Unreserved seating to be trialled (From Watford Observer)
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Watford to trial unreserved seating in Cardiff City clash
2:07pm Friday 1st March 2013 in Sport
By Frank Smith, Deputy Group Sports Editor
Vicarage Road. Picture: Action Images
Watford will be trialling unreserved seating at Vicarage Road during the Championship match with promotion-rivals Cardiff City.
The Hornets have been considering unreserved seating for several months and have decided to use the April 6 fixture, which will be televised, as a trial run.
The Golden Boys refused to answer the Watford Observer’s questions on the matter this week but have today confirmed they will be offering unreserved seating against Cardiff.
Season ticket holders in the Vicarage Road Stand were made aware of potential relocations last summer and agreed alternative seats in the Rookery and Rous Stands when they purchased.
Around 2,200 unreserved seats will be available in the home section of the Vicarage Road Stand on April 6.
Season ticket holders in other areas of the ground will be able to transfer to the unreserved area once those in the Vicarage Road Stand have decided if they will move to their alternative seat.
Tickets for the Cardiff game will not go on sale until next Friday at the earliest and sales for the unreserved area will only be available over the phone.
Comments(40)
mellow yellow
says...
2:22pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Boosey
says...
2:36pm Fri 1 Mar 13
lutondown wrote:Flask of tea or coffee?
For us noisier ones, a chance to support our team properly. Lets do it!
lutondown
says...
2:41pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Boosey wrote:We will fill our boots prior to proceedings no doubt and you having hollow legs can fill them up too!
lutondown wrote:Flask of tea or coffee?
For us noisier ones, a chance to support our team properly. Lets do it!
We have a club that listens. We should be grateful
Harry's Bar
says...
2:43pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Tea please, milk & two sugars!
juvehorn
says...
2:44pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Boosey
says...
2:45pm Fri 1 Mar 13
lutondown wrote:It's closer to the pub as well, result!
Boosey wrote:We will fill our boots prior to proceedings no doubt and you having hollow legs can fill them up too! We have a club that listens. We should be gratefullutondown wrote: For us noisier ones, a chance to support our team properly. Lets do it!Flask of tea or coffee?
The newly named "Highwayman"
lutondown
says...
2:46pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Boosey wrote:That's an insult to Dick Turpin to be associated with our ex owner..!
lutondown wrote:It's closer to the pub as well, result!
Boosey wrote:We will fill our boots prior to proceedings no doubt and you having hollow legs can fill them up too! We have a club that listens. We should be gratefullutondown wrote: For us noisier ones, a chance to support our team properly. Lets do it!Flask of tea or coffee?
The newly named "Highwayman"
D.unstable
says...
2:46pm Fri 1 Mar 13
I hope that this will be a big success and becomes standard for next season. Another example of how the club are listening and doing what they can to bring back the masses.
Claxton's, inflatable sheep, yellow flares and lots of noise please!!!
Bringe
says...
2:47pm Fri 1 Mar 13
melloyellow
says...
2:51pm Fri 1 Mar 13
creates better atmosphere next to away fans only downside they dont sell booze
lutondown
says...
2:53pm Fri 1 Mar 13
This is what a lot of us have asked for, we need to utilise the chance.
Thanks Watford FC you continue to deliver change and prove you are prepared to listen.
melloyellow
says...
2:54pm Fri 1 Mar 13
lutondown
says...
2:56pm Fri 1 Mar 13
melloyellow wrote:2000 people singing Cassetti song and Yellow. It could be epic folk.
i'll be there lets crank on the noise in the library sorry meant vic
It might surprise some of these less for this how much it lifts the place!
Whose got a drum?
Harry's Bar
says...
2:57pm Fri 1 Mar 13
melloyellow wrote:Not sure whether we should be pleased or sorry about that.
but will people take advantage of it and fill it? creates better atmosphere next to away fans only downside they dont sell booze
Boosey
says...
2:59pm Fri 1 Mar 13
lutondown
says...
