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Sheffield Wednesday: Derby day triumph would be the happy ending to my career
THE smart money may be on Steve Watson hanging up his boots.
But if he does sign off, what a game to have bowed out in – namely Sheffield Wednesday's famous 2-1 victory at Bramall Lane on a never-to-be-forgotten afternoon for the blue-and-white half of the Steel City on February 7.
It clinched the Owls' first double over arch rivals Sheffield United since before the First World War and you also had to go back to 1967 for their last win at the home of the Blades.
While the Geordie, ravaged by a debilitating hip injury last season, may have only been on the pitch for a matter of minutes in the dying stages of proceedings, he still savoured the moment.
As he did last October, when he grabbed the only goal as Wednesday turned over the Blades at Hillsborough in front of the Sky cameras.
Both were among a host of games to treasure for the former Newcastle United, Everton and Aston Villa utility man during his time with the Owls, which represented a golden swansong after a bitter-sweet spell at previous club West Brom.
Watson, 35, freed by the Owls after two-and-a-half years at the start of the summer, is currently assessing his options, with a final decision on whether he decides to end his playing days imminent.
If he does bow out, he is mighty glad that the final episode of his accomplished playing career has been one to remember at one of the game's great old clubs.
And while it's been a roller-coaster at Wednesday for Watson, with the North Easterner fighting relegation fires with the Owls in a torrid 2007-08 following on from their flirtation with the play-offs the previous season, he thoroughly enjoyed the ride, nevertheless.
Watson, captain during much of his time in South Yorkshire, said: "I was pretty unhappy before I came. I was 33 and playing reserve-team football when I'd spent all my career playing in the first team.
"So I was a bit lost at that time and the gaffer (Brian Laws) gave me a chance to come and play (on loan) and then join permanently for two years.
"I enjoyed every minute of my time at Sheffield Wednesday. It's been great being there – it's up there with the big sides that I've played for and it's a first-class club.
"If it's going to be my last involvement in football, it's been a happy two-and-a-half years.
"The last derby win was my last time on a football pitch and that wouldn't be a bad way to finish.
"Even though it was only four minutes and I got only one touch on my chest that was still an appearance in my book!
"Both derby wins last season were great. I just wish we'd played better after them as I think we lost three games after them both."
Wednesday have dealt with all manner of problems from boardroom tumult to relegation battles and seemingly never-ending injury headaches during Watson's stint with the club.
But out of adversity breeds strength with Watson admitting that many of his most vivid and endearing memories from his time at the Owls came when the club were scrapping for their lives.
Most notably during the 2007-08 campaign when the Owls donned the hard hats almost from the first moment a ball was kicked in a fraught season which saw safety only secured on the final day in front of a massive crowd of over 36,000 against Norwich City at Hillsborough.
The Owls dug deep that season, no one more so than Watson, with a priceless victory at relegation rivals Leicester – the game before the Canaries match – cited as the one which really saved their skins.
And it's probably the one that sticks out among all others for Watson during his spell in the blue and white.
He said: "We really needed that win at Leicester.
"It was one of those games where I was struggling to get through and I kind of got through on adrenalin.
"I'd got diagnosed with a torn groin the week before and I remember saying to the physio that it didn't feel as bad as the scan said.
"A few of us strapped ourselves up in a game we needed to win and it was such a good performance and relief.
"The boys showed great character, considering we had 17 or 18-year- old kids playing.
"It was a bad year the season before last, we know that. But you find out a lot about people in those times and when called upon, the lads dug in and got the right result and last season was a much-improved one.
"We spent 95 per cent of that 2007-2008 season in the bottom three, which was soul-destroying – especially for a young side. Confidence can be affected by that type of thing.
"Obviously, part of my responsibility then was to bring a calm, cool head to the proceedings as we were getting to the end of the season and were still in the bottom three.
"There was a bit of panic setting in, but the lads did brilliantly, especially at Leicester when we had to win, otherwise we were pretty much down.
"But we did and that showed a lot of character among the whole squad.
"Last season was a lot more comfortable, but I was a bit disappointed with the way it ended, to be honest.
"Instead of trying to stay up, I suppose we had a great season compared with the previous one, but I still thought we had enough to kick on further.
"So I think you can look back with a tinge of disappointment.
"However, it was a massive stride ahead for the club after what happened the year before, with a top-half finish showing great signs of improvement.
"So although I felt we had the ability to maybe kick on a bit further, it does set the bar for next season."
Ends
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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