Callum Watson (footballer)
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 28 February 2000 | ||
Place of birth | Chelmsford, England | ||
Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Chattanooga FC | ||
Number | 6 | ||
Youth career | |||
2011–2016 | Colchester United | ||
2016 | AFC Sudbury | ||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2018–2019 | Hastings Broncos | 38 | (14) |
2020–2022 | Creighton Bluejays | 51 | (6) |
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2016–2017 | AFC Sudbury | 7 | (0) |
2023 | AFC Sudbury | 0 | (0) |
2023 | HFX Wanderers | 24 | (3) |
2024– | Chattanooga FC | 6 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 April 2024 |
Callum Watson (born 28 February 2000) is an English professional football player who plays for Chattanooga FC in MLS Next Pro.
Early life
[edit]Watson played youth football with Colchester United for five years, until he was sixteen, when he was released due to being too small.[2] Afterwards, he then joined the AFC Sudbury academy program.[2]
College career
[edit]In 2018, Watson headed to the United States, through the U.S Sports Scholarships organization, which helps English footballers attend an American post-secondary institution to earn a degree and play college soccer.[3] He joined Hastings College and played for their men's soccer team in the NAIA.[4] He made his debut on October 26, 2018 against the Bethany Bison, scoring his first goal and adding two assists in a 5-0 victory.[5] In his first season, he won the conference title as well as the conference tournament title.[6] He was named a GPAC First Team All-Star in both 2018 and 2019.[7][8] In 2019, he helped the team to a second place finish at the national NAIA Men's Soccer Championship and earned All-Tournament Team honours and was also named a First Team All-America.[3] During his two seasons with Hastings, he scored 14 goals and added 28 assists in 38 matches.[9]
In December 2019, it was announced that he would transfer to Creighton University, beginning classes in January, and joining the men's soccer team in the NCAA in the fall.[10] He recorded his first assist on March 17, 2021 against the Butler Bulldogs.[11] On March 29, 2021, he scored his first goal for Creighton in a 3-1 victory over the Kansas City Roos.[12] He was named to the All-Big East Second Team for the 2021 Spring season (which occurred as the regular 2020 fall season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic).[13] In October 2021, he was named the Big East Offensive Player of the Week.[14] After the 2021 Fall season, he was named to the USCA All-East Region Third Team as well as the All-BIG EAST Second Team for the second time.[15] After his final season in 2022, he was named to the All-Big East Third Team.[16]
Club career
[edit]On 6 October 2016, made his senior debut with AFC Sudbury in the seventh tier Isthmian League Premier Division against Kingstonian.[17][18] He made a further ten appearances the following season, including scoring in an FA Trophy draw against Aylesbury United on 7 October 2017.[18][19]
In January 2023, he briefly returned to AFC Sudbury, now in the eighth tier Isthmian League North Division.[20][21] However, he soon after signed a professional contract and instead remained with Sudbury on a training stint, without appearing in matches to avoid injury risk.[2]
On January 25, 2023, Watson signed with Canadian Premier League club HFX Wanderers for the 2023 season, with an option for 2024.[22][23] He had received offers to attend preseason with Major League Soccer clubs Real Salt Lake and Houston Dynamo FC, but instead opted to sign the guaranteed contract with the Wanderers instead.[24] On 10 June 2023, Watson scored a brace in a 2-0 victory over Valour FC to help the Wanderers earn their first victory of the season,[25][26] earning league Team of the Week honours for the first time.[27] In his sole season with the club, he scored three goals and added an assist in 26 appearances, across all competitions.[28][29]
On January 26, 2024, Watson transferred to Chattanooga FC in the MLS Next Pro for an undisclosed fee.[30][31]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of 27 April 2024[1]
Club | Season | League | Playoffs | Domestic Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
AFC Sudbury | 2016–17[32] | Isthmian League Premier | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
2017–18[33] | Isthmian League North | 6 | 0 | — | 1[a] | 0 | 3[b] | 1 | 10 | 1 | ||
Total | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 1 | ||
HFX Wanderers | 2023 | Canadian Premier League | 24 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 26 | 3 | |
Chattanooga FC | 2024 | USL Championship | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | |
Career total | 37 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 44 | 4 |
- Notes
References
[edit]- ^ a b Callum Watson at Soccerway
- ^ a b c Claydon, Russell (2 February 2023). "Callum Watson thankful to AFC Sudbury after signing professional contract with Canadian Premier League side Halifax Wanderers". Suffolk News.
- ^ a b "AFC Sudbury – Celebrating 5 Years of Partnership". U.S Sports Scholarships. 13 July 2022.
