Tom Watson (footballer, born 1860s)
{{Short description|English footballer (1860s–1902)}}
{{other people|Thomas Watson}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Tom Watson
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Thomas Watson
| height =
| position = Goalkeeper
| birth_date = 1868 or 1869
| birth_place = Birmingham, England
| death_date = {{death date and given age|1902|4|10|33|df=y}}
| death_place = Birmingham, England
| years1 = | clubs1 = Yardley Victoria
| years2 = 189?–1895 | clubs2 = Small Heath | caps2 = 2 | goals2 = 0
| years3 = | clubs3 = Birmingham City Police
}}
Thomas Watson (born 1868 or 1869; died 10 April 1902) was an English footballer who played for Small Heath in the Football League as a goalkeeper.
Life and career
Thomas Watson was born in 1868 or 1869 in Birmingham,{{sfnp|Matthews|1995|p=132}} He was a son of John Watson, a police constable.{{cite web |url=https://www.ancestryinstitution.com/search/collections/7814/records/16470513 |title=1901 England Census for Thomas Watson |at=RD Aston Deritend ED 055 Piece 2860 Folio 102 |url-access=subscription}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-evening-mail-sgt-tom-watson-b/160210432/ |title=Local news and jottings |newspaper=Birmingham Daily Mail |date=10 April 1902 |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} Described as "a sturdily-built young fellow",{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sports-argus-tom-watson-death/160211766/ |title=Football. Small Heath |author=Argus Junior |newspaper=Sports Argus |location=Birmingham |date=19 April 1902 |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} Watson grew up to be an all-round athlete, was actively involved in organising local athletics meetings,{{sfnp|Matthews|1995|p=132}} and was "an ardent cricketer".
Watson played local football for Yardley Victoria, and made two appearances in the First Division for Small Heath as an amateur in the 1894–95 season.{{sfnp|Matthews|1995|p=132}} His debut came on 2 March 1895 at home to Blackburn Rovers. When the two teams had met earlier in the season at Ewood Park, with Small Heath's Charles Partridge in goal, Blackburn inflicted what remains the club's record defeat, of 9–1.{{sfnp|Matthews|1995|p=142}}{{cite web |url=http://www.statto.com/football/teams/birmingham-city/records |title=Birmingham City: Records |publisher=Statto Organisation |access-date=26 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161209023422/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/birmingham-city/records |archive-date=9 December 2016}} Watson replaced him for the home fixture on a trial basis, the match was drawn and, according to the Birmingham Daily Gazette{{'s}} "Observer", he "may be said to have acquitted himself with credit, one shot by Jimmy Haydock in the first half being magnificently cleared."{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-gazette-small-heath-1-blackbu/160219508/ |title=The League: a point off the Rovers |author=Observer |newspaper=Birmingham Daily Gazette |date=4 March 1895 |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com}} In Small Heath's next league match, away to Derby County, he conceded five goals.{{sfnp|Matthews|1995|p=142}} Partridge returned to the side for the following game; he "played with more confidence than usual, and on three or four occasions he saved really well",{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-daily-post-small-heath-1-burn/160218767/ |title=Notes on Sport. Small Heath defeat Burnley |newspaper=Birmingham Daily Post |date=25 March 1895 |page=7 |via=Newspapers.com}} and kept his place for the remainder of the season.{{sfnp|Matthews|1995|p=142}}
Watson joined Birmingham City Police in 1889, and was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 1901. He played for their football team,{{sfnp|Joyce|2004|p=273}} and often used to police Small Heath's matches.{{sfnp|Matthews|1995|p=132}} He was married to Jane, and at the time of the 1901 census, the couple, their five young children and Watson's father were living in the Bordesley district of Birmingham. Watson died of pneumonia in The Queen's Hospital, Birmingham, on 10 April 1902 at the age of 33.{{cite web |url=https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=ovWllvyq6MqTL1CjigH7XA&scan=1 |title=Index entry |website=FreeBMD |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=3 December 2024}} He was buried with full police honours at Yardley cemetery.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-post-sgt-tom-watson-funer/160212659/ |title=Funeral of Police-Sergeant Watson |newspaper=Birmingham Daily Post |date=15 April 1902 |page=5 |via=Newspapers.com}}
References
{{reflist}}
Sources
- {{cite book |last=Joyce |first=Michael |title=Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939 |publisher=SoccerData |location=Nottingham |date=2004 |isbn=978-1-899468-67-6}}
- {{cite book |last=Matthews |first=Tony |title=Birmingham City: A Complete Record |publisher=Breedon Books |location=Derby |date=1995 |isbn=978-1-85983-010-9}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, Tom}}
Category:Footballers from Birmingham, West Midlands
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers
Category:Birmingham City F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Birmingham City Police