[1][2] Watson was born in Forest Gate and played as a centre-forward for Forest Gate and District League side Wycliffe Albion, his 69 goals helping to win the championship for his local team.
He played for Abbey Langthorne Works, where he switched to goalkeeping duties, before joining West Ham United as an amateur during the 1929–30 season.
[3] He made his senior debut for West Ham on 29 August 1932, in a Second Division encounter against Bradford City.
[4] He was a regular in his first season at the club, replacing Ted Hufton who had left for Watford, and was part of the team that reached the semi-final of the FA Cup.
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