3:11pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Harry's Bar wrote:Well cue the negatives....!
melloyellow wrote:Not sure whether we should be pleased or sorry about that.
but will people take advantage of it and fill it? creates better atmosphere next to away fans only downside they dont sell booze
JohnnyHornet
says...
3:20pm Fri 1 Mar 13
D.unstable wrote:That started the season after we won at Wembley 1999 - 2000, having moved back to the area before Xmas I took in the Derby game and was ashamed by the lack of vocal home support generally, especially the Vicarage road end and non existent in the upper library, surely Hornet fans now have something to shout about, me and my big gob will be giving it large and will do so for the rest of the season.
The year the Vic lost its voice was the season when the Home support moved from unreserved seating in the Vicarage Road end to the reserved seating in the Rookery.
I hope that this will be a big success and becomes standard for next season. Another example of how the club are listening and doing what they can to bring back the masses.
Claxton's, inflatable sheep, yellow flares and lots of noise please!!!
JohnnyHornet
says...
3:22pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Boosey wrote:So that was what the commotion was, couldn't believe how dead it was up there.
One of the Pozzos sneezed at the last game and everyone in the Rous Stand turned and looked daggers at him, so he thought enough is enough, bring it on!
JohnnyHornet
says...
3:26pm Fri 1 Mar 13
BicesterLee
says...
3:33pm Fri 1 Mar 13
lutondown wrote:Well done to you and all the fellow posters on here who've kept up a steady flow of requests for this to happen over recent weeks, what a result, early days I know but hopefully its the start of something that will continue and long overdue.
Everyone who wants this needs to get in there for this game, not stay in their comfy spot, or reason that there's no bar. We have this to show what we can do. If we don't we cannot grumble in the future. Lets give it some ( peacefully I hasten to add) This is what a lot of us have asked for, we need to utilise the chance. Thanks Watford FC you continue to deliver change and prove you are prepared to listen.
The club has indeed listened and I hope when this becomes a regular feature in future seasons, everyone remembers the sterling effort by those on here who've called for it for a long time now on here and through other sources and never given up.
francowatford
says...
3:34pm Fri 1 Mar 13
D.unstable wrote:why did they move from regular home fans from the Vic end to away end of the Rookery?
The year the Vic lost its voice was the season when the Home support moved from unreserved seating in the Vicarage Road end to the reserved seating in the Rookery. I hope that this will be a big success and becomes standard for next season. Another example of how the club are listening and doing what they can to bring back the masses. Claxton's, inflatable sheep, yellow flares and lots of noise please!!!
francowatford
says...
3:36pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Coydonn
says...
3:36pm Fri 1 Mar 13
BicesterLee
says...
3:41pm Fri 1 Mar 13
francowatford wrote:I was in my mid teens then, I remember it well, especially when it was installed and truly state of the art technology at the time. I also remember the little men jumping up and down on there when we scored, it was a fantastic atmosphere standing on those terraces, always a bit manic when we scored and you jumped up and down and usually ended up a few steps further down from where you were standing!
i remember being very young and being squashed in the old Vic end under the score board and being amazed at the great atmosphere, does anyone remember standing under the Scoreboard?
JohnnyHornet
says...
3:41pm Fri 1 Mar 13
francowatford wrote:The decision to shunt us down the Rookery was made just before we got promoted in 1999, apparently it was going to happen whether we got up or not, think it had something to do with the management of away fans, however with most home fans having to go past the away fans, in my opinion it was a poor decision falling into the same trap they had done in 1982 when the Vicarage Rd end was given over to away fans, if we go up, how about putting seats on the open bit and reserving the covered ends for hornet fans.
D.unstable wrote:why did they move from regular home fans from the Vic end to away end of the Rookery?
The year the Vic lost its voice was the season when the Home support moved from unreserved seating in the Vicarage Road end to the reserved seating in the Rookery. I hope that this will be a big success and becomes standard for next season. Another example of how the club are listening and doing what they can to bring back the masses. Claxton's, inflatable sheep, yellow flares and lots of noise please!!!
