Callum Watson (footballer)

Callum Watson (born 28 February 2000) is an English professional football player who plays for HFX Wanderers FC in the Canadian Premier League.

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
Place of birth Chelmsford, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 HFX Wanderers
Number 14
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)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 6, 2023

Early life

Watson played youth football with Colchester United for five years, until he was sixteen, when he was released due to being too small.[1] Afterwards, he then joined the AFC Sudbury academy program.[1]

College career

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.[2] He joined Hastings College and played for their men's soccer team in the NAIA.[3] 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.[4] In his first season, he won the conference title as well as the conference tournament title.[5] He was named a GPAC First Team All-Star in both 2018 and 2019.[6][7] 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.[2] During his two seasons with Hastings, he scored 14 goals and added 28 assists in 38 matches.[8]

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.[9] He recorded his first assist on March 17, 2021 against the Butler Bulldogs.[10] On March 29, 2021, he scored his first goal for Creighton in a 3-1 victory over the Kansas City Roos.[11] 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).[12] In October 2021, he was named the Big East Offensive Player of the Week.[13] 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.[14] After his final season in 2022, he was named to the All-Big East Third Team.[15]

Club career

On 6 October 2016, made his senior debut with AFC Sudbury in the seventh tier Isthmian League Premier Division against Kingstonian.[16][17] He made a further ten appearances the following season, including scoring in an FA Trophy draw against Aylesbury United on 7 October 2017.[17][18]

In January 2023, he briefly returned to AFC Sudbury, now in the eighth tier Isthmian League North Division.[19][20] 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.[1]

In January 2023, Watson signed with Canadian Premier League club HFX Wanderers for the 2023 season, with an option for 2024.[21][22] 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.[23] 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,[24][25] earning league Team of the Week honours for the first time.[26]

Career statistics
As of 14 October 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Playoffs Domestic Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
AFC Sudbury 2016–17[27] Isthmian League Premier 10—000010
2017–18[28] Isthmian League North 60—1[lower-alpha 1]03[lower-alpha 2]1101
Total 70001031111
HFX Wanderers 2023 Canadian Premier League 2431010—263
Career total 313102031374
Notes
  1. Appearances in qualification for the FA Cup
  2. Appearances in qualification for the FA Trophy

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