Paul Watson (footballer, born 1990)

Paul Watson
Personal information
Date of birth (1990-12-20) 20 December 1990 (age 33)
Place of birth Edinburgh, Scotland
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 The Spartans
Number 44
Youth career
–2006 Hutchison Vale BC
2006–2009 Ipswich Town U18s
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2009 Ipswich Town 0 (0)
2009–2013 Livingston 109 (6)
2013–2015 Raith Rovers 58 (2)
2015–2018 Falkirk 56 (3)
2018–2020 Dundee United 42 (4)
2020–2021 Dunfermline Athletic 29 (2)
2022–2023 Falkirk 11 (3)
2023– The Spartans 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:58, 19 October 2023 (UTC)

Paul Watson (born 20 December 1990) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Scottish League Two club The Spartans.

Career

Livingston

Former Livingston manager Gary Bollan signed Watson from Ipswich Town in August 2009. He helped the club win the Scottish Third Division, in his first season at Almondvale.[2] The next season, he helped Livingston win the Scottish Second Division title[3] by making 33 appearances for the West Lothian club.[4] Watson subsequently signed a new two-year contract, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2013.[5]

Raith Rovers

Watson signed for Raith Rovers on 17 July 2013.[6]

On 12 June 2015, it was confirmed that Watson would not be renewing his contract with the club.[7]

Falkirk

On 19 July 2015, it was announced that Watson had joined Falkirk. He was released by Falkirk at the end of the 2017–18 season.[8]

Dundee United

On 20 July 2018, Watson signed for Dundee United, agreeing a two-year contract.[9] After winning the Scottish Championship with them in the 2019–20 season, Watson was released by United at the end of COVID-19-shortened season.[10]

Dunfermline Athletic

On 29 June 2020, Watson was announced as Dunfermline Athletic's first summer signing, joining the Scottish Championship side on a two-year deal.[11][12]

On 19 October 2021, Watson left Dunfermline Athletic via mutual consent.[13]

Return to Falkirk

On 24 January 2022, Watson returned to Falkirk on an 18-month contract.[14]

The Spartans

On 25 August 2023, Watson made a move to newly promoted Scottish League Two side The Spartans.[15]

Career statistics

As of 25 September 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Scottish Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Livingston 2009–10[16][17] Scottish Third Division 26 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 29 1
2010–11[4][17] Scottish Second Division 33 1 1 0 0 0 1[a] 0 35 1
2011–12[18][17] Scottish First Division 32 1 2 0 2 0 4[a] 0 40 1
2012–13[19][17] 18 3 0 0 2 0 1[a] 0 21 3
Total 109 6 6 0 4 0 6 0 125 6
Raith Rovers 2013–14[20][17] Scottish Championship 22 1 2 0 2 0 5[a] 0 31 1
2014–15[21] 36 1 4 1 2 0 1[a] 0 43 2
Total 58 2 6 1 4 0 6 0 74 3
Falkirk 2015–16[22] Scottish Championship 27 3 1 1 3 0 5[b] 1 36 5
2016–17[23] 11 0 1 0 4 0 3[c] 0 19 0
2017–18[24] 18 0 1 0 4 0 1[a] 0 24 0
Total 56 3 3 1 11 0 9 1 79 5
Dundee United 2018–19[25] Scottish Championship 23 4 1 0 1 0 4[d] 0 29 4
2019–20[26] 19 0 1 0 2 1 1[a] 0 23 1
Total 42 4 2 0 3 1 5 0 52 5
Dunfermline Athletic 2020–21[27] Scottish Championship 23 2 0 0 6 1 2[d] 0 31 3
2021–22[28] 6 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 11 0
Total 29 2 0 0 11 1 2 0 42 3
Career total 294 17 17 2 33 2 28 1 372 22
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  2. ^ Three appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup; two appearances and a goal in the Premiership play-offs
  3. ^ Two appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup and one in the Premiership play-offs
  4. ^ a b Appearances in the Scottish Premiership play-offs

Honours

Livingston

Raith Rovers

Dundee United

References

  1. ^ Paul Watson at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ "Paul Watson admits Livi title win would make up for Ipswich agony". West Lothian Courier. 25 March 2010. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  3. ^ "Paul Watson admits pride at winning second championship gong". West Lothian Courier. 5 May 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Games played by Paul Watson in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  5. ^ "Livingston free seven stars ahead of return to Division One". The Daily Record. 5 May 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  6. ^ "New Signing Alert". Raith Rovers FC. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  7. ^ "Another new arrival at Raith, but door is closed on Watson". fifetoday.co.uk. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  8. ^ "Players Depart Club". Falkirk FC. 30 April 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  9. ^ "Dundee United: Defender Paul Watson signs two-year deal". BBC Sport. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  10. ^ Cran, George (8 May 2020). "Dundee United announce departures of eight players this summer including Paul Watson and Rakish Bingham". Evening Telegraph. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  11. ^ "Paul Watson joins Dunfermline". Dunfermline Athletic FC. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  12. ^ "Dunfermline Athletic: Steven Whittaker & Paul Watson sign". BBC Sport. BBC. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  13. ^ "PLAYER UPDATE: DAFC can confirm that Paul Watson's employment with the Club has ended by mutual consent". Dunfermline Athletic FC. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  14. ^ "Paul Watson signs for Falkirk as defender returns to the Bairns". Falkirk Herald. 24 January 2022.
  15. ^ Signing News: Paul Watson joins Spartans, spartansfc.com, 25 August 2023
  16. ^ "Games played by Paul Watson in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  17. ^ a b c d e Paul Watson at Soccerway. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  18. ^ "Games played by Paul Watson in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  19. ^ "Games played by Paul Watson in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  20. ^ "Games played by Paul Watson in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  21. ^ "Games played by Paul Watson in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  22. ^ "Games played by Paul Watson in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  23. ^ "Games played by Paul Watson in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  24. ^ "Games played by Paul Watson in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  25. ^ "Games played by Paul Watson in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  26. ^ "Games played by Paul Watson in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  27. ^ "Games played by Paul Watson in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  28. ^ "Games played by Paul Watson in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  29. ^ Southwick, Andrew (6 April 2014). "Raith Rovers 1–0 Rangers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 September 2021.