Duncan Watmore
Watmore playing for Sunderland in 2015
Personal information
Full name Duncan Ian Watmore[1]
Date of birth (1994-03-08) 8 March 1994 (age 29)[2]
Place of birth Manchester, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[3]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Millwall
Number 19
Youth career
0000–2006 Manchester United
2010–2011 Altrincham
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2013 Altrincham 48 (15)
2012Clitheroe (loan) 4 (0)
2012Curzon Ashton (loan)
2013–2020 Sunderland 71 (5)
2014Hibernian (loan) 9 (1)
2020–2023 Middlesbrough 92 (21)
2023– Millwall 25 (4)
International career
2015 England U20 5 (2)
2015–2016 England U21 13 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:05, 14 October 2023 (UTC)

Duncan Ian Watmore (born 8 March 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL Championship club Millwall. Watmore previously played for Altrincham, Clitheroe, Curzon Ashton, Sunderland, Hibernian, and Middlesbrough.

Early life

Watmore was born in Manchester[4] and is the son of Ian Watmore, a former chief executive of the Football Association.[5] He was educated at Cheadle Hulme School.[6]

Career

Early career

Watmore started his career at Manchester United, but was released at the age of 12.[7] He joined Altrincham in their youth team at the age of 16.[7] He made his first-team debut on 27 November 2011 as a substitute in a 2–1 away defeat to F.C. United of Manchester in the FA Trophy.[8] Watmore had spells on loan at Northern Premier League Division One North clubs Clitheroe and Curzon Ashton in early 2012.[9][10] He scored 14 goals for Altrincham in the 2012–13 season.[11]

Sunderland

Watmore playing for Sunderland in 2015

Watmore signed for Premier League club Sunderland on 24 May 2013 for an undisclosed fee on a two-year contract.[5][12] He made his debut for the Sunderland first team on 5 January 2014 as a 60th-minute substitute for Ji Dong-won in a 3–1 home win against Carlisle United in the third round of the FA Cup.[13]

On 31 January 2014, Watmore joined Scottish Premiership club Hibernian on loan for the rest of the 2013–14 season.[14] His first goal came on 15 March 2014 in a 3–1 defeat away to Partick Thistle.[15][16] Watmore left Hibernian at the end of the season.[17]

On 29 May 2015, Watmore was named the U21 Premier League Player of the Season, after scoring 11 goals in 19 matches in the competition.[18]

Watmore made his league debut for Sunderland on 15 August 2015, coming off the bench to score a late consolation goal with a scuffed volley into the bottom-left corner in a 3–1 home loss to Norwich City.[19] He signed a new four-year contract with Sunderland on 22 November 2015.[20] Watmore returned from two months out with an ankle injury on 16 April 2016 as a half time substitute away to Norwich City, and scored the third goal in Sunderland's 3–0 victory, a result which brought the team to within a point of Norwich in the relegation battle.[21]

Watmore was ruled out for the remainder of the a 2016–17 season after suffering cruciate knee ligament injury during Sunderland's 2–1 home win over Leicester City on 3 December 2016.[22]

It was announced on 17 June 2020 that Watmore would be leaving Sunderland, bringing to an end his 7 years at the club.[23]

Middlesbrough

On 17 November 2020, Watmore signed for Middlesbrough on a short-term deal until January 2021.[24] He scored his first goals for Middlesbrough when he scored twice in a 2–0 win against Swansea City on 2 December 2020.[25] Watmore continued his goal scoring with two on 12 December in a 3–0 win against Millwall.[26] On 7 January 2021, Watmore signed a new two-and-a-half year deal at Middlesbrough.[27][28] Watmore's performances earned him the championship player of the month for December.[29] Watmore was Middlesbrough's top scorer for the 2020–21 season, with nine goals.

