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How England star Ollie Watkins funded former non-league club’s Spain holiday after team-mates repeatedly fined him


OLLIE WATKINS paid his dues at Weston-super-Mare — and helped fund an end-of-season boys’ trip to Spain.

Aston Villa frontman Watkins, 28, will be aiming to shoot down Manchester United on Sunday.

Ollie Watkins paid for his former club’s trip to SpainCredit: Getty

But his ten goals on loan from Exeter at Weston during the 2014-15 season helped keep the club in the Conference South.

But the teenage striker had a weakness — timekeeping.

His former boss Ryan Northmore revealed: “He was often late because he was usually travelling up from Exeter.

“The boys didn’t give him any leeway. He’d say, ‘There was traffic on the so-and-so’, but it was, ‘Don’t care, £5 in the pot’.

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“He’d have items of kit missing. Because he would then try to defend himself, the boys would have a kangaroo court and fine him double.

“By the end of the season, there was enough money in there to get a trip to Spain and Ollie went with them.

“He ended up paying for about four of them to go!

“For an 18-year-old to come in as our No 9 was a big responsibility but he was right up for it.”

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After leaving Exeter in 2017 Watkins joined Brentford and spent three years with the West London side.

He signed for Aston Villa in 2020 and has since made 149 appearances.

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The forward also has nine England caps and three international goals.


Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk


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