Watford fans can now use bitcoin to purchase club merchandise, it has been announced.

As part of the club's partnership with shirt sponsor Sportsbet.io, the coingaiming group's sports betting brand, supporters can now buy official club merchandise using the cryptocurrency.

Some UK clubs have been trialling cryptocurrency for player transfers, with Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester and Newcastle among several clubs to begin trials last year, but its use as a method to purchase merchandise, with a view to potentially becoming an onsite currency to be used on match days in the future, is a first ever in UK football, according to the coingaming group.

The club has coupled the announcement with news that Sportsbet.io is also this season's sleeve sponsor, with the bitcoin logo set to appear on the sleeve from the Arsenal match onwards.