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TEAM GB’s men’s curling team are determined to win Winter Olympic gold in memory of a young Scottish footballer who died after a battle with skin cancer.
Charlie Watson, who continued playing for Threave Rovers despite his diagnosis, was a close family friend of curler Grant Hardie and an avid fan of the Scottish team skippered by Bruce Mouat.
Watson, who passed away at the age of 20 two weeks ago, raised thousands of pounds for cancer research and hit the headlines when he played in a televised Scottish Cup clash against Stranraer last October.
Threave Rovers footballer Charlie Watson died after a battle with skin cancer
Hardie, part of the Scotland team who won the world championship in April, described Watson as ‘a special individual’, while team-mate Hammy McMillan said they will be fighting to win gold in his honour in Italy early next year.
‘Charlie’s mum and dad have sponsored our team for years and they’re close family friends, so it’s heartbreaking for all of us,’ said Hardie, who was brought up in Dumfries.
‘I was his stepdad’s groomsman at his wedding, and we’ve known each other for a long time.
‘We raised $10,000 for Charlie in our recent Battle of the Sexes match in Toronto organised by the Grand Slam of Curling. We played against Rachel Homan’s Canada team — so it was the men’s world No 1 men’s team against the world No 1 women’s team. The arena was sold out — with 4,000 people in attendance — and all the money went to our two charities.
‘Charlie was meant to fly out to the event but, sadly, he couldn’t manage because of his condition by then.’
McMillan added: ‘His mum and stepdad, Amanda and Richard, have been terrific supporters over the years. We’ve always kept in touch. Charlie said he couldn’t thank us enough for what we’d done. He said it was just the best. It makes you upset, we would have done anything to help him.
‘We will absolutely be fighting for gold for Charlie at next year’s Olympics. His mum and stepdad have already booked tickets to come to Italy. Hopefully, we can do it for Charlie, and for all our families as well, that have supported our journey. That would top it all off.’
Hardie said the young footballer had found great solace from the messages of support he received from around the country.
‘Charlie had some lovely messages, including from Steven Gerrard and Duncan Ferguson. They were really nice, inspirational messages and gave him a lift. He really appreciated that.
Charlie Watson continued playing football after his cancer diagnosis
‘His mum had done so much research and had found a machine that targeted the treatment, so the money raised went towards that. Unfortunately, it was just a little too late by then, and the cancer had spread to his brain.
‘Charlie was always so positive. He was always looking to find ways to defeat it. He fought so hard — right until the very end.’
As well as honouring Watson, Team GB’s men’s curling team will be attempting to make history at the Winter Olympics.
GB men haven’t won gold at the event since 1924 when Willie Jackson, son Laurence, Robin Welsh and Tom Murray triumphed in Chamonix in France, in what was then a demonstration event.
It wasn’t until 2006 that curling was officially recognised as an event at the Games — and for Jackson’s rink to be credited as Olympic champions. Should Team Mouat take gold they will arguably become Britain’s best men’s team of all time, having won two world championships and multiple other competitions domestically and worldwide.
Chosen to lead the GB charge, the Scots narrowly missed out on gold to Sweden in the Olympic final at Beijing 2022.
Mouat’s confident they can go one better at Milano Cortina next February after a year of success at both World and European level.
Threave Rovers player Charlie Watson, who passed away earlier this year, with his mum Amanda
‘It’s been a long journey. The last three years we’ve put a lot of work in to get to this point, and it’s really satisfying to know we’re now the team. That’s where the hard work starts again,’ said the 30-year-old.
‘It’s not just about being there, it’s about coming home with the right colour of medal, after being so close last time.
‘Losing in Beijing was very tough. Athletes often talk about the “hangover” from an Olympics. It was pretty tough to get
motivated to go back onto the ice after that, and to wrap your head around the dream you’ve had for so long, just not being the right colour of medal. I wanted to go to an Olympics, I achieved that, but I also wanted to bring back the gold medal and getting so close was really hard. It took me around six months to really want to be back on the ice.
Hammy McMillan, Bruce Mouat and Bobby Lammie in Beijing
‘We did end up coming out the other side, and then won the World Championship (in Canada in April) in front of our families, which was extra special.’
Mouat, who will be joined by McMillan, Hardie and Bobby Lammie in Italy next year, described the prospect of becoming the first British team since 1924 to win gold as ‘pretty cool’.
He said: ‘We still have all that drive to want to go and win it. That’s why we’re putting so much effort in. I love playing with the guys and love my sport.’
Mouat will pair up again in the mixed doubles with Jen Dodds, who won gold with Eve
Muirhead’s rink in Beijing and will this time join Rebecca Morrison, Sophie Jackson and Sophie Sinclair in Italy.
He added: ‘I’m also really fortunate that I’ve got another opportunity with Jen in the mixed doubles, so I’m really lucky to have the chance there as well to do it again.’
