Watson: Robert (Bob)

1905-1908 (Leeds City Player Details)

Inside Forward

Born: Middlesbrough: 1883

Debut: v Bradford City (a): 02-09-1905

5’9” 12st 0lb (1908)

Watson started at South Bank in his native Middlesbrough in 1900 and signed for his hometown team in September 1901. He played his first game for them in March 1902 and also scored his first League goal in that game as Chesterfield Town were put to the sword in a 7-1 victory at Linthorpe Road. He scored five goals in sixteen League appearances and made one F.A. Cup appearance before he joined Second Division Woolwich Arsenal in June 1903. While at Arsenal, Watson scored seven goals in a friendly game against Paris, which was effectively the French National team, on 5th December 1904 at Plumstead in a 26-1 victory. Watson made nine League and one F.A. Cup appearance and scored once in the League before he joined newly-elected Second Division Leeds City in July 1905. He soon became a regular and crowd favourite after being Inside Right in City’s first-ever Football League game at Valley Parade. He had three good seasons at Elland Road scoring twenty-one times in eighty-three League games and three more in seven F.A. Cup ties. He left LeedsCity and went into Non-League football joining Rochdale in April 1908 and Exeter City, of the Southern League later in the year, where he became the club’s first professional captain. He scored Twenty-five goals in all games in one hundred and thirty-seven appearances, before joining Stalybridge Celtic in the 1912 close season. He went on to joined Rochdale in 1913 before finishing his career with spells at South Liverpool and Chorley in 1914.