Harry's Bar
says...
3:49pm Fri 1 Mar 13
lutondown wrote:Sorry, I just had this vision of a full scale 70's style punch up. I personally wouldn't have chosen Cardiff as the trial game.
Harry's Bar wrote:Well cue the negatives....!melloyellow wrote: but will people take advantage of it and fill it? creates better atmosphere next to away fans only downside they dont sell boozeNot sure whether we should be pleased or sorry about that.
DuffmanWFC
says...
3:56pm Fri 1 Mar 13
If we can get 2,000 fans in the Vic Road end that can make a constant noise then hopefully it may spread to other sections of the ground !
Hopefully if we can end up with 13,000+ home fans that turn up from now till may then we may see extended vocal zones/un allocated seating spread around the ground?
2,000 heavily vocal supporters can transform our stadium atmosphere so just imagine having another 2,000 in the rookery and another 500 in top rous? That's only 4,500 seriously vocal fans.... That will make vic road a fortress!
gloryhornet4
says...
4:01pm Fri 1 Mar 13
BicesterLee wrote:A WFC fan in Bicester.
lutondown wrote:Well done to you and all the fellow posters on here who've kept up a steady flow of requests for this to happen over recent weeks, what a result, early days I know but hopefully its the start of something that will continue and long overdue.
Everyone who wants this needs to get in there for this game, not stay in their comfy spot, or reason that there's no bar. We have this to show what we can do. If we don't we cannot grumble in the future. Lets give it some ( peacefully I hasten to add) This is what a lot of us have asked for, we need to utilise the chance. Thanks Watford FC you continue to deliver change and prove you are prepared to listen.
The club has indeed listened and I hope when this becomes a regular feature in future seasons, everyone remembers the sterling effort by those on here who've called for it for a long time now on here and through other sources and never given up.
I lived in Bristol Rd for 7 years and did not meet any fans, even though that was in the first GT era.
Was nice to see the eyes pop out as the vidiprinter typed Watford 8 Sunderland 0 in the Hockey Club.
Boosey
says...
4:03pm Fri 1 Mar 13
I also realise that a lot of people like their particular seat in the ground and why should they be uprooted because they don't sing or shout and this maybe the obstacle in the Vicarage Rd. end for unreserved seating in the future.
I hope it all works out for everyone for the Cardiff game.
BicesterLee
says...
4:14pm Fri 1 Mar 13
gloryhornet4 wrote:I know it, just off Churchill Road. I was still living in Watford during the first GT era, I was born there and stayed until I was 30, got married and moved to Fleet in Hampshire. Been in Bicester for 12 years and been taking my eldest daughter since she was 11 and all the other Bicester kids used to take the mick asking why she supported Watford as they all supported thet op Prem sides, she used to shut them up by saying 'do you ever go and see those teams play, I have a season ticket with my Dad at Watford and go regularly' that usually shut them up! 10 years later she still goes to every game with me although I have to go via Guildford on the way to pick her up from Uni, so quite a journey for home games.
BicesterLee wrote:A WFC fan in Bicester. I lived in Bristol Rd for 7 years and did not meet any fans, even though that was in the first GT era. Was nice to see the eyes pop out as the vidiprinter typed Watford 8 Sunderland 0 in the Hockey Club.lutondown wrote: Everyone who wants this needs to get in there for this game, not stay in their comfy spot, or reason that there's no bar. We have this to show what we can do. If we don't we cannot grumble in the future. Lets give it some ( peacefully I hasten to add) This is what a lot of us have asked for, we need to utilise the chance. Thanks Watford FC you continue to deliver change and prove you are prepared to listen.Well done to you and all the fellow posters on here who've kept up a steady flow of requests for this to happen over recent weeks, what a result, early days I know but hopefully its the start of something that will continue and long overdue. The club has indeed listened and I hope when this becomes a regular feature in future seasons, everyone remembers the sterling effort by those on here who've called for it for a long time now on here and through other sources and never given up.
