Duncan Watmore
Despite Sunderland not boasting the greatest record for bringing through youth players, hopefully this season the club can look forward to a bright young player with bags of pace, skill and determination to break into the first team squad, that player being Duncan Watmore.
It has been a meteoric two year rise for Sunderland’s talented right winger Duncan Watmore. Only two years ago the 5’9 attacker was making his debut for Conference Premier club Altrincham. After rising through the ranks at the Manchester club, Watmore found himself out on loan at non-league outfit Cliterhoe aged 18. During his time at Cliterhoe Watmore only made four appearances before impressing the Altrincham coaching staff so much in the light blue Cliterhoe shirt he was asked to return and made his debut the following day of his return.
During the 2012-13 season, Watmore was unstoppable. His direct running and pace caused many teams problems. In total that season, he appeared in 39 matches scoring a very healthy fourteen goals and chipping in with 11 assists.
Thanks to an incredible breakthrough season, on the 24th of May 2013 , Watmore signed for Barclays Premier League giants Sunderland for an undisclosed fee.
Altrincham’s chairman, and now a slightly richer chairman due to Watmore’s transfer commented, “We would all like to congratulate Duncan on securing a move to a top team like Sunderland. There’s been an immense sense of pride that he has deservedly earned himself a fantastic opportunity.”
Watmore said himself, “I am delighted at the opportunity Sunderland have given me and excited by the move. They have one of the finest academies in England and the Sunderland people have been very welcoming and professional throughout.”
After performing brilliantly in the Sunderland under 20’s squad, Sunderland thought it would be best for Watmore’s development to go out on loan to Edinburgh club Hibernian, managed by former England legend Terry Butcher.
A week after signing for Hibernian Watmore made his debut in a 3-2 Scottish cup loss against Raith Rovers, a team who were in the division lower. Despite this loss, Watmore was brilliant throughout the game and earned a brilliant review from Terry Butcher who commented, “Duncan Watmore was like a breath of fresh air out on the right. He ran out of steam at the end.”
Continuing to take the Scottish Premiership by storm, Watmore scored his first goal for Hibs in a 3-1 away defeat to Partick Thistle. His goal came when the ball was cut back to him just inside the box; he then smartly flicked by a passing Thistle defender and tucked the ball neatly into the bottom corner, a fantastic goal in a brilliant individual performance.
Despite Watmore’s spirited performances he could not keep Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership as they lost to Hamilton Accies in penalties in a play-off decider. Watmore left Hibernian at the end of the season and Terry Butcher expressed his gratitude to the winger saying, “Duncan was brilliant in the time he was with us, and I have no doubt he will go on to do great things in the game.”
Watmore so far in the 2014-15 season has been involved in the Sunderland first team during pre-season. The ginger winger performed incredible at Firhill in another 3-1 loss to Partick Thistle. He provided the assist for Tom Beadling’s well took goal, as well as in the second half driving past five Partick Thistle players before striking a dipping shot from well outside the box over the keeper and off the cross bar, an effort that even had Partick Thistle fans applauding.
After the match Watmore told me, “Yeah It’s always nice to be involved in the first team. That’s what us footballers want, plenty of game time and chances to show what we can do.”
He then commented, “This season I just really want to push for a place in the first team and play as many games as I can and hopefully impress Gus.”
Watmore three days after playing against Partick Thistle joined the Sunderland first team in Italy against Udinese. Just like the three days earlier, Watmore again impressed Sunderland fans, this time playing in a stronger team and against better opponents.
Not only is Watmore clever on the pitch, he is also very intelligent off it, he continues to study Economics in preparation for life after football. Duncan is also the son of the former Football Association chief executive Ian Watmore, a man that many throughout the football have a massive respect for.
Watmore has recently been included in Sunderland’s first team squad for the upcoming season. He’ll be hoping to make his debut this season and many expect him to even become a regular starter for the Sunderland first team. Even if Watmore doesn’t make a big a impact as most think he will, there is no doubt that this player has the potential to be a massive player for Sunderland in the next few years.
#whatdoestwittersay?
@Fantafest73- “ I reckon Duncan Watmore could really get the #SAFC on the edge of their seats this season, positive, quick and also likes to take on defenders.”
@Capt_Fishpaste- “How many legs does Duncan Watmore actually have? They move to quick to count and he always has one handy.”
@cohan1309- “He’s not afraid to run at defenders and scores some excellent team/individual goals, big year ahead for him.”
Brilliant Youtube edit by Brendan McNally, courtesy of @ScottishEdits. Follow on twitter or subscribe on youtube for the latest videos of Scottish talent, or even nominate a player for his requests series.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC9vpQpBwTk
Article by Joseph James
Despite Sunderland not boasting the greatest record for bringing through youth players, hopefully this season the club can look forward to a bright young player with bags of pace, skill and determination to break into the first team squad, that player being Duncan Watmore.
