Max Watters

Max Watters

Watters with Ashford United in January 2018
Personal information
Full name	Max James Watters [1]
Date of birth	(1999-03-23) 23 March 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth	Camden, England
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.86 m) [2]
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	Barnsley
Number	36
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–2017	Thurrock	0	(0)
2017	→ Barking (loan)	11	(3)
2017–2018	Ashford United	25	(8)
2018–2020	Doncaster Rovers	5	(0)
2018	→ Grantham Town (loan)	17	(4)
2019	→ Gainsborough Trinity (loan)
2019	→ Mickleover Sports (loan)	6	(1)
2020	→ Maidstone United (loan)	4	(0)
2020–2021	Crawley Town	15	(13)
2021–2023	Cardiff City	22	(1)
2021	→ Milton Keynes Dons (loan)	11	(5)
2023	→ Barnsley (loan)	19	(4)
2023–	Barnsley	42	(7)
International career
2017	England Schoolboys
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:21, 29 January 2025 (UTC)

Max James Watters (born 23 March 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for EFL League One club Barnsley.

Watters started his career playing non-league football with Thurrock, Barking and Ashford United before signing with League One side Doncaster Rovers in summer 2018. Following loan spells at Grantham Town, Gainsborough Trinity, Mickleover Sports and Maidstone United, he was released by Doncaster Rovers at the end of the 2019–20 season. He signed for League Two club Crawley Town in October 2020, moving to Championship club Cardiff City in January 2021.

Early and personal life

Born in Camden, ^{[3] [4]} Watters attended Hall Mead School and Shenfield High School. ^[5]

Club career

Early career

Watters began his career in non-league football with Thurrock, Barking and Ashford United. ^{[5] [6]} He never made a first-team appearance for Thurrock. ^[7] With Barking, he scored 3 goals in 11 league games, and 3 goals in 4 cup games. ^[8] With Ashford, he scored 8 goals in 25 league games; he also made a further 2 cup appearances, without scoring. ^[9]

Doncaster Rovers

In May 2018 it was announced that Watters would turn professional with Doncaster Rovers for the 2018–19 season, joining the club on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee. ^[10] He moved on loan to Grantham Town in August 2018. ^[11] He scored 4 goals in 21 games in all competitions for Grantham Town. ^[12] He then joined Northern Premier League club Gainsborough Trinity on 18 January 2019 on a month-long loan. ^[13] He scored on his debut for the club the following day with the only goal of a 1–0 win over Mickleover Sports. ^[14]

In September 2019 he moved on loan to Mickleover Sports. ^{[15] [16] [17]} He made his senior debut for Doncaster on 29 October 2019 in the EFL Trophy, before making his league debut on 7 December 2019 as a substitute in a 1–1 draw with Milton Keynes Dons. ^{[18] [19]} On 21 February 2020, he moved to Maidstone United on a month-long loan. ^[20] He made his league debut for the club the following day, starting in a 2–1 defeat at home to Hampton & Richmond Borough. ^{[21] [22]} He failed to score in four league appearances whilst at Maidstone United. ^[23] He was released by Doncaster at the end of the 2019–20 season, having made 5 league appearances whilst at the club. ^{[23] [24]}

Crawley Town

After being released by Doncaster Rovers, Watters had trial spells with Maidstone United, Bromley and Dagenham & Redbridge before joining League Two club Crawley Town on trial after playing against them in a friendly for Maidstone United in September 2020. ^{[25] [26]} On 10 October 2020, he signed for Crawley Town on a one-year contract with the option of a further year. ^[27] He scored on his Crawley debut on 13 October 2020 in an EFL Trophy tie against Arsenal U21s. ^[28] He then scored twice on his league debut in a 4–0 victory over Morecambe four days later. ^[29] After scoring 5 goals in 5 League Two games for Crawley in October 2020, ^[30] he was nominated for the EFL League Two Player of the Month award for October, ^[31] though it was awarded to Cambridge United striker Paul Mullin. ^[32] Crawley's signing of Watters was praised by former footballer Stephen Warnock (appearing on the EFL on Quest TV show) as a "terrific piece of recruitment". ^[33] Having scored 6 league goals in December 2020, including a brace as a substitute against Mansfield Town and a hat-trick against Barrow, he was awarded the League Two Player of the Month award for December. ^{[34] [35] [26]}

