Waterford Regional Sports Centre

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Use Irish English|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox stadium | name = Regional Sports Centre | native_name = | image = 01-waterford-united-v-limerick-25-july-2009-00.jpg | image_caption = East Stand in 2009, as seen from the West Stand | fullname = Waterford Regional Sports Centre | location = Cork Road, <br /> [[Waterford]], <br /> [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] | coordinates = {{coord|52.24618466|-7.124692|display=it}} | nickname = The RSC | built = 1992–1993 | opened = 1993 | renovated = 2008 | public_transit = [[Waterford railway station]] | owner = [[Waterford City and County Council]] | seating_capacity = 5,154<ref name="UEFA_2019" /> (3,035 seats) | tenants = [[Waterford F.C.]] 1993–present<br> [[Waterford F.C. (women)|Waterford FC (women)]] | dimensions = {{convert|105|by|75|yds|m}} }}

The '''Waterford Regional Sports Centre''' (or simply, the RSC) is a [[multi-purpose stadium]] in [[Waterford]], part of [[Waterford City and County Council|the local authority's]] municipal sporting facilities and home to [[Waterford F.C.]] of the [[League of Ireland]]. Waterford moved to the newly opened RSC from their former home, [[Kilcohan Park]] for the 1993–94 season and have remained there ever since.<ref name="waterfordfc_lease" /> [[File:Waterford v Shelbourne 2022 cup semi final.jpg|thumb|East Stand before the Waterford v Shelbourne FAI Cup semi-final 16 October 2022]] Included on the 40 acre site is an 18-hole [[pitch and putt]] course, a gym, an indoor hall, four football pitches and tennis courts.<ref name="council_facilities">{{Cite web |title=Sports Facilities - Waterford City & County Council |url=https://waterfordcouncil.ie/services/community-and-sport/sports-facilities/ |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=waterfordcouncil.ie |language=en-IE|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418203809/https://waterfordcouncil.ie/services/community-and-sport/sports-facilities/|archive-date=2024-04-18|url-status=live}}</ref> The complex also had a Skateboard Park. The RSC comprises two stands. The Cork Road West Stand, opened in May 1996 has capacity of 1,275 seats. The Kilbarry side East Stand, aka the New Stand, opened in May 2008,<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 July 2008 |title=Irish Rugby {{!}} Kidney Supports Waterford Sport |url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/2008/07/03/kidney-supports-waterford-sport/ |access-date=2026-01-11 |website=irishrugby.ie |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207224724/https://www.irishrugby.ie/2008/07/03/kidney-supports-waterford-sport/|archive-date=2019-12-07|url-status=live}}</ref> holds 1,760 and brings seating capacity to 3,035. Away supporters are housed in Blocks A and B of the New Stand.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-30 |title=Visiting Fans Information Guide – Shamrock Rovers |url=https://waterfordfc.ie/2024/03/30/visiting-fans-information-guide-shamrock-rovers/ |access-date=2026-01-11 |website=Waterford FC {{!}} Official Site |language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240414145614/https://waterfordfc.ie/2024/03/30/visiting-fans-information-guide-shamrock-rovers/|archive-date=2024-04-14|url-status=live}}</ref> There are future plans to extend the West Stand to bring the overall seated capacity to near 5,000.{{cn|date=April 2026}}

The RSC also has a synthetic 400m [[Mondotrack|Mondo]] running track surrounding the soccer pitch, built to IAAF international standards.<ref name="council_facilities" /> The venue is also home to the Local Sports Partnerships for athletics and other sports.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mallon |first=Ian |date=2023-03-23 |title=Ian Mallon: Are Waterford set to call time on RSC to achieve goals? |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/business-of-sport/arid-41099302.html |access-date=2026-01-11 |website=Irish Examiner |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324055335/https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/business-of-sport/arid-41099302.html|archive-date=2023-03-24}}</ref>

