Albert Watson (footballer)

Football player infobox2
playername = Albert Watson


fullname =
nickname =
dateofbirth = August 19 1903
cityofbirth = Felling
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath = "Unknown"
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
height =
currentclub =
position = Midfielder
youthyears = -1923
youthclubs = Felling Colliery
years = 1923-1936
1936-1937
1937-1938
clubs = Blackpool
Halifax Town
Gateshead
Career
caps(goals) = 373 (22)
029 0(2)
067 (24)
469 (48)
manageryears =
managerclubs =
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =

Albert Watson (born August 19, 1903) was an English professional footballer. He played as a midfielder. He made nearly 400 league appearances for Blackpool between 1923 and 1936.

Watson signed for Blackpool from Felling Colliery F.C. in Felling, Tyne and Wear, making his debut on October 20, 1923. He scored two goals in a 5–0 victory over Coventry City at Bloomfield Road. He made a further fourteen league appearances in the 1923–24 season, scoring another three goals.

In his second season, 1924–25, he made 47 league and cup appearances, missing only two games in early March 1924.

He was an ever-present the following season, 1925–26, and continued to appear regularly over the next few seasons.

He won the Second Division championship in 1929–30 under the guidance of Harry Evans.

Watson's equalising goal against Manchester City seven minutes from the end of the final league game of the 1930–31 season was dubbed a "£10,000 goal", [Calley, Roy (1992). ', p.22] because it was said to be worth at least that amount as it secured the club's Division One survival and its short-term future with the guarantee of large attendances for the next twelve months. He also ensured himself free meals at local restaurants for the rest of his life. [Calley, Roy (1992). ', p.124]

In 1931–32, Watson scored seven league goals, including two in a 7–2 demolition of West Ham at Bloomfield Road on April 2, 1932.

In 1933–34, Sandy MacFarlane's first season as Blackpool manager, he suffered an injury that limited his league appearances to just three games. He missed the entire 1934–35 campaign, but returned for half of the 1935–36 season, his final one with the club. His last appearance in a Blackpool shirt occurred on April 13, 1936, in a single-goal defeat at Southampton. In his thirteen years at Blackpool, Watson had made 390 total appearances and had scored 22 goals.

His career winded down with a season each at Halifax Town and Gateshead. At the latter, he scored 24 league goals in 67 appearances.

Post-retirement, he became a scout for Blackpool.

Honours

Blackpool
*Second Division championship: 1929-30

References

;Specific

;General
*cite book | first=Roy | last=Calley| coauthors= | title=Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887-1992 | publisher=Breedon Books Sport | location= | year=1992 | editor= | id=ISBN 1-873626-07-X