Hamish Watson (footballer)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Hamish Watson

| image = Hamish Watson 2016.jpg

| caption = Watson playing for Wellington Phoenix in 2016

| fullname = Hamish John Sanders Watson{{cite web |url=http://www.fifadata.com/document/FWYC/2013/pdf/FWYC_2013_SquadLists.pdf |title=FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013 List of Players: New Zealand |publisher=FIFA |page=16 |date=23 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627043508/http://www.fifadata.com/document/FWYC/2013/pdf/FWYC_2013_SquadLists.pdf |archive-date=27 June 2013 |url-status=dead}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|04|17|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Lower Hutt, New Zealand

| height = {{convert|1.88|m|abbr=on}}{{cite news | url=http://tw.org.nz/the-team/showPlayer/136?comp_id=9 | work=Team Wellington | title=Player Profile | accessdate=30 October 2014 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031123132/http://tw.org.nz/the-team/showPlayer/136?comp_id=9 | archivedate=31 October 2014 }}

| position = Centre forward

| currentclub = Wellington Olympic

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 1997–2011

| youthclubs1 = Lower Hutt City

| years1 = 2011–2012

| caps1 = 13

| goals1 = 6

| clubs1 = Hawke's Bay United

| years2 = 2012–2013

| caps2 = 13

| goals2 = 8

| clubs2 = Team Wellington

| years3 = 2013

| caps3 = 0

| goals3 = 0

| clubs3 = → Wellington Phoenix (loan)

| years4 = 2013–2014

| caps4 = 11

| goals4 = 4

| clubs4 = Team Wellington

| years5 = 2013–2014

| caps5 = 2

| goals5 = 0

| clubs5 = Wellington Phoenix

| years6 = 2014–2015

| caps6 = 4

| goals6 = 0

| clubs6 = Grimsby Town

| years7 = 2014–2015

| caps7 = 4

| goals7 = 0

| clubs7 = → Gainsborough Trinity (loan)

| years8 = 2015–2016

| caps8 = 11

| goals8 = 6

| clubs8 = Hawke's Bay United

| years9 = 2015–2018

| caps9 = 31

| goals9 = 6

| clubs9 = Wellington Phoenix

| years10 = 2016–2018

| caps10 = 4

| goals10 = 2

| clubs10 = Wellington Phoenix Reserves

| years11 = 2018–2019

| caps11 = 12

| goals11 = 8

| clubs11 = Team Wellington

| years12 = 2019

| caps12 = 28

| goals12 = 14

| clubs12 = Melbourne Knights

| years13 = 2019–2021

| caps13 = 21

| goals13 = 17

| clubs13 = Team Wellington

| years14 = 2021

| caps14 = 5

| goals14 = 5

| clubs14 = Wellington Olympic

| years15 = 2021–2022

| caps15 = 9

| goals15 = 4

| clubs15 = Dandenong Thunder

| clubs16 = Miramar Rangers

| years16 = 2022

| caps16 = 22

| goals16 = 21

| clubs17 = Wellington Olympic

| years17 = 2023–

| caps17 = 45

| goals17 = 34

| nationalyears1 = 2013

| nationalcaps1 = 5

| nationalgoals1 = 2

| nationalteam1 = New Zealand U-20

| pcupdate = 25 November 2024

| ntupdate = 27 March 2014

}}

Hamish John Sanders Watson (born 17 April 1993) is a New Zealand footballer who plays as a centre forward for Wellington Olympic.

He has previously played for Lower Hutt City, Hawke's Bay United, Grimsby Town, Wellington Phoenix and Team Wellington.{{cite web|title=Hamish signs for Team Wellington|url=https://twitter.com/TeamWelly/status/956254153445003264|via=Twitter|accessdate=25 January 2018}}{{cite news|last1=Rollo|first1=Phillip|last2=Voerman|first2=Andrew|title=Team Wellington lands former Phoenix striker Hamish Watson as squads shuffle their pack|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/domestic/100922929/team-wellington-lands-former-phoenix-striker-hamish-watson-as-squads-shuffle-their-pack|accessdate=28 January 2018|publisher=Stuff|location=New Zealand|date=26 January 2018}} He has also been capped by the New Zealand U-20 side.

