Tom Watson (footballer born 1870)
Encyclopedia
Thomas "Tom" Watson was an English
footballer who played in the Football League
for Small Heath
.
Watson was born in the Yardley Wood
district of Birmingham
. He grew up to be an all-round athlete, and was actively involved in organising local athletics meetings. He played for Small Heath
as an amateur
, making two appearances in the First Division
in the 1894–95 season. Watson's debut came on 2 March 1895, deputising for regular goalkeeper Charles Partridge
in a home game against Blackburn Rovers
which finished as a 1–1 draw. In the next, and his last, game Small Heath conceded five goals to Derby County
.
Watson joined Birmingham City Police
in 1895, rising to the rank of sergeant
, played for their football team, and often used to police Small Heath's matches. He died in Birmingham
in 1902.
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...
footballer who played in 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...
for Small Heath
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...
.
Watson was born in the Yardley Wood
Yardley Wood
Yardley Wood is an area of Birmingham, United Kingdom, and is located within the parliamentary constituency of Hall Green. The area is served by Yardley Wood railway station, and offers amenities including multiple schools, as well as a depot run by National Express West Midlands.Nearby...
district of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. He grew up to be an all-round athlete, and was actively involved in organising local athletics meetings. He played for Small Heath
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...
as an amateur
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
, making two appearances in the First Division
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....
in the 1894–95 season. Watson's debut came on 2 March 1895, deputising for regular goalkeeper Charles Partridge
Charles Partridge
Charles Partridge was an English professional footballer who made 29 appearances in the Football League playing for Small Heath. He played as a goalkeeper....
in a home game against Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
which finished as a 1–1 draw. In the next, and his last, game Small Heath conceded five goals to Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
.
Watson joined Birmingham City Police
Birmingham City Police
Birmingham City Police was a police force responsible for policing the city of Birmingham in the West Midlands of England until 1974, when it was amalgamated under the Local Government Act 1972 with West Midlands Constabulary and parts of other forces to form the West Midlands Police. The police...
in 1895, rising to the rank of sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
, played for their football team, and often used to police Small Heath's matches. He died in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
in 1902.