Vicarage Road – Watford FC

24^th September 2013

Watford 2-3 Norwich City

I thought I had better get down to Watford to view the eclectic jumble that is the Vicarage Road East Stand, before it is replaced with some identikit job.  And here it is in all its glory – bits of it still in use, and bits not.  Some roof gone, some clinging on.

This jaunt inside the M25 was worthwhile for two other reasons.  For to witness a bat fluttering around inside a stand at a football match really is a first for me, but there was also, (always a welcome bonus), a decent football match on show.

Though perhaps not a riveting spectacle, Watford had enjoyed the better of the opening 45 minutes, turning around 1-0 up through Paraguayan Javier ACUNA.  When Marco FARAONI doubled the home lot’s lead 10 minutes after the break, a minor cup upset looked the cards.  For Watford, although they did begun to tire a touch in the final quarter, barely looked in any trouble from their Premiership guests. 

But when Jo MURPHY hit a rather spectacular left-footer to pull the score back to 2-1, self belief seemed to drain from the Hornets and they began to defend further and further back.

And, with a certain inevitability, with just a few seconds remaining up popped Gary HOOPER – who have been the Invisible Man for the previous hour-and-a-half - to head us into extra-time.  And darned me, did not the former Celtic man then score a winner, running onto a quite delightful pass from Leroy Fer.


Twas all a bit harsh on the Watford lads (and the home supporters all around me) I felt, but this football can be a cruel business.

  

Vicarage Road East Stand

Vicarage Road, Watford FC

I liked these frosted glass windows.

The architectural delights outside the Rookery Stand

Allotments - England's green and pleasant land?

Watford v Norwich - September 2013

This was as close as I got to doing that Big Flag thing

Vicarage Road towards the Vicarage Road Stand (if you see what I mean)

Norwich's Gary Hooper (white) -
spent most of the match in the pocket of Essaid Belkalem -
apart from two rather crucial occasions  

Johan Elmander (or Elmisser, as Son calls him) heads a corner clear
from Watford's Troy Deeney

Troy Deeney's (I think) late header is turned over for a corner by Norwich 'keeper Mark Bunn..........

..................after which there was bit of general silliness

Time up

Panorama of Vicarage Road, Watford