Super-Mare to supersub

England goal hero Watkins' incredible rise to top

- MARTIN FRICKER

LOCALS joke more seagulls watch Weston-super-Mare AFC matches than supporters.

The semi-professional team competes in the National League South, the sixth tier of English football.

But Ollie Watkins says his time at the club helped him to fire England into the Euros final on Sunday.

The striker, 28, said: "To go from grassroots football to becoming an England international, it has been a bit of a journey but it has been a great journey." Watkins came off the bench on Wednesday night to dramatically score a 90th-minute winner in England's 2-1 semi-final victory against the Netherlands.

As millions watched at home, pubs and fan parks, around 25,000 Three Lions supporters cheered him on at the BVB Stadium.

It is a far cry from Weston-super-Mare's Woodspring Stadium in Somerset, which had an average gate of 1,090 last year.

Watkins lined out for The Seagulls a decade ago while on loan from Exeter City and players recall he used to get fined £5 for being late at training or wearing the wrong kit.

They also remember his speed and ability but never imagined he would be scoring in a Euros semifinal. While England's Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka were in top academies from the age of six, Watkins had a tougher start.

He was initially rejected by Exeter City and played for Buckland Athletic under-nines.