Fred Waterson

Fred Waterson was a right half who played for Fulham from 1903 until 1909. Described as a capital leader and a clever footballer, Fred was honest and hard-working from start to finish. He spent most of his time at Craven Cottage captaining the reserves and managed only 22 first team appearances in six seasons with Fulham. A loyal player, he was a popular character at the club during his tenure despite his sparse appearances for the first team.

Before Fulham
Fred began his career at Burton Swifts as a 19-year-old in 1897 and made 165 appearances for the Burton club, which was amalgamated with another Burton side in 1901 to form United. When Burton refused to pay him summer wages in 1903 he decided to accept an offer to join Fulham.

Fulham (1903-1909)
Despite Fred being a welcome addition to the club, there was many new faces at the commencement of 1903-04, and he struggled to get into the side. He did make a total of 12 first team appearances in his first year at the club which would turn out to be the most first team matches he would play in a single season. He quickly became captain of the reserves and this is where he spent the rest of his time at Fulham. He would make the odd appearance for the first team for the following 5 seasons, usually in the right half back position when they were short.

He won many honours with the reserves and his loyalty to the club was rewarded with a benefit match with Woolwich Arsenal Reserves on Boxing Day 1908. A good crowd, better than some League attendances, made sure that Waterson was amply rewarded.

After Fulham
Fred left to join Doncaster Rovers in the off season during 1909 for a single season, before his retirement from professional football. He then worked at Doncaster railway works until the outbreak of World War I.

During the war, he enlisted in the King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry) before he rose to the rank of Corporal with the 29th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry. He was wounded on the Western Front during the Hundred Days Offensive in October 1918 and died at a Casualty Clearing Station Northern France just under a month before the end of the war, at the age of 41. He was buried at La Kreule Military cemetary at Hazebrouck.

Fulham Matches
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