David Watson (footballer, born 2005)

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David Watson
Personal information
Full name David Shankland Watson [1]
Date of birth (2005-02-12) 12 February 2005 (age 19)
Place of birth Prestwick, Scotland
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Kilmarnock
Number 12
Youth career
Caledonian [2]
2015–2022 Kilmarnock
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2022– Kilmarnock 42 (5)
International career‡
2023– Scotland U19 10 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:19, 29 April 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20:20, 29 April 2024 (UTC)

David Shankland Watson (born 12 February 2005) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Scottish Premiership club Kilmarnock.

Contents

Club career

Raised in Prestwick, South Ayrshire, where he attended Queen Margaret Academy, [3] Watson trained with Kilmarnock from the age of seven and officially joined the club's youth system aged ten. [2] He signed a two-year professional contract on 3 September 2021 [4] and made his senior debut the following day as a late substitute in a Scottish Challenge Cup victory over Falkirk, but was not otherwise involved with the first team squad that season as Killie were promoted as winners of the Scottish Championship.

During the following season, he made early appearances in the Scottish League Cup but it was not until March 2023, shortly after turning 18, that he began to feature regularly in the Scottish Premiership, [5] making his league debut under manager Derek McInnes at Ibrox Stadium against Rangers [6] and starting eight of the last ten fixtures; his breakthrough coincided with an upturn in results (with the exception of a home defeat to St Johnstone in which Watson received a first half red card) [7] and the club escaped relegation, finishing in 10th place. [8] He agreed a new two-year contract in May 2023. [9] [6]

At the start of the 2023–24 season, Watson continued to feature in the starting lineup and was praised for his performances as Kilmarnock defeated both Rangers (in the Premiership) and Celtic (in the League Cup) by 1–0 scorelines at Rugby Park within the space of a fortnight. [10] In November 2023, he signed a further extension to his deal until 2026 after more impressive performances for the first team. [11] Kilmarnock finished fourth in the Premiership to qualify for the 2024–25 UEFA Europa League and Watson's contributions were recognised with Young Player of the Year awards from both the Writers' Association [12] and the Footballers' Association. [13] [14]

International career

Watson received his first call-up to the Scotland under-19 national team in August 2023. [15]

Personal life

Watson's mother Claire Houston was also a footballer, as well as a Scottish senior international. [2] [6]

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References

  1. ↑ Statutory registers - Births - Search results, ScotlandsPeople. Retrieved 26 August 2023
  2. 1 2 3 Kilmarnock teenager David Watson wants to follow in footsteps of boss Derek McInnes, Colin Paterson, Daily Record, 13 December 2022
  3. ↑ QMA newsletter Issue 7 | Sporting Update, Queen Margaret Academy, 2 December 2016; via issuu
  4. ↑ David Watson | News & Quotes, KillieFC.com. Retrieved 26 August 2023
  5. ↑ David Watson exemplifies why Kilmarnock training ground is so vital, Ewan Paton, The Herald, 6 April 2023
  6. 1 2 3 Kilmarnock prospect David Watson targeting Scotland debut to make family proud, Gavin McCafferty, The Irish News, 12 May 2023
  7. ↑ Kilmarnock 0 St Johnstone 1: Instant reaction to the burning issues, David Irvine, The National, 20 May 2023
  8. ↑ Kilmarnock star David Watson spending summer in gym as he bids to bulk up for first team success, Lochlin Highet, Daily Record, 15 June 2023
  9. ↑ David Watson commits his future to the club, Kilmarnock FC, 11 May 2023
  10. ↑ Kilmarnock 1-0 Celtic: Who impressed?, BBC Sport, 20 August 2023
  11. ↑ Watson pens new deal, Kilmarnock FC, 29 November 2023
  12. ↑ "David Watson wins Young Player of the Year". scottishfwa.com. SFWA. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  13. ↑ Alan Pattullo (4 May 2024). "PFA Scotland wonderkids can be 2034 World Cup stars as young player award marks 10 years since Andy Robertson". The Scotsman. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  14. ↑ "Lawrence Shankland, David Watson & Rangers trio win PFA awards". BBC Sport. 5 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  15. ↑ Watson and Wales receive Scotland call-ups, Kilmarnock FC, 22 August 2023
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