Fran Watters was an Ireland international footballer. Watters played for several clubs in the

League of Ireland The League of Ireland ( ga, Sraith na hÉireann), together with the Football Association of Ireland, is one of the two main governing bodies responsible for organising association football in the Republic of Ireland. The term was originally us ...

and in 1925–26 scored 15 goals for Shelbourne, helping them win their first ever League of Ireland title.

Playing career

Olympia

In 1917–18, together with Jack McCarthy, Watters was a member of the

Olympia The name Olympia may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film * ''Olympia'' (1938 film), by Leni Riefenstahl, documenting the Berlin-hosted Olympic Games * ''Olympia'' (1998 film), about a Mexican soap opera star who pursues a career as an athlet ...

team that won both the Leinster Junior Cup and Leinster Senior Cup and reached the final of the

IFA Junior Cup The Irish Football Association (IFA) is the governing body for association football in Northern Ireland. It organised the Ireland national football team from 1880 to 1950, which after 1954, became the Northern Ireland national football team. ...

. In the Leinster Senior Cup final against Shelbourne, Watters scored the only goal in a 1–0 win.

League of Ireland

In the 1925–26 season while playing for Shelbourne, Watters formed a successful partnership with John Simpson. Between them Watters and Simpson scored 32 goals, helping Shelbourne win their first

title. Watters 15 goals also saw him called up to the

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

squad. The following season, he played for Brideville and helped them reach the 1926–27 FAI Cup final which they lost 1–0 after a replay to Drumcondra. In 1928–29 Watters joined

Shamrock Rovers Shamrock Rovers Football Club ( ga, Cumann Peile Ruagairí na Seamróige) is an Irish association football club based in Tallaght, South Dublin. The club's senior team competes in the League of Ireland Premier Division and it is the most su ...

. On 28 October 1928 he scored a hat–trick for Rovers in an 11–0 win against

Bray Unknowns Bray Unknowns Football Club was an Irish association football club based in Bray, County Wicklow. During the 1920s and 1930s the Unknowns were the dominant football club in Bray, playing in the League of Ireland for nineteen seasons from 1924 ...

John Joe Flood John Joe Flood, also referred to as Jonjo Flood or John Flood, was an Irish footballer who played as a forward for Shelbourne, Shamrock Rovers, Leeds United and Crystal Palace. As an international, he also played for and captained the Irish Fre ...

also scored a hat–trick while

Bob Fullam Robert "Bob" Fullam (1895–1971) was an Irish footballer and one of the best-known players in the League of Ireland in the 1920 A versatile attacking player, he was skilful but also had a tough-man image. Born in Ringsend, the son of John and ...

scored twice. This result remains Rovers all-time record win.

Ireland international

On 21 March 1926, while playing for Shelbourne, Watters made his one and only appearance for

in an away friendly against

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

. Watters was originally included in the squad as a reserve. However, when

Ned Brooks Ned Brooks (died April 13, 1969) was an American television and radio journalist who was moderator of NBC's ''Meet the Press'' on television from 1953 until 1965, and earlier on radio. Brooks is the second-longest tenured moderator of the program ...

had to withdraw due to the death of his son, Watters found himself in the starting eleven.

Honours

Olympia The name Olympia may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film * ''Olympia'' (1938 film), by Leni Riefenstahl, documenting the Berlin-hosted Olympic Games * ''Olympia'' (1998 film), about a Mexican soap opera star who pursues a career as an athlet ...

* Leinster Senior Cup **''Winners'': 1917–18 * Leinster Junior Cup **''Winners'': 1917–18 *

**''Runners Up'': 1917–18

Shelbourne

**''Winners'': 1925–26

Brideville

FAI Cup The Football Association of Ireland Senior Challenge Cup (FAI Cup), known as the Extra.ie FAI Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland (as well as Derry ...

**''Runners Up'': 1926–27

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Watters, Fran Year of birth missing Place of birth missing Year of death missing Republic of Ireland association footballers Republic of Ireland international footballers Shelbourne F.C. players Drumcondra F.C. players Shamrock Rovers F.C. players League of Ireland players Association football forwards