Vicarage Road pitch work will start next week (From Watford Observer)

Watford confirm work on Vicarage Road pitch will start early next week

3:52pm Wednesday 9th May 2012 in News

Watford have confirmed work on the Vicarage Road pitch will begin early next week.

The surface at Vicarage Road is a Desso pitch, which is supposed to be relaid every ten years but the 2011/12 campaign was its 13th season.

The Hornets were unable to start work on the surface until after this weekend as it is 'Play on the Pitch Week', which runs until Saturday, and there was a chance Saracens might have secured a home semi final at Vicarage Road for this weekend.

The club told the Watford Observer in April that a "substantial down payment" had been made for the pitch and work was expected to start on May 14 and they have this afternoon confirmed work will begin early next week.

However, the surface will not be levelled as the club consider it to be too expensive.

There is currently a one metre slope from one corner of the Rous Stand to the other and there will still be a difference when the pitch is relaid, although it will be marginally less than before.

Glyn Evans, Watford's operations director, told the Watford Observer last month: "The ground will not be levelled because it would involved significant structural alterations regarding the sighting for supporters in the Rookery and Vicarage Road stands."