Rory Watson
{{short description|English association football player}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Rory Watson
| image = Rory Watson 2017-03-18 1.jpg
| image_size = 200
| caption = Watson playing for North Ferriby United in 2017
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|2|5|df=y}}{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/10457/Rory-Watson/overview |title=Rory Watson: Overview |publisher=Premier League |accessdate=18 May 2018}}
| birth_place = York, England
| height = {{convert|1.90|m|order=flip}}{{cite web |url=https://www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk/teams/first-team2/goalkeeper/rory-watson/ |title=Rory Watson |publisher=Scunthorpe United F.C. |accessdate=10 April 2020 |archive-date=5 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305105254/https://www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk/teams/first-team2/goalkeeper/rory-watson/ |url-status=dead }}
| position = Goalkeeper{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/rory-watson-242947/ |title=Rory Watson |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |accessdate=10 April 2020}}
| currentclub = York City
| clubnumber = 16
| youthyears1 = 200?–2009
| youthclubs1 = Leeds United
| youthyears2 = 2009–2014
| youthclubs2 = Hull City
| years1 = 2014–2017
| clubs1 = Hull City
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2015
| clubs2 = → Gainsborough Trinity (loan)
| caps2 = 14
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2015
| clubs3 = → Scunthorpe United (loan)
| caps3 = 0
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2016–2017
| clubs4 = → North Ferriby United (loan)
| caps4 = 31
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2017–2022
| clubs5 = Scunthorpe United
| caps5 = 85
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2017
| clubs6 = → North Ferriby United (loan)
| caps6 = 9
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2022–2023
| clubs7 = Wrexham
| caps7 = 0
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2023
| clubs8 = Doncaster Rovers
| caps8 = 0
| goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2023–
| clubs9 = York City
| caps9 = 14
| goals9 = 0
| club-update = 9 May 2025
}}
Rory Watson (born 5 February 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as goalkeeper for {{English football updater|YorkCity}} club York City.
Watson played youth football with Leeds United and Hull City, signing a professional contract with the latter in June 2014. He had loan spells with Gainsborough Trinity, Scunthorpe United and North Ferriby United before signing for Scunthorpe permanently in January 2017.
Early life
Watson was born in York{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/rory-watson/ |title=Rory Watson: Profile |website=worldfootball.net |publisher=HEIM:SPIEL |accessdate=10 April 2020}} and was raised in the nearby village of Bishopthorpe.{{cite news |url=http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/9538254.Teenage_goalkeeper_to_sign_Hull_City_contract/ |title=Teenage goalkeeper Rory Watson to sign Hull City contract |newspaper=The Press |location=York |date=17 February 2012 |accessdate=18 May 2018}} He attended Tadcaster Grammar School.
Career
=Early career=
File:Rory Watson 2017-03-18 2.jpg in 2017]]
Watson was signed by Leeds United on schoolboy terms at the age of 10 after impressing scouts while playing for junior team Bishopthorpe White Rose. He was released in 2009 as he was deemed to not be tall enough, before joining Hull City at under-13 level.{{cite web |url=http://www.hulltigersacademy.com/teams/under-21s |title=Under 21s: Player profiles |publisher=Hull City A.F.C. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407162243/http://www.hulltigersacademy.com/teams/under-21s |archivedate=7 April 2016 |url-status=dead}} He agreed a two-year scholarship with Hull in February 2012.
