THE GROUND
Vicarage Road Stadium
Vicarage Road
Watford
WD18 0ER
Vicarage Road was built during the early years of the last century and Watford moved in when it opened in 1922.
The Hornets had played at their previous ground, Cassio Road, since 1898.
The stadium, which was home to Saracens Rugby Club from 1997 until 2013, has been undergoing development work over the past year.
The East Stand, to be known as the Watford FC Community Stand, is being rebuilt and should be ready for the start of the new season.
The three other sides of the ground have also been rebuilt in the past 30 years.
When complete, the stadium will hold around 22,000.
Away fans will be housed in the Vicarage Road Stand and there is room for around 2,200.
THE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
Vicarage Road is approximately 21 miles from Griffin Park by road via the M1.
Drivers will need to leave the M1 at junction 5 and take the A4008 in to Watford.
The A411 passes through the centre of Watford and Vicarage Road is a turning off.
Drivers can also use the M25 and leave at junction 17, then take the A412, A404 and A4145 to the ground.
Another alternative from West London is to take the A40 and A4180 to meet the A404.
There is no specific parking at the ground and street parking is restricted.
Drivers are advised to park in the town centre, which is a ten minute walk from the ground.
The nearest station is Watford High Street, which is ten minutes away.
Watford Junction is 20 minutes from the ground on foot.
Both stations are served by London Underground services from London Euston and Willesden Junction.
Watford Junction is also served by Southern services from Clapham Junction and Virgin Trains and London Midland services from Euston.
Watford London Underground station is on the Metropolitan Line and is further from the ground.
The Supporters’ Association will be running coaches to every game this season – details of times and prices will be announced in due course.
THE FIXTURES
Brentford will play Watford away from home on Tuesday September 30.
The Bees then welcome the Hertfordshire side to Griffin Park on Tuesday February 10.
THE RECENT HISTORY
Watford have been one of The Championship’s most consistent members over the past 25 years.
The Hornets were relegated from the top flight in 1988 and have been in the second tier for all but four years since.
They had two seasons in the third tier from 1996 to 1998, winning the League Two title at the second attempt, and have had two in the Premier League.
They won promotion via the Play-Offs in 1999 but came straight back down a year later, taking just 24 points from 38 games.
The Hornets finished third in The Championship in 2006 and once again won promotion through the Play-Offs.
However, their stay at the top table was again brief – relegated immediately with 28 points from 38 games.
The Hornets have reached the Play-Offs twice since, losing in the Semi-Finals to Hull City in 2008 and to Crystal Palace in the Championship Play-Off Final in 2013.
Last season Watford started well but a poor run in autumn left them in mid-table.
The Hornets were always on the edge of the promotion race but couldn’t put together a run to take them in to the top six.
Four straight defeats to end the season left Watford 13th in the table.
THE MANAGER
Giuseppe Sannino has been in charge at Watford, officially Head Coach, since December.
He took over at Vicarage Road when Gianfranco Zola left.
The 57-year-old was a midfield player during a 13-year career and then moved in to management.
He managed Sienna, in Serie A, and has also taken charge of Palermo and Chievo Verona.
THE TOP SCORER
Troy Deeney scored 25 goals in all competitions for Watford last season, 24 of them in The Championship.
The 26-year-old ended the season as third top scorer in the division.
Deeney started out at Aston Villa but was released and made his way in to the professional game at Walsall.
He hit 14 goals in the 2009/10 season, after scoring 12 the year before, and signed for Watford that summer.
Deeney only scored four in his first season at Watford but got 12 in all competitions the following season and 20 in 2012/13.
His improvement continued last term with 25 goals in 48 games, 24 in 44 Championship fixtures.
THE KEY MEN
Watford have kept hold of the majority of the players that formed the spine of their team last year.
Of those that have left, goalkeeper Manuel Almunia played 37 Championship matches and has been replace by Brazilian Heurelho Gomes.
Defender Marco Cassetti has been released after playing 35 Championship games last term while others to go included Fitz Hall and Nyron Nosworthy, who did not feature much.
The Hornets appear to have kept hold of top-scorer Deeney, which was important as only one other player reached double figures.
Midfield player Lewis McGugan scored ten goals in 34 matches last season while Scotland international winger Ikechi Anya scored five.
Forward Fernando Forestieri scored seven goals in 28 appearances and Sweden international Mathias Renégie scored four in ten games.
Defender Gabriele Angella scored seven goals from 40 games while other regulars at the back were Joel Ekstrand, who played 33 games, Daniel Pudi, who played 37, and Marco Faraoni, who made 38 appearances.
Long-serving Lloyd Doyley played 24 games and in midfield Cristian Battocchio made 35 appearances.
The Hornets have signed winger Lloyd Dyer from Leicester City and Northern Ireland international defender Craig Cathcart from Blackpool.
Ecuador international Juan Carlos Paredes arrives at Vicarage Road after playing every minute in the World Cup and he has been joined by Romanian international Gabriel Tamaș.
THE FIRST MEETING
October 8 1898, Southern League Second Division – Brentford 2 Watford 4
Brentford line-up: Pennington; Lewis, Lugg; Westhead, Edney, Smith; Dailley, Charlton, Booth, Richardson, Knapman
Brentford goal scorers: Dailley, Booth
Brentford’s second home game in the Southern League ended in defeat to Watford.
THE LAST MEETING
January 24 1998, Nationwide League Division Two – Brentford 1 Watford 2
Brentford line-up: Pollitt; Hutchings, Bates, Hogg, Watson; Oatway, Aspinall, Cockerill; Rapley, Taylor, Scott
Subs (not used): McGhee, Denys, Canham
Brentford goal scorer: Rapley
Promotion-chasing Watford score a late winner to deny Brentford a share of the spoils.
THE MEMORABLE DAY
February 24 1979, Football League Division Three – Brentford 3 Watford 3
Brentford line-up: Bond; Salman, Kruse, Graham, Shrubb; Carlton, Tucker, McNichol, Phillips; Smith, McCulloch
Sub (not used): Allder
Brentford goal scorers: Smith, Phillips (2)
Brentford share the points with Watford in a thrilling game at Griffin Park.
THE ODDS
Sky Bet is offering 14/1 on Watford winning The Championship next season.
Those who back The Hornets can get ¼ of the odds if they finish in the top three.
Every bet you make with Sky Bet benefits Brentford FC –
to see the Championship market.