Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Hubert sowed the seeds for success at Planters Park..
Having already demonstrated our support for the Amateur League, this latest decision to also throw our lot in with the Mid-ulster was further proof of our commitment to grassroots football.
Back then Mark Whyte, Mirror Group Sponsorship Manager, said: “The Daily Mirror is proud to be synonymous with football in Northern Ireland and this new partnership is the latest initiative in our support of grassroots football around the country.”
As time would tell, not for the last occasion, our focus on our Mid-ulster coverage in that particular issue highlighted the emergence of Dollingstown Football Club.
The Planters Park club had just won promotion to Intermediate A, but our story in that edition told the tale of how the return of a certain Hubert Watson from England was to be the catalyst for positive change at that club.
Back home to take up a new role in engineering company Powerscreen, Watson also took on the role of manager of a Dollingstown team languishing at the foot of the Third Division of the Midulster, a division they had been in since their formation 28 years ago in 1979. And, as that edition reported, Watson (above) said: “When I took over they were only one point away from relegation but thankfully we finished mid-table in my first season.
“The players had been there too long, so I brought in eight new players. We lost our first match that (second) season and then won our next 25 matches and won the division by a mile. “We came up into the Second Division and were runners-up to Lurgan Celtic and got promoted into the First Division. “After a few years in the First Division we got our own pitch and moved into Intermediate B and, although we didn’t do well in our first year, we finished runners-up next time out and now we’re in the Intermediate League A.”
However, before elevation to that stage Watson had realised where he could best serve the club’s interests and he brought on board former Loughgall midfielder Gary Duke as their new player-manager.
“It’s difficult moving from being a player into a management role and it’s just as difficult moving from a manager into the chairman role,” explained Watson.
“But I’m still actively involved in the football club.
“I go to training, I enjoy a bit of craic with the players, I kick every ball with them on a Saturday and the manager and myself have a very good relationship.
“He got us promotion in his first year with us and he’s always looking to improve himself which is good.
“So we’re both hungry and we’ll try to do our best, that’s all we can do.”
As Mid-ulster’s top flight managers can now testify, Dollingstown certainly went on to do their very best – their first Intermediate A title in the 2008/09 season being followed up by a further three in 2012/13, 2013/14 and 2016/17.
Add to those four Marshall Cups, two Premier Cups and an impressive Bob Radcliffe victory last season over Coagh United and Hubert Watson can be rightly proud of his efforts at Planters Park.