Watson's got the lot

Kait Borsay catches up with new England goalkeeping coach Dave Watson ahead of Euro 2012.

It's not good timing or a coincidence that the careers of Joe Hart and Ben Foster were much invigorated by spending a season at Birmingham City. It's no fluke either that England U21 goalkeeper Jack Butland, the player who will most likely challenge for the senior No.1 shirt in years to come, has also spent the last five years learning his trade at St Andrews. "When I got the phone call (from England) I was delighted," said Watson. "I didn't take a second or hesitate at all in accepting the invitation. I couldn't believe what a great opportunity had been bestowed upon me. I want to embrace it and enjoy it and try and be part of something that's going to go on and be successful." Watson is touted as one of coaching's bright young things. Now aged 38, his own career at hometown club Barnsley was cruelly cut short by a knee injury and he was forced to retire from the game some ten years ago. If there can be a positive taken from having your dream taken so young, particularly in goalkeeping terms, it is that Watson demands that those under his tutelage make the most of their talent: learn, develop and be at the very top of their game. Their ambitions must match his. Here is a coach determined to return England to the golden age of goalkeeping after a decade of mixed success. "To finish as a young player who didn't achieve what I wanted to achieve, probably the hardest thing I see is people not giving it their all. "Players who have an abundance of talent and they're not prepared to give everything to let that talent flourish. I find that very frustrating." Watson describes himself as a simple and traditional guy. Royston-born and developed through the youth system at Barnsley he remained a one-club man. In all he made over 200 appearances for the Tykes and played for the England U21 side, alongside a rich vein of talent that included the likes of Jamie Rednapp, Steve McManaman, Andy Cole and Sol Campbell. He admits that until he started playing for England at the age of 17 he wasn't really sure if he was good enough for a career in the professional game.

Injury heartache

Following an injury sustained in a game against Norwich in September 1998 Watson spent over two years trying to rehabilitate a knee that was slowly giving up on him. When he realised the prognosis was getting worse rather than better he turned to coaching. "It's difficult giving up on your dream," he said. "Without friends and family I wouldn't have been able to eventually come through that dark phase to a place where I've been offered the kind of opportunity that has just come my way." What Watson was unable to achieve as a young goalkeeper himself is now realised through the players he coaches: "You live and breathe through them now so any success is like a shared success. If those lads are producing on the field that's your time there." Watson credits his goalkeeping coach at Barnsley, Eric Steele - who now works at Manchester United - as being a big influence on his career. "As a coach and a guy he's phenomenal," he adds with genuine admiration. "I think for him to now be working at Manchester United is a credit to him - the work, effort and desire he shows, and the commitment to want to improve. "From that perspective I couldn't have asked for a better role model. Because it's just there in front of you and if you want to achieve you just follow that pathway."

Personal touch

Steele has even had a