.gif)
Andy Watson (English footballer)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Anthony "Andy" Watson (born 1 April 1967 in Leeds
, West Yorkshire
) is an English
former professional football
er. He played as a striker
in a career spanning twelve years, and made over 300 league appearances.
Watson began his career in his native Yorkshire with Harrogate Town
in 1987. After just a year he was signed by Halifax Town
, then under the guidance of Billy Ayre
.
After two years at the Shay
, Watson joined Swansea City in 1990 for £40,000. With only a handful of games for the Swans to his name, he moved north the following year to Carlisle United
. It was with the Cumbrians that he established his best goals average, scoring 22 times in 56 league appearances.
In 1993, Watson was signed for ₤55,000 by Blackpool
, where he was reunited with Billy Ayre. He was purchased with funds raised via the club's "Buy A Player" match, a scheme by which money from gate receipts
was given to the manager for spending in the transfer market. The match in question was Blackpool v. Rotherham United
on 16 January 1993, which drew a crowd of 6,144.
Watson scored his first goals for Blackpool in a 3–3 draw with Preston North End
in the West Lancashire derby
.
In six years at Bloomfield Road
, Watson formed a successful partnership with Tony Ellis
and scored 43 goals in League 115 appearances.
Gary Megson
, who succeeded Sam Allardyce
as Blackpool manager in 1996, decided Watson was surplus to requirements and sold him to Walsall
for £60,000. He brought his career to a close at Doncaster Rovers
.
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er. He played as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
in a career spanning twelve years, and made over 300 league appearances.
Watson began his career in his native Yorkshire with Harrogate Town
Harrogate Town F.C.
Harrogate Town Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. The club was founded in 1914 and currently competes in the Conference North division of the Football Conference.-History:...
in 1987. After just a year he was signed by Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...
, then under the guidance of Billy Ayre
Billy Ayre
William "Billy" Ayre was an English footballer who played for three different clubs in a sixteen-year professional career, making over three hundred League appearances in the process. After retiring from the playing side of the game, he became a manager, and took the helm at five different clubs...
.
After two years at the Shay
The Shay
The Shay is a multi-use sports stadium in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England near Shaw Hill. FC Halifax Town and Halifax both play their home games at the Shay....
, Watson joined Swansea City in 1990 for £40,000. With only a handful of games for the Swans to his name, he moved north the following year to Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
. It was with the Cumbrians that he established his best goals average, scoring 22 times in 56 league appearances.
In 1993, Watson was signed for ₤55,000 by Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, where he was reunited with Billy Ayre. He was purchased with funds raised via the club's "Buy A Player" match, a scheme by which money from gate receipts
Gate receipts
Gate receipts is the sum of money taken at a sporting venue for the sale of tickets.Traditionally, gate receipts were largely or entirely taken in cash. Today, many sporting venues will operate a season ticket scheme, which will mean they allocate a proportion of season ticket moneys when...
was given to the manager for spending in the transfer market. The match in question was Blackpool v. Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
on 16 January 1993, which drew a crowd of 6,144.
Watson scored his first goals for Blackpool in a 3–3 draw with Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
in the West Lancashire derby
West Lancashire derby
The West Lancashire derby is a local derby in English football, between Lancashire neighbours Blackpool F.C. and Preston North End F.C. The derby has taken place across all four tiers of the Football League, but not yet in the Premier League...
.
In six years at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
, Watson formed a successful partnership with Tony Ellis
Tony Ellis
Anthony Joseph "Tony" Ellis is an English former professional footballer who commanded combined transfer fees of nearly £750,000 and scored 185 league goals in 518 league games during a sixteen-year Football League career....
and scored 43 goals in League 115 appearances.
Gary Megson
Gary Megson
Gary John Megson is an English former football player and is currently manager of Sheffield Wednesday.He has previously managed Norwich City, Blackpool, Stockport County, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Nottingham Forest, Leicester City and Bolton Wanderers...
, who succeeded Sam Allardyce
Sam Allardyce
Samuel "Sam" Allardyce , nicknamed "Big Sam", is an English football manager and former professional player. In June 2011 he was appointed as manager of West Ham United....
as Blackpool manager in 1996, decided Watson was surplus to requirements and sold him to Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
for £60,000. He brought his career to a close at Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
.