Albion reject goes for Wembley glory
10:30am Friday 16th May 2008
Ben Watson believes his appearance at Wembley this weekend should give Albion's latest crop of discarded youngsters hope for the future.
The 22-year-old, from Portslade, is hoping to shoot Exeter City into the Football League in the Blue Square premier play-off final on Sunday three years after being shown the door by the Seagulls.
Watson was in the same position as Sam Rents, Sonny Cobbs, Lloyd Skinner and Chris Winterton are now when Mark McGhee told him he was surplus to requirements in March 2005.
While the likes of Chris May, Ben Fillery and Matt Piper, who were all released at the same time, are now playing in the Ryman League for Sussex clubs Watson has refused to accept he is not good enough to make the grade.
A goal-laden two year spell at Bognor caught the eye of plenty of scouts and earned him a return to the professional ranks when he signed for Grays Athletic at the start of the season.
Although that move did not turn out exactly as he planned he was given a chance to join Exeter on loan in March and is now just one game from achieving his goal of getting back into the League.
Watson said: "I was devastated when I didn't get offered a pro contract but I kept believing in myself and getting to Wembley shows what can be achieved.
"A lot of people get released and then disappear. They all have the ability to play at a high level but it is the mental side of things which is the most important.
"My advice to the players released by Brighton is just go and play football and enjoy it. It can be hard as you are on a downer after being let go but you can't give up hope.
"I tried to be positive when Brighton let me go and use it as part of my learning experience. You've got to remember you are still a good player who has been taught well and that with a lot of hard work a second chance will come along.
"I kept believing in the dream and look at where I am now. I will be running out at Wembley on Sunday and hopefully playing League football again next season."
Watson will be the second former Seagull to appear at Wembley in the space of eight days after Chris McPhee scored the winner in the FA Trophy final for Ebbsfleet United last Saturday.
His season looked to be heading for a frustrating end as he was played out of position or left out altogether at Grays before former Crawley boss John Yems threw him a lifeline.
Yems had been first team coach at Grays but recommended him to Exeter boss Paul Tisdale when he became coach with the Grecians in February.
He has largely been used as a substitute but put himself in line for a starting role at Wembley after a match-changing introduction as a substitute in the dramatic semi-final victory over Torquay.
Watson came on with Exeter 3-1 down on aggregate but scored one from the penalty spot and set up another to clinch an amazing 4-1 win on the night and a 5-3 victory over the two legs.
He added: "I've never played at Wembley before so I am really looking forward to it. I went to the Trophy final last Saturday and it was an amazing atmosphere so I am buzzing about actually playing there.
"It was great that Chris McPhee got the winning goal and it would be a dream come true if I could do the same thing. Hopefully I will start but even if I'm on the bench I'm determined to enjoy the experience."