I can’t do a series of features/articles covering Manchester City in the 1970s without mentioning one of my greatest heroes – Dave Watson. Prior to Watson my heroes had been Rodney Marsh (my brother picked Colin Bell and we weren’t allowed to have the same hero!), then Dennis Tueart and then Dave Watson arrived in 1975 and, together with Dennis, he remained the hero forever more. Even a move away from City didn’t change my thoughts and for decades, probably until Vincent Kompany, City didn’t have a defender who could rival Watson for his consistency and determination.
I’ve been fortunate enough to meet Dave a few times over the years (I was lucky enough to sit next to him at the 2008 UEFA Cup final at MCFC – or at least my wife sat next to him; I was next to her) and I also interviewed him a few years back. In his presence he remained very much the hero and was a genuinely nice guy to chat to. Sometimes they say don’t meet your heroes but in Dave’s case he was everything I’d hoped him to be.
These two cuttings mark the beginning of his MCFC career and his end. Two simple newspaper articles that highlight transfers. That’s all. But as any City fan knows the years, games and moments in between were tremendous as Dave helped City find major success and also challenge in both the League and in Europe too.
You can find out more about Dave’s time at City by searching my website for his name or by following the links. The seasons Dave played for City are covered as part of my 1970s series. Subscribers get access to everything. If you want to know more on this incredible decade for Manchester City Football Club then why not subscribe and read it all? You could even subscribe for a month and see what you think. The following 5,320 word article is on the 1975-76 season and is available to subscribers below. Enjoy!
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Gary James' Football Archive 