Joe Watson (soccer)

Joseph Watson (1 January 1952 – 30 September 2000) was an Australian footballer who played as a winger in a 24-year career extending from 1968 to 1992.

Joe Watson
Personal information
Full name Joseph Robert Watson
Date of birth (1952-01-01)1 January 1952
Place of birth Scotland
Date of death 30 September 2000(2000-09-30) (aged 48)
Position(s) Winger
Youth career
1968–1970 Nottingham Forest
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1970–1973 Dundee United 8 (0)
1973 Forfar Athletic 35 (4)
1973–1986 Hakoah/Sydney City 274[1] (30)
1988 APIA Leichhardt 12 (1)
1989 Rockdale Ilinden
1989–1990 Eastern Suburbs
1991 Waverley
1992 Cyprus United
International career
1979–1986 Australia 17 (2)
Managerial career
1991 Waverley
1992 Cyprus United
1993–1994 CYC Stanmore
1995 APIA Leichhardt
1995 Bankstown City
1997 Sydney Cosmos
1998 Eastern Suburbs
1999 Sydney Cosmos
2000 Fairfield Bulls
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

A native of Fife, Joe Watson had been playing with Nottingham Forest since the age of 16, but began his professional career at 18 in 1970 with Dundee United, participating in a handful of games before joining Forfar Athletic in 1972. After one season with Forfar, Watson emigrated to Australia in 1973 where, like another Scottish player for United, Kenny Murphy, he spent many seasons playing international football for Australia national football team, primarily Sydney City.[2]

Sydney City

In Australia he played for Sydney Hakoah. At Sydney City he played four seasons in the New South Wales State League before the club as Sydney City joined the National Soccer League in 1977. Watson played 258 National Soccer League matches, playing with the club until 1986.[2]

International career

Watson played 17 matches for Australia between 1979 and 1986. While he had retired from international football in 1985, he was honoured with being named captain in a friendly against Czechoslovakia in August 1986. He was replaced after five minutes by Angie Postecoglou.[3][4][5][6]

Coaching career

In 1991 while still playing Watson began coaching at Waverley. In a nine-year coaching career Watson coached at eight separate clubs.[2]

Illness and death

Watson was diagnosed with liver cancer, after which a day of charity matches was scheduled in August 2000 to raise funds.[7] Watson died on 30 September 2000.[2][8]

Honours

Scotland
Champion: 1971-72

Australia
Waratah Cup Champion: 1976
Champion: 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982
Runner Up: 1978, 1983, 1985
Champion: 1980

References
  1. "Joe Watson".
  2. "Australian Player Database – W". ozfootball.net. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  3. Gatt, Ray (11 August 1986). "Watson's gold prize brightens gloom for Socceroos". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 53. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  4. Schwab, Laurie (11 August 1986). "Arok left lamenting as Socceroos collapse to Czechs". The Age. p. 33. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  5. The Australian National Men's Football Team: Caps And Captains. Football Federation Australia.
  6. Schwab, Laurie (26 July 1986). "Watson ends career as cameo captain". The Age. p. 37. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  7. "Soccer celebrities come together for Joe Watson benefit". AAP Sports News (Australia). 1 August 2000. Archived from the original on 17 May 2011.
  8. "Socceroo great dies". The Sunday Telegraph. 1 October 2000. p. 99.
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