Jimmy Watson (footballer, born 1877)

James Watson (4 October 1877 – 12 June 1942) was a Scottish footballer who played at left back. He won the Football League championship with Sunderland in 1901–02 and made six appearances for Scotland.

Jimmy Watson
Personal information
Full name James Watson
Date of birth (1877-10-04)4 October 1877
Place of birth Motherwell, Scotland
Date of death 12 June 1942(1942-06-12) (aged 64)
Place of death Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Position(s) Left back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1895–1897 Burnbank Athletic
1897–1900 Clyde 35 (1)
1900–1907 Sunderland 211 (0)
1907–1910 Middlesbrough 103 (0)
1910–1911 Shildon
National team
1903–1909 Scotland 6 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Early career

Watson was born in Motherwell and played for Burnbank Athletic before joining Clyde.[1]

Sunderland

He joined Sunderland in 1899, after a trial at Sheffield United. His debut came in a 0–0 draw against Glossop North End on 24 February 1900.[2] He went on to make three league appearances that season. The following season he only missed two games as Sunderland finished runners-up, with Watson and Andy McCombie teaming up in front of goal-keeper Ned Doig. The three Scottish internationals appeared in a notable total of 109 league and cup games between February 1900 and February 1904 when McCombie was transferred to Newcastle United.[3]

He came to be considered as one of the finest full backs in the country. He possessed the intriguing nickname of "Daddy Long Legs" due to his arms and legs moving excessively when he ran.[4] In 1901–02 Watson only missed one game, as Sunderland claimed the Championship by a three-point margin over Everton.

Watson's first Scotland match came on 9 March 1903 in a 1–0 victory over Wales. In the next match, against England on 4 April, Watson was teamed in defence with his Sunderland colleagues, Doig and McCombie, resulting in a Scottish victory by 2 goals to 1.[5] He went on to play against England in each of the next two years, both matches won 1–0 by England.

Watson remained at Sunderland until 1907, when he moved to Middlesbrough. In his Sunderland career he played a total of 225 matches, never scoring.

Middlesbrough

He remained at Middlesbrough until 1910 making over 100 appearances. In March 1909 he was recalled to the Scotland team making appearances against Ireland and England.

He later emigrated to Canada.[6]

Honours
Sunderland

References
  1. John Litster (October 2012). "A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players". Scottish Football Historian magazine. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. Sunderland 0 Glossop North End 0, 24 February 1900 (Match summary)
  3. Article on Ned Doig
  4. Sunderland profile
  5. England 1 Scotland 2, 4 April 1903 (Match summary) Archived 3 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  6. Vancouver Home of 21 Famed Soccer Players, The Leader-Post, 22 February 1934
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