Stuart Watkiss
Encyclopedia
Stuart Watkiss is an English
former footballer who notably played for Hereford United
and Mansfield Town
. He is currently Development Coach at Hull City
.
as a youngster in 1984, however after making only two appearances he moved to Crewe Alexandra
in 1986.
He went on to play for Rushall Olympic
, Walsall
and Hereford United
before moving to Mansfield Town
in 1996. Watkiss remained with Town until hanging his boots up in 1999.
between 2004 and 2006. Following his dismissal he became Assistant Manager to Graham Rodger
at Grimsby Town
, and took over team affairs briefly in November 2006 following the sacking of Rodger, but he was overlooked for the job, which was given to Alan Buckley
instead.
Watkiss continued in his role as Assistant Manager for the 2006–07 and 2007–08 campaigns, and in September 2008, he was given the role of Caretaker Manager once again following the dismissal of Alan Buckley. Watkiss made public his desire to become the team's manager on a permanent basis, but a 1–1 draw with Morecambe
and then a 1–0 home defeat to Barnet
, who at the time were the only club in the football league statistically worse than them, pushed club chairman John Fenty
into releasing a statement to worried supporters saying that Watkiss would not be given the job permanently.
Grimsby appointed Mike Newell
in October 2008 and Watkiss re-took his former position as Assistant Manager. At the end of the 2008–09 season, Watkiss was relieved of his duties at the club, and replaced by the club's Chief Scout, Brian Stein
.
He was appointed as Development Coach by Phil Brown at Hull City
in July 2009.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former footballer who notably played for Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
and Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
. He is currently Development Coach at Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
.
Playing career
Watkiss joined his home town club Wolverhampton WanderersWolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
as a youngster in 1984, however after making only two appearances he moved to Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
in 1986.
He went on to play for Rushall Olympic
Rushall Olympic F.C.
Rushall Olympic are an English football club based in Rushall, a former mining village now forming part of the northern suburbs of Walsall. They play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. They are notable for having sold Zat Knight to Fulham in exchange for 30 Adidas tracksuits...
, Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
and Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
before moving to Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
in 1996. Watkiss remained with Town until hanging his boots up in 1999.
Management
In 2002 he made the step up from Assistant Manager at Mansfield Town to become the team's Manager, but he didn't last long in the job. His next port of call was to manage Kidderminster HarriersKidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
between 2004 and 2006. Following his dismissal he became Assistant Manager to Graham Rodger
Graham Rodger
Graham Rodger is a Scottish born English former professional footballer and football manager. He played as a defender from 1984 until 1998 for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Coventry City and Luton Town before finishing his career with a six year stint at Grimsby Town, where he retired in 1998 following...
at Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
, and took over team affairs briefly in November 2006 following the sacking of Rodger, but he was overlooked for the job, which was given to Alan Buckley
Alan Buckley
Alan Peter Buckley is an English football manager. He was manager of League Two side Grimsby Town until his dismissal in September 2008...
instead.
Watkiss continued in his role as Assistant Manager for the 2006–07 and 2007–08 campaigns, and in September 2008, he was given the role of Caretaker Manager once again following the dismissal of Alan Buckley. Watkiss made public his desire to become the team's manager on a permanent basis, but a 1–1 draw with Morecambe
Morecambe F.C.
Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park...
and then a 1–0 home defeat to Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
, who at the time were the only club in the football league statistically worse than them, pushed club chairman John Fenty
John Fenty
John Shelton Fenty born is a Conservative councillor for the Humberston and New Waltham ward of North East Lincolnshire Council.-Business:...
into releasing a statement to worried supporters saying that Watkiss would not be given the job permanently.
Grimsby appointed Mike Newell
Mike Newell (footballer)
Michael Colin "Mike" Newell is an English football manager and former professional footballer. As a player he notably was a member of the Blackburn Rovers team which won the Premier League in 1995, as well also playing for Crewe Alexandra, Wigan Athletic, Luton Town, Leicester City, Everton,...
in October 2008 and Watkiss re-took his former position as Assistant Manager. At the end of the 2008–09 season, Watkiss was relieved of his duties at the club, and replaced by the club's Chief Scout, Brian Stein
Brian Stein
Brian Stein is a South African born former English footballer. He is the older brother of former Luton Town, Chelsea and Stoke City striker Mark Stein; another brother, Ed Stein, played for Barnet....
.
He was appointed as Development Coach by Phil Brown at Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
in July 2009.