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Phil Watson (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Philip Ross Watson was a Scottish
professional football
er. He made one appearance for the Scotland national team
. He played as a defender
.
.
. He made his debut for the Lancashire
club on 13 February 1932, in a 2–0 victory over Everton
at Bloomfield Road
. He came into a defence which had leaked seven goals at Manchester City
a week earlier.
He made a further fourteen league appearances in the 1931–32
season, scoring one goal – in a 2–2 draw at home to Liverpool
on 5 March. The previous month, he marked Everton
's Dixie Dean
out of the game, and the Toffees player congratulated him at the final whistle as Jimmy Hampson
's brace gave Blackpool a 2-0 win.
The following season, 1932–33
, he was an ever-present in the club's 45 league and cup games. He scored seven league goals, including a hat-trick against Aston Villa
at Bloomfield Road on 18 March 1933. He was deputising in the forward line for the injured Jimmy Hampson. Despite his contributions, Blackpool finished bottom of Division One
and were relegated.
Another ever-present season followed in 1933–34
. He scored one league goal and one FA Cup
goal. He also gained his sole cap for Scotland in 1933, in a 2–2 draw with Austria
on 29 November.
His run of 129 consecutive games for Blackpool ended midway through the 1934–35
campaign, in which he made 34 appearances and scored two goals. After the signing of centre-half Louis Cardwell, Watson moved to the right-back position. He appeared in the forward line again for two games, alongside Bobby Finan
firstly, then Peter Doherty
.
Watson continued at right-back for the 1935–36
season, making 35 league appearances. He missed the entire 1936–37
season through injury, but returned to the team in 1937–38
, his final one as a Blackpool player, back in the centre-half position.
Watson's 178th and final appearance for Blackpool occurred on 13 November 1937, in a 3–0 home defeat at the hands of Birmingham City
.
became his third club, but he only made four league appearances for the Tykes before returning to Scotland to finish his career with Queen of the South
.
in 1938, Watson played in the final game of Queens' 1937-38 season, the 3-2 victory against Rangers at Ibrox Park. This was Queens' first league victory against Rangers (Queens had knocked Rangers out of the Scottish Cup
the season before). It was from Watson's pass to Jackie Oakes
that led to Queens' first goal in the league game.
in 1933.
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...
professional football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er. He made one appearance for the Scotland national team
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...
. He played as a defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Hamilton Academical
Watson began his career in his native Scotland in the early 1930s with Hamilton AcademicalHamilton Academical F.C.
Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as Hamilton Academical, or Accies, are a Scottish football club from Hamilton in South Lanarkshire. They were established in 1874 from the school football team at Hamilton Academy. They remain the only professional club in British football to have...
.
Blackpool
In 1932, he moved south to join BlackpoolBlackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
. He made his debut for the Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
club on 13 February 1932, in a 2–0 victory 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...
at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
. He came into a defence which had leaked seven goals at Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
a week earlier.
He made a further fourteen league appearances in the 1931–32
Blackpool F.C. season 1931-32
The 1931-32 season was Blackpool F.C.s 31st season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division One, then the top tier of English football, finishing twentieth....
season, scoring one goal – in a 2–2 draw at home to Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
on 5 March. The previous month, he marked 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...
's Dixie Dean
Dixie Dean
William Ralph Dean , better known as Dixie Dean, was an English football player. Dean originally started his career with Birkenhead based Tranmere Rovers before moving on to Everton, the club he had supported as a child, where he became one of the most prolific goal-scorers in English football...
out of the game, and the Toffees player congratulated him at the final whistle as Jimmy Hampson
Jimmy Hampson
James "Jimmy" Hampson was an English professional footballer. He spent eleven seasons at Blackpool, where he remains record goalscorer with 252 goals in 373 games, and is still regarded as one of the best centre forwards to play for the club.-Club career:Born in Little Hulton, Lancashire, Hampson...
's brace gave Blackpool a 2-0 win.
The following season, 1932–33
Blackpool F.C. season 1932-33
The 1932-33 season was Blackpool F.C.s 32nd season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division One, then the top tier of English football, finishing bottom...
, he was an ever-present in the club's 45 league and cup games. He scored seven league goals, including a hat-trick against Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
at Bloomfield Road on 18 March 1933. He was deputising in the forward line for the injured Jimmy Hampson. Despite his contributions, Blackpool finished bottom of Division One
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
and were relegated.
Another ever-present season followed in 1933–34
Blackpool F.C. season 1933-34
The 1933-34 season was Blackpool F.C.s 33rd season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing eleventh....
. He scored one league goal and one FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
goal. He also gained his sole cap for Scotland in 1933, in a 2–2 draw with Austria
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
on 29 November.
His run of 129 consecutive games for Blackpool ended midway through the 1934–35
Blackpool F.C. season 1934-35
The 1934-35 season was Blackpool F.C.s 34th season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing fourth....
campaign, in which he made 34 appearances and scored two goals. After the signing of centre-half Louis Cardwell, Watson moved to the right-back position. He appeared in the forward line again for two games, alongside Bobby Finan
Bobby Finan
Robert Joseph "Bobby" Finan was a Scottish professional football player. He played as a forward.-Club career:...
firstly, then Peter Doherty
Peter Doherty (footballer)
Peter Dermot Doherty was a Northern Ireland international footballer and manager who played for Manchester City.An inside left, he was one of the top players of his time, winning a league title with Manchester City, an F.A. Cup final with Derby County in which he scored, and gained 16 caps for...
.
Watson continued at right-back for the 1935–36
Blackpool F.C. season 1935-36
The 1935-36 season was Blackpool F.C.s 35th season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing tenth....
season, making 35 league appearances. He missed the entire 1936–37
Blackpool F.C. season 1936-37
The 1936-37 season was Blackpool F.C.s 36th season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing second...
season through injury, but returned to the team in 1937–38
Blackpool F.C. season 1937-38
The 1937-38 season was Blackpool F.C.s 37th season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division One, then the top tier of English football, finishing twelfth....
, his final one as a Blackpool player, back in the centre-half position.
Watson's 178th and final appearance for Blackpool occurred on 13 November 1937, in a 3–0 home defeat at the hands of Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
.
Barnsley
BarnsleyBarnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
became his third club, but he only made four league appearances for the Tykes before returning to Scotland to finish his career with Queen of the South
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
.
Queen of the South
Signed by Willie FergusonWillie Ferguson
William Copeland Ferguson was a Scottish footballer and manager best known for his time at Chelsea and Dumfries side Queen of the South. His position was usually as a left winger.-Early years:...
in 1938, Watson played in the final game of Queens' 1937-38 season, the 3-2 victory against Rangers at Ibrox Park. This was Queens' first league victory against Rangers (Queens had knocked Rangers out of the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
the season before). It was from Watson's pass to Jackie Oakes
Jackie Oakes
Jackie Oakes was a Scottish footballer who played for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Queen of the South, Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City. Born in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, his position was left winger...
that led to Queens' first goal in the league game.
International career
Watson's sole cap for Scotland came against AustriaAustria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
in 1933.