Watson signed a professional contract with Hull in June 2014.{{cite web |url=http://www.hullcitytigers.com/news/article/1415-pro-deals-1612161.aspx |title=Youngsters urged to maintain work ethic after signing pro contracts |publisher=Hull City A.F.C. |date=5 June 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510103511/http://www.hullcitytigers.com/news/article/1415-pro-deals-1612161.aspx |archivedate=10 May 2017 |url-status=dead}} His first involvement with the first team came on 25 October 2014 as an unused substitute in a 0–0 draw away to Liverpool in the Premier League.{{cite web |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=1310&teamTabs=results&season_id=144 |title=Hull: Results/matches: 2014/15 |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |accessdate=18 May 2018}} Watson joined Conference North club Gainsborough Trinity on a 6 February 2015 on a one-month loan.{{cite web |url=http://www.hullcitytigers.com/news/article/young-goalkeeper-watson-joins-gainsborough-2252262.aspx |title=Young goalkeeper Watson joins Gainsborough |publisher=Hull City A.F.C. |date=6 February 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324052148/http://www.hullcitytigers.com/news/article/young-goalkeeper-watson-joins-gainsborough-2252262.aspx |archivedate=24 March 2016 |url-status=dead}} He made his debut when starting a 2–1 away defeat to Leamington in the league on 14 February 2015. The loan was extended until the end of the 2014–15 season, after Watson had been named man of the match in two of his four appearances.{{cite web |url=http://www.hullcitytigers.com/news/article/watson-extends-gainsborough-loan-spell-2322948.aspx |title=Watson extends Gainsborough loan spell |publisher=Hull City A.F.C. |date=9 March 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324052148/http://www.hullcitytigers.com/news/article/young-goalkeeper-watson-joins-gainsborough-2252262.aspx |archivedate=24 March 2016 |url-status=dead}} Watson finished the loan with 14 appearances as Gainsborough ranked in 17th place in the table.{{cite web |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=1402 |title=Conference North: 2014/15: Latest table |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |accessdate=18 May 2018}}
He joined League One club Scunthorpe United on 10 August 2015 on a 28-day emergency loan, as cover for the suspended Luke Daniels.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33851240 |title=Rory Watson: Scunthorpe United sign Hull City goalkeeper |website=BBC Sport |date=10 August 2015 |accessdate=18 May 2018}} He did not play and was an unused substitute in three matches.{{cite web |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2263&teamTabs=results&season_id=145 |title=Scunthorpe: Results/matches: 2015/16 |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |accessdate=18 May 2018}} On 1 July 2016, he joined newly promoted National League club North Ferriby United on loan for the 2016–17 season.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36688043 |title=Rory Watson: Hull City goalkeeper joins North Ferriby United on loan |website=BBC Sport |date=1 July 2016 |accessdate=18 May 2018}} He made his debut on 6 August 2016 in a 0–0 draw at home to Braintree Town, which was North Ferriby's first match at National Level.{{cite web |url=https://northferribyunited.com/nfu-1-braintree-town-1-nl-lp |title=NFU 1 Braintree Town 1 (NL) |publisher=North Ferriby United A.F.C. |accessdate=18 May 2018 |archive-date=18 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518002138/https://northferribyunited.com/nfu-1-braintree-town-1-nl-lp |url-status=dead }}
=Scunthorpe United=
He was recalled from his loan ahead of permanent transfer to Scunthorpe United on a free transfer.{{cite web |url=http://www.hullcitytigers.com/news/article/2016-17/rory-watson-signs-for-scunthorpe-united-3548345.aspx |title=Rory Watson signs for Scunthorpe United |publisher=Hull City A.F.C. |date=31 January 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131201925/http://www.hullcitytigers.com/news/article/2016-17/rory-watson-signs-for-scunthorpe-united-3548345.aspx |archivedate=31 January 2017 |url-status=dead}} He signed for the club on 31 January 2017 on a three-and-a-half-year contract and was immediately loaned back to North Ferriby for the rest of the season.{{cite web |url=https://www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk/news/2017/january/goalkeeper-watson-joins-the-iron/ |title=Goalkeeper Watson joins the Iron |publisher=Scunthorpe United F.C. |date=31 January 2017 |accessdate=18 May 2018}} Watson was recalled by Scunthorpe on 30 March 2017,{{cite web |url=https://www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk/news/2017/march/trio-return-to-glanford-park/ |title=Trio return to Glanford Park |publisher=Scunthorpe United F.C. |date=30 March 2017 |accessdate=18 May 2018}} having been an ever-present in the North Ferriby team in 2016–17{{cite web |url=https://northferribyunited.com/rory-watson-recalled-by-scunthorpe-n |title=Rory Watson recalled by Scunthorpe |first=Phil |last=Withers |publisher=North Ferriby United A.F.C. |date=30 March 2017 |accessdate=18 May 2018 |archive-date=18 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518130108/https://northferribyunited.com/rory-watson-recalled-by-scunthorpe-n |url-status=dead }} with 42 appearances. He was an unused substitute for Scunthorpe's eight remaining fixtures in 2016–17, a season that culminated in a 3–2 aggregate defeat to Millwall in the League One play-offs.{{cite web |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2263&teamTabs=results&season_id=149 |title=Scunthorpe: Results/matches: 2016/17 |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |accessdate=18 May 2018}}
