Introduction
Herbert Leonard Watson (20 November 1908 – 1939) was an English football right half who played in the Football League for Middlesbrough, Brentford and Bristol Rovers. He is best remembered for his time with Brentford, for whom he made over 100 appearances.
Playing career
Middlesbrough
Watson began his career at non-league side Pelton Fell and joined Division Two side Middlesbrough in 1926. He made his debut in a 4–1 Division One victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Ayresome Park on 7 December 1929. Watson made semi-regular appearances for the club through to the end of the 1929–30 season and scored his first goal for the club in a 5–1 win over Birmingham City on 8 February 1930. He made 13 appearances during the campaign. Watson failed to make an appearance during the 1930–31 season and made his first appearance in nearly two years when he played in a 1–1 draw with Aston Villa on 26 December 1931. He made one further appearance during the 1931–32 season and departed Middlesbrough at the end of the campaign, having made just 15 appearances during his six years with the club.
Brentford
Watson signed for Division Three South side Brentford in the summer of 1932, joining former Middlesbrough teammates Jack Holliday and Billy Scott at Griffin Park. He instantly became a fixture in the first team and led the club to promotion to Division Two as captain in the 1932–33 season and to Division One for the first time in the club's history in 1935. After the signing of Dai Richards, Watson lost his place in the team and managed just 13 appearances in Division One during the 1935–36 season (in which Brentford secured their highest-ever league placing of fifth). He departed the club at the end of the campaign, having made 109 appearances and scored one goal during his four years with the club.
Bristol Rovers
Watson and Brentford teammates James Raven and Les Sullivan dropped back down to the Division Three South to join Bristol Rovers in the summer of 1936. He made 19 appearances during the 1936–37 season before retiring from football.
Honours
As a player
Brentford
- Football League Division Two: 1934–35
- Football League Division Three South: 1932–33
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Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Middlesbrough | 1929–30 | First Division | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| 1931–32 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 1 | ||
| Brentford | 1932–33 | Third Division South | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 0 |
| 1933–34 | Second Division | 35 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 1 | |
| 1934–35 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 | ||
| 1935–36 | First Division | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
| Total | 109 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 109 | 1 | ||
| Bristol Rovers | 1936–37 | Third Division South | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| Career total | 141 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 143 | 2 | ||