GB & England international rugby league footballer
For other people named Cliff Watson, see Cliff Watson (disambiguation).
Cliff Watson
Personal information
Full name
Clifford H. Watson
Born
(1940-04-26)26 April 1940 Stepney, London, England
Died
2 May 2018(2018-05-02) (aged 78) Cronulla, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Height
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position
Prop
Club
Years
Team
Pld
T
G
FG
P
1960–71
St. Helens
373
57
171
1971–73
Cronulla-Sutherland
39
9
27
Total
412
66
0
0
198
Representative
Years
Team
Pld
T
G
FG
P
1963–70
Great Britain
7
1
0
0
3
1969–70
England
4
2
0
0
6
Source: [1]
Clifford H. Watson (26 April 1940 – 2 May 2018) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played as a prop in the 1960s and 1970s. He played for the St Helens in the Rugby Football League Championship, and later the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership in Australia. Along with hardman Ken Gee, and legendary captain Alan Prescott, he remains one of the best Great Britain front-rowers ever.
Watson originally played amateur rugby union in England for Dudley Kingswinford in Staffordshire competition before answering a St. Helens club advertisement for "top class Rugby Union forwards". A trial was arranged and in 1960 he was signed to the club for £750 initially and then a further £750 after he had completed six first grade games for the club. However his career first started to gain momentum after the 1961 Rugby League Challenge Cup Final against Wigan; in front of 95,000 fans Watson's defence was instrumental in helping his club gain a 12–6 victory over their rivals and helped keep Cliff a permanent fixture in the team line-up for the next ten years.
After playing out eleven seasons for St. Helens, Watson moved to Australia and signed on to the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks with fellow Great Britain, and St. Helens teammate Tommy Bishop. In his three seasons at the club Watson made an impact in leading a young and inexperienced pack of forwards always by example. His presence along with that of Bishop undoubtedly helped the young Cronulla club to its maiden grand-final in 1973.
Watson also went on to represent Great Britain on thirty occasions becoming known for his physical, tough and all-round fearless style of play. He played for the British between 1963 and 1970 often striking fear into opponents. He retired from first grade and international rugby league altogether after the 1973 season.
^"Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
front of 95,000 fans Watson's defence was instrumental in helping his club gain a 12–6 victory over their rivals and helped keep Cliff a permanent fixture...
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Cyprus and Signals Intelligence" (PDF). Retrieved 22 October 2017. Lord, Cliff; Watson, Graham (2012). The Royal Corps of Signals: Unit Histories of the Corps...
from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2008. Lord, Cliff; Watson, Graham (2003). The Royal Corps of Signals: Unit Histories of the Corps...
Ettingshausen 5. Valentine Holmes 6. James Maloney 7. Tommy Bishop 8. CliffWatson 9. Michael Ennis 10. Dane Sorensen 11. Greg Pierce 12. Gavin Miller 13...
top prize at TDFF". The Duncan Banner. Sain, Cliff (September 19, 2012). "TV, Branson actor Muse Watson talks about autism". Springfield News-Leader....
n/a Search for "Watson" at rugbyleagueproject.org Search for "Clifford Watson" at britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk Search for "CliffWatson" at britishnewspaperarchive...
Ettingshausen 5. Valentine Holmes 6. James Maloney 7. Tommy Bishop 8. CliffWatson 9. Michael Ennis 10. Dane Sorensen 11. Greg Pierce 12. Gavin Miller 13...
"1st Infantry Division". Unit Histories. Retrieved 19 May 2020. Lord, Cliff; Watson, Graham (2004). The Royal Corps of Signals: Unit Histories of the Corps...
Ettingshausen 5. Valentine Holmes 6. James Maloney 7. Tommy Bishop 8. CliffWatson 9. Michael Ennis 10. Dane Sorensen 11. Greg Pierce 12. Gavin Miller 13...
Bishop helped the Cronulla side secure Great Britain power front rower CliffWatson, and the club had their best season in of their history, winning a total...
Lionel Williamson Élie Bonal Jean Capdouze Chris Hesketh Doug Laughton CliffWatson Mocky Brereton Roy Christian Graeme Cooksley Tony Kriletich "Trophy back...
Ettingshausen 5. Valentine Holmes 6. James Maloney 7. Tommy Bishop 8. CliffWatson 9. Michael Ennis 10. Dane Sorensen 11. Greg Pierce 12. Gavin Miller 13...
Ettingshausen 5. Valentine Holmes 6. James Maloney 7. Tommy Bishop 8. CliffWatson 9. Michael Ennis 10. Dane Sorensen 11. Greg Pierce 12. Gavin Miller 13...
1940 – Giorgio Moroder, Italian singer-songwriter and producer 1940 – CliffWatson, English rugby league player (d. 2018) 1941 – Claudine Auger, French...
anchor was transferred to the cliffs of Gap Park by Ald. Coombes and a memorial was unveiled in August 1930. The City to Watson's Bay tram line was extended...
Derrick Deshaun Watson (born September 14, 1995) is an American football quarterback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He...
2.67 George Saunders 2.60 Buster Brown 2.57 West Ham Aub Lawson 9.57 CliffWatson 8.00 Malcolm Craven 7.98 George Wilks 6.71 Eric Chitty 6.09 Howdy Byford...
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