The club shop is located under the Main Stand.<ref name="club trip">{{Cite web |date=2025-02-20 |title=Everything you need to know ahead of your trip to the RSC! |url=https://waterfordfc.ie/2025/02/20/everything-you-need-to-know-ahead-of-your-trip-to-the-rsc/ |access-date=2026-02-07 |website=Waterford FC {{!}} Official Site |language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250316023929/https://waterfordfc.ie/2025/02/20/everything-you-need-to-know-ahead-of-your-trip-to-the-rsc/|archive-date=2025-03-16|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2009, the [[Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team|Republic of Ireland under-21]] side defeated the Spain under-21 team in a friendly at the RSC, winning 2–1 in front of a 3,400 capacity crowd.<ref name="ROI SPA u-21">{{cite web |title=Ireland defeat Spain at RSC |url=https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/ireland-defeat-spain-at-rsc |website=FAI |access-date=26 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151202031616/https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/ireland-defeat-spain-at-rsc|archive-date=2015-12-02|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="rsssf under-21_internationals">{{Cite web |title=Ireland - U-21 Internationals |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier-u21-intres.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250515072702/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier-u21-intres.html |archive-date=2025-05-15 |access-date=2026-05-31 |website=www.rsssf.org}}</ref> In September 2009, the stadium hosted 4,000 fans for the [[2009 League of Ireland Cup|League of Ireland Cup final]] as [[Bohemian F.C.|Bohemians]] beat [[Waterford United F.C.|Waterford United]] 3–1.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2009/0926/bohemians_waterford.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929232307/http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2009/0926/bohemians_waterford.html|title=Bohs win EA Sports League Cup|archivedate=29 September 2009|date=2009-09-26|website=RTÉ Sport}}</ref>

The [[Republic of Ireland national under-23 football team|Republic of Ireland U-23]] team played [[England C national football team|England C]] in May 2010 in a [[2009–11 International Challenge Trophy]] game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/late-comeback-by-u23s-not-enough-against-england|title=Late comeback by U23s not enough against England | Football Association of Ireland|website=www.fai.ie|access-date=2026-02-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307213900/https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/late-comeback-by-u23s-not-enough-against-england|archive-date=2016-03-07|url-status=dead|date=26 May 2010}}</ref>

The RSC also hosted [[UEFA European Under-21 Championship|UEFA U21 European Championship]] Qualifiers when the Republic of Ireland played Holland, Russia and Switzerland. These games were televised live by [[Sky (UK and Ireland)|Sky]]. The Republic of Ireland U21 team also played Spain U21s in a friendly international at this venue.{{cn|date=April 2026}}

The ground was chosen as a venue for the [[2019 UEFA European Under-17 Championship]] and hosted four group games.<ref name="UEFA_2019">{{Cite web |title=UEFA matchday programmes {{!}} UEFA Under-17 Championship 2019 |url=https://uefaprogrammes.com/programme/u17-2019/intro/venues/page/1 |access-date=2026-02-07 |website=UEFAprogrammes.com |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630104116/https://uefaprogrammes.com/programme/u17-2019/intro/venues/page/1|url-status=live|archive-date=2019-06-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=UEFA.com |date=19 May 2019 |title=Netherlands triumph: results, highlights {{!}} UEFA Under-17 2019 |url=https://www.uefa.com/under17/news/0252-0cda37144872-4413d0e57eb2-1000--netherlands-triumph-results-highlights/ |access-date=2026-02-11 |website=UEFA.com |language=en}}</ref>