Cardiff City

He signed for Cardiff City on 16 January 2021 on a three-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee. ^[36] Crawley Town manager John Yems later suggested the fee was £1 million. ^[37]

On 8 July 2021, Watters joined League One side Milton Keynes Dons on loan for the duration of the 2021–22 season. ^{[38] [39]} After missing the start of the season through injury, he scored his first goal for the club on 18 September 2021 in a 4–1 away win over Gillingham. ^[40] On 30 December 2021, Cardiff City activated a clause to return Watters from his loan early, having scored 7 goals in 14 appearances in all competitions for MK Dons. ^[41]

Following his return, on 22 January 2022 Watters scored his first goal for Cardiff in his first game back for the club in a 3–2 defeat away to Bristol City. ^[42]

On 5 January 2023, Watters returned to League One to join Barnsley on loan until the end of the 2022–23 season. ^{[43] [44]} He scored his first goal for Barnsley on 11 February 2023 in a 2-0 win against Cambridge United, but was later sent off in the same match. ^[45]

He signed permanently for Barnsley in July 2023. ^[46]

International career

Watters has represented England Schoolboys. ^[47]

Career statistics

As of match played 28 January 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Thurrock	2016–17 [7]	Isthmian League Division One North	0	0	0	0	—		0	0	0	0
Barking (loan)	2016–17 [8]	Essex Senior Football League	11	3	0	0	—		4	3	15	6
Ashford United	2017–18 [9]	Isthmian League South East Division	25	8	0	0	—		2	0	27	8
Doncaster Rovers	2018–19 [48]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2019–20 [18]	League One	5	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	6	0
	Total		5	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	6	0
Grantham Town (loan)	2018–19 [12]	Northern Premier League Premier Division	17	4	3	0	—		1	0	21	4
Mickleover Sports (loan)	2019–20 [17]	Northern Premier League Premier Division	6	1	0	0	—		1	0	7	1
Maidstone United (loan)	2019–20 [23]	National League South	4	0	0	0	—		0	0	4	0
Crawley Town	2020–21 [30]	League Two	15	13	3	2	0	0	1	1	19	16
Cardiff City	2020–21 [30]	Championship	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
	2021–22 [49]	Championship	8	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	8	1
	2022–23 [50]	Championship	11	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	20	0
	Total		22	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	22	1
Milton Keynes Dons (loan)	2021–22 [49]	League One	11	5	2	1	0	0	1	1	14	7
Barnsley (loan)	2022–23 [50]	League One	19	4	0	0	0	0	2 [a]	0	21	4
Barnsley	2023–24 [51]	League One	24	3	2	1	0	0	3 [b]	0	29	4
	2024–245 [52]	League One	18	4	1	0	3	1	0	0	22	5
	Total		42	7	3	1	3	1	3	0	51	9
Career total			177	44	11	4	3	1	16	5	207	56

1. Appearances in the play-offs
2. Appearances in the EFL Trophy

Honours

Individual

• EFL League Two Player of the Month: December 2020 ^[35]