I don't think you'd recognise Bicester now, it's the fastest growing town in England and has changed a lot even since I moved here in 2000.
AndyHandShandy
says...
4:18pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Boosey
says...
4:34pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Harry's Bar wrote:Harry's bar, agree and disagree on this one, I know you are thinking of Cardiff's supporter reputation and there could possibly be some altercations but on the other hand, both sets of supporters will feed of each other regarding the singing, as I am sure we will both have something to sing about.
lutondown wrote:Sorry, I just had this vision of a full scale 70's style punch up. I personally wouldn't have chosen Cardiff as the trial game.Harry's Bar wrote:Well cue the negatives....!melloyellow wrote: but will people take advantage of it and fill it? creates better atmosphere next to away fans only downside they dont sell boozeNot sure whether we should be pleased or sorry about that.
Also the police and stewards will be fully aware of the situation.
How ironic would that be, to get ejected for standing up?
D.unstable
says...
4:56pm Fri 1 Mar 13
francowatford wrote:If I recall it was largely because of the suposedly better facilities in the Rookery and also it has a larger overall capacity than the Vic end.
D.unstable wrote: The year the Vic lost its voice was the season when the Home support moved from unreserved seating in the Vicarage Road end to the reserved seating in the Rookery. I hope that this will be a big success and becomes standard for next season. Another example of how the club are listening and doing what they can to bring back the masses. Claxton's, inflatable sheep, yellow flares and lots of noise please!!!why did they move from regular home fans from the Vic end to away end of the Rookery?
I may also be right in that it is easier to segregate the Vic end than the Rookery, therefore it was difficult not to give over the entire Rookery end to away fans.
I say if we start to fill the Vic, put the away fans on a few bench seats on the old terracing under the sky tv gantry, any other ground you accept that you will have the worst view in the stadium being an away fan.
jasonwatford
says...
4:56pm Fri 1 Mar 13
i have my flask and blanket and wont be happy with all that noise you expect to make. please sit down and be quiet.
PlymouthHornet
says...
6:27pm Fri 1 Mar 13
francowatford wrote:Yes I do and banging my head against the wall when our winning promotion goal went in and the crowd surged. A great night and well worth the sore head.
i remember being very young and being squashed in the old Vic end under the score board and being amazed at the great atmosphere, does anyone remember standing under the Scoreboard?
Rookery Veteren
says...
6:38pm Fri 1 Mar 13
When I was moved to the Rookery I was told it was because facilities there were better but more important the Vic End behind the stand was easier to divide into two and safely segregate rival fans.
jasonwatford
says...
8:45pm Fri 1 Mar 13
i have my flask and blanket and wont be happy with all that noise you expect to make. please sit down and be quiet.”
cmon guys i expected as response !!! i love going away and singing my heart out so cant wait for this too happen !!!! abdi scored so 1-0 !! singing in my front room !!
Harrydownunder
says...
9:44am Sat 2 Mar 13
Harry's Bar wrote:Bring it on. About time we showed some passion again!
lutondown wrote:Sorry, I just had this vision of a full scale 70's style punch up. I personally wouldn't have chosen Cardiff as the trial game.
Harry's Bar wrote:Well cue the negatives....!melloyellow wrote: but will people take advantage of it and fill it? creates better atmosphere next to away fans only downside they dont sell boozeNot sure whether we should be pleased or sorry about that.
lutondown
says...
2:01pm Sun 3 Mar 13
jasonwatford wrote:Be good to see a few George's flags to spice it up some! There will be plenty of Welsh ones for sure.
i have a season ticket in vicarage road end and i wont be moving at all.
i have my flask and blanket and wont be happy with all that noise you expect to make. please sit down and be quiet.”
cmon guys i expected as response !!! i love going away and singing my heart out so cant wait for this too happen !!!! abdi scored so 1-0 !! singing in my front room !!
Hope they need them to drape on their automatic place coffin when we stuff em.
lutondown says...
2:19pm Fri 1 Mar 13