In February 2023, new floodlights were installed at the venue.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-27 |title=New Investment At Waterford Regional Sports Centre |url=https://www.constructionireland.ie/construction-news/294595/new-investment-at-waterford-regional-sports-centre |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260510023728/https://www.constructionireland.ie/construction-news/294595/new-investment-at-waterford-regional-sports-centre |archive-date=2026-05-10 |access-date=2026-05-10 |website=www.constructionireland.ie}}</ref> In December 2023, [[Waterford F.C.]] announced that they had secured a 50 year lease from [[Waterford City and County Council]] for the RSC.<ref name="waterfordfc_lease">{{Cite web |date=13 December 2023 |title=Waterford FC Secure 50-Year Lease For Use of RSC |url=https://waterfordfc.ie/waterfordfc-lease-rsc/ |access-date=2026-01-11 |website=Waterford FC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260323105903/https://waterfordfc.ie/2023/12/13/waterfordfc-lease-rsc/|archive-date=2026-03-23|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2025, Waterford F.C. opened a new club shop in the main stand.<ref name="club trip" /> In April 2026, the council applied for planning permission to replace two of the site's grass pitches with floodlit, artificial turf pitches as well as replacing the temporary dressing rooms with permanent facilities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Part 8 Development - Upgrades at Waterford Regional Sports Centre {{!}} Waterford City & County Council |url=https://consult.waterfordcouncil.ie/en/consultation/part-8-development-upgrades-waterford-regional-sports-centre |access-date=2026-05-21 |website=consult.waterfordcouncil.ie|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260531152036/https://consult.waterfordcouncil.ie/en/consultation/part-8-development-upgrades-waterford-regional-sports-centre|archive-date=2026-05-31|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Other uses== ===Athletics=== The stadium is also home to Ferrybank Athletic Club. The club, founded in 1980, were initially based in [[Ferrybank, Waterford]] and moved their training base to the RSC in 1999.<ref>{{Cite news |title=History - Ferrybank AC |url=https://www.ferrybankathleticclub.ie/history/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260531195440/https://www.ferrybankathleticclub.ie/history/ |archive-date=2026-05-31 |access-date=2026-05-31 |work=Ferrybank Athletic Club |language=en}}</ref>

===Rugby union=== In February 2010, [[Munster A]] played [[Nottingham R.F.C.]] at the ground in the [[British and Irish Cup]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2010-02-12 |title=Cusack Kicks Munster Past Cup Challengers Notts - Irish Rugby |url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/2010/02/12/cusack-kicks-munster-past-cup-challengers-notts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205144308/https://www.irishrugby.ie/2010/02/12/cusack-kicks-munster-past-cup-challengers-notts/ |archive-date=2021-12-05 |access-date=2026-05-31 |work=Irish Rugby |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2010-02-19 |title=Waterford RSC proves to be great venue for Munster rugby |url=https://www.munster-express.ie/waterford-rsc-proves-to-be-great-venue-for-munster-rugby/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251008101459/https://www.munster-express.ie/waterford-rsc-proves-to-be-great-venue-for-munster-rugby/ |archive-date=2025-10-08 |access-date=2026-05-10 |work=The Munster Express |language=en-IE}}</ref>

==Records== The stadium's record attendance of 8,500 was set on 4 April 1997, when Waterford United lost 1–2 to Shelbourne in an FAI Cup semi-final.<ref name="FGG guide">{{Cite web |title=Waterford FC {{!}} Waterford Regional Sports Centre {{!}} Football Ground Guide |url=https://footballgroundguide.com/leagues/republic-of-ireland-premier-league-clubs/waterford.html |access-date=2026-02-07 |website=footballgroundguide.com |language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260210035413/https://footballgroundguide.com/leagues/republic-of-ireland-premier-league-clubs/waterford.html|archive-date=2026-02-10|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Football: CLEAR WATER; FAI CUP SEMI-FINAL PREVIEW: United seek to revive past glories in cup. - Free Online Library |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Football:+CLEAR+WATER;+FAI+CUP+SEMI-FINAL+PREVIEW:+United+seek+to...-a073511175 |access-date=2026-01-11 |website=www.thefreelibrary.com}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Waterford (city)]] [[Category:Association football in Waterford (city)]] [[Category:Sports venues in County Waterford]] [[Category:Athletics venues in the Republic of Ireland]] [[Category:Association football in County Waterford]] [[Category:Association football venues in the Republic of Ireland]] [[Category:Waterford F.C.]] [[Category:1993 establishments in Ireland]] [[Category:Sports venues completed in 1993]]