Ben Watson (footballer, born July 1985)

Ben Watson

Watson on U.S. tour with Wigan Athletic in June, 2013
Personal information
Full name	Ben Watson[1]
Date of birth	9 July 1985[2]
Place of birth	Camberwell, England
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current team	Watford
Number	23
Youth career
000?–2003	Crystal Palace
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2003–2009	Crystal Palace	169	(18)
2009–2015	Wigan Athletic	107	(13)
2009	→ Queens Park Rangers (loan)	16	(2)
2010	→ West Bromwich Albion (loan)	7	(1)
2015–	Watford	51	(2)
National team
2004–2006	England U21	2	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:17, 17 April 2016 (UTC). † Appearances (goals)

Ben Watson (born 9 July 1985) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Watford. He has previously played for Wigan Athletic and Crystal Palace, and had loan spells at Queens Park Rangers and West Bromwich Albion. He has also represented England at U21 level.

Watson won an FA Cup winners medal in 2013, by scoring a stoppage time header and the only goal of the game against Manchester City. This was the first time Wigan Athletic had won the FA Cup.

Club career

Crystal Palace

Watson training with Crystal Palace in 2008.

Born in Camberwell, London,^[2] Watson made his debut aged 17 towards the end of the 2002–03 season against Watford,^[3] giving a good performance to keep his place in the side for the final four games of the season. He scored his first goal for the club at the start of the following season in a 1–1 draw against Millwall,^[4] and gradually featured in the Palace side more regularly over the next few seasons, surpassing 200 appearances for the Eagles before his 23rd birthday.

He has also represented England in the under-21 team.

In 2006, he was one of six nominees for the "League Cup New Talent Award", drawn up by the Football Writers' Association.^[5] He was also named as Palace's "Young Player of The Year" at the end of the season,^[6] and was rewarded with a new contract, keeping him at the club until 2009.^[7]

Interest from other clubs

At the outset of the 2008–09 season, Watson had one year left on his contract at Palace. The club reportedly offered him a new contract that would have made him Palace's highest-paid player, which was subsequently turned down. He also turned down a move to Nottingham Forest, who claimed he was demanding too high a salary,^[8] amidst rumours that he was seeking an offer from Queens Park Rangers. However a move never materialised before the end of the summer, and Watson returned to the Palace side, scoring five times in just 18 appearances before suffering an injury in early December. This turned out to be Watson's last appearance for the Eagles.

Wigan Athletic

In late January, Middlesbrough offered £2m for Watson and were expected to sign the midfielder, who underwent a medical examination.^[9] Wigan Athletic entered the race to sign him late on, and were successful in securing the deal after matching Boro's offer.^[9] He made his debut for the club in a 0–0 draw against Aston Villa on 31 January, and scored his first league goal for Wigan in the 2–1 away victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.^[10] On 23 March 2009 he followed this up with a goal in his next game at home against Hull City.

Loans to QPR and West Bromwich Albion

On 1 September 2009, Watson signed for Championship side Queens Park Rangers (QPR) on loan until January 2010. Watson then made his debut 11 days later on 12 September in a 1–1 draw against Peterborough United at Loftus Road. He scored his first goal for QPR in a 5–2 win over Barnsley on 26 September 2009.^[11] Watson was sent off on 21 October in a 4–1 win over struggling Reading, serving a two match ban.

On 22 February 2010, Watson signed on loan for Championship club West Bromwich Albion, initially until the end of the 2009–2010 season.^[12] He scored his first goal for West Brom against Preston North End on 20 March 2010.^[13] Having not made a league appearance for Wigan Athletic during the 2009–10 season, Watson hinted that he would like to sign a permanent deal at West Brom if the club could gain promotion to the Premier League.^[14] He was recalled from his loan early by Wigan on 1 April 2010.^[15]

Return to Wigan Athletic

Watson made his return to the first-team on 4 April in a 2–1 defeat against Fulham, and scored in Wigan's 3–2 win over Arsenal at the DW Stadium on 18 April 2010.^[16] He kept his place in the team for the rest of the season, finishing with five league appearances for the club.

Watson lost his place in the starting eleven at the beginning of the 2010–11 season, limiting his playing time for the first half of the season. He regained his place in the side after Christmas, and was a regular starter for the rest of the season. Now being deployed in a deep-lying playmaker role,^[17][18] his impressive form in the second half of the season helped the team escape relegation and retain their place in the Premier League. In August 2011, Watson signed a new three-year contract at the club.^[19]

In November 2012, in a match against Liverpool, Watson suffered a broken right leg in a challenge with Raheem Sterling.^[20] Wigan lost the match 3–0.^[21]

Watson made his return to first-team action in May 2013 against West Bromwich Albion in a 3–2 away victory for Wigan, playing out of his usual position as a sweeper.^[22] Watson scored the winning goal in the 2013 FA Cup Final against Manchester City, a stoppage time header that gave Wigan Athletic their first FA Cup.^[23]

On 13 May 2014, Watson signed a new one-year deal with the Latics.

Watford

Watson joined Watford on 23 January 2015.^[24] He made his league debut the following day in a 7–2 win over Blackpool.^[25] Almost a year later, Watson scored his first goal for the Hornets, which he scored directly from a corner in a 1–2 loss at home to Manchester City. Watson was not awarded the goal until more than a week after the game, as it was initially recorded as a Aleksandar Kolarov own goal, before a Premier League panel awarded it to Watson.^[26]

Honours

Wigan Athletic

• FA Cup: 2012–13

Career statistics

As of match played 16 April 2016.