Millwall

On 31 January 2023, Watmore signed for Millwall for an undisclosed fee.[30]

International career

Watmore made his debut for England under-20s on 28 May 2015 in the 2015 Toulon Tournament, scoring England's second goal in a 3–3 draw with Morocco.[31] He was named in the Team of the Tournament and was also voted as the Revelation of the Tournament.[32][33] He made five appearances and scored two goals for the under-20s in 2015.[34]

In August 2015, Watmore was called up to the England under-21 squad for the first time.[35] He made his debut against the United States on 3 September 2015 as a second-half substitute, and assisted James Wilson's winning goal.[36] Watmore scored his first under-21 goal and assisted two others on 14 November 2015 after coming on as a substitute against Switzerland in a 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier.[37] He was part of the team that won the 2016 Toulon Tournament, their first such win for 22 years.[38] He scored three goals in 13 appearances for the under-21s from 2015 to 2016.[39]

Style of play

Watmore plays as a winger.[40] In November 2015, Sunderland forward Jermain Defoe likened Watmore to Gareth Bale, his former Tottenham Hotspur teammate, citing a shared ability of ball control.[41]

Personal life

Watmore continued studying for a degree in economics and business management after signing for Sunderland, transferring from the University of Manchester to Newcastle University.[42] He graduated with a first-class honours degree in December 2015.[43] In 2017 whilst on holiday in Barbados Watmore reportedly helped save three pensioners from the water after a boat crash.[44]

Career statistics

As of match played 28 January 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Altrincham 2011–12[45] Conference North 11 1 0 0 1[c] 0 12 1
2012–13[11] Conference North 37 14 4 0 5[d] 0 46 14
Total 48 15 4 0 6 0 58 15
Clitheroe (loan) 2011–12[46] NPL Division One West 4 0 4 0
Sunderland 2013–14[15] Premier League 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
Hibernian (loan) 2013–14[15] Scottish Premiership 9 1 1 0 0 0 10 1
Sunderland 2014–15[47] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2015–16[48] Premier League 23 3 1 0 1 1 25 4
2016–17[49] Premier League 14 0 0 0 3 0 17 0
2017–18[50] Championship 6 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
2018–19[51] League One 11 1 1 0 0 0 4[e] 1 16 2
2019–20[52] League One 17 1 2 0 0 0 3[f] 1 22 2
Total 71 5 5 0 4 1 7 2 87 8
Middlesbrough 2020–21[53] Championship 30 9 0 0 0 0 30 9
2021–22[54] Championship 41 7 3 0 0 0 44 7
2022–23[55] Championship 21 5 1 0 1 0 23 5
Total 92 21 4 0 1 0 0 0 97 21
Total 224 42 14 0 5 1 13 2 256 45
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup, Scottish Cup
  2. ^ Includes League/EFL Cup
  3. ^ Appearance in FA Trophy
  4. ^ One appearance in Cheshire Senior Cup, two in FA Trophy, two in Conference North play-offs
  5. ^ Appearances in EFL Trophy
  6. ^ Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

