This campaign is to raise funds for a documentary about England’s former No. 5, Dave Watson. Dave thrilled and entertained fans throughout his long career, at Manchester City, Sunderland, Southampton, Stoke City, Rotherham, Notts County, Derby County, Vancouver Whitecaps, Werder Bremen, and Fort Lauderdale Sun. 

I am the youngest of Dave’s three children. 

Dad encouraged us to work hard, be inquisitive, and never give up on something we believe in. Those values have helped shape my career as an award-winning non-fiction producer and director, in the United States. I make documentaries about a variety of subjects. But I’m driven by telling stories that champion underrepresented voices, raise tough questions, and inspire change. 

That’s why, when Dad went public with his neurodegenerative brain disease in 2020, I decided to make a documentary about him.

The film is a journey through Dad’s incredible life and career and explores what it's like to live with dementia. It also documents the push to get some of football’s major stakeholders to recognize and support our forgotten heroes, who gave so much to the game we all love.

The teaser above features footage we shot with my parents and some of Dad’s friends and teammates. To complete the documentary, we need to film more interviews with fans, sports journalists, former players, and experts. Time is of the essence! Dad’s condition is deteriorating, so I would like to complete the documentary in 2025.

$35,000 will fund a two-week shoot in the UK. That's around  £27,000. That amount will allow me to travel to the UK, pay my British crew, and rent all the necessary equipment to film. It also covers costs associated with travel, accommodation, insurance, and food for the crew, and will enable me to pay my editor for his work on the teaser.

**Please note: Because I am based in the United States and my business bank account is here, all amounts are listed in US Dollars. You can view any pricing in UK Sterling, or a different currency, by going to the bottom left of this webpage and changing the currency setting.**

Your donation would mean the world to me.

Fundraising for an independent documentary can be tough. Documentaries often end up being funded by a patchwork of sources. But if there's one thing Dad taught me - it's that persistence pays. This money will allow us to keep pushing the project forward so that we can secure more funding, begin to edit the rest of the film, and ultimately find a distributor. Being able to show potential buyers that there’s already a built-in audience for the project will be very persuasive.

For those who donate, we are offering several unique rewards, including t-shirts, limited edition posters, and the opportunity to attend a screening with the Watson family. Don't forget to pick your perk when you donate! **when you checkout a tip is automatically added, the tip is entirely optional. please do not feel pressured to tip!**

If we don’t reach our goal, we will simply downsize our plans, cut down shoot days, and do what we can with the money we raise. I am comfortable working within a budget and adapting quickly when needed.

I hate asking for handouts. However, I’ve been limping along for three years, filming in the UK on and off. When I began spreading the word about the documentary, I realized there are plenty of folks, like you, who would love to watch this film. So I’m asking for your help! If you believe in this project, please help me memorialize my hero and raise awareness about sports-related dementia.

Thank you for taking the time to read about the project.

If you are not in a position to donate, you can still help by spreading the word about our campaign. 

It's easy. Simply click the share button at the top of this page. If you follow us on Facebook and Instagram, you can also like and share our posts. 

Thank you. ⚽ ⭐