Herbert Watson (footballer) explained

Herbert Watson
Fullname:Herbert Leonard Watson[1]
Birth Date:20 November 1908
Birth Place:Springwell Village, England
Death Date:[2]
Death Place:Isleworth, England
Height:5ft 9+1/2in
Position:Right half
Youthclubs1:Pelton Fell
Youthyears2:1926–1929
Youthclubs2:Middlesbrough
Years1:1929–1932
Clubs1:Middlesbrough
Caps1:13
Goals1:1
Years2:1932–1936
Clubs2:Brentford
Caps2:109
Goals2:1
Years3:1936–1937
Clubs3:Bristol Rovers
Caps3:19
Goals3:0

Herbert Leonard Watson (20 November 1908 – 13 October 1939) was an English professional footballer who played in the Football League for Middlesbrough, Brentford and Bristol Rovers. A right half, he is best remembered for his time with Brentford, for whom he made over 100 appearances.

Playing career

Middlesbrough

Watson began his career at non-League club Pelton Fell and joined Second Division club Middlesbrough in May 1926.[3] He made his debut in a 4–1 First Division victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Ayresome Park on 7 December 1929. Watson made semi-regular appearances for the club through to the end of the 1929–30 season and scored his first goal for the club in a 5–1 win over Birmingham City on 8 February 1930. He made 13 appearances during the campaign.[4] Watson failed to make an appearance during the 1930–31 season and made his first appearance in nearly two years when he played in a 1–1 draw with Aston Villa on 26 December 1931. He made one further appearance during the 1931–32 season and departed Middlesbrough at the end of the campaign, having made just 15 appearances during his six years with the club.

Brentford

Watson signed for Third Division South club Brentford in May 1932, joining former Middlesbrough teammates Jack Holliday and Billy Scott at Griffin Park. He led the club to promotion to the Second Division as captain in the 1932–33 season and to the First Division for the first time in the club's history in 1935. After the signing of Dai Richards, Watson lost his place in the team and managed just 13 appearances in the First Division during the 1935–36 season (in which Brentford secured their highest-ever league placing of fifth).[5] He departed the club at the end of the campaign, having made 109 appearances and scored one goal during his four years with the club.

Bristol Rovers

Watson and Brentford teammates James Raven and Les Sullivan dropped back down to the Third Division South to join Bristol Rovers during the 1936 off-season.[6] He made 19 appearances during the 1936–37 season before retiring from football.[7]

Personal life

After retiring from football, Watson ran a pub in Brentford.[8]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Middlesbrough1929–30First Division11120131
1931–32200020
Total13120151
Brentford1932–33Third Division South34000340
1933–34Second Division35100351
1934–3527000270
1935–36First Division13000130
Total1091001091
Bristol Rovers1936–37Third Division South19000190
Career total1412201432

Honours

Brentford

1934–35

1932–33

Notes and References

  1. Book: Joyce, Michael . Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939 . Tony Brown . 2012 . 978-1905891610 . Nottingham . 303.
  2. Web site: Football League Players Index . 19 September 2019 . Bristol Rovers Memorabilia . 27 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210427173547/http://bristolroversmemorabilia.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/1/4/1214045/football_league_players_index_1920-19..xls . dead .
  3. Web site: 7 December 1929 . Middlesbrough v Sheffield Wednesday, 07 December 1929 – 11v11 match report . 3 August 2014 . 11v11.com.
  4. Web site: Herbert Watson . 3 August 2014 . 11v11.com.
  5. Book: 100 Years Of Brentford . Brentford FC . 1989 . 0951526200 . White . Eric . 372–373.
  6. Book: Haynes, Graham . Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 . Coumbe . Frank . Yore Publications . 2006 . 978-0955294914 . 166.
  7. Web site: Chapman . Mark . Boro Connections: Five players that shaped Brentford football Club's history . 22 May 2016 . www.brentfordfc.co.uk.
  8. Web site: V, W, X, Y and Z . 16 March 2023 . The Bristol Rovers History Group . en.