| Allan Watson | |
| Number: | 14 |
| Birth Date: | 5 November 1942 |
| Birth Place: | Newport, Wales |
| Death Place: | Calcutta, Ohio, U.S. |
| Position: | Placekicker |
| Height Ft: | 5 |
| Height In: | 9 |
| Weight Lb: | 162 |
| High School: | Blackwood (Wales) |
| College: | University of Wales, Newport |
| Pastteams: | Association football (soccer)
American football
|
| Statlabel1: | Games played |
| Statvalue1: | 4 |
| Statlabel2: | Field goals made |
| Statvalue2: | 5 |
| Statlabel3: | Field goals attempted |
| Statvalue3: | 10 |
| Pfr: | WatsAl20 |
Allan Watson (November 5, 1942 – March 1, 2024) was a Welsh gridiron football player.
Born on November 5, 1942, in Wales, Watson attended school in Blackwood, Caerphilly.[1] He later attended the Newport College of Technology, part of the University of Wales, Newport, receiving a degree in metallurgy.[2] He moved to the U.S. in 1967 to work for a crucible steel business in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[2] He grew up playing association football (soccer) and tried out for the local Pittsburgh Phantoms of the short-lived National Professional Soccer League (NPSL), making the team while appearing in three matches as an inside forward.[2] [3]
Watson was introduced to American football by a close friend and began practicing to be a placekicker after the Phantoms folded in late 1967.[4] He attended a kicking camp hosted by the Dallas Cowboys and run by Ben Agajanian; Watson performed well enough to be signed by the team.[2] He only appeared in preseason for the team and later requested a release.[4] He tried out for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1969 and received a contract, later being sent to the Ohio Valley Ironmen of the Continental Football League (CoFL).[2] He was 7-of-20 on field goal attempts and made all 32 of his extra point attempts with the Ironmen, scoring a total of 53 points while having a long of 41 yards.[2] [5]
After returning to the Steelers in 1970, Watson played through preseason but was ultimately released in favor of Gene Mingo; however, after Mingo struggled late in the season, Watson was re-signed and played in the final four games.[6] [7] He made 5-of-10 field goal attempts and converted 7-of-8 extra point tries, scoring 22 points while his longest kick was 45 yards.[1] He was released prior to the 1971 season in favor of Roy Gerela.[6]
After his stint with the Steelers, Watson played from 1972 to 1974 with the Youngstown Hardhats of the Midwest Football League (MFL), setting league records with a 56-yard field goal and 90-yard punt.[4] He joined the Chicago Fire of the World Football League (WFL) in 1974, making 4-of-7 field goal attempts including a league-record 53-yard kick.[4] He then played for their WFL successor, the Chicago Winds, in 1975, before retiring.[4]
Watson was married. He died on March 1, 2024, at the age of 81.[8]
| Year | Team | GP | Field goals | Extra points | Total points | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | PIT | 4 | 5 | 10 | 50.0 | 2-2 | 2-2 | 0-1 | 1-4 | 0-1 | 45 | 7 | 8 | 87.5 | 22 | |
| Total | 4 | 5 | 10 | 50.0 | 2-2 | 2-2 | 0-1 | 1-4 | 0-1 | 45 | 7 | 8 | 87.5 | 22 | ||
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