| Such sad news about legendary Dave Watson 09:12 - Nov 18 with 1340 views | GRIM |
Before the England game started yesterday they did a feature on Dave Watson who is now suffering Dementia.
How sad to see him as he is now, I'll always remember him as a giant in the game.
At the time he was probably the best centre back in the game.
We were lucky enough to see him play for us albeit at the end of his memorable career.
Best wishes Dave & thanks for the memories. |  | | |  |
| Such sad news about legendary Dave Watson on 10:06 - Nov 18 with 1271 views | kingslandstand1 |
Wasn't he one of about 6 or 7 England captains we had at various times?
But you are right Grim, a giant in the game, as a player and literally. Yes, sad to see him, as quite a few players of that and earlier eras, ending up with this horrible condition |  | | |
| Such sad news about legendary Dave Watson on 10:13 - Nov 18 with 1251 views | Flamingbankers |
My favourite centre-half of all time - fearless, body and head like a rock, an incredible central defender. Probably wouldn't get in a RM team because he didn't do tippy-tappy. | |
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| Such sad news about legendary Dave Watson on 12:38 - Nov 18 with 1150 views | LondonSaint76 |
Agreed, so sad to see such a commanding player reduced to what he is today by this cruel condition. Had a bench seat under the West Stand when he was playing for us, it was just past the outside edge of the box so for 45 mins every game we had a ringside seat for a Dave Watson or a Chris Nicholl masterclass every home game. Hard as nails the pair of them but sadly both have had to pay a high price in later life - and I still have not forgiven the SFC hierarchy for failing to acknowledge CN’s passing at the following home game. |  |
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| Such sad news about legendary Dave Watson on 13:23 - Nov 18 with 1082 views | SaintNick |
| Such sad news about legendary Dave Watson on 12:38 - Nov 18 by LondonSaint76 |
Agreed, so sad to see such a commanding player reduced to what he is today by this cruel condition. Had a bench seat under the West Stand when he was playing for us, it was just past the outside edge of the box so for 45 mins every game we had a ringside seat for a Dave Watson or a Chris Nicholl masterclass every home game. Hard as nails the pair of them but sadly both have had to pay a high price in later life - and I still have not forgiven the SFC hierarchy for failing to acknowledge CN’s passing at the following home game. |
Dave Watson was a great player, the most surprising thing about him though was his playing career, up to the age of 24, one season aside he had never played above old 3rd division level, he then joined Sunderlandwhere he played 5 years of 2nd Division football, only coming to prominence in the FA Cup final of 1974
He joined Manchester City and played his first top flight game in August 1975 a couple of months short of his 29th birthday, although he had been given his first England cap a year earlier.
He joined us in October 1979 aged 33 and played this season and then the next, in his 3rd season at the club, he was dropped early in the season and replaced by Malcolm Waldron and then went to Stoke then also a top flight club, he eventually retired from League football where he began at Notts County then in the 2nd Division aged 39, then played non league for a few years.
Only played 73 League games for us and although not at his peak, was still a regular in the England team
Dave Watson was a great player in what was essentially a short time at the club, so perhaps not a club legend as he was at Sunderland & Man City, but a good player just the same. |  |
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| Such sad news about legendary Dave Watson on 13:40 - Nov 18 with 1060 views | SaintNick |
| Such sad news about legendary Dave Watson on 12:38 - Nov 18 by LondonSaint76 |
Agreed, so sad to see such a commanding player reduced to what he is today by this cruel condition. Had a bench seat under the West Stand when he was playing for us, it was just past the outside edge of the box so for 45 mins every game we had a ringside seat for a Dave Watson or a Chris Nicholl masterclass every home game. Hard as nails the pair of them but sadly both have had to pay a high price in later life - and I still have not forgiven the SFC hierarchy for failing to acknowledge CN’s passing at the following home game. |
My understanding is that SFC did not do anything for Chris Nicholl as they were concerned that it would stir up a hornet's nest in regard to the Bob Higgins sexual abuse case, Chris was manager of the club from 1985-1991, the time when most of the allegations were centred on, there had been a lot of stuff in the media and a report that found SFC had failed to act on the situation at the time.
The feeling was that if the club had given a big tribute to Chris it would have brought much of this up again and impacted on his family.
So it is harsh to blame the club over this, in fact it is the opposite, they had actually been very sensitive to the situation and Chris's family and not opened a potential can of worms for them as they grieved their loss.
As far as im aware his family knew the situation and they have not criticised the club publicly.
However so I'm also told the when the Nicholl family wanted to hold the wake at St Mary's they were quoted the extortionate price that everyone has to pay.
That is not Sport Republic's fault, just those who run the catering side of the club, who showed no real knowledge of the club or its history | |
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| Such sad news about legendary Dave Watson on 14:18 - Nov 18 with 1011 views | PatfromPoole |
| Such sad news about legendary Dave Watson on 13:40 - Nov 18 by SaintNick |
My understanding is that SFC did not do anything for Chris Nicholl as they were concerned that it would stir up a hornet's nest in regard to the Bob Higgins sexual abuse case, Chris was manager of the club from 1985-1991, the time when most of the allegations were centred on, there had been a lot of stuff in the media and a report that found SFC had failed to act on the situation at the time.
The feeling was that if the club had given a big tribute to Chris it would have brought much of this up again and impacted on his family.
So it is harsh to blame the club over this, in fact it is the opposite, they had actually been very sensitive to the situation and Chris's family and not opened a potential can of worms for them as they grieved their loss.
As far as im aware his family knew the situation and they have not criticised the club publicly.
However so I'm also told the when the Nicholl family wanted to hold the wake at St Mary's they were quoted the extortionate price that everyone has to pay.
That is not Sport Republic's fault, just those who run the catering side of the club, who showed no real knowledge of the club or its history |
I think I read an interview with Dave Merrington that he flagged his concerns to the powers that be, but was strongly advised by the Board at the time to overlook it.
A number of those people would then make a tidy sum out of the Secure Retirement reverse takeover, having conned an elderly shareholder out of his potentially valuable shares (I forget his name, but others with a better memory than me will recall…). |  |
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| Such sad news about legendary Dave Watson on 15:43 - Nov 18 with 937 views | LondonSaint76 |
| Such sad news about legendary Dave Watson on 13:40 - Nov 18 by SaintNick |
My understanding is that SFC did not do anything for Chris Nicholl as they were concerned that it would stir up a hornet's nest in regard to the Bob Higgins sexual abuse case, Chris was manager of the club from 1985-1991, the time when most of the allegations were centred on, there had been a lot of stuff in the media and a report that found SFC had failed to act on the situation at the time.
The feeling was that if the club had given a big tribute to Chris it would have brought much of this up again and impacted on his family.
So it is harsh to blame the club over this, in fact it is the opposite, they had actually been very sensitive to the situation and Chris's family and not opened a potential can of worms for them as they grieved their loss.
As far as im aware his family knew the situation and they have not criticised the club publicly.
However so I'm also told the when the Nicholl family wanted to hold the wake at St Mary's they were quoted the extortionate price that everyone has to pay.
That is not Sport Republic's fault, just those who run the catering side of the club, who showed no real knowledge of the club or its history |
Thanks Nick, fair comment, I had not considered the reasons you have highlighted and therefore the potential impact had the Club done something along the lines of what Villa did to remember Chris. Having read your post it now makes sense so thanks for enlightening me - just didn’t join the dots up on that one… | |
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