One era in the history of Vicarage Road had come to an end and another was beginning in the close season of 1986.
Fans had watched Watford in action from the Shrodells or West Stand for 64 years since the club’s move from Cassio Road, but the structure had all but disappeared by the start of June 1986 as a new stand started to rise from the ground.
We looked back at the demolition of the Shrodells Stand earlier this month – you can see the pictures via this link – but Watford Observer photographers continued to visit Vicarage Road on an almost weekly basis during that summer to capture the gradual development of what would become the Rous Stand and is today named the Graham Taylor Stand.
These pictures were taken during three visits in June of that year and show how quickly the columns and beams were put in place for the stand which would accommodate just over 2,100 seats and 33 executive boxes in the upper tier.
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