Community hub
Recent from talks
Contribute something
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Dave Watson
View on Wikipedia |
David Watson (born 20 November 1961) is an English football manager and former professional player.
Key Information
As a player, he was a centre-back from 1980 to 2001. He played his entire career for Norwich City and Everton. With the Toffees he played in the Premier League and was part of their victorious FA Cup winning team of 1995. He was capped 12 appearances for the England national team.
In 1997, Watson had a spell in caretaker charge of Everton although he would not retire for another four years, in which he moved into coaching and was appointed first team manager at Tranmere Rovers for the 2001–2002 season. He later spent time coaching in Wigan Athletic's youth academy before taking up a similar role with Newcastle United.
Club career
[edit]Norwich City
[edit]Watson played for the Liverpool reserves before joining Norwich City for £50,000 on 29 November 1980. He made his league debut in the local derby against Ipswich Town on Boxing Day that year. He played 18 league games in the 1980–81 First Division campaign and scored three goals, but was unable to prevent the Canaries from sliding into the Second Division.
Over the next five years, Watson was rarely absent from the Norwich side and helped them win promotion from the Second Division in the 1981–82 season. He eventually made 256 appearances for Norwich, and as club captain lifted the League Cup in 1985. They were demoted to the Second Division that year, but won promotion the following year as champions.
Everton
[edit]Watson moved on to play for Everton for £900,000 on 22 August 1986 after six years at Norwich.[2] He remained at Goodison Park for 15 years, his first game for them coming on 23 August 1986 when they won 2–0 at home to Nottingham Forest on the opening day of the league season. He helped them win the league title in their first season, and also helped them reach the FA Cup final in 1989, where they lost 3–2 to local rivals Liverpool in extra time.[2]
Watson was an integral part of the Everton side throughout the 1990s, and following the departure of goalkeeper Neville Southall in 1998 he became the club's oldest and longest serving player. However, the 1990s were a generally unsuccessful decade for Everton after the glories of the 1980s. They did finish sixth in 1990 after topping the table earlier in 1990–91, but then endured four seasons of mid table finishes, and avoided relegation in 1994 on the last day of the season. Watson got his hands on some silverware for one final time in 1995 when he captained Everton to a surprise 1–0 win over Manchester United in the FA Cup final – by now he was one of the last players remaining from Everton's last major trophy win (the league title) eight years earlier. He was man of the match for that game.[3]
Watson captained Everton to sixth place in 1996, but the following season they were struggling again and manager Joe Royle resigned in March 1997, with Watson taking over as manager for the final few weeks of the season and overseeing Everton's Premier League survival as they finished 15th. Howard Kendall then took over as manager for the third time, though his return to Goodison Park lasted just one season before he was replaced by Walter Smith.
Even at the age of 37, Watson was a regular in the Everton side as captain, playing 22 times in the 1998–99 season though by 1999–2000 it was obvious that he was nearing the end of his playing career as he played just seven times all season, before calling time on 15 years at Everton and becoming manager of Tranmere Rovers on 4 May 2001.[4] His final game for Everton was a 2–2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur on 15 January 2000.[5]
International career
[edit]Watson was capped 12 times at senior level for England. His first cap came on 10 June 1984 in a 2–0 friendly win over Brazil. By the time of his transfer from Norwich to Everton two years later, he had been capped six times for England. He won a further six England caps, bringing his tally to 12 by the time he made his final England appearance on 18 June 1988 in England's 3–1 European Championship defeat by the Soviet Union in 1988.[6]
Coaching and management career
[edit]Watson was appointed Everton manager in March 1997 for the remainder of the 1996–97 season following the resignation of Joe Royle, but reverted to his playing duties in June 1997 when Howard Kendall was appointed manager for the third and final time. Watson's first-team opportunities gradually faded, but he made one appearance for Everton during the 2000–01 season, before finally announcing his retirement as a player at the age of 39, and moving into management with Tranmere Rovers. His key objective at Tranmere was to regain their Division One status which had just been lost, but he failed to achieve that goal and was sacked after just one season at the helm. He later became a scout for Birmingham City before joining Wigan Athletic as their youth-team coach on 23 April 2008.
In 2002, Watson was voted into the Norwich City F.C. Hall of Fame. Watson was appointed as Under 18 Coach at Newcastle United on 7 November 2011.[7]
On 28 January 2015, Watson was brought into John Carver's backroom team at Newcastle United for the remaining 16 games of the 2014–15 season.
