Steve Watson
{{short description|English footballer and manager}}
{{other people}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Steve Watson
| image = Steve Watson 2021-07-09 1.jpg
| caption = Watson as manager of York City in 2021
| full_name = Steven Craig Watson{{Hugman|20646|access-date=10 January 2019}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|4|1|df=y}}{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/steve-watson-61/ |title=Steve Watson |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |access-date=10 January 2019}}
| birth_place = North Shields, England
| height = {{convert|1.85|m|order=flip}}{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/720/Steve-Watson/overview |title=Steve Watson: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=12 July 2021}}
| position = Right-back, midfielder
| currentclub = Darlington (manager)
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Wallsend Boys Club
| youthyears2 = {{0|0000}}–1990
| youthclubs2 = Newcastle United
| years1 = 1990–1998
| clubs1 = Newcastle United
| caps1 = 208
| goals1 = 12
| years2 = 1998–2000
| clubs2 = Aston Villa
| caps2 = 41
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2000–2005
| clubs3 = Everton
| caps3 = 126
| goals3 = 14
| years4 = 2005–2007
| clubs4 = West Bromwich Albion
| caps4 = 42
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2007
| clubs5 = → Sheffield Wednesday (loan)
| caps5 = 11
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2007–2009
| clubs6 = Sheffield Wednesday
| caps6 = 45
| goals6 = 5
| totalcaps = 473
| totalgoals = 32
| nationalyears1 = 1992–1995
| nationalteam1 = England U21
| nationalcaps1 = 12
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 1998
| nationalteam2 = England B
| nationalcaps2 = 1
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| manageryears1 = 2017–2019
| managerclubs1 = Gateshead
| manageryears2 = 2019–2021
| managerclubs2 = York City
| manageryears3 = 2021–2022
| managerclubs3 = Chester
| manageryears4 = 2023–
| managerclubs4 = Darlington
}}
Steven Craig Watson (born 1 April 1974) is an English football manager and former professional player who is manager of {{English football updater|Darlingt}} club Darlington.
As a player, he was a right-back or midfielder. He played in the Premier League and Football League for Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Everton, West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield Wednesday. He was capped once by the England national B team, having previously played twelve times and scored once for the under-21s.
Watson moved into coaching after retiring from playing and was appointed as an academy coach at Huddersfield Town under former teammate Lee Clark in 2010. He then followed Clark to Birmingham City before a spell as assistant manager of Macclesfield Town. He was given his first managerial role in 2017 when he joined Gateshead, before becoming York City manager in 2019. He left the club in 2021 and spent four months as manager of Chester before joining Darlington in December 2023.
Playing career
=Newcastle United=
Watson was born in North Shields, Tyne and Wear. He began his career with Newcastle United, playing on a regular basis.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} At the time of his first-team debut, as a substitute in a 2–1 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers on 10 November 1990, he was the youngest person ever to play for Newcastle,{{cite web |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/archive/england/players/WatsonSteve.html |title=Steve Watson |website=ESPN Soccernet |date=16 July 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622015536/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/archive/england/players/WatsonSteve.html |archive-date=22 June 2011}} a record that still stands.{{Cite web |last=Rutherford |first=James |date=2021-05-04 |title=Newcastle United’s youngest ever debutant |url=https://www.geordiebootboys.com/history/newcastle-uniteds-youngest-ever-debutant/ |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=Geordie Boot Boys |language=en-GB}} Watson appeared 24 times that season, firstly under Jim Smith and then under Ossie Ardiles as Newcastle struggled in the Second Division.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}
Watson featured prominently during the 1991–92 season as Kevin Keegan returned to Newcastle and relegation to the Third Division was avoided.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} During his seven years at the club, he wore a jersey with every shirt number 2–11 at least once, earning a reputation as a key all round capable footballer integral to The Entertainers style of play. He came on as a 77th-minute substitute at Wembley Stadium in the 1998 FA Cup Final, in which Newcastle were beaten 2–0 by Arsenal.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-gunners-train-sights-on-european-glory-1158983.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-gunners-train-sights-on-european-glory-1158983.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Football: Gunners train sights on European glory |first=Glenn |last=Moore |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=18 May 1998 |access-date=10 January 2019}}
=Aston Villa, Everton and West Bromwich Albion=
Watson was transferred to Aston Villa for £4 million in October 1998.{{Cite web |last=Staniforth |first=Tommy |date=15 October 1998 |title=Football: Watson moves to Villa |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-watson-moves-to-villa-1178613.html |access-date=4 January 2025 |website=Independent}} He scored once for Villa, in a 4–0 home win over Southampton on 1 December 1999 in the League Cup.
