Allan Watson (American football)

Allan Watson

No. 14
Position:	Placekicker
Personal information
Born:	(1942-11-05)November 5, 1942 Newport, Wales
Died:	March 1, 2024(2024-03-01) (aged 81) Calcutta, Ohio, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:	162 lb (73 kg)
Career information
High school:	Blackwood (Wales)
College:	University of Wales, Newport
Career history
Association football (soccer) Pittsburgh Phantoms (1967) American football Dallas Cowboys (1968)* Ohio Valley Ironmen (1969) Pittsburgh Steelers (1970–1971) Youngstown Hardhats (1972–1974) Chicago Fire (1974) Chicago Winds (1975)
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Games played: 4 Field goals made: 5 Field goals attempted: 10 Stats at Pro Football Reference

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.[8] He died on March 1, 2024, at the age of 81.[8]

NFL statistics

Year	Team	GP	Field goals									Extra points			Total points
			FGM	FGA	FG%	<20	20−29	30−39	40−49	50+	Lng	XPM	XPA	XP%
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
Source:[1]

References

1. "Allan Watson Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
2. Sell, Jack (July 22, 1970). "Steelers Eye Ex-Phantom". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "NASL-Alan Watson". NASLJerseys.com.
4. Burcham, Dave (August 13, 1975). "Watson Reveals Grid Retirement". The Evening Review. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Allen Watson". Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2024 – via Wayback Machine.
6. Burcham, Dave (September 15, 1971). "Steelers Release Watson In Favor Of Roy Gerella". The Evening Review. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
7. Burcham, Dave (August 14, 1971). "Allan Gets His Kicks". The Evening Review. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Allan Keith Watson". The Review. March 4, 2024.