Honours
[edit]Norwich City
Everton
Individual
- Norwich City Player of the Year: 1983[8]
- FA Cup Final Man of the Match: 1995
- Norwich City Hall of Fame Inductee[9]
Managerial statistics
[edit]| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Everton | 1 April 1997 | 31 May 1997 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 14.29 |
| Tranmere Rovers | 4 May 2001 | 1 August 2002 | 55 | 22 | 15 | 18 | 40.00 |
| Career Total | 62 | 23 | 18 | 21 | 37.10 | ||
References
[edit]- ^ Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 162. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
- ^ a b "Football photographic encyclopedia, footballer, world cup, champions league, football championship, olympic games & hero images by sporting-heroes.net".
- ^ "FA Cup Final 1995". Archived from the original on 11 March 2007. Retrieved 20 February 2007.
- ^ "RTÉ Sport: Watson appointed new Tranmere boss". RTÉ.ie. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
- ^ "Games played by Dave Watson in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
- ^ "Watson, Dave (1961) - English Caps 1984-88 - England".
- ^ "Dave Watson named new youth coach". ChronicleLive. ncjMedia. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
- ^ "Player of the Season 1967–2007". canaries.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2007.
- ^ "Canary stats – Norwich City Hall of Fame". Eastern Daily Press. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 9 October 2007.
External links
[edit]
Dave Watson
View on GrokipediaEarly life
Youth career at Liverpool
David Watson was born on 20 November 1961 in Liverpool, England.[7] Watson joined Liverpool FC as a youth apprentice towards the end of his school days in the late 1970s, around 1978.[8] By the age of 16 or 17, he had advanced to the club's reserves, where he featured in approximately 12 matches, including a notable game against Aston Villa's reserves that attracted attention from scouts.[9] Watson was unable to break into Liverpool's first team, overshadowed by established defenders such as Alan Hansen and Phil Thompson. This intense competition led to his departure from the club in late 1980, as he sought greater chances for first-team football elsewhere.[9]Move to Norwich City
In late November 1980, at the age of 19, Dave Watson signed for Norwich City from Liverpool's youth setup for a transfer fee of £50,000. He had been playing for Liverpool's reserves when Norwich manager Ken Brown spotted his potential during a match against Aston Villa's reserves, leading to the deal after a conversation with Liverpool manager Bob Paisley.[9] Upon joining, Watson initially served as a backup defender in the Second Division, making his league debut on 26 December 1980 in a 2-0 defeat away to Ipswich Town.[10] He appeared in 18 league games that 1980-81 season, often as a substitute or rotation option behind established centre-backs.[11] By the 1981-82 season, Watson had established himself as a regular starter, rarely missing matches and contributing defensively to Norwich's promotion push from the Second Division, which they achieved by finishing third.[12] His consistent performances that year triggered an additional £50,000 payment to Liverpool after reaching 25 appearances.[9] The move from Merseyside to East Anglia presented initial challenges for Watson, including homesickness due to the significant distance from his family and friends; he later recalled concerns about the "fair old hike" home, which prevented routine weekend returns for social outings with mates.[9] Despite this, he adapted with support from Brown, who provided guidance and monitored his progress, while Watson focused on physical conditioning through gym work and header practice.[9] This period laid the foundation for his long-term role at the club, where he would later serve as captain.[9]Club career
Early career
David Vernon Watson began his professional career with Notts County in 1966, where he played as a striker and made 25 league appearances, scoring 1 goal, over two seasons in the Fourth Division.[2] In 1967, he moved to Rotherham United in a player exchange deal worth £1,000 plus Keith Pring, playing three seasons primarily in the Third Division. Watson made 121 league appearances and scored 19 goals for the Millers, helping in relegation battles, including the 1967–68 season. He was voted Rotherham United's Player of the Century in August 2025. In December 1970, he transferred to Sunderland for £100,000.[2][13]Sunderland
Watson joined Sunderland in December 1970 for £100,000 and initially played as a centre forward before transitioning to centre back under manager Bob Stokoe in 1972. Over five seasons, he made 177 appearances and scored 27 goals. He played a pivotal role in their 1973 FA Cup victory, defeating Leeds United 1–0 in the final—the club's first major trophy in 58 years. Sunderland narrowly missed promotion in 1973–74 and 1974–75, finishing second by two points each time. Watson is regarded as one of Sunderland's greatest defenders.[2][1]Manchester City
In the summer of 1975, Watson signed for Manchester City for £175,000 (with Jeff Clarke moving to Sunderland). He made 188 appearances and scored 6 goals during his four-year stint from 1975 to 1979. Watson formed a strong defensive partnership with Mike Doyle and contributed to the 1976 League Cup triumph, winning 2–1 against Newcastle United in the final. The team missed the league title by one point in 1976–77. His last game for City was a 2–3 loss to Aston Villa on 15 May 1979.[1]Later career