He moved to Everton on 4 July 2000 on a five-year contract for a £2.5 million transfer fee.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/e/everton/818680.stm |title=Everton sign Watson |website=BBC Sport |date=4 July 2000 |access-date=10 January 2019}} When boss Walter Smith found his squad decimated by injury, Watson was used a striker alongside Tomasz Radzinski, a role he had started to play at the beginning of his career before transferring to the defence.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} His time with Everton was blighted with injury, although he did enjoy some time in the first team for the 2003–04 season,{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} which included three goals against Leeds United on 28 September 2003.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3122928.stm |title=Everton rout sad Leeds |website=BBC Sport |date=28 September 2003 |access-date=10 January 2019}}{{Cite web |date=2003-09-28 |title=Watson's hat-trick humiliates Leeds |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/watson-s-hattrick-humiliates-leeds-88911.html |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=The Independent |language=en}} This made him the first Everton player to score a hat-trick in any competition since Nick Barmby in February 2000.{{cite web |url=https://toffeeweb.com/history/records/hatricks.asp |title=Everton Hat-tricks |website=ToffeeWeb |access-date=10 January 2019}}
Watson signed for West Bromwich Albion on 5 July 2005 on a three-year contract on a free transfer, after rejecting the offer of a new one-year contract with Everton.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/4651985.stm |title=Watson makes switch to West Brom |website=BBC Sport |date=5 July 2005 |access-date=10 January 2018}} He made his debut as an 80th-minute substitute in a 0–0 draw away to Manchester City on 13 August. His only goal for the club came on 2 January 2006, with a shot that came after receiving the ball from Jonathan Greening in the 77th minute of a 2–1 home defeat to Aston Villa.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4562606.stm |title=West Brom 1–2 Aston Villa |website=BBC Sport |date=2 January 2006 |access-date=10 January 2018}}
=Sheffield Wednesday=
File:SteveWatsonSWFC.jpg in 2008]]
Watson joined Sheffield Wednesday on 9 February 2007 on loan until the end of the 2006–07 season, with opportunities at West Brom limited.{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/watson-leaves-albion-in-loan-switch-37494 |title=Watson leaves Albion in loan switch |first=Chris |last=Lepkowski |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=9 February 2007 |access-date=10 January 2018}} He made his debut the following day, starting in a 1–1 draw away to Burnley. Before he joined them, Wednesday had lost five matches in a row.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} However, they won six, drew four and only lost once when Watson was in the team. He was re-called by West Brom on 26 April with two matches remaining as cover for the injured Curtis Davies and the suspended Neil Clement.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_wed/6597539.stm |title=West Brom recall Watson from Owls |website=BBC Sport |date=26 April 2007 |access-date=10 January 2019}}{{cite news |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11698/2412384/mcshane-boost-for-baggies |title=McShane boost for Baggies |first=Peter |last=O'Rourke |website=Sky Sports |access-date=10 January 2019}} Watson signed for Wednesday permanently on 10 July 2007 on a free transfer.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_wed/6278548.stm |title=Owls complete signing of Watson |website=BBC Sport |date=10 July 2007 |access-date=10 January 2019}} His first goal for the club came on 6 November with an equaliser in the fifth minute of stoppage time as Wednesday drew 1–1 away to West Brom.{{cite web |url=http://www.swfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10304~37791,00.html |title=WBA vs Sheffield Wed |publisher=Sheffield Wednesday F.C. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415143441/http://www.swfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10304~37791,00.html |archive-date=15 April 2012}}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7076428.stm |title=West Brom 1–1 Sheff Wed |website=BBC Sport |date=6 November 2007 |access-date=10 January 2019}}