Watson started 2017–18 as backup to first-choice goalkeeper Matt Gilks, with his first-team appearances limited to the EFL Trophy.{{cite web |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2263&teamTabs=results&season_id=150 |title=Scunthorpe: Results/matches: 2017/18 |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |accessdate=18 May 2018}} His debut for Scunthorpe had come in this competition, when starting in a 3–1 home win over Sunderland U21 on 29 August 2017.{{cite web |url=https://www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk/news/2017/august/report-iron-3-1-sunderland-under-21s/ |title=Report: Iron 3–1 Sunderland Under-21s |publisher=Scunthorpe United F.C. |date=29 August 2017 |accessdate=18 May 2018}} He helped Scunthorpe to the second round, when they were beaten 2–1 at home by Leicester City U21 on 5 December 2017.{{cite web |url=https://www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk/news/2017/december/report-iron-v-leicester-city-under-21s/ |title=Report: Iron 1–2 Leicester City Under-21s |publisher=Scunthorpe United F.C. |date=5 December 2017 |accessdate=18 May 2018}} After Gilks picked up a calf injury,{{cite news |url=https://www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rory-watson-living-dream-after-1156293 |title=Rory Watson is living the dream after getting first team chance at Scunthorpe United |first=Paul |last=Crute |newspaper=Scunthorpe Telegraph |date=3 February 2018 |accessdate=18 May 2018}} Watson made his league debut for Scunthorpe by starting a 1–1 draw away to Portsmouth on 13 January 2018. He remained in goal for three more matches before Gilks returned for a match against Fleetwood Town on 3 February 2018. Watson was next called upon as a 61st-minute substitute in the first leg of Scunthorpe's play-off semi-final against Rotherham United on 12 May 2018 after Gilks picked up an injury and conceded once as Scunthorpe drew 2–2.{{cite web |url=https://www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk/news/2018/may/report-iron-v-rotherham-united/ |title=Report: Iron 2–2 Rotherham United |first=Jenna-Lea |last=Portess |publisher=Scunthorpe United F.C. |date=12 May 2018 |accessdate=18 May 2018}} Watson started in the second leg four days later, which Scunthorpe lost 2–0 and were therefore eliminated 4–2 on aggregate.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44049500 |title=Rotherham United 2–0 Scunthorpe United |first=Brendon |last=Mitchell |website=BBC Sport |date=16 May 2018 |accessdate=18 May 2018}}
Watson was released by Scunthorpe at the end of the 2021–22 season.{{Cite web |url=https://www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk/news/2022/may/club-statement/ |title=Club statement|publisher=Scunthorpe United FC |date=9 May 2022 |accessdate=9 May 2022}} He made 101 appearances in all competitions for the club.
=Wrexham=
On 4 August 2022, Watson signed for Wrexham as short-term cover following a pre-season injury to goalkeeper Christian Dibble.{{Cite web |url=https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/2022/august/club-news--rory-watson-to-provide-short-term-cover/ |title=Rory Watson to provide short-term cover |publisher=Wrexham AFC |date=4 August 2022 |accessdate=4 August 2022}} After being named as a substitute for the first four games of the season, he signed a contract until January 2023,{{cite web |title=Rory Watson: Goalkeeper extends Wrexham stay until January |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62679225 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=25 August 2023 |date=25 August 2022}} and then extended his contract to the end of the 2022-23 season.{{cite web |last1=Henrys |first1=Colin |title=SIGNED {{!}} Goalkeepers extend Wrexham stay |url=https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/2023/january/signed--goalkeepers-extend-wrexham-stay/ |website=Wrexham AFC |access-date=25 August 2023 |date=19 January 2023}}
=Doncaster Rovers=
On 8 August 2023, Watson signed for Doncaster Rovers on an initial 1-month contract as cover for the injured Louis Jones.{{Cite web |url=https://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/2023/august/watson-signs/ |title=Rory Watson signs one-month contract |publisher=Doncaster Rovers|date=8 August 2023 |accessdate=8 August 2023}}
=York City=
Watson joined York City on a season-long contract on 24 August 2023.{{cite web |last1=Ramsey |first1=Gabriel |title=Goalkeeper Rory Watson joins hometown club York City |url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/yorkcityfc/23746158.goalkeeper-rory-watson-joins-hometown-club-york-city/ |website=York Press |access-date=25 August 2023 |date=24 August 2023}}
Career statistics
{{Updated|match played 05 August 2022}}
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk/teams/first-team2/goalkeeper/rory-watson/ Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305105254/https://www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk/teams/first-team2/goalkeeper/rory-watson/ |date=5 March 2021 }} at the Scunthorpe United F.C. website
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{Scunthorpe United F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{York City F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, Rory}}
Category:Footballers from York
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers
Category:Leeds United F.C. players
Category:Hull City A.F.C. players
Category:Gainsborough Trinity F.C. players
Category:Scunthorpe United F.C. players
Category:North Ferriby United A.F.C. players
Category:Wrexham A.F.C. players
Category:Doncaster Rovers F.C. players
Category:National League (English football) players