Career

Watson started his footballing career at Lower Hutt City at the age of 4 before moving onto the Phoenix school of excellence and making 13 appearances with Team Wellington.{{cite news | url=http://www.tw.org.nz/news/?nid=724&start=6 | work=Team Wellington | title=Hamish Watson signs for Wellington Phoenix | date=6 February 2014 | accessdate=31 October 2014 | url-status=bot: unknown | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219105800/http://www.tw.org.nz/news/?nid=724&start=6 | archivedate=19 December 2014 }} On 10 October 2013 he signed a one-week deal with Wellington Phoenix as a loan cover for the internationals.{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11138056 | newspaper=The New Zealand Herald | title=Phoenix sign four players on short deals | date=10 October 2014 | accessdate=31 October 2014}} On 5 February 2014 he signed for A-league side Wellington Phoenix for the remainder on the 2013–14 season.{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/phoenix/9689610/Hamish-Watson-signs-to-Phoenix | newspaper=The Dominion Post|location=Wellington | title=Hamish Watson signs to Phoenix | date=5 February 2014 | accessdate=11 July 2014}}

On 23 April 2014 he made his debut in the Central Premier League with Wairarapa United.{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wairarapa-times-age/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503412&objectid=11242661 | newspaper=The Wairarapa Times-Age | title=Phoenix striker set for debut | date=23 April 2014 | accessdate=31 October 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=194040950&client=1-4205-112009-282649-20106707 | publisher=Fox Sports Pulse | title=Player Profile – Wairarapa United | accessdate=31 October 2014}}

On 25 October 2014 Watson moved to England, training with Conference Premier side Grimsby Town to try earn a contract with the club.{{cite news | url=http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/New-Zealand-striker-Hamish-Watson-training/story-23512558-detail/story.html | newspaper=Grimsby Telegraph | title=New Zealand striker Hamish Watson has been training with Grimsby Town | date=25 October 2014 | accessdate=30 October 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026014801/http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/New-Zealand-striker-Hamish-Watson-training/story-23512558-detail/story.html | archive-date=26 October 2014 | url-status=dead }} On 20 November 2014 Watson received international clearance, and on the verge of signing for Grimsby Town,{{cite news | url=http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/New-Zealand-striker-Hamish-Watson-receives/story-24572242-detail/story.html | newspaper=Grimsby Telegraph | title=New Zealand striker Hamish Watson receives international clearance | date=20 November 2014 | accessdate=20 November 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129045356/http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/New-Zealand-striker-Hamish-Watson-receives/story-24572242-detail/story.html | archive-date=29 November 2014 | url-status=dead }} he signed a short-term contract until January with the club later on that day.{{cite news | url=http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/DEAL-Grimsby-Town-sign-New-Zealand-striker-Hamish/story-24573611-detail/story.html | newspaper=Grimsby Telegraph | title=Grimsby Town sign New Zealand striker Hamish Watson | date=20 November 2014 | accessdate=20 November 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129050902/http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/DEAL-Grimsby-Town-sign-New-Zealand-striker-Hamish/story-24573611-detail/story.html | archive-date=29 November 2014 | url-status=dead }} On 26 February 2015, having made 4 brief substitute appearances, Watson joined Conference North side Gainsborough Trinity on a one-month loan deal, to help him develop.{{cite news|url=http://nonleague.pitchero.com/news/watson-loaned-to-trinity-37735/ | publisher=Pitchero | title=Watson Loaned To Trinity | date=26 February 2015 | accessdate=28 February 2015}} On 20 May 2015, Watson was released by Grimsby Town.{{cite news | url=http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/Grimsby-Town-staying-going-players-learn-fate/story-26533512-detail/story.html | newspaper=Grimsby Telegraph | title=Grimsby Town: Who is staying & who is going as players learn their fate | date=20 May 2015 | accessdate=5 July 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714020320/http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/Grimsby-Town-staying-going-players-learn-fate/story-26533512-detail/story.html | archive-date=14 July 2015 | url-status=dead }}

On 30 June 2015, Watson rejoined Central Premier League side Wairarapa United.{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wairarapa-times-age/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503412&objectid=11473210 | newspaper=The Wairarapa Times-Age | title=Watson back as United go for title bid | date=30 June 2015 | accessdate=5 July 2015}}

In February 2016, Watson joined Wellington Phoenix as an injury replacement for Roy Krishna.{{cite web|url=http://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/article/watson-joins-phoenix-as-injury-replacement/awfpwrw8wevz1skuzonm8i00v|title=Watson Joins Phoenix As Injury Replacement|publisher=Wellington Phoenix|date=10 February 2016|access-date=22 April 2016|archive-date=16 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216193646/http://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/article/watson-joins-phoenix-as-injury-replacement/awfpwrw8wevz1skuzonm8i00v|url-status=dead}} Following a successful spell, at the end of the season Watson signed a year long professional contract with the club.{{cite web|url=http://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/article/watson-gets-the-birthday-present-he-craved/ddfnu8rfuaoc10afe5izecwt6|title=Watson Gets The Birthday Present He Craved|publisher=Wellington Phoenix|first=Russell|last=Gray|date=19 April 2016|access-date=22 April 2016|archive-date=29 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129070105/http://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/article/watson-gets-the-birthday-present-he-craved/ddfnu8rfuaoc10afe5izecwt6|url-status=dead}}

