Editing Watford F.C. (section)

==Stadium==
{{Main|Vicarage Road}}[[File:Watford v Coventry, Vicarage Road, 2000.jpg|thumb|230px|right|Watford fans at Vicarage Road, on the last day of the [[1999–2000 Watford F.C. season|1999–2000 season]]]]
Watford Rovers played at several grounds in the late 19th century, including [[Cassiobury Park]], Vicarage Meadow and Market Street, [[Watford]]. In 1890, the team moved to a site on [[Cassio Road]], and remained there for 32 years, before moving to Watford's current stadium at nearby [[Vicarage Road]] in 1922.<ref name=chronology/> The new stadium was initially owned by [[Benskins Brewery]]; the club rented the ground until 2001, when it purchased the freehold outright. However, the club's financial situation worsened following the purchase, and in 2002 Watford sold the ground for £6&nbsp;million in a deal which entitled Watford to buy the stadium back for £7&nbsp;million in future. Watford took up this option in 2004 using a campaign backed and funded by the fans called "Lets buy back the Vic".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mobile.watfordobserver.co.uk/search/516393.Watford_seal_Vicarage_Road_deal/|title=Watford seal Vicarage Road Deal|work=Watford Observer|author=Phillips, Oli|date=6 August 2004|access-date=23 October 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822082325/http://mobile.watfordobserver.co.uk/search/516393.Watford_seal_Vicarage_Road_deal/|archive-date=22 August 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Vicarage Road is a four-sided ground with a capacity of 21,577.<ref name="expansion 2">{{cite web |url=http://www.watfordfc.com/news/article/150608-vicarage-road-stadium-north-east-corner-2486084.aspx |title=Stadium Update: North-East Corner Transformation To Begin |publisher=Watford F.C. |date=9 June 2015 |access-date=10 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150609230138/http://www.watfordfc.com/news/article/150608-vicarage-road-stadium-north-east-corner-2486084.aspx |archive-date=9 June 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The East Stand, part of which was constructed in 1922, was closed to the general public in 2008 for health and safety reasons, although it still hosted the dressing rooms and the matchday press area.<ref>Affleck, Kevin (31 July 2008). [https://web.archive.org/web/20130611063339/http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/localsport/3559565.Watford_forced_to_close_East_Stand/ "Watford forced to close East Stand"]. ''[[Watford Observer]]''. Retrieved 18 April 2012. Archived from [http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/localsport/3559565.Watford_forced_to_close_East_Stand/ the original] on 18 April 2012.</ref> In November 2013, the East Stand was demolished and in its place a new steel-framed, 3,500-seater stand was constructed. The stand opened fully on Boxing Day 2014 and was named The Elton John Stand after the club's longstanding chairman.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/11669436.VIDEO__Watch_the_construction_of_the_Sir_Elton_John_Stand/|title=VIDEO: Watch the construction of the Sir Elton John Stand|work=Watford Observer|date=16 December 2014 }}</ref> The Graham Taylor Stand<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30314903|title=BBC Sport – Ex-England boss Graham Taylor 'honoured' by Watford gesture|work=BBC Sport}}</ref> (previously the Rous Stand), built in 1986, has two tiers and runs the length of the pitch, with the upper section containing the club's corporate hospitality. At either end of the pitch, The Vicarage Road Stand is split between the club's family section and away supporters, while the Rookery Stand is for home supporters only. Both stands were built in the 1990s, financed by proceeds from player sales.<ref>[http://www.wfc.net/stadium.htm "The stadium"]. ''wfc.net''. Retrieved 18 April 2012.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120403004940/http://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/295444.the_details_are_petchey/ "The details are Petchey"]. ''Harrow Times''. 7 May 2003. Retrieved 18 April 2012. Archived from [http://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/295444.the_details_are_petchey/ the original] on 18 April 2012.</ref> In the summer of 2015, The Elton John Stand was revamped in order to accommodate an extra 700 seats.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.watfordfc.com/news/article/stadium-2483443.aspx |title=Stadium Update: Extra Sir Elton John Stand Capacity |publisher=Watford F.C. |date=7 June 2015 |access-date=8 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150609230141/http://www.watfordfc.com/news/article/stadium-2483443.aspx |archive-date=9 June 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This number was revised a day later to around 1,000 extra seats following the announcement of an expansion in the north-east corner.<ref name="expansion 2"/>

Between 1997 and early 2013, Watford shared Vicarage Road with [[rugby union]] side [[Saracens F.C.]]<ref>Smith, Frank (10 May 2011). [http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/9017371.Saracens_will_be_staying_at_Vicarage_Road/ "Saracens will be staying at Vicarage Road"]. ''Watford Observer''. Retrieved 18 April 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Last game at Vicarage Road sees Saracens through to Heineken Cup quarters|url=http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/archive/2013/01/20/10173690.Last_game_at_Vicarage_Road_sees_Saracens_through_to_Heineken_Cup_quarters/?ref=arc|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141028185548/http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/archive/2013/01/20/10173690.Last_game_at_Vicarage_Road_sees_Saracens_through_to_Heineken_Cup_quarters/?ref=arc|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 October 2014|newspaper=Watford Observer|date=20 January 2013}}</ref> The stadium has hosted matches for the [[England national under-21 football team|England under-21s]],<ref>Hershman, Josh (1 September 2011). [https://www.uefa.com/under21/news/0257-0deb3b49784a-bd7080cb8d57-1000--england-begin-with-six-goal-victory/ "England begin with six-goal victory"]. [[UEFA]]. Retrieved 18 April 2012.</ref> and senior international football between overseas teams.<ref>Smith, Frank (13 October 2011). [http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/9305515.Ghana_friendly_was_a_success/ "Ghana friendly was a success"]. ''Watford Observer''. Retrieved 18 April 2012.</ref> Elton John has also used Vicarage Road as a venue for concerts: He first played at the stadium in 1974 and returned in 2005 and 2010 to stage fundraising concerts for the club.<ref>Smith, Frank (4 June 2010). [http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/8200643.Elton_John_gig_to_raise_around___600_000_for_players/ "Elton John gig to raise around £600,000 for players"]. ''Watford Observer''. Retrieved 20 April 2012.</ref> Former events include horse and carriage shows<ref name=j15/> and [[greyhound racing]].<ref>Mott, Sue (4 May 2001). [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/championship/3004711/Taylor-made-for-management.html "Taylor made for management"]. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved 21 April 2012.</ref>

The [[Watford Training Ground]] is located on the [[University College London Union]] (UCLU) Shenley Sports grounds in [[St Albans]], [[Hertfordshire]].