Joe Watson (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Watson (1 January 1952 – 30 September 2000) was an Australia
n footballer who played as a winger in a 24-year career extending from 1968 to 1992.
, 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 on season with Forfar, Watson immigrated 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
.
. 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.
.
and a day of charity matches was scheduled in August 2000 to raise funds for the former Australian international. Watson died on 30 September 2000.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n footballer who played as a winger in a 24-year career extending from 1968 to 1992.
Playing career
A native of FifeFife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
, 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
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
, participating in a handful of games before joining Forfar Athletic
Forfar Athletic F.C.
Forfar Athletic Football Club are a Scottish semi-professional football club from the town of Forfar, Angus. They are members of the Scottish Football League and currently play in the Second Division...
in 1972. After on season with Forfar, Watson immigrated to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1973 where, like another Scottish player for United, Kenny Murphy
Kenny Murphy
Kenneth Murphy is a Scottish former footballer who played international football for Australia.-Career:Murphy signed for Dundee United as a youngster but never played for the first team. Murphy moved onto to Forfar Athletic before migrating to Australia. Here, he played for a number of clubs, also...
, he spent many seasons playing international football for Australia national football team, primarily Sydney City
Sydney City Soccer Club
Sydney City Soccer Club is a football club from Sydney, Australia.The club was formed in 1939 as Sydney Hakoah by members of the Sydney Jewish community. They played between 1977 and 1986 in the National Soccer League as Eastern Suburbs and Sydney City...
.
Sydney City
In Australia he played for Sydney HakoahSydney City Soccer Club
Sydney City Soccer Club is a football club from Sydney, Australia.The club was formed in 1939 as Sydney Hakoah by members of the Sydney Jewish community. They played between 1977 and 1986 in the National Soccer League as Eastern Suburbs and Sydney City...
. 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.
International career
Watson played 17 matches for Australia between 1979 and 1986. He captained the team once in a friendly against CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
.
Coaching career
In 1991 while still playing Watson began coaching at Waverley. In a nine year coaching career Watson coached at eight separate clubs.Illness and death
Joe Watson was diagnosed with liver cancerLiver cancer
Liver tumors or hepatic tumors are tumors or growths on or in the liver . Several distinct types of tumors can develop in the liver because the liver is made up of various cell types. These growths can be benign or malignant...
and a day of charity matches was scheduled in August 2000 to raise funds for the former Australian international. Watson died on 30 September 2000.
Honours
- National Soccer LeagueNational Soccer LeagueThe National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
Player of the Year: 1
-
- 1983National Soccer League 1983The National Soccer League 1983 season was the seventh season of the National Soccer League in Australia. The champions were St George, winning the title on the last day of the season from Sydney City SC.-League table:-Individual awards:...
- National Grand FinalNational Soccer LeagueThe National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
(Runner-up): 1
- National Grand Final
- 1985
- 1983