Frank George Watt (ca. 1854 - 26 February 1932) was the first unofficial manager of Newcastle United Football Club. A former referee, Watt was appointed secretary in December 1895 and held the position until 1930. He did not control the team's selection, so technically he was not the manager in a modern sense; this role was unheard of, and the club was run by a committee, overseen by the club secretary. Newcastle's first official manager was Andy Cunningham in 1930. Watt was also a member of the committee that owned the club at the time. He was very influential, referred to as "The Guv'nor". He was a portly figure with a handlebar moustache.
Newcastle United 1897/98-Season. FG Watts is middle row left
A Scotsman, Watt's first involvement in football came with the 3rd E.R.V. club in Edinburgh, leaving the club with a number of other players to form Edinburgh Swifts, with both sides combining his playing role with that of club secretary. He was later appointed secretary of the Edinburgh (later East of Scotland) Football Association before leaving for Tyneside.[1]
Watt had great ambitions for Newcastle. Upon arrival he declared "We're going to be the best team in the country." The Edwardian Newcastle side dominated the league with a side assembled entirely by Watt, who also signed players such as Hughie Gallacher, Colin Veitch and Stan Seymour throughout his 37 years at the club, players who are still considered legends today (however, he initially turned down Seymour, explaining that the future Mr. Newcastle was "too small to play football").
During his time at Newcastle, the club won the old First Division four times in 1905, 1907, 1909 and 1927. They won the FA Cup in 1910 and 1924 and were finalists on four more occasions, in 1905, 1906, 1908 and 1911.[2] When he retired in 1930, his son of the same name took on his job with the club until his own death in 1950.[2]
For most of his tenure Watt's trainer, who retired along with him in 1930, was James Quar McPherson, who took on the role in 1903. McPherson's duties were taken on by his son Jim (who had coached the Norwegian national side at the 1920 Olympics, as well as clubs in the Netherlands and Germany including FC Bayern Munich during the 1920s) until May 1938.
F.G. Watt, "the man who made Newcastle United", died on 26 February 1932 in his house in Newcastle at the age of 77.[3]
^ ab"See Newcastle United's league-winning side like never before in unearthed private snaps". Chronicle Live. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
^A Football Pioneer: The late Frank Watt of Newcastle United, Edinburgh Evening News, 27 February 1932, p. 17
January 01, 1970
frank, watt, football, manager, frank, george, watt, 1854, february, 1932, first, unofficial, manager, newcastle, united, football, club, former, referee, watt, appointed, secretary, december, 1895, held, position, until, 1930, control, team, selection, techni. Frank George Watt ca 1854 26 February 1932 was the first unofficial manager of Newcastle United Football Club A former referee Watt was appointed secretary in December 1895 and held the position until 1930 He did not control the team s selection so technically he was not the manager in a modern sense this role was unheard of and the club was run by a committee overseen by the club secretary Newcastle s first official manager was Andy Cunningham in 1930 Watt was also a member of the committee that owned the club at the time He was very influential referred to as The Guv nor He was a portly figure with a handlebar moustache Newcastle United 1897 98 Season FG Watts is middle row left A Scotsman Watt s first involvement in football came with the 3rd E R V club in Edinburgh leaving the club with a number of other players to form Edinburgh Swifts with both sides combining his playing role with that of club secretary He was later appointed secretary of the Edinburgh later East of Scotland Football Association before leaving for Tyneside 1 Watt had great ambitions for Newcastle Upon arrival he declared We re going to be the best team in the country The Edwardian Newcastle side dominated the league with a side assembled entirely by Watt who also signed players such as Hughie Gallacher Colin Veitch and Stan Seymour throughout his 37 years at the club players who are still considered legends today however he initially turned down Seymour explaining that the future Mr Newcastle was too small to play football During his time at Newcastle the club won the old First Division four times in 1905 1907 1909 and 1927 They won the FA Cup in 1910 and 1924 and were finalists on four more occasions in 1905 1906 1908 and 1911 2 When he retired in 1930 his son of the same name took on his job with the club until his own death in 1950 2 For most of his tenure Watt s trainer who retired along with him in 1930 was James Quar McPherson who took on the role in 1903 McPherson s duties were taken on by his son Jim who had coached the Norwegian national side at the 1920 Olympics as well as clubs in the Netherlands and Germany including FC Bayern Munich during the 1920s until May 1938 F G Watt the man who made Newcastle United died on 26 February 1932 in his house in Newcastle at the age of 77 3 Honours editFirst Division Champions 1904 05 1906 07 1908 09 1926 27 FA Cup Winners 1909 10 1923 24 FA Charity Shield Winners 1909 Sheriff of London Charity Shield Winners 1906 07References editFrank George Watt toon1892 com Alcock Charles 1876 Football Annual p 167 a b See Newcastle United s league winning side like never before in unearthed private snaps Chronicle Live 30 November 2017 Retrieved 9 September 2020 A Football Pioneer The late Frank Watt of Newcastle United Edinburgh Evening News 27 February 1932 p 17 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Frank Watt football manager amp oldid 1178670397, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
