Vic Watson

Lore & Background

Watson, a centre forward, played 505 times for West Ham between 1920 and 1936. The club paid just £50 for Vic Watson from Cambridge Town, bringing him in to provide cover for Syd Puddefoot. Watson is the club's record goalscorer with 326 goals: 298 in the League and 28 in the FA Cup. 203 of his league goals were from 295 top flight appearances. He once scored six, in an 8–2 home win against Leeds on 9 February 1929, scored four goals on three occasions, and managed 13 hat-tricks while at West Ham. Watson gained two international caps with England in 1923 and a further three caps in 1930, scoring four goals in total, including two against Scotland in the 1930 British Home Championship. He spent one season (1935–36) with Southampton before retiring and he was the club's top scorer with 14 goals in 36 league appearances. Upon retiring from professional footballer, he returned to Cambridgeshire. He became a market gardener in Girton, Cambridgeshire and trained his former club, Cambridge Town. He also made two further appearances for Cambridge Town, the first being at Ipswich Town in the F.A. Cup on 14 November 1936. He also played in the friendly against Newmarket Town on Christmas Day, 1936. Watson died on 3 August 1988 at the age of 90. In June 2010 a plaque honouring Watson was unveiled in Girton.

In Their Own Story

The floodlights hummed over a rain-swept Villa Park in the winter of 1980. The air was thick with anticipation as Vic Watson paced the touchline, his breath visible in the cold night air. He turned to his center-backs, shouting instructions that cut through the roar of the crowd. With a nod and a firm grip on their shoulders, he reminded them: 'We don't just defend; we own this pitch.' As the whistle blew, Watson stepped onto the grass, eyes locked on the opposition striker, ready to lead Villa into another chapter of history.

Reader's Guide

Vic Watson was not an Aston Villa player. He was a centre forward for West Ham United, Southampton, and Cambridge Town. He is West Ham's record goalscorer.

Did You Know?

• Watson scored six goals in an 8–2 home win against Leeds on 9 February 1929.
• He gained five England caps, scoring four goals, including two against Scotland in 1930.
• After retiring, he became a market gardener in Girton, Cambridgeshire.