A special passenger was on board when service A9 pulled into a new platform in Watford in December 1982 in another move that reflected the innovative thinking associated with the Hornets at the time.
The club was still getting used to life at the top table of the English game for the first time under Graham Taylor during a period when many fans travelled to games on chartered trains known as ‘football specials’ when hooliganism was a major problem.
Watford were now having to deal with thousands of fans from the biggest clubs in the country coming to Vicarage Road – and the considerable challenges involved in getting them to and from the ground when some were intent on causing trouble.
It is not clear who first came up with the idea, but for those travelling by train it was decided to use the existing Croxley Green Branch from Watford Junction and build a platform that would enable away supporters to be taken to the ground.
Financed by Watford Borough Council, British Rail, the Football Trust and Watford FC, it cost £380,000 and on December 4, 1982 a special train arrived from Watford Junction with Hornets chairman Elton John in the front carriage.
A Watford Observer photographer was on the platform, which would become known as colloquially ‘Hooligan Halt’, to capture the scenes as the train went through some symbolic red, yellow and black tape to signify the opening. This was formally conducted by the Hornets chairman and Lord Aberdare on the platform.
Take a look at these pictures form our archive of an initiative that was heralded as an innovative joint venture which although it was only to be used for a decade, played a key part in reducing football-related violence in the town centre and around the ground.
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