Dave watson joins.....

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CITY are delighted to announce the arrival of current England goalkeeping coach Dave Watson to Chris Hughton's backroom staff at Carrow Road.

Watson arrives from Birmingham City with a wealth of experience behind him and reunites with new City boss Chris Hughton, Colin Calderwood and Paul Trollope after a successful stint together with the Blues last season.

The Canaries have agreed a compensation deal with Birmingham for Watson's services and he will join Norwich for the start of pre-season training next week.

Watson commented: "I'm eternally grateful to Birmingham City for giving me the opportunity to come to the club four and a half years ago and I will leave with plenty of good memories.

"Having worked in the Premier League previously and having been involved with the England set-up during the summer, I knew that the opportunity to work in the top flight again was something that I just couldn't turn down.

"Norwich is a fantastic club and everyone sold it to me very easily. We've got a one-year-old son so the city and the area appeals to me and the chance to work in the Premier League for such a good club obviously.

"Through my time with England I've already worked with John Ruddy and Jed Steer and I know a lot about Declan Rudd by reputation, so I can't wait to start working with them."

City Manager Chris Hughton said: "I'm delighted to have brought Dave here to the Football Club. He's someone I was aware of before I joined Birmingham and having had the opportunity to work with him last year it was no surprise to me that England wanted to involve him.

"He's someone I have been keen to bring here with us since the moment I joined so it's pleasing to have agreed things and now he can start work with the rest of us on Monday."

A former England under-21 international himself, Watson spent his entire playing career at Barnsley where he helped guide the Yorkshire club to the Premier League in 1997, only for injury to cut short his playing days at just 28.

He quickly turned to coaching however and went onto coach at Oldham, Huddersfield, Northampton, Nottingham Forest and most recently Birmingham City where he helped develop the talents of England goalkeepers Joe Hart, Ben Foster and most recently Jack Butland.

He has quickly gained a reputation of being one of the best young coaches around and was made England goalkeeping coach by Roy Hodgeson following his arrival as England manager in May, following a recommendation from the FA for his work with the England under-21s.

Speaking following the appointment of Watson, England manager Hodgeson said at the time: "Dave is highly rated throughout the game and is well respected by the goalkeepers who have worked with him, importantly Joe Hart.

"He has worked with a number of current English goalkeepers and has experience of working with England development teams, so we know he will fit in well"

The move saw him take in his first European Championship campaign as a coach this summer in Poland and Ukraine, working with City stopper John Ruddy following his call-up to the squad, although it proved to only be a brief introduction after Ruddy was forced out of the squad with a broken finger.

The pair will link up again now at Carrow Road however, as young City 'keepers Declan Rudd and Jed Steer also look to flourish under the guidance of the current England coach.

Posted By: DrDublin, Jul 6, 13:28:33