Charlie Watts (1896/97 to 1907/08)

Middlesbrough born ‘keeper Charlie Watts joined Newcastle from Burton Wanderers at the end of the 1895/96 season for a fee of £50 and would stay at the club for over a decade.

If he had had things his own way he may have joined sooner. When Watts was playing for Blackburn Rovers during the 1894/95 season he contacted United as he considered that he was not receiving fair pay at Blackburn, and was therefore anxious to change his quarters. However, Blackburn wanted £30 for his transfer so United were not ‘aving enny.'

Although he was of robust build Charlie was an agile ‘keeper who possessed both weight and suppleness. He was also known for his ability to punch the ball long distances.

He played in every match in his first two seasons at the club and played a significant part in the Magpies’ promotion in 1897/98.

Therefore he was no doubt aggrieved that United went out and bought a new custodian, Matt Kingsley, who replaced him in the team. During the next five seasons Charlie would only make seven first-team appearances.

In the 1903/04 season he finally got another decent run in the side as he played in every match in 1904 and it is fair to say that he took many by surprise with how well he played.

However any hopes he may have had of re-establishing himself were dashed when James Lawrence was signed and he once more reverted to the Combination side.

Charlie certainly seemed to be very popular wherever he played. There are many anecdotes which portrayed someone who was clearly a character.

He obviously fancied himself as an outfield player. During the 1898/99 season a scratch United team played Leith Athletic and Watts played at outside-left, doing surprisingly well. Then in 1904/05 he swopped positions with Templeton in the friendly thrashing of Parisien. And when the “A” team were well ahead against North Shields Athletic in 1903 he caused amusement when he stopped the ball on the centre-line and then subsequently joined the forwards for a corner.

Although he remained loyal to the club there is no doubt he often got frustrated with the lack of challenge in the Combination League where the Magpies were often far too good for their opponents. And in a match against St Augustine’s he was so tired of not being involved that he began to deliberately throw the ball to the opponents until a cry of “play the game” caused him to stop.

He was a decent billiard player and during 1897 he was the recipient of a handsome cutlery present in honour of having won a local billiard handicap. The presentation took place at the Oak Leaf Hotel On Northumberland Street.

However, Charlie’s main non-footballing passion was gambling. He was already a betting man whilst playing and in 1899, during Doncaster race week, he selected every winner in the “Sporting Chronicle” handicap competition earning himself a huge £600 in prize money. Unfortunately his passion became an obsession once he’d retired and it is thought that mounting debts were the cause of his tragic suicide in nnnn.

But to finish on a more positive note he might be the only player to ever appear in a competitive football match in the UK wearing his everyday clothes. When Burton Wanderers were due on Tyneside in the 1895/96 three of their team missed the connection at Sheffield, including Charlie. Although the kick-off was delayed the Wanderers had to start the game with only eight players. Fifteen minutes later the latecomers arrived, but whilst the outfield players went to get changed Watts immediately took up his position between the sticks attired in ordinary long trousers and jersey.