Rovers chief leads tributes as club’s co-owner dies at 75
TRIBUTES HAVE been paid to Doncaster Rovers co-owner and club president Dick Watson, who has died at the age of 75.
Mr Watson had a highly successful career in construction and after starting out with Taylor Woodrow, he teamed up with Terry Bramall at Keepmoat, a Doncaster-based builder of social housing.
After joining Mr Bramall, Tickhill-based Watson, who developed the firm’s civil engineering operations, became managing director in 1985.
He went on to be chief executive in 1990 and subsequently chairman of the company.
A £783m management buyout saw principal shareholders Bramall and Watson exit the construction group in 2007.
Mr Watson, who had joined Doncaster’s board of directors in 2006, and Bramall soon became equal shareholders in the club alongside John Ryan, with the financial input from the construction magnates helping to usher in a golden era in Rovers’ history.
This great period culminated in promotion to the Championship in 2008.
Mr Watson was named president in 2014 and saw his shareholding increase in 2015 when Ryan left the club.
In recent years, Mr Watson has been affected by health issues and underwent a double heart bypass and had a replacement aortic valve fitted in 2014.
On the news of Mr Watson’s passing, Rovers chief executive Gavin Baldwin paid tribute to his legacy.
He said: “The Watsons have been a big part of Rovers for a number of years, and the family can be very proud of Dick’s legacy.
“We will work with the family and the rest of the board to ensure we build on the tremendous foundations we now have, a large part thanks to Dick’s passion for the club.”
Former Rovers chairman Ryan, speaking via his Facebook page, added his tribute.
“So sorry to hear of the passing of Dick Watson, a great guy who always had Rovers at heart RIP,” he said.
Rovers will celebrate Mr Watson’s contribution to the club prior to the home game against Gillingham on August 5.
He is survived by wife Marion, 72, son Andrew, 48 and daughter Sarah, 46.