Tom Watson (footballer born 1902)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Houston "Tom" Watson (4 October 1902–1978) was an Irish international footballer. A defender, he appeared for Cardiff City
in the 1927 FA Cup Final.
, Watson began his football career at Crusaders
. In 1925 he joined Cardiff City
where he managed to oust Scottish
international Jimmy Blair
from the side. Watson was plagued with injuries during his time at the club, mostly involving his cartilage. He managed to stay fit for most of the 1926-27 season as he helped Cardiff lift the FA Cup
but his injuries would eventually cost him his place at the club. After just one game at the start of the 1928-29 season he underwent surgery and never managed to regain his place in the side and left, along with fellow FA Cup winner Tom Sloan
, to join Linfield
in 1929.
It was at Linfield that Watson and Sloan helped the side win the Irish Cup
and completed a remarkable treble of winning the major cup in three different countries after already having won the FA Cup and the Welsh Cup
.
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
in the 1927 FA Cup Final.
Career
Born in BelfastBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Watson began his football career at Crusaders
Crusaders F.C.
Crusaders Football Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish association football club, playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1898, hails from Belfast and plays its home matches at Seaview. Club colours are red and black. The current manager is Stephen Baxter, appointed in 2005...
. In 1925 he joined Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
where he managed to oust Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
international Jimmy Blair
Jimmy Blair (footballer born 1888)
James "Jimmy" Blair was a Scottish international footballer, probably most well known for playing in the 1925 FA Cup Final for Cardiff City.His sons, Doug and Jimmy, Jr., were also professional footballers.-Career:...
from the side. Watson was plagued with injuries during his time at the club, mostly involving his cartilage. He managed to stay fit for most of the 1926-27 season as he helped Cardiff lift the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
but his injuries would eventually cost him his place at the club. After just one game at the start of the 1928-29 season he underwent surgery and never managed to regain his place in the side and left, along with fellow FA Cup winner Tom Sloan
Tom Sloan (footballer born 1900)
Thomas Milne "Tom" Sloan was an Irish international footballer. A midfielder, he appeared for Cardiff City in the 1927 FA Cup Final. He was born in Portadown....
, to join Linfield
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
in 1929.
It was at Linfield that Watson and Sloan helped the side win the Irish Cup
Irish Cup
For the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
and completed a remarkable treble of winning the major cup in three different countries after already having won the FA Cup and the Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
.