Ben Watson (footballer)

Infobox Football biography
playername = Ben Watson


fullname = Benjamin Watson
height = height|ft=5|in=10
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1985|7|9
cityofbirth = London
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Crystal Palace
clubnumber =
position = Midfield
youthyears =
youthclubs = Crystal Palace
years = 2003–
clubs = Crystal Palace
caps(goals) = 159 (14)
pcupdate = 15:16, 4 October 2008 (UTC)
nationalyears = 2004–2006
nationalteam = England U21
nationalcaps(goals) = 002 (0)
ntupdate = 2006-11-06

Benjamin "Ben" Watson (born July 9, 1985 in London, England) is an English footballer who plays for Crystal Palace in The Championship. He is a midfielder.

Ben Watson made his debut aged 17 towards the end of the 2002–03 season, giving a good performance to keep his place in the side for the final four games of the season, slowly becoming a fixture in the Palace side over the next few seasons, surpassing 150 appearances for the Eagles before his 23rd birthday.

He has also represented England in the under-21 team.

This was all capped by being named as Palace's "Young Player of The Year" for 2007, as well as being one of six nominees for the "Carling Cup New Talent Award" in 2006, drawn up by the Football Writers' Association.

Watson, whose close resemblance to England's Prince Harry is frequently noted, attended Bacons' City Technology College between the years 1996 and 2003.

At the outset of the 2008-2009 season, Watson had one year left on his contract with Crystal Palace. The club offered him a new contract that would have made him Palace's highest-paid player, but he turned it down. He also turned down a move to Nottingham Forest but did not get the offer from QPR that he apparently was seeking. Palace manager Neil Warnock kept him on the bench for a few games, but he was soon restored to the starting team.

Club career statistics

:"(correct as of 4 October 2008)"

References

External links

* [http://www.cpfc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10323~23707,00.html Player profile] on Crystal Palace F.C. website
*soccerbase|34869|Ben Watson
* [http://www.icons.com/watson/ Ben Watson Official Website] at Icons.com