HAVING been shortlisted for the Northern Ireland Football Writer's young player of the year in 2006, there is surely more to come from Aidan Watson in the coming years at the Showgrounds.

Born in Downpatrick on 19th August, 1986; Aidan began his footballing career at hometown Killyleagh YC, playing his trade at under-age level before having spells at Lisburn Youth and Glentoran.

In August 2002, he was spotted by Ards manager Frankie Parks and joined an influx of new young players at the North Down side. Parks' side had finished bottom of the Irish Premier League in their first season back in top-flight football, and were still without a ground after selling Castlereagh Park to developers the previous year - and were having to rely on Carrick Rangers for a groundshare of Taylors Avenue. Despite Ards being tipped to struggle, they finished a respectable seventh in the twelve team league in 2002/2003. Aidan made his senior debut towards the end of the season coming on as a substitute for David Rainey in a 1-0 win over Glenavon at home on 22nd April, 2003, aged only sixteen. His only other appearance that season came on the final day against Newry Town.

Despite the huge spending by homeless Ards, which seen the arrival of Lee Feeney, George O'Boyle and Darren Fitzgerald to name but a few - Aidan managed to make sterling headway at Clandeboye Park, as Ards had now agreed a ground-share with North Down rivals, Bangor. His first appearance of the season came in a CIS Cup tie with Newry Town in September - however only a few weeks later, Frankie Parks - who had brought Aidan to Ards, resigned as manager. Parks was replaced by former Ards midfielder, Shane Reddish, who had no fear in seventeen-year-old Watson, who was to make his full debut in a 4-1 win over Omagh Town at St Julian's Road in November 2003.

Playing with maturity beyond his years, he starred in Ards' 1-0 County Antrim Shield win over Ballymena United at Seaview and started in the final of the same competition as Reddish's side bowed out to Linfield, meaning that Aidan's first senior medal was a runner's up one. Watson made a total of fourteen appearances in the red and blue of Ards, as they finished eighth in the newly reformed sixteen team league.

Things seemingly fell to pieces at Ards the following season, as their money pot ran out - and the club found itself in grave financial trouble. Aidan, however had emerged as a key member of the first team at Ards; winning the first player of the month award at his club. The North Down side lost a lot of their better players that season, as they couldn't afford to pay their contracts - including Darren Fitzgerald moving to Ballymena United; and only just avoided the relegation places, finishing fourteenth. Watson scored his first senior goal for Ards in a 3-1 defeat to Dungannon Swifts at home, his only goal in thirty first team appearances that season - he also earned his first red card at the Oval in a 2-0 defeat to Glentoran. The season ended on a high though, as Aidan was named Ards' Player of the Year for 2004/05 and played for his country at Under-18 Schools level and also Under-19 level, having also previously played Under-17 the year before.

In July 2005, Aidan was selected as part of the Northern Ireland Under-19 team to compete in the UEFA Under-19 championships which were held in Northern Ireland. Despite the host nation finishing bottom of their group, they perfomed well against some of the best young players in Europe. His performances over that season attracted the attention of new Ballymena United boss, Tommy Wright, who in early June 2005 - snapped up out-of-contract Watson on a two year deal at the Braid.

Only six days short of his nineteenth birthday, Aidan made his Ballymena United debut in the CIS Cup in a 1-0 defeat to Portadown at Shamrock Park.