A product of Lancashire non-league football Reg Watson had spent eight productive seasons at Oldham Athletic (233 apps 64 goals) and recorded more goals than any other Latic during the inter-war period. Considered a “makeweight” in the deal that took “Spud” Murphy to Boundary Park in June 1929, Reg never really settled in the south and had to be content with Reserve football for the bulk of his stay at The Dell.

A great “trier”

he played in the first six League fixtures of 1929-30 in the left-wing position but lost his place to the up-and-coming John Arnold. He refound his feet in the Reserves netting 36 times in 63 games before being placed on the transfer list at £200 in May 1931. He subsequently received a “free” the following August and returned to Lancashire with Rochdale in the Third North. In 1939 he registered as a foundry labourer based in Warrington