Frank Watt
Encyclopedia
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Frank Watt was the unofficial manager of Newcastle United
from 1895 to 1935. He did not have control over team selection so technically he was not manager but rather the club secretary, as a member of the committee that at the time owned the club.
A Scotsman
, Watt's first involvement in football came with the 3rd E.R.V. club in Edinburgh
, the precursor of the former league side St Bernard's
, where he combinined his playing role with that of club secretary. He was later appointed secretary of the Edinburgh (later East of Scotland) Football Association before leaving for Tyneside
.
During his time at the Newcastle the club won the old First Division
four times in 1905, 1907, 1909 and 1927. They also won the FA Cup
three times in 1910, 1924 and 1932.
Frank Watt was born in Edinburgh. A former referee, Watt was appointed as secretary of the Newcastle United in December 1895. Newcastle’s first official manager was Andy Cunningham in 1930. Before this the club was run by committee, overseen by the club secretary. The modern manager was unheard of. Frank Watt was however very influential and was the unofficial manager of the club: he was referred to as “The Guv’nor” He had a portly figure and a handlebar mustache.
Watt had great ambitions for Newcastle. Upon arrival he declared “We’re going to be the best team in the country.” The Edwardian Newcastle side dominated the league with a side assembled entirely by Watt, who also secured the signatures of players such as Hughie Gallacher, Colin Veitch, and Stan Seymour throughout his 37 years at the club, players who are still considered legends today. However he initially turned down Stan Seymour, explaining that the future Mr. Newcastle was “too small to play football” -
With Newcastle, Watt won the league 4 times in 1905, 1907, 1909 and 1927. His team reached 6 FA cup finals. They won 2, (1910 and 1924) and came runners up on 4 occasions. (1905, 1906, 1908, 1911)
Frank Watt was the unofficial manager of Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
from 1895 to 1935. He did not have control over team selection so technically he was not manager but rather the club secretary, as a member of the committee that at the time owned the club.
A Scotsman
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Watt's first involvement in football came with the 3rd E.R.V. club in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, the precursor of the former league side St Bernard's
St Bernard's F.C.
St Bernard's F.C. were a Senior Scottish football club based in Edinburgh from 1878 to 1943....
, where he combinined his playing role with that of club secretary. He was later appointed secretary of the Edinburgh (later East of Scotland) Football Association before leaving for Tyneside
Tyneside
Tyneside is a conurbation in North East England, defined by the Office of National Statistics, which is home to over 80% of the population of Tyne and Wear. It includes the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the Metropolitan Boroughs of Gateshead, North Tyneside and South Tyneside — all settlements on...
.
During his time at the Newcastle the club won the old First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
four times in 1905, 1907, 1909 and 1927. They also won the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
three times in 1910, 1924 and 1932.
Frank Watt was born in Edinburgh. A former referee, Watt was appointed as secretary of the Newcastle United in December 1895. Newcastle’s first official manager was Andy Cunningham in 1930. Before this the club was run by committee, overseen by the club secretary. The modern manager was unheard of. Frank Watt was however very influential and was the unofficial manager of the club: he was referred to as “The Guv’nor” He had a portly figure and a handlebar mustache.
Watt had great ambitions for Newcastle. Upon arrival he declared “We’re going to be the best team in the country.” The Edwardian Newcastle side dominated the league with a side assembled entirely by Watt, who also secured the signatures of players such as Hughie Gallacher, Colin Veitch, and Stan Seymour throughout his 37 years at the club, players who are still considered legends today. However he initially turned down Stan Seymour, explaining that the future Mr. Newcastle was “too small to play football” -
With Newcastle, Watt won the league 4 times in 1905, 1907, 1909 and 1927. His team reached 6 FA cup finals. They won 2, (1910 and 1924) and came runners up on 4 occasions. (1905, 1906, 1908, 1911)