Striker that can also play a wider role who joined the Pitmen in January 2025 from USL League One side Tormenta FC
Merseysider Watson, the son of decorated former Southport and AFC Telford United manager Liam, is a product of the Accrington Stanley academy, coming through at the WHAM Arena to sign his first professional contract with the club in July 2017. He made his first team debut for Stanley in September 2017, coming on as a substitute in an EFL Trophy tie against Middlesbrough U23s
Two more starts in League Two against Exeter City and Grimsby Town followed in late 2017 before Watson was sent out on loan for a month to Marine in January 2018, scoring twice in four games
At the start of the 2018-2019 season, Watson was loaned to Northern Premier League West side Runcorn Linnets for two months, where he plundered an impressive ten goals in nine starts before returning to Accrington
In January 2019, he was loaned to another NPLW side in the form of Runcorn's local rivals Widnes, where he grabbed two goals in eight starts during a four-month loan
A trip over the Irish Sea in July 2019 saw Watson loaned to League of Ireland outfit Sligo Rovers for four months, making seven starts at the Showgrounds for Rovers
Watson's final loan whilst at Accrington came in February 2020 with a move to League Of Wales side Airbus UK for a month, grabbing three goals in his four starts there
At the end of his contract at Accrington, Watson spent the summer trialling for clubs in the North West before eventually joining his father at Vanarama National League North side Southport after a successful trial period. This proved to be a fruitful move for the forward as he established himself as a step two player at Haig Avenue over the next three seasons with nearly 100 starts and eighteen goals, playing in several attacking positions for Port
In December 2023, Watson announced that he would be moving to the USA to join Tormenta FC, based in Statesboro, Georgia and playing in the third tier of the American pyramid system. His 2024 season was a success as he was a virtual ever-present, making over thirty starts and scoring five times
Upon his return to the UK in early 2025, Hednesford manager Gavin Hurren moved to add to his dwindling attacking options with the signing of Watson ahead of their trip to Wythenshawe. He was mainly used as an impact substitute for the remainder of the campaign, weighing in with a late goal at City of Liverpool in April 2025 as he helped the Pitmen to promotion to the Northern Premier League via the play-offs
Watson was one of the twenty-one of the twenty-six-man squad to agree a new deal with the club in May 2025, signing on for another season at Keys Park. Despite notching in the Pitmen's first home game of the season against Warrington Town, Watson struggled for game time and joined Warrington on a season-long loan in October 2025. After a prolific run of form in front of goal for the Yellows, Watson was recalled by the Pitmen and scored upon his return in a game against Ilkeston Town in December 2026
The remainder of the campaign saw Watson in and out of the squad as the Pitmen clinched promotion back to National League North in May 2026. Watson was already contracted to the club for another year and remained on the books for 2026-2027
In July 2026, with Jay Fitzmartin joining the club from FC United of Manchester, Watson went the opposite way as essentially his replacement on a season-long loan at Broadhurst Park