Tom Watson (footballer, born 1900)

Tom Watson
Personal information
Full name Thomas Houston Watson
Date of birth (1900-10-04)4 October 1900
Place of birth Belfast, Northern Ireland
Date of death 13 May 1978(1978-05-13) (aged 77)
Place of death Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Youth career
Glenarm
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
–1925 Crusaders
1925–1929 Cardiff City 85 (0)
1929–1932 Linfield
1932–1934 Crusaders
International career
1926 Ireland 1 (0)
Managerial career
1934– Whiteabbey
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Thomas Houston Watson (4 October 1900 – 13 May 1978) was an Irish professional footballer. He began his career with Irish Intermediate League side Crusaders as a half back before joining Cardiff City in 1925 where he converted to defence. He became a regular first team player during his debut season in the Football League and later played in the 1927 FA Cup Final, helping the side become the only team from outside England to win the competition.

He made more than 100 appearances for Cardiff in all competitions until a cartilage injury cost him his place in the side. He returned to Ireland with Linfield, winning a league and cup double in his first season. He later returned to play for Crusaders before managing amateur side Whiteabbey, where he won the Irish Football Alliance in his first season. He later became a referee. Watson also won a single cap for Ireland, in a match against Scotland in 1926, and played for representative sides of both the Irish Intermediate League and Welsh League during his career.