- ^ "Callum Watson Hastings profile". Hastings Broncos.
- ^ Blasntiz, Nick (27 August 2018). "HC men's soccer opens year with win". Hastings Tribune.
- ^ "Our Client Shares His Experiences of a Soccer Scholarship in America". U.S Sports Scholarships. July 2019.
- ^ "Whitehall and Tello GPAC Players of the Year; Eight Broncos Honored". Hastings Broncos. 12 November 2018.
- ^ "Lisboa GPAC Defender of the Year; Eight Broncos Earn All-Conference Honors". Hastings Broncos. 18 November 2019.
- ^ "Callum Watson Creighton profile". Creighton Bluejays.
- ^ Robinson, Anthony (11 December 2019). "Men's Soccer Announces Addition Of Three For 2020, Each Heads To Omaha In Spring". Creighton Bluejays.
- ^ "Callum Watson Creighton profile". Creighton Bluejays.
- ^ Robinson, Anthony (29 March 2021). "Men's Soccer Collects 3-1 Win Against Kansas City During Monday Afternoon Match At Morrison". Creighton Bluejays.
- ^ Robinson, Anthony (14 April 2021). "Diego Gutierrez Named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, Five Bluejays Listed On All-BIG EAST Teams". Creighton Bluejays.
- ^ Martin, Derek (25 October 2021). "Creighton's Watson, Kruse honored by Big East Conference". KMA Land.
- ^ Sisk, Glen (9 December 2021). "Gutierrez and Watson Earn United Soccer Coaches Association Regional Honors". Creighton Bluejays.
- ^ Fritsch, Max (9 November 2022). "McGuire Claims BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year as Seven Bluejays Earn Postseason Honors". Creighton Bluejays.
- ^ Sargeant, Kalvin (6 October 2016). "Disappointing afternoon for AFC". AFC Sudbury.
- ^ a b Townsend, Ian (13 January 2013). "AFC Sudbury announce the return of Callum Watson". Isthmian League.
- ^ "Match Details - AFC Sudbury 2-2 Aylesbury United". Aylesbury United. 7 October 2017.
- ^ Screech, Steve (13 January 2023). "Callum's back". AFC Sudbury. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023.
- ^ Claydon, Russell (12 January 2023). "Callum Watson returns for short-term spell at AFC Sudbury following American adventure with Bluejays at Creighton University". Suffolk News.
- ^ "Wanderers sign international midfielder Callum Watson". HFX Wanderers FC. 25 January 2023.
- ^ Jacques, John (25 January 2023). "English Midfielder Callum Watson Turns Pro With Halifax". Northern Tribune.
- ^ Jacques, John (2 February 2023). "Watson Had MLS Interest Before Landing With Wanderers". Northern Tribune.
- ^ Gangué-Ruzic, Alexandre (10 June 2023). "Match Analysis: Callum Watson brace helps Halifax Wanderers past Valour FC for 1st win of 2023 CPL season". Canadian Premier League.
- ^ Bauman, Martin; Stickland, Matt (12 June 2023). "The Wanderer Grounds podcast: Watson heroics power HFX Wanderers FC past Valour FC in 2-0 thriller". The Coast.
- ^ "Wanderers Daniels, Loughrey, Watson named to CPL Team of the Week". Canadian Premier League. 12 June 2023.
- ^ "Wanderers transfer Callum Watson to Chattanooga FC". HFX Wanderers FC. 26 January 2024.
- ^ Jacques, John (26 January 2024). "Wanderers Sell Watson To Chattanooga FC". Northern Tribune.
- ^ "Chattanooga Football Club signs Callum Watson from Halifax Wanderers". Chattanooga FC. 26 January 2024.
- ^ "Halifax Wanderers agree to transfer of Callum Watson to Chattanooga FC". Canadian Premier League. 26 January 2024.
- ^ "2016–17 Statistics". footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
- ^ "2017–18 Statistics". footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
External links
[edit]- Callum Watson at Soccerway
- Living people
- 2000 births
- Men's association football midfielders
- English men's footballers
- Footballers from Chelmsford
- English expatriate men's footballers
- Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
- English expatriate sportspeople in the United States
- Expatriate men's soccer players in Canada
- English expatriate sportspeople in Canada
- Colchester United F.C. players
- A.F.C. Sudbury players
- Creighton Bluejays men's soccer players
- HFX Wanderers FC players
- Isthmian League players
- Canadian Premier League players
- Chattanooga FC players
- USL Championship players
- 21st-century English sportsmen