Wikipedia

Callum Watson (footballer)

Callum Watson (born 28 February 2000) is an English professional football player who plays for Chattanooga FC in MLS Next Pro.

Callum Watson
Man in a warm coat standing on a football pitch looking in front of him
Watson with HFX Wanderers FC in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-02-28) 28 February 2000 (age 24)
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

Early life

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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

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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

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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

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As of 27 April 2024[1]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
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
  1. ^ Appearances in qualification for the FA Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in qualification for the FA Trophy

References

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  1. ^ a b Callum Watson at Soccerway
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ a b "AFC Sudbury – Celebrating 5 Years of Partnership". U.S Sports Scholarships. 13 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Callum Watson Hastings profile". Hastings Broncos.
  5. ^ Blasntiz, Nick (27 August 2018). "HC men's soccer opens year with win". Hastings Tribune.
  6. ^ "Our Client Shares His Experiences of a Soccer Scholarship in America". U.S Sports Scholarships. July 2019.
  7. ^ "Whitehall and Tello GPAC Players of the Year; Eight Broncos Honored". Hastings Broncos. 12 November 2018.
  8. ^ "Lisboa GPAC Defender of the Year; Eight Broncos Earn All-Conference Honors". Hastings Broncos. 18 November 2019.
  9. ^ "Callum Watson Creighton profile". Creighton Bluejays.
  10. ^ Robinson, Anthony (11 December 2019). "Men's Soccer Announces Addition Of Three For 2020, Each Heads To Omaha In Spring". Creighton Bluejays.
  11. ^ "Callum Watson Creighton profile". Creighton Bluejays.
  12. ^ Robinson, Anthony (29 March 2021). "Men's Soccer Collects 3-1 Win Against Kansas City During Monday Afternoon Match At Morrison". Creighton Bluejays.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ Martin, Derek (25 October 2021). "Creighton's Watson, Kruse honored by Big East Conference". KMA Land.
  15. ^ Sisk, Glen (9 December 2021). "Gutierrez and Watson Earn United Soccer Coaches Association Regional Honors". Creighton Bluejays.
  16. ^ Fritsch, Max (9 November 2022). "McGuire Claims BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year as Seven Bluejays Earn Postseason Honors". Creighton Bluejays.
  17. ^ Sargeant, Kalvin (6 October 2016). "Disappointing afternoon for AFC". AFC Sudbury.
  18. ^ a b Townsend, Ian (13 January 2013). "AFC Sudbury announce the return of Callum Watson". Isthmian League.
  19. ^ "Match Details - AFC Sudbury 2-2 Aylesbury United". Aylesbury United. 7 October 2017.
  20. ^ Screech, Steve (13 January 2023). "Callum's back". AFC Sudbury. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ "Wanderers sign international midfielder Callum Watson". HFX Wanderers FC. 25 January 2023.
  23. ^ Jacques, John (25 January 2023). "English Midfielder Callum Watson Turns Pro With Halifax". Northern Tribune.
  24. ^ Jacques, John (2 February 2023). "Watson Had MLS Interest Before Landing With Wanderers". Northern Tribune.
  25. ^ 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.
  26. ^ 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.
  27. ^ "Wanderers Daniels, Loughrey, Watson named to CPL Team of the Week". Canadian Premier League. 12 June 2023.
  28. ^ "Wanderers transfer Callum Watson to Chattanooga FC". HFX Wanderers FC. 26 January 2024.
  29. ^ Jacques, John (26 January 2024). "Wanderers Sell Watson To Chattanooga FC". Northern Tribune.
  30. ^ "Chattanooga Football Club signs Callum Watson from Halifax Wanderers". Chattanooga FC. 26 January 2024.
  31. ^ "Halifax Wanderers agree to transfer of Callum Watson to Chattanooga FC". Canadian Premier League. 26 January 2024.
  32. ^ "2016–17 Statistics". footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  33. ^ "2017–18 Statistics". footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
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