Rookery being built and views of Watford's ground in 1950s

‘100 Years at Vicarage Road’ tells the story of the stadium’s evolution through pictures, words and recollections from supporters and players.

Author Geoff Wicken selected around 350 pictures to feature in the book, including a selection from the Watford Observer’s archive.

We featured a selection of photographs of the ground from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s in the build up to the publication of ‘100 Years at Vicarage Road’, some of which feature in the book, and we are delighted Geoff has chosen another selection of images that show how the home of the Hornets has changed over the years.

‘100 Years at Vicarage Road’ costs £20.22, £1 of which will be donated to the club’s community sports and education trust. It is available in person and online from the Hornets Shop.

Scroll down this page and enjoy a glimpse of how Vicarage Road looked in the 1950s.

The original floodlights and the bookies’ stools are in full view as Roy Brown flies in for a header (Image: Watford Observer)

Smoke drifts from the Shrodells hospital chimney as a junior match takes place (Image: Watford Observer)

A scene from the dressing room as an ex-Watford side prepare to take on Watford for a charity match (Image: Watford Observer)

Manager Neil McBain and players pose at the front of the ornate players’ tunnel in 1957 (Image: Watford Observer)

Freddie Bunce in a seldom-seen white-sleeved shirt from 1958/59, with a partially-built Rookery in the background (Image: Watford Observer)