On 24 January 2018, Watson agreed to part ways with Wellington Phoenix after seeing limited game time with the team.{{cite news|title=Wellington Phoenix release fringe striker Hamish Watson|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/100843426/wellington-phoenix-release-fringe-striker-hamish-watson|publisher=Stuff|location=New Zealand|date=24 January 2018}}

After another spell with Team Wellington, Watson moved to Australia, signing for National Premier Leagues Victoria side Melbourne Knights.{{Cite web|url=http://www.melbourneknights.com.au/news/club-news/watson-rounds-out-deadline-day-action/|title=Watson rounds out deadline day action|date=2019-02-07|website=Melbourne Knights FC|access-date=2019-06-13}} On 12 June 2019 Watson scored a hat-trick against rivals South Melbourne FC in the last round of the Victorian 2019 FFA Cup preliminary rounds, sending his side through to the national stage of the cup.{{Cite web|url=https://dailyfootballshow.com/knights-power-past-south-to-book-place-in-ffa-cup-round-of-32/,%20https://dailyfootballshow.com/?amp=1|title=Knights power past South to book place in FFA Cup Round of 32 {{!}} Daily Football Show|last=Lynch|first=Joey|access-date=2019-06-13}}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

International career

Watson has represented New Zealand at the Under-20 level. They performed in the OFC U-20 Championship Tournament in Lautoka, Fiji in 2013, with every game being played at the Churchull Park Stadium, eventually finishing champions in the tournament that also featured Fiji the hosts, New Caledonia under 21, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.{{cite news | url=http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/bae74b6a-ef90-490e-bb7a-3ee7dd6ab321/language/en-US/Default.aspx | publisher=Oceania Football Confederation | title=Sides learn passage to World Cup | date=8 February 2013 | accessdate=30 October 2014 | url-status=bot: unknown | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130214071551/http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/bae74b6a-ef90-490e-bb7a-3ee7dd6ab321/language/en-US/Default.aspx | archivedate=14 February 2013 }} On 21 March 2013, he scored in New Zealand's 5–0 win over Papua New Guinea.{{cite news | url=http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/e7153d86-9e27-47ea-8301-eb939b6af795/language/en-US/Default.aspx | publisher=Oceania Football Confederation | title=Papua New Guinea 0–5 New Zealand | date=21 March 2013 | accessdate=24 January 2015 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150124231824/http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/e7153d86-9e27-47ea-8301-eb939b6af795/language/en-US/Default.aspx | archivedate=24 January 2015 }} On 27 March 2013, Watson scored again in the final game, beating the hosts Fiji 4–0.{{cite news | url=http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/1fc79ea2-2888-4dbd-8e9d-525d4b916431/language/en-US/Default.aspx | publisher=Oceania Football Confederation | title=New Zealand 4–0 Fiji | date=27 March 2013 | accessdate=30 October 2014 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030222536/http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/1fc79ea2-2888-4dbd-8e9d-525d4b916431/language/en-US/Default.aspx | archivedate=30 October 2014 }} The team qualifying as Oceania's representative at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey which Watson attended. He played in two games at the World Cup in Turkey, first in the 0—2 lost to Uruguay, getting 12mins. Then in the 0—3 lost to Uzbekistan getting his first start.{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/8481541/NZ-youngsters-qualify-for-U20-World-Cup | publisher=Stuff|location=New Zealand | title=NZ youngsters qualify for U20 World Cup | date=27 March 2013 | accessdate=31 October 2014}}{{cite web|title=FIFA Player Profile|url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=368542/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511105302/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=368542/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 May 2016|publisher=FIFA|accessdate=13 October 2017}}

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !rowspan="2"\|Division !colspan="2"\|League !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Hawke's Bay United	2011–12	New Zealand Football Championship	13	6	13	6
Team Wellington	2012–13	New Zealand Football Championship	13	8	13	8
Wellington Phoenix (loan)	2013–14	A-League	0	0	0	0
Team Wellington	2013–14	New Zealand Football Championship	11	4	11	4
Wellington Phoenix	2013–14	A-League	2	0	2	0
Grimsby Town	2014–15	Conference Premier	4	0	4	0
Gainsborough Trinity (loan)	2014–15	Conference North	4	0	4	0
Hawke's Bay United	2015–16	New Zealand Football Championship	11	6	11	6
Wellington Phoenix	2015–16	A-League	8	3	8	3
Wellington Phoenix	2016–17	A-League	21	2	21	2
Wellington Phoenix Reserves	2016–17	New Zealand Football Championship	2	1	2	1
Wellington Phoenix	2017–18	A-League	2	1	8	0
Wellington Phoenix Reserves	2016–17	New Zealand Football Championship	2	1	2	1
colspan="3"\|Career total !93	32	93	32