Jimmy Watson (footballer born 1877)
Encyclopedia
James Watson was a Scottish
footballer who played at full back
. He won the Football League
championship with Sunderland
in 1901–02
and made six appearances for Scotland
.
and played for Burnbank Athletic before joining Clyde
.
in 1899, after a trial at Sheffield United
. His debut came in a 0–0 draw against Glossop North End on 24 February 1900. He went on to make three league appearances that season. The following season
he only missed two games as Sunderland finished runners-up, with Watson and Andy McCombie
teaming up in front of goal-keeper Ned Doig
. The three Scottish internationals appeared in a notable total of 109 league and cup games between February 1900 and February 1904 when McCombie was transferred to Newcastle United.
He came to be considered as one of the finest full backs in the country. He possessed the intriguing nickname of "Daddy Long Legs" due to his arms and legs moving excessively when he ran. In 1901–02 Watson only missed one game, as Sunderland claimed the Championship by a three point margin over Everton
.
Watson's first Scotland
match came on 9 March 1903 in a 1–0 victory over Wales
. In the next match, against England
on 4 April, Watson was teamed in defence with his Sunderland colleagues, Doig and McCombie, resulting in a Scottish victory by 2 goals to 1. He went on to play against England in each of the next two years, both matches won 1–0 by England.
Watson remained at Sunderland until 1907, when he moved to Middlesbrough
. In his Sunderland career he played a total of 225 matches, never scoring.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
footballer who played at full back
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. He won the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
championship with Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
in 1901–02
1901-02 in English football
The 1901–02 season was the 31st season of competitive football in England.-League changes:Doncaster Rovers and Burton United replaced Walsall and Burton Swifts in the Football League. Burton United were formed by a merger of Burton Swifts with former League side Burton Wanderers...
and made six appearances for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
.
Early career
Watson was born in MotherwellMotherwell
Motherwell is a town and former burgh in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, south east of Glasgow. The name "Moderwelt" appears on a map of Lanarkshire made by Timothy Pont some time between 1583 and 1611 and printed in the Netherlands in around 1652, although the settlement was probably little more...
and played for Burnbank Athletic before joining Clyde
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
.
Sunderland
He joined SunderlandSunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
in 1899, after a trial at Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
. His debut came in a 0–0 draw against Glossop North End on 24 February 1900. He went on to make three league appearances that season. The following season
1900-01 in English football
The 1900–01 season was the 30th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Stockport County played their first season in the football league. Blackpool also returned to the league, at the expenses of Loughborough and Luton Town.-Honours:...
he only missed two games as Sunderland finished runners-up, with Watson and Andy McCombie
Andy McCombie
Andrew McCombie was a Scottish international footballer who played at right back for North East England rival clubs Sunderland and Newcastle United. He won the Football League championship with both clubs, and was twice on the losing side in the FA Cup final...
teaming up in front of goal-keeper Ned Doig
Ned Doig
John Edward 'Ned' Doig was a Scottish footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He played the peak of his career for Sunderland, in a famous period of time in the club's history where they were dubbed the 'team of all talents'. Noted for his exceptional performances in goal, he was also famously shy...
. The three Scottish internationals appeared in a notable total of 109 league and cup games between February 1900 and February 1904 when McCombie was transferred to Newcastle United.
He came to be considered as one of the finest full backs in the country. He possessed the intriguing nickname of "Daddy Long Legs" due to his arms and legs moving excessively when he ran. In 1901–02 Watson only missed one game, as Sunderland claimed the Championship by a three point margin over Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
.
Watson's first Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
match came on 9 March 1903 in a 1–0 victory over Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
. In the next match, against England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
on 4 April, Watson was teamed in defence with his Sunderland colleagues, Doig and McCombie, resulting in a Scottish victory by 2 goals to 1. He went on to play against England in each of the next two years, both matches won 1–0 by England.
Watson remained at Sunderland until 1907, when he moved to Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
. In his Sunderland career he played a total of 225 matches, never scoring.
Middlesbrough
He remained at Middlesbrough until 1910 making over 100 appearances. In March 1909 he was recalled to the Scotland team making appearances against Ireland and England.Honours
SunderlandSunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
- Football League champions: 1901–021901-02 in English footballThe 1901–02 season was the 31st season of competitive football in England.-League changes:Doncaster Rovers and Burton United replaced Walsall and Burton Swifts in the Football League. Burton United were formed by a merger of Burton Swifts with former League side Burton Wanderers...