Kingjad's player interview
Derek Watson - Clydebank Centre Back

A fuzzy tiny pic of the big defender.

I've listened to what the people want - except the demands for me to crawl under a rock and stay there - and I've badgered injury-prone defender Derek Watson to an interview.  This is what the big guy had to say:

You have a history of picking up long term injuries, dating back to your Cambuslang Rangers days and could you maybe explain this!!  (I've actually done my research, and in season 2001/2002, for the Lang, you only played 7 matches, and 4 of them was as a substitute!  Are you cursed?)

D'ya know I'm starting to think I am! I've had two major injuries over the course of my career and both of them on the same knee. These are not the reason I didnt feature much for Cambuslang that season, I was just out of favour.

Do you wear shin pads when you play?

Of course, you've got to!

How would you rate Clydebank compared to Cambuslang Rangers.

Cambuslang are a sleeping giant who, as a number of clubs are at the moment, are feeling the pinch in the current situation that Scottish football is in. But Im sure they will find there way right up with the big boys soon enough. Clydebank, I cant speak highly enough of the set-up thats in place! Its such a pleasure to wear the bankies colours! The memories of the last day of last season will live with me forever....here's to a repeat at the end of this season!

Are you going to look at the way you tackle, as this could be causing your injury problems.

No, my injurys have been caused by unfortunate twists. Not alot I could have done.

Have you set a date for returning to action?

Still waiting to see what I've actually done!! I was at the hospital yesterday to see the consultant who has now sent me for a scan. I've damaged my knee internally, just have to wait and see.

Beating Carluke 3-0 up there. There manager had made a few derogatory comments about us in there local paper. My dad just happened to read it and pass it on. Lets just say it fired some of the boys up that day.

Who do you get along with best at Clydebank?

Everybody, a great bunch of lads!

Toughest match you've ever played?

Back when I played with Morton, ouch its still sore just now. We played an excellent Rangers team through at Bathgate Juniors, which was full of names you would recognise such as Barry Ferguson, Barry Nicholson & Paul McShane. We were chasing shadows all night and ran out with a 10-0 thumping!

Best player you've played against/played with?

Played against it has to be Barry Ferguson.

Played with, definately ex-Rangers and Motherwell ace Bobby Russell, I played alongside him with Albion Rovers for about 18 months. He must have been in his fortys and was still stroking the ball about for fun!

How are the newbies fitting in, do you feel?  Especially concerning your area on the pitch, defence, how are the 2 new defenders of Fallen and Brady settling in?

As I mentioned earlier we have a great squad spirit and for an outsider looking in you'd think that Mick, Sean and the rest of the new guys had been there for ages!

Your worst moment of your footballing career?

Tearing my cruciate ligament!

I actually thought that I've never seen you play for the Bankies yet, but I actually have.  Most fans say you're pretty good when you're NOT on the bench nursing an injury.  How good do you think you are?

I think I've got a hell of alot more to offer than anybody has seen me produce so far. Once I'm fit I hope to show it.

Every time you read the Bankies match program, and there's a player interview in there, you always see that the player's best thing about being a Bankie is the fans.  So APART from the fans, what's the best thing about being a Bankie for YOU?

Well I know Budgie and Ger browse all these web-sites so I better say Gerrys patter! hahaha only joking! No seriously, the management team are the best I've played under!

Could you tell of how other players who are currently injured are doing?  How about:

Danny Prior
Who??

Brian Harkins
Not far away from a return

Mark Kikpatrick?
Havent spoke to the wee man since the away St Rochs game but I think hes receiving treatment on a troublesome groin problem

Finally, you played a total of 11 games last season, and scored 1 goal.  Do you remember the goal?  And was it a goal to remember, or just an easy tap-in?

If I knew I could get away with it I'd tell you it was a forty yard screamer but as usual there was a few hundred supporters there that day so I'll have to tell the truth! A corner was taken from the left, the ball got headed across the goals a couple of times and eventually landed at my feet, I rattled it with my left foot, it hit TWO defenders and then went through the keepers legs! Goal of the Season!

Thanks for your time, get better soon!

No problem.
Del

Please note that the content of this website is from a fan of Clydebank FC, and does not represent the club in any way or form.  This is all personal opinion, and is totally unofficial unless I say so otherwise.