Watson Appointed As Keeper Coach

News
By Peter Lodge
July 8 2002

Wadsworth has appointed former Barnsley keeper Dave Watson as the new goalkeeping coach at the MacAlpine.

Mick Wadsworth has already appointed a new goalkeeping coach, Dave Watson! Yes, none other than the former Barnsley keeper who produced so many top performances to help his struggling team in their desparate bid for survival.

The 28 year old who retired because of injury will work full-time at Huddersfield.

While Wadsworth has still to appoint a No2, Watson will be part of a `coaching team' which already includes chief scout Jeff Lee, youth coach John Dungworth, Academy director Gerry Murphy and physios Alex Moreno and Dave Buckby.

"I have known Dave Watson a long, long time, he is young, energetic and ambitious and just the sort of person I want around me," said Wadsworth today.

"He was an outstanding goalkeeper, one I dealt with a lot when he was breaking through at Barnsley and also in the England Under 21 side.

"He has turned his attentions very successfully to coaching since his career was so sadly ended. He spent 18 months trying to overcome a knee injury but it all turned out to be in vain.

"He hasn't sat around feeling sorry for himself, he has got off his backside and developed his coaching skills.

"He has concentrated on goalkeeping coaching and done a lot of general coaching as well, and I'm delighted to be adding him to the coaching team at the club."

Watson worked on a part-time basis for Oldham last season when Wadsworth was manager at Boundary Park.

At the moment, Town have Phil Senior as the only goalkeeper on the books, although Wadsworth is aiming to make a signing in the next few days.

Watson starts immediately and the manager said: "We will up the fitness work this week and do a lot more with the football too."