England U21

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Sunderland" (PDF). English Football League. p. 39. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  2. ^ "Duncan Watmore". ESPN FC. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  3. ^ "Duncan Watmore". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  4. ^ "D. Watmore: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Sunderland sign Altrincham striker Duncan Watmore". BBC Sport. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  6. ^ Baxter, Trevor (25 September 2015). "Former Altrincham striker Duncan Watmore aims to come back and haunt Manchester United". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  7. ^ a b Mitten, Andy (20 August 2015). "Manchester United: Story of Premier League's newest star Reds let go". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  8. ^ "Altrincham FC: First-Team Players: 2012/13". Altrincham F.C. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  9. ^ McLean, Ross (24 January 2012). "Clitheroe 1, Mossley 1". Clitheroe Advertiser. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  10. ^ "March Transfers (Part One)..." Non-League Pitchero. 12 March 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  11. ^ a b "Appearances: League: Altrincham FC: Blue Square Bet North 2012–13". Altrincham F.C. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
    "Appearances: Cup matches: Altrincham FC: 2012–13". Altrincham F.C. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
    "Players stats: 2012–13: Altrincham FC". Altrincham F.C. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  12. ^ "Striker Watmore excited by move to Sunderland". Sunderland Echo. 25 May 2013. Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  13. ^ Vose, Stuart (5 January 2014). "Sunderland 3 Carlisle 1". Sunderland A.F.C. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015.
  14. ^ "Transfer Deadline Day: Hibs land Watmore, Boateng & Haynes". BBC Sport. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  15. ^ a b c "Games played by Duncan Watmore in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  16. ^ Moffat, Colin (15 March 2014). "Partick Thistle 3–1 Hibernian". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  17. ^ "Out of Contract Players". Hibernian F.C. 26 May 2014. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014.
  18. ^ "Watmore claims Barclays U21 Player of the Season award". Premier League. 29 May 2015. Archived from the original on 8 June 2015.
  19. ^ Hunter, James (15 August 2015). "Sunderland 1–3 Norwich match report: Pressure is on Ellis Short as Black Cats crash again". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle upon Tyne. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  20. ^ "Duncan Watmore: Sunderland striker signs new four-year contract". BBC Sport. 22 November 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  21. ^ Ronay, Barney (16 April 2016). "Duncan Watmore seals Sunderland victory over Norwich in survival battle". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  22. ^ "Duncan Watmore: Sunderland forward ruled out for season". BBC Sport. 6 December 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
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  24. ^ "Middlesbrough sign former Sunderland forward". BBC Sport. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  25. ^ "Middlesbrough 2-1 Swansea City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  26. ^ "Middlesbrough 3-0 Millwall". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  27. ^ "Duncan Watmore Signs Extended Boro Contract | Middlesbrough FC".
  28. ^ "Ex-SAFC forward Watmore signs new deal at Middlesbrough despite interest from elsewhere". Sunderlandecho.com. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  29. ^ a b "Duncan Watmore Named Sky Bet Player of the Month | Middlesbrough FC".
  30. ^ "Millwall announce Duncan Watmore signing". www.millwallfc.co.uk. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  31. ^ "Chuba Akpom spares England U20s blushes in Toulon opener". The Football Association. 28 May 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  32. ^ a b "L'équipe-type du Festival International Espoirs 2015" (in French). Toulon Tournament. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  33. ^ a b Johns, Craig (8 June 2015). "Is Duncan Watmore Sunderland's next star? Youngster wins top award on England duty". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle upon Tyne. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  34. ^ "England's matches: The under 20's". England Football Online. Chris Goodwin, Glen Isherwood & Peter Young. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  35. ^ Collins, Ben (25 August 2015). "Duncan Watmore and Bury keeper Christian Walton named in England Under-21 squad". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  36. ^ Veevers, Nicholas (4 September 2015). "James Wilson's 'confidence boost' for Norway trip". The Football Association. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  37. ^ Ostlere, Lawrence (16 November 2015). "Duncan Watmore inspires England Under-21s to 3–1 win over Switzerland". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  38. ^ "England Under-21s win Toulon Tournament for first time in 22 years". BBC Sport. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  39. ^ "England's matches: The under 21's: 2010–20". England Football Online. Chris Goodwin, Glen Isherwood & Peter Young. 9 June 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  40. ^ Johns, Craig (28 March 2018). "Duncan Watmore in high spirits as he promises to be back better than ever for Sunderland". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle upon Tyne. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  41. ^ "Sunderland: Duncan Watmore like Gareth Bale – Jermain Defoe". BBC Sport. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  42. ^ "Student Watmore eager to pass Hibernian exam". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 1 February 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  43. ^ "Sunderland's Duncan Watmore graduates with first-class degree from Newcastle University". The Guardian. London. Press Association. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  44. ^ "Heroic Sunderland winger saves three pensioners". Goal.com. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  45. ^ "Appearances: League: Altrincham FC: Blue Square Bet North 2011–12". Altrincham F.C. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
    "Appearances: Cup matches: Altrincham FC: 2011–12". Altrincham F.C. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
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  46. ^ "CLITHEROE FC PLAYERS STATS : SEASON 2011-12". Clitheroe F.C. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
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  48. ^ "Games played by Duncan Watmore in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  49. ^ "Games played by Duncan Watmore in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  50. ^ "Games played by Duncan Watmore in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  51. ^ "Games played by Duncan Watmore in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  52. ^ "Games played by Duncan Watmore in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  53. ^ "Games played by Duncan Watmore in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  54. ^ "Games played by Duncan Watmore in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  55. ^ "Games played by Duncan Watmore in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
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