In June 1979, Watson joined Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga, but his stay was brief and troubled. He made 2 appearances, was sent off in his second match against 1860 Munich on 18 August 1979, resulting in an eight-week ban by the German FA and a fine from the club. He left after refusing to play an away match due to injury.[2] Returning to England in October 1979, Watson signed for Southampton for £200,000. He made 73 appearances and scored 7 goals over two and a half seasons, contributing to mid-table finishes, including 8th in 1979–80 and 6th in 1980–81. He was dropped in 1981–82 and joined Stoke City in January 1982.[2] At Stoke City, Watson played 59 games and scored 5 goals from January 1982 to the end of the 1982–83 season, helping avoid relegation in 1981–82 (24 appearances) and finishing 13th in 1982–83 (35 appearances). In the summer of 1983, he played for Vancouver Whitecaps in the North American Soccer League, making 26 appearances and scoring 3 goals.[2] Watson then had a loan spell at Derby County in the 1983–84 season, making 34 appearances and scoring 1 goal. He returned to Notts County for the 1984–85 season (25 appearances, 1 goal) before finishing his career at non-league Kettering Town in 1985–86 (10 appearances, 3 goals). He retired in 1986 after over 600 senior appearances.[2]International career
Watson earned 65 caps for the England national team as a central defender between 1974 and 1982, during which he scored four goals.[2] He made his debut on 3 April 1974, starting in a 0–0 friendly draw against Portugal in Lisbon.[2] His first goal came on 7 February 1979 in a 4–0 home win over Northern Ireland in a UEFA European Championship qualifier. He added further goals against Northern Ireland on 19 May 1979 (2–0 away win, British Home Championship), and twice against Bulgaria—in a 3–0 away win on 6 June 1979 and a 2–0 home win on 22 November 1979—both in European Championship qualifiers.[2] Watson captained England on three occasions, with his first captaincy in a 1982 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Romania on 29 April 1981.[14] He featured in all three of England's group stage matches at UEFA Euro 1980 in Italy (against Belgium, Italy, and Spain), but the team did not advance beyond the group. Prior to the tournament, he earned his 50th cap in a 3–1 friendly victory over Argentina on 13 May 1980 at Wembley Stadium.[15] Despite his extensive international experience, Watson was not selected for the 1982 FIFA World Cup squad, making him the most-capped England player never to appear in a World Cup finals tournament. His final appearance was on 2 June 1982 in a 1–1 friendly draw with Iceland in Reykjavík.[2]Managerial and coaching career
David Watson did not pursue a career in management or coaching following his retirement from playing in 1987.Personal life
Family and residence
Dave Watson has been married to Penny Watson since 1969. The couple has three children, including a son, Roger, who collaborated with his father for 25 years following Watson's retirement from playing, and a daughter, Gemma Jordan. Gemma, an Emmy-winning filmmaker, has been involved in producing a documentary on her father's life, career, and battle with dementia, including launching a crowdfunding campaign in October 2024 to fund its completion.[16][17][18] The family resides in Nottingham, where Watson was born. Penny Watson has been actively involved in dementia awareness and support for former athletes, speaking at local events such as a research gathering at Trent Bridge in October 2024. She and daughter Gemma serve as ambassadors for the charity Head for Change, which addresses the dementia crisis in football, advocating for brain health research, better medical support, and policy changes based on their experiences.[19][20] Watson's family has provided crucial support throughout his career and during his health challenges. No major public incidents beyond dementia advocacy have been noted.Post-retirement activities
After retiring as a player in 1987, Watson pursued business ventures, including sport-themed publications, and remained connected to football through occasional engagements. In February 2020, at age 73, Watson was diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease, probable Alzheimer's and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which he and his family attribute to repeated head impacts from heading the ball during his career. He has become an advocate for player welfare, publicly sharing his experiences to raise awareness about brain health in football. As of November 2025, at age 79, Watson continues a legal battle through an employment tribunal to have his condition recognized as an industrial injury related to his profession, following a partial victory in 2024.[3][4][21] Watson attends the Notts County Memory Club monthly with other former players affected by dementia and participates in social activities, including walks and exercise, to maintain his well-being. In October 2024, he was invited to Wembley to mark 50 years since his England debut. His daughter's documentary project further highlights these issues.[22]Honours
Sunderland
- FA Cup: 1972–73[1]
Manchester City
- EFL Cup: 1975–76[1]
England
- British Home Championship: 1973–74 (shared), 1974–75, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1981–82[2]
Individual
- PFA Team of the Year (Second Division): 1973–74, 1974–75
- PFA Team of the Year (First Division): 1978–79, 1979–80[2]