Watson succeeded Lee Bullen as club captain for the 2008–09 season, taking charge of off-the-field matters, with Richard Wood retaining his role as team captain and being responsible for on-the-field affairs.{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-wednesday/new-owls-club-captain-revealed-1-247493 |title=New Owls club captain revealed |newspaper=The Star |location=Sheffield |date=2 July 2008 |access-date=10 January 2019}} Watson scored the winner in the Steel City derby against Sheffield United on 19 October; his volleyed lob over Paddy Kenny in the 35th minute gave Wednesday a 1–0 win.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7665095.stm |title=Sheff Wed 1–0 Sheff Utd |website=BBC Sport |date=19 October 2008 |access-date=26 October 2008}} Sheffield Wednesday decided to release Watson on 14 May 2009 due to long-term injury problems.{{Cite news |date=2009-05-14 |title=Injury ends Watson's Owls career |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_wed/8050614.stm |access-date=2025-01-04 |language=en-GB}} He subsequently retired from playing.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/06/08/englands-last-side-reach-world-under-20s-semi-final-now/steve-watson/ |title=England's last side to reach a World Under-20s semi-final: where are they now? |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=8 June 2017 |access-date=10 January 2019}}
Coaching and managerial career
Watson was appointed as development coach at League One club Huddersfield Town on 13 November 2010, joining up with his former Newcastle teammate Lee Clark.{{Cite web |last=Booth |first=Mel |date=2010-11-13 |title=Former Newcastle United, Everton and Aston Villa star Steve Watson joins Huddersfield Town as development coach |url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/football/news/former-newcastle-united-everton-aston-4990588 |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=Yorkshire Live |language=en}} Watson was appointed as a coach at Birmingham City of the Championship on 24 August 2012.{{Cite web |last=Tattum |first=Colin |date=2012-08-25 |title=Former Villa defender Steve Watson joins Birmingham City coaching team |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-villa-defender-steve-watson-191090 |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=Birmingham Live |language=en}} He was dismissed along with Clark on 20 October 2014.{{cite news |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9525966/lee-clark-sacked-as-birmingham-city-manager |title=Lee Clark sacked as Birmingham City manager |website=Sky Sports |date=20 October 2014 |access-date=10 January 2019}} He was appointed as the assistant manager at National League club Macclesfield Town on 4 July 2016.{{cite web |url=http://www.mtfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/steve-watson-joins-macclesfield-town-coaching-team-3167423.aspx |title=Steve Watson joins Macclesfield Town coaching team |publisher=Macclesfield Town F.C. |date=4 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822035444/http://www.mtfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/steve-watson-joins-macclesfield-town-coaching-team-3167423.aspx |archive-date=22 August 2016}}
Watson was appointed as the manager of National League club Gateshead on 10 October 2017.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41567241 |title=Steve Watson: Gateshead appoint ex-Newcastle defender as manager |website=BBC Sport |date=10 October 2017 |access-date=10 January 2019}} He was appointed as the manager of National League North club York City on 10 January 2019,{{cite web |url=https://www.yorkcityfootballclub.co.uk/news/club/steve-watson-appointed-manager |title=Steve Watson appointed manager |first=Ian |last=Appleyard |publisher=York City F.C. |date=10 January 2019 |access-date=10 January 2019}} succeeding Sam Collins who was dismissed with the team 15th in the table.{{cite news |url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/17338244.caretaker-dave-penney-not-in-running-to-be-new-york-city-manager/ |title=Caretaker Dave Penney not in running to be new York City manager |first=Dave |last=Flett |newspaper=The Press |location=York |date=6 January 2019 |access-date=10 January 2019}} Watson was joined at the club by Micky Cummins, his assistant at Gateshead.{{cite news |url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/17348766.confirmed-steve-watson-named-as-york-citys-new-manager/ |title=Confirmed: Steve Watson named as York City's new manager |first=Dave |last=Flett |newspaper=The Press |location=York |date=10 January 2019 |access-date=10 January 2019}} He was awarded the National League North Manager of the Month award for October 2021 after three wins from four in the league.{{cite web |url=https://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/trio-celebrate-october-national-league-north-accol-68124 |title=Trio Celebrate October National League North Accolades |first=Sam |last=Elliott |publisher=National League |date=8 November 2021 |access-date=23 December 2021}} He left the club on 13 November.{{cite web |url=https://www.yorkcityfootballclub.co.uk/news/club/club-statement-steve-watson |title=Club Statement: Steve Watson |publisher=York City F.C. |date=13 November 2021 |access-date=16 November 2021}}
