Watson, Hugh

W | Player Pics | A-Z of Players

---

Personal

Fullname: Hugh Watson
Born: 20 Aug 1882
Died: [1956 – TBC, see *CGS Forum thread]
Birthplace: Maybole
Signed: 29 May 1901 (from Trabboch Thistle)
Left: 20 Oct 1905 (to Kilmarnock) / May 1906 (free) / Oct 1906 (Belfast Celtic)
Position: Half-back, right-back, defender
Debut: Celtic 3-0 Clyde, Glasgow Cup, 14 Sep 1901
Internationals: none

---

Biog

Hugh Watson was signed by Celtic from Trabboch Thistle in May 1901 as a young player aged just 18.

His debut was a 3-0 Glasgow Cup victory at home to Clyde on 14th September 1901, and was a regular player from there on in for next few years. Originally signed as a half-back but was used by the Bhoys predominantly at right-back. He even got play in the Scottish Cup run to the final that first season for him, but sadly Celtic lost in the final to Hibernian 1-0. To rub things in, he then played in the Glasgow Charity Cup match v Hibernian a month later which Celtic lost 6-2.

He was not the most subtle or refined of players but his all action approach to games meant he was a cult favourite among some fans. Very unlike predecessor Alec McNair, Hugh Watson was a bit ruthless:

“Watson stakes everything on one desperate move and if it fails he blames everyone else, especially Battles”.

In 1902, it is believed he was in the side that won the British League Cup at Cathkin Park v Rangers, winning the trophy which Celtic have kept ever since. Some sources claim it was Bobby Davidson.

A poor game v Rangers in a 2-2 Inter-City league match at Ibrox 13 April 1903 led one to quip: “The leather medal must go to Hugh Watson… a superb display of headless muddling… spoiled Adams and MacLeod… practically gifted the two goals to Rangers“. Not a good report, however shouldn’t be taken as too negative on his ability, as he was still young and developing at this stage in his career, being only 20 years of age.

The great Patsy Gallacher stated that he often heard Hugh Watson’s name in awe when spoken about when he was a boy, and when that’s one great player saying that about Hugh Watson then all else doesn’t matter. On the other hand, Patsy Gallacher never actually saw Hugh Watson ever play for Celtic.

He scored his only goal in a 4-1 victory over St Mirren in Feb 1903 in a Scottish Cup Round one replay. Notably, this was a mighty relief as Celtic had to go through four games (inc one abandoned mid-game) to get past St Mirren. Something to cherish.

A leg break against Airdrie in the league in January 1904 (4-3 defeat) signalled the beginning of the end of his Celtic career as it was to be an injury from which he never really fully recovered. Sadly, it also killed off his chances for a Scotland cap which it is said he was on the verge of winning. Certainly eye witnesses at the time say Hugh Watson was not the same player thereafter.

The irony for Hugh Watson is that just as he had become a regular player in the side, the timing of the injury meant he was to play little further part just as Celtic finally turned the corner to win silverware again: the Scottish Cup in 1904 and then the league title in the following seasons as a golden era was just about to begin.

His last match was in late April 1906, with Celtic defeating Hearts 1-0 to retain the league title. Celtic had already wrapped up the league title that season, but Hearts had knocked Celtic out the Scottish Cup so this was revenge and showed who was clearly the best side in Scotland for the season. It was to be Hugh Watson’s only match that season. He actually only got to play in a single run-of-the-mill league match in each of the league title winning seasons of 1904/05 & 1905/06.

However he did get to play in the important league play-off match to decide the league title in season 1904/05, one of the most important matches ever between Celtic & Rangers. Following the completion of the 26 league matches in season 1904/05, Celtic and Rangers were tied on 41 points each for the league title, and so a play-off was held, and Celtic won the match 2-1 to take the league title. This match has also counted as a league match, so really then he played two league matches in season 1904/05.

A golden era for Celtic had now begun which was to see Celtic win six league titles in a row. Possibly if it wasn’t for the leg injury, Hugh Watson could have played a major part in the six-in-a-row run, but sadly not to be and we’ll never know.

He sadly seemed to have little luck at Celtic: losing in the Scottish Cup final v Hibs in his debut season, losing in Glasgow Cup finals (1902 & 1903), missing out on the Scottish Cup final victory in 1904, then just missing out on being a regular player in the golden era with Celtic. He was just there within touching distance of it all and played only a small part in the title winning runs in his time at Celtic. Regardless, he did though get to play in that incredible league play-off match in 1905 to win the title which set up the golden era.

He left Celtic – after 58 league & Scottish Cup appearances with one goal – for Kilmarnock in October 1905 (he was still young aged only 23) and would later join Belfast Celtic.

At Belfast Celtic, it appears that he experienced another major leg injury but Celtic assisted by loaning players to play in a benefit match to help raise funds (source: http://www.belfastceltic.org/history/souvenir.html):

“The famous Jimmy Quinn and William Loney were lent to the club by Glasgow Celtic in May, 1908, to play In a benefit match for Hugh Watson and James Diamond, who had each sustained a fractured leg earlier in the year. Quinn was unable ­to turn out, but acted as linesman. The team in that match was Austin Donnelly; Pat McCann, Alexander McCartney; Henry Nicholl, William Loney, Thomas McPhillips; Johnny Blair, Andy Hunter, William Halligan, Tom Mulholland, and Luke DevIin.”

“Quinn, however, was unable to play in the game and found himself in unfamiliar territory with the hurly burly centre forward running the line as assistant referee.”

From research on the CGS Forum, it is believed he & his family moved to Hamilton in Canada in 1910 and set roots down there. Hugh Watson lived a long life and passed away in 1956.