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Crystal Palace	2002–03[27]	First Division	5	0	0	0	0	0	—		5	0
	2003–04[28]		16	1	1	0	4	0	0	0	21	1
	2004–05[29]	Premier League	21	0	1	0	2	0	—		24	0
	2005–06[30]	Championship	42	4	2	0	2	0	2[lower-alpha 1]	0	48	4
	2006–07[31]		25	3	0	0	1	0	—		26	3
	2007–08[32]		42	5	1	0	1	0	2[lower-alpha 2]	2	46	7
	2008–09[33]		18	5	0	0	1	0	—		19	5
	Total		169	18	5	0	11	0	4	2	189	20
Wigan Athletic	2008–09[34]	Premier League	10	2	0	0	0	0	—		10	2
	2009–10[35]		5	1	2	1	1	0	—		8	2
	2010–11[36]		29	3	1	0	4	1	—		34	4
	2011–12[37]		21	3	1	0	1	1	—		23	4
	2012–13[38]		12	1	1	1	2	0	—		15	2
	2013–14[39]	Championship	25	2	3	2	0	0	5[lower-alpha 3]	1	33	5
	2014–15[40]		9	1	1	0	0	0	—		10	1
	Total		111	13	9	4	8	2	5	1	133	20
Queens Park Rangers (loan)	2009–10[41]	Championship	16	2	0	0	0	0	—		16	2
West Bromwich Albion (loan)	2009–10[42]		7	1	0	0	0	0	—		7	1
Watford	2014–15[43]	Championship	20	0	0	0	0	0	—		20	0
	2015–16[44]	Premier League	31	2	4	0	1	0	—		36	2
	Total		51	2	4	0	1	0	0	0	56	2
Career total			354	36	18	4	20	2	9	3	401	45

1. 2 appearances in Championship play-offs
2. 2 appearances and 2 goals in Championship play-offs
3. 1 appearance in FA Community Shield, 4 appearances and 1 goal in UEFA Europa League

Notes

References

1. "Premier League Clubs submit Squad Lists" (PDF). Premier League. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
2. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 430. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
3. Harling, Nicholas (9 April 2003). "Watford reserves thrive on Hunt error". The Independent (London). Retrieved 12 October 2013.
4. Fox, Norman (31 August 2003). "Black sees red to deplete Palace". The Independent (London). Retrieved 1 January 2011.
5. "Lupoli scoops Carling Cup award". BBC Sport. 21 February 2006. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
6. "Player of the Year awards". Crystal Palace F.C. 16 May 2006. Archived from the original on 6 December 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
7. "Soares & Watson sign Palace deals". BBC Sport. 15 August 2006. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
8. "Watson asked for too much". This is Nottingham. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
9. Benammar, Emily (26 January 2009). "Wigan sign Ben Watson from Crystal Palace". Daily Telegraph (Telegraph Media Group). Retrieved 18 August 2013.
10. Sanghera, Mandeep (14 March 2009). "Sunderland 1–2 Wigan". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
11. "QPR 5–2 Barnsley". BBC Sport (BBC). 26 September 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
12. "Watson arrives on loan". West Bromwich Albion F.C. 22 February 2010. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
13. "West Brom 3–2 Preston". BBC Sport. 20 March 2010. Archived from the original on 23 March 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
14. "Watson eyes DW exit". ClubCall. 22 March 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
15. "Wigan recall Ben Watson from West Brom". BBC Sport. 1 April 2010. Archived from the original on 4 April 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
16. "Wigan 3–2 Arsenal". BBC Sport. 18 April 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
17. "The Big Read: Ben Watson". Wigan Athletic F.C. 4 April 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
18. "Success elementary for Watson". Wigan Today. 1 June 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
19. "Three new contracts confirmed!". Wigan Athletic F.C. 23 August 2011. Archived from the original on 13 January 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
20. "Wigan's Ben Watson suffers broken leg in Liverpool defeat". BBC Sport. 17 November 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
21. Smith, Ben (17 November 2012). "Liverpool 3–0 Wigan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
22. Jolly, Richard (4 May 2013). "Wigan Athletic win at West Brom to boost hopes of beating the drop". The Observer. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
23. Steinberg, Jacob (11 May 2013). "Manchester City v Wigan: FA Cup final – live!". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
24. Club Journalist. "OFFICIAL: Watford FC Sign Ben Watson". watfordfc.com.
25. BBC Journalist. "Watford 7–2 Blackpool". BBC Sport.
26. http://www.watfordfc.com/news/article/160111-goal-panel-ben-watson-odion-ighalo-2894576.aspx
27. "Crystal Palace player appearances 2002/03". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
28. "Crystal Palace player appearances 2003/04". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
29. "Crystal Palace player appearances 2004/05". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
30. "Crystal Palace player appearances 2005/06". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
31. "Crystal Palace player appearances 2006/07". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
32. "Crystal Palace player appearances 2007/08". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
33. "Crystal Palace player appearances 2008/09". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
34. "Wigan Athletic player appearances 2008/09". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
35. "Wigan Athletic player appearances 2009/10". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
36. "Wigan Athletic player appearances 2010/11". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
37. "Wigan Athletic player appearances 2011/12". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
38. "Wigan Athletic player appearances 2012/13". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
39. "Wigan Athletic player appearances 2013/14". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
40. "Wigan Athletic player appearances 2014/15". Soccerbase. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
41. "QPR player appearances 2009/10". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
42. "West Bromwich Albion player appearances 2009/10". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
43. "Watford FC player appearances 2014/15". Soccerbase. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
44. "Watford FC player appearances 2014/15". Soccerbase. Retrieved 25 January 2015.

External links

• Ben Watson Official Website at the Wayback Machine (archived December 22, 2008) at officialplayerwebsites.com
• Ben Watson career statistics at Soccerbase