Watson was appointed manager of National League North club Chester on 23 December 2021, initially on a contract until the end of the 2021–22 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.chesterfc.com/2021/12/23/breaking-steve-watson-appointed-first-team-manager/ |title=Breaking: Steve Watson appointed First Team Manager |publisher=Chester F.C. |date=23 December 2021 |access-date=23 December 2021}} On 28 April 2022, the club confirmed that Watson would leave his role as manager at the end of the season by mutual consent.{{cite web |url=https://www.chesterfc.com/2022/04/28/club-statement-steve-watson/ |title=Club statement: Steve Watson |publisher=Chester F.C. |date=28 April 2022 |accessdate=1 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428193720/https://chesterfc.com/2022/04/28/club-statement-steve-watson/ |archive-date=28 April 2022}}
Watson joined another National League club, Darlington, as manager on 31 December 2023. His contract initially ran until the end of the season.{{cite web |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/quakers-appoint-steve-watson-as-new-manager |title=Quakers appoint Steve Watson as new manager |first=Ray |last=Simpson |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=31 December 2023 |access-date=20 December 2024}} After successfully steering them clear of the relegation positions, he and assistant manager Terry Mitchell signed two-year contract extensions.{{cite web |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/steve-signs-new-contracts |title=Steve Signs a New Contract |first=Ray |last=Simpson |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=19 April 2024 |access-date=24 April 2024}} For his impressive end to the season, Watson was named National League North Manager of the Month for April 2024. {{cite web|url=https://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/norths-leading-lights-are-getting-rewards-aplenty-81605|title=North's Leading Lights Are Getting Rewards Aplenty!|website=www.thenationalleague.org.uk|date=30 April 2024|accessdate=2 April 2024}}
Career statistics
{{notelist}}
Managerial statistics
{{updated|match played 26 April 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure | ||||
| rowspan="2"|Team
!rowspan="2"|From !rowspan="2"|To !colspan="5"|Record !rowspan="2"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{abbr|P|Matches played}} | {{abbr|W|Matches won}} | {{abbr|D|Matches drawn}} | {{abbr|L|Matches lost}} | {{abbr|Win %|Win percentage}} |
| align="left"|Gateshead
{{WDL|75|29|20|26|decimals=1}} | ||||
| align="left"|York City
|align="left"|13 November 2021 {{WDL|91|47|19|25|decimals=1}} | ||||
| align="left"|Chester
|align="left"|23 December 2021 {{WDL|25|7|7|11|decimals=1}} | ||||
| align="left"|Darlington
|align="left"|31 December 2023 |align="left"|present {{WDL|72|32|16|24|decimals=1}} | ||||
| colspan="3"|Total
{{WDLtot|263|115|62|86|decimals=1}} |
Honours
=As a player=
Newcastle United
Individual
- Newcastle United Player of the Year: 1996–97{{cite web|url=https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/joelinton-scoops-newcastle-united-player-of-the-year-award/ |title=Joelinton scoops Newcastle United Player of the Year award |first=Rory |last=Mitchinson |publisher=Newcastle United F.C. |date=16 May 2022 |access-date=19 October 2023}}
=As a manager=
Individual
- National League North Manager of the Month: October 2021, April 2024, December 2024{{cite news |url=https://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/top-bosses-honoured-as-elokobi-watson-and-magnay-m-83132/ |title= Top Bosses Honoured As Elokobi, Watson And Magnay Make Mark |website=Gateshead FC |date=15 January 2025 |access-date=16 January 2025}}
References
Infobox statistics
- England U21: {{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslTmU21pg2.html |title=Match Results Under 21: 1990–2000 |website=England Football Online |date=26 April 2014 |access-date=27 June 2021}}
- England B: {{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslTmB.html |title=Match Results The B Team |website=England Football Online |date=31 July 2020 |access-date=27 June 2021}}
Specific
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://www.chesterfc.com/teams/staff/ Profile] at the Chester F.C. website
- {{Soccerbase}}
- {{Soccerbase manager}}
{{National League North managers}}
{{Newcastle United F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{Darlington F.C. squad}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 =
{{Gateshead F.C. managers}}
{{York City F.C. managers}}
{{Chester F.C. managers}}
{{Darlington F.C. managers}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, Steve}}
Category:Footballers from North Shields
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's youth international footballers
Category:England men's under-21 international footballers
Category:England men's B international footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Newcastle United F.C. players
Category:Aston Villa F.C. players
Category:West Bromwich Albion F.C. players
Category:Sheffield Wednesday F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Premier League players
Category:English football managers
Category:Gateshead F.C. managers
Category:York City F.C. managers
Category:Chester F.C. managers
Category:Darlington F.C. managers
Category:National League (English football) managers
Category:English football coaches
Category:Huddersfield Town A.F.C. non-playing staff