Billy Watson (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Billy Watson was a Scottish-American soccer left half
. He began his career in Scotland before moving to England and then the United States where he played in both the American Soccer League
and St. Louis Soccer League
.
Watson began his career in Scotland playing for Ayr United and Vale of Leven F.C.
in the early 1920s. In 1925, he transferred to English club Coventry City F.C.
before moving to the United States in 1926. In the spring of 1928, he signed with the Bethlehem Steel F.C.
of the American Soccer League
at the end of the 1927-1928 season as a replacement for injured Bob MacGregor. He played only three games with Bethlehem. He began the 1928-1929 season with the New Bedford Whalers
, but was transferred to the Providence Gold Bugs
after only three games. In the spring of 1931, he played for Fall River F.C.
, but moved to back to the Whalers in the summer. In 1932, the Whalers defeated Stix, Baer and Fuller F.C.
(SBF) of the St. Louis Soccer League
for the 1932 National Challenge Cup
title. By that time, the ASL was on its last legs and Alex McNab
, New Bedford’s captain accepted an offer to move west to SBF where he became a player-coach. He then recruited the core of the New Bedford team, including Watson. Watson would remain in St. Louis for the remainder of his career. In 1933, SBF used these new players to win the 1933 National Challenge Cup
, repeating as champions in 1934. The St. Louis teams relied on the sponsorship of local businesses to the extent that they changed names to match their sponsors. As a result when the Stix, Baer and Fuller department store sold the rights to the team to St. Louis Central Brewery, the team became known as St. Louis Central Breweries F.C., then the St. Louis Shamrocks
in 1935. Watson remained with the club through these name changes, winning the 1935 National Challenge Cup
and finishing runner up in 1936
and 1937
. On February 6, 1938, he signed with South Side Radio
, but his teams become obscure after that. He was still actively playing in 1939 when he was part of a St. Louis All-Stars team which played a Scottish F.A. team touring the United States. and was inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame in 1992.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. He began his career in Scotland before moving to England and then the United States where he played in both the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
and St. Louis Soccer League
St. Louis Soccer League
The St. Louis Soccer League was a soccer league based in St. Louis, Missouri, that existed from 1907 to 1938. At its founding, it was the only fully professional soccer league in the United States.-History:...
.
Watson began his career in Scotland playing for Ayr United and Vale of Leven F.C.
Vale of Leven F.C.
Vale of Leven Football Club are an association club based in the town of Alexandria, Scotland, in the Vale of Leven area of West Dunbartonshire. Nicknamed the Vale and formed in 1939, they play at Millburn Park...
in the early 1920s. In 1925, he transferred to English club Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
before moving to the United States in 1926. In the spring of 1928, he signed with the Bethlehem Steel F.C.
Bethlehem Steel F.C.
Bethlehem Steel Football Club was one of the most successful early American soccer clubs. Known as the Bethlehem Football Club from 1911 until 1915 when it became the Bethlehem Steel Football Club, the team was sponsored by the Bethlehem Steel corporation and played their home games first at East...
of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
at the end of the 1927-1928 season as a replacement for injured Bob MacGregor. He played only three games with Bethlehem. He began the 1928-1929 season with the New Bedford Whalers
New Bedford Whalers
New Bedford Whalers was the name of three United States soccer teams based in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The first Whalers played in the Southern New England Soccer League between 1914 and 1918. The second Whalers played in the American Soccer League between 1924 and 1931 before merging into Fall...
, but was transferred to the Providence Gold Bugs
Providence Gold Bugs
The Providence Clamdiggers was a member of the American Soccer League. They were renamed the Providence Gold Bugs before the spring half of the 1928/29 season...
after only three games. In the spring of 1931, he played for Fall River F.C.
Fall River F.C.
Fall River Football Club, also referred to as Fall River Field Club, was the name used by two United States soccer clubs, based in Fall River, Massachusetts. Both played in the American Soccer League during the early 1930s. The name is often used incorrectly to refer to Fall River Marksmen, another...
, but moved to back to the Whalers in the summer. In 1932, the Whalers defeated Stix, Baer and Fuller F.C.
Stix, Baer and Fuller F.C.
Stix, Baer and Fuller F.C. was a U.S. soccer club which played in the St. Louis Soccer League from 1931 to 1934. The team was known as Hellrungs from 1929 to 1931, St. Louis Central Breweries F.C. from 1934 to 1935 and St. Louis Shamrocks from 1935 to 1938. During its short existence, it won two...
(SBF) of the St. Louis Soccer League
St. Louis Soccer League
The St. Louis Soccer League was a soccer league based in St. Louis, Missouri, that existed from 1907 to 1938. At its founding, it was the only fully professional soccer league in the United States.-History:...
for the 1932 National Challenge Cup
1932 National Challenge Cup
The 1932 National Challenge Cup was the annual open cup held by the United States Football Association now known as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.-Eastern Division:-Western Division:a) aggregate after 3 games, Stix advance 2 games to 1-First game:...
title. By that time, the ASL was on its last legs and Alex McNab
Alex McNab
Alex "Alec" McNab was a Scottish-U.S. soccer player and coach. He began his career in Scotland before moving to the United States. In the U.S., he won six consecutive U.S. Open Cups with teams from both the American Soccer League and St. Louis Soccer League...
, New Bedford’s captain accepted an offer to move west to SBF where he became a player-coach. He then recruited the core of the New Bedford team, including Watson. Watson would remain in St. Louis for the remainder of his career. In 1933, SBF used these new players to win the 1933 National Challenge Cup
1933 National Challenge Cup
The 1933 National Challenge Cup was the annual open cup held by the United States Football Association now known as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. As in 1931, the ASL teams played a round robin format instead of direct knockout games. The five New York team formed the Metropolitan group...
, repeating as champions in 1934. The St. Louis teams relied on the sponsorship of local businesses to the extent that they changed names to match their sponsors. As a result when the Stix, Baer and Fuller department store sold the rights to the team to St. Louis Central Brewery, the team became known as St. Louis Central Breweries F.C., then the St. Louis Shamrocks
St. Louis Shamrocks (1935-1938)
St. Louis Shamrocks was an American soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They competed in the St. Louis Association Football League, winning two championships....
in 1935. Watson remained with the club through these name changes, winning the 1935 National Challenge Cup
1935 National Challenge Cup
The 1935 National Challenge Cup was the annual open cup held by the United States Football Association now known as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.-Eastern Division:-Western Division:a)aggregate after 5 games, Central advances on 2 wins to Wieboldt's 1...
and finishing runner up in 1936
1936 National Challenge Cup
The 1936 National Challenge Cup was the annual open cup held by the United States Football Association now known as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. This edition featured the fifth of six consecutive final appearances for Alex McNab's team...
and 1937
1937 National Challenge Cup
The 1937 National Challenge Cup was the annual open cup held by the United States Football Association now known as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.-Eastern Division:-Western Division:-First game:-Second game:...
. On February 6, 1938, he signed with South Side Radio
South Side Radio
South Side Radio was a U.S. soccer team in St. Louis, Missouri which spent one season, 1937-1938, in the St. Louis Soccer League.-History:South Side Radio, also known as the South Siders, spent most of its existence in the lower St. Louis leagues and divisions. In 1929, it won the Municipal...
, but his teams become obscure after that. He was still actively playing in 1939 when he was part of a St. Louis All-Stars team which played a Scottish F.A. team touring the United States. and was inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame in 1992.