79
St Albans Road
Courage and Greene King beers, 3/4 mile from the ground. Friendly,
locals pub. Another option for Greene King is the Nascott Arms, 11 Stamford Road.
There is also a recommended real ale pub a couple of stops away
on the Underground which is worth a visit if you've time.
The Land
Of Liberty Long Lane, Heronsgate, Herts, WD3 5BS
CAMRA-recommended and a finalist in their pub of the year for 2007
and 2008. Historic building housing a community pub with six ales.,
as well as a choice of continental beers and cider. Serves lunches and bar snacks at other times. It is about
a mile from Chorleywood tube. If driving (free soft drinks if with
three beer drinkers), leave the M25 at junction 17 and take the
exit to Heronsgate. As you reach the top of the lane (about 2/3
mile) the pub is on the right.
Hertfordshire CAMRA also have an online real ale and pub database 
There's a chippie Fry-days on
Vicarage Road, as well as a choice of take-aways and chains in the
town centre.
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London (Central)/real
ale:
Doric Arch (or Head of Steam), 1 Eversholt Street, Outside Euston Station.
A regular DAFTS post-match meet-up when in London. This upstairs
bar, close to the bus stops in front of Euston station concourse,
has about five real ales on tap. Although no longer part of the
HoS chain, there are still a choice of beers apart from Fuller's.
Close to Euston and Euston Square tubes. Alternatively, try Bree Louise, 69 Cobourg St
NW1 2HH
Another real ale pub, 150 yards from Euston. Up to four beers on gravity and five on handpull.
Near Ground and High
Street:
Oddfellows Arms 14 Fearnley Street.
A short walk from the away end.
Moon Under Water, 44 High Street.
JD Wetherspoon's started in Watford and still has its HQ there. This is two-level and gets busy (surprise).
The One Bell, 90 High Street
Another popular haunt for away fans, which also does good food.
Or try The Horns,
1 Hempstead Road for a pint of London Pride and usually two
other Cask Marque ales.
Don't bother with the Red Lion in Vicarage Road as it's home fans only.
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