References

1. "Players given a Free Transfer: Doncaster Rovers" (PDF). 23 June 2020. p. 87. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
2. "FootballSquads - Crawley Town - 2020/2021". www.footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
3. Max Watters at Soccerbase
4. Max Watters at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
5. George, Sessions (24 January 2017). "Shenfield High School student Max Watters enjoying time on loan at Essex Senior League club Barking". Barking & Dagenham Post. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
6. Steve, Tervet (7 December 2017). "Ashford United to give former Barking striker Max Watters a contract after treble against Thamesmead". Kent Online. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
7. "Ex-Players". Thurrock F.C. Retrieved 22 May 2018.^{[ dead link ‍]}
8. "Season 2016/17". Barking F.C. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
9. "Statistics". Ashford United F.C. 30 April 2018. Archived from the original on 29 May 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
10. "Max Watters: Doncaster Rovers agree deal for Ashford United forward". BBC Sport. 22 May 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
11. "Pair loaned to Grantham Town". www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk. Doncaster Rovers F.C. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
12. "Profile". Grantham Town F.C. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
13. "Max Watters joins Gainsborough Trinity on loan". www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk. Doncaster Rovers F.C. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
14. "Debutant Max Watters is instant Gainsborough Trinity hit". Gainsborough Standard. 19 January 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
15. "McGrath gets his man Watters on loan". mickleoverfc.com. Mickleover Sports F.C. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
16. "Donny prospect Watters loaned to Mickleover". nonleaguedaily.com. 27 September 2019. Archived from the original on 1 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
17. "Mickleover Sports - Appearances - Max Watters - 2019-2020". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
18. "Games played by Max Watters in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
19. Hoden, Liam (9 December 2019). "Doncaster Rovers: Darren Moore on Max Watters' league debut and chances of further appearances". Doncaster Free Press. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
20. "Stones boost squad". Kent Online. 21 February 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
21. Tucker, Craig (22 February 2020). "Maidstone United 1-2 Hampton & Richmond Borough match report". Kent Online. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
22. Tucker, Craig (28 February 2020). "Maidstone United striker Max Watters speaks about his loan move from Doncaster Rovers". Kent Online. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
23. Max Watters at Soccerway. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
24. "Retained list confirmed". www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk. Doncaster Rovers F.C. 30 June 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
25. Tucker, Craig (30 November 2020). "Maidstone United manager Hakan Hayrettin reveals how deal for 10-goal Crawley Town striker Max Watters slipped away". Kent Online. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
26. Gholam, Simeon (8 January 2021). "Max Watters: How fate paved the way for Crawley's scoring sensation". Sky Sports. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
27. Gadsdon, Sam (10 October 2020). "Reds make double signing". www.crawleytownfc.com. Crawley Town F.C. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
28. Dunford, Mark (13 October 2020). "Crawley Town 1, Arsenal u21s 2: New signing scores on debut for Reds but Gunners win". Sussexworld. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
29. Blackburn, Coren (17 October 2020). "Crawley Town run riot in second-half masterclass as they hammer Morecambe". Crawley Observer. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
30. "Games played by Max Watters in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
31. Dunford, Mark (10 November 2020). "Crawley Town star nominated for October Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month award". Crawley & Horley Observer. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
32. Dunford, Mark (13 November 2020). "Crawley Town striker misses out on Skybet EFL Player of the Month award". Sussexworld. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
33. Dunford, Mark (3 January 2021). "Former Liverpool star says Crawley Town's Max Watters is 'one of the best stories of the season so far'". Sussexworld. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
34. Dunford, Mark (5 January 2021). "Crawley Town pair up for monthly Sky Bet League Two awards". West Sussex County Times. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
35. "Sky Bet League Two: December Manager and Player of the Month winners". www.efl.com. English Football League. 8 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
36. "Cardiff sign Crawley striker Watters". BBC Sport. 16 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
37. "Crawley boss labels season as 'good' despite final day defeat". The Argus.
38. "MK Dons move for Max Watters". www.mkdons.com. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
39. "MK Dons sign Cardiff's Watters on loan". BBC Sport.
40. "Gillingham 1-4 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC. 18 September 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
41. "Cardiff City confirm Max Watters has been recalled from MK Dons loan and when he is likely to play". WalesOnline. 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
42. "Bristol City 3-2 Cardiff City: Chris Martin brace helps Robins beat rival Bluebirds". BBC. 22 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
43. "MAX WATTERS ARRIVES ON LOAN". www.barnsleyfc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
44. "Barnsley sign Cardiff striker Watters on loan". BBC Sport.
45. "Barnsley 2-0 Cambridge". BBC. 11 February 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
46. "Barnsley sign strikers Watters and Dallas" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
47. Lambert, Luke (28 January 2017). "Thurrock kid secures England Schoolboys call-up". Thurrock Gazette. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
48. "Games played by Max Watters in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
49. "Games played by Max Watters in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
50. "Games played by Max Watters in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
51. "Games played by Max Watters in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
52. "Games played by Max Watters in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 November 2024.

External links

• Max Watters at cardiffcityfc.co.uk