Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
New striker aims to do his papa proud
Jamie hopes to rekindle senior career at Cliftonhill
New Albion Rovers striker Jamie Watson is raring to go after an historical family connection to gaffer John Brogan led to a deal at Cliftonhill.
Former Kilsyth Rangers attacker Watson is one of many new signings in Coatbridge whom Brogan has “cherry picked” from the junior leagues ahead of Rovers’ return to League Two.
The 23-year-old, who has senior experience with Clyde and Annan, has also turned out for Pollok, Cumbernauld United and Arthurlie in the past few years.
He also had a stint with Rovers’ Monklands rivals Airdrie as part of the Diamonds’ development squad.
But as well as Watson’s natural ability and talent, the well-travelled forward revealed the foundations for his move were laid back in the late 1980s.
He told the Advertiser: “My papa Jim Dempsey used to coach John Brogan at Hamilton Accies.
“John just happened to be at one of my games for Kilsyth and spoke to my papa about me.
“Next thing I knew, he had been given the Rovers’ job and he asked me to come in for training with Rovers.
“I didn’t know John previously but sometimes in football you need a wee break and him knowing my papa from their days in football has given me mine.
“My papa has been an inspiration for me since I started playing and I want to do him proud.”
Watson, who hails from Bellshill, progressed through Raith Rovers’ youth academy before a long and winding journey through Scottish football’s not-so-scenic route saw him fall out of love with the sport.
But after hanging up his boots for around 18- months, he dusted them off and worked his way back into the game, enjoying spells with Cumbernauld United and Arthurlie, before representing Kilsyth most recently.
Watson reckons his spell out of the game and return at a junior level has prepared him well for the opportunity that beckons with Rovers.
He added: “I found it hard to break in to the team at Clyde and Annan.
“At that age, you need to be playing football regularly and I wasn’t.
“People say you can learn by watching players and it’s true to some extent but if that’s really the case you might as well sit on the sofa and watch the Champions League.
“Playing regularly in the juniors really toughened me up and got me wise to the man’s game there.
“I wish I did it earlier to be honest and that would be my advice to anyone in their late teens: go and play junior if you’re not getting a crack in senior football.
“You need to play to find out what you’re good at and how to cope playing at a really physical level.
“I’m really appreciative that my opportunity has come and I want to show that I’m a contender to earn a spot in this team.”