It has been a meteoric two year rise for Sunderland’s talented right winger Duncan Watmore. Only two years ago the 5’9 attacker was making his debut for Conference Premier club Altrincham. After rising through the ranks at the Manchester club, Watmore found himself out on loan at non-league outfit Cliterhoe aged 18. During his time at Cliterhoe Watmore only made four appearances before impressing the Altrincham coaching staff so much in the light blue Cliterhoe shirt he was asked to return and made his debut the following day of his return.
During the 2012-13 season, Watmore was unstoppable. His direct running and pace caused many teams problems. In total that season, he appeared in 39 matches scoring a very healthy fourteen goals and chipping in with 11 assists.
Thanks to an incredible breakthrough season, on the 24th of May 2013 , Watmore signed for Barclays Premier League giants Sunderland for an undisclosed fee.
Altrincham’s chairman, and now a slightly richer chairman due to Watmore’s transfer commented, “We would all like to congratulate Duncan on securing a move to a top team like Sunderland. There’s been an immense sense of pride that he has deservedly earned himself a fantastic opportunity.”
Watmore said himself, “I am delighted at the opportunity Sunderland have given me and excited by the move. They have one of the finest academies in England and the Sunderland people have been very welcoming and professional throughout.”
After performing brilliantly in the Sunderland under 20’s squad, Sunderland thought it would be best for Watmore’s development to go out on loan to Edinburgh club Hibernian, managed by former England legend Terry Butcher.
A week after signing for Hibernian Watmore made his debut in a 3-2 Scottish cup loss against Raith Rovers, a team who were in the division lower. Despite this loss, Watmore was brilliant throughout the game and earned a brilliant review from Terry Butcher who commented, “Duncan Watmore was like a breath of fresh air out on the right. He ran out of steam at the end.”
Continuing to take the Scottish Premiership by storm, Watmore scored his first goal for Hibs in a 3-1 away defeat to Partick Thistle. His goal came when the ball was cut back to him just inside the box; he then smartly flicked by a passing Thistle defender and tucked the ball neatly into the bottom corner, a fantastic goal in a brilliant individual performance.
Despite Watmore’s spirited performances he could not keep Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership as they lost to Hamilton Accies in penalties in a play-off decider. Watmore left Hibernian at the end of the season and Terry Butcher expressed his gratitude to the winger saying, “Duncan was brilliant in the time he was with us, and I have no doubt he will go on to do great things in the game.”
Watmore so far in the 2014-15 season has been involved in the Sunderland first team during pre-season. The ginger winger performed incredible at Firhill in another 3-1 loss to Partick Thistle. He provided the assist for Tom Beadling’s well took goal, as well as in the second half driving past five Partick Thistle players before striking a dipping shot from well outside the box over the keeper and off the cross bar, an effort that even had Partick Thistle fans applauding.
After the match Watmore told me, “Yeah It’s always nice to be involved in the first team. That’s what us footballers want, plenty of game time and chances to show what we can do.”
He then commented, “This season I just really want to push for a place in the first team and play as many games as I can and hopefully impress Gus.”
Watmore three days after playing against Partick Thistle joined the Sunderland first team in Italy against Udinese. Just like the three days earlier, Watmore again impressed Sunderland fans, this time playing in a stronger team and against better opponents.
Not only is Watmore clever on the pitch, he is also very intelligent off it, he continues to study Economics in preparation for life after football. Duncan is also the son of the former Football Association chief executive Ian Watmore, a man that many throughout the football have a massive respect for.
Watmore has recently been included in Sunderland’s first team squad for the upcoming season. He’ll be hoping to make his debut this season and many expect him to even become a regular starter for the Sunderland first team. Even if Watmore doesn’t make a big a impact as most think he will, there is no doubt that this player has the potential to be a massive player for Sunderland in the next few years.
#whatdoestwittersay?
@Fantafest73- “ I reckon Duncan Watmore could really get the #SAFC on the edge of their seats this season, positive, quick and also likes to take on defenders.”
@Capt_Fishpaste- “How many legs does Duncan Watmore actually have? They move to quick to count and he always has one handy.”
@cohan1309- “He’s not afraid to run at defenders and scores some excellent team/individual goals, big year ahead for him.”
Brilliant Youtube edit by Brendan McNally, courtesy of @ScottishEdits. Follow on twitter or subscribe on youtube for the latest videos of Scottish talent, or even nominate a player for his requests series.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC9vpQpBwTk
Article by Joseph James