Picture: www.presseye.com

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.

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. 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 by Mal Donaghy to compete in the UEFA Under-19 Championship which were held in the province.

Despite the host nation finishing bottom of their group; they perfomed well against some of the best young players in Europe. His performances 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, he became an integral part of the Ballymena midfield that season; playing 31 games and scoring three times.

Aidan picked up another County Antrim Shield runners' up medal, this time after defeat to Linfield at Seaview in February 2006. He managed to impress in other quarters though as he was shortlisted for the Ulster Football Writer's Young Player of the Year, alongside team-mate Craig McClean - however the award went to Glentoran's Phillip Simpson.

The following season Watson started the season in fine form, and starred in a high-profile friendly game against Manchester City at the Showgrounds, giving England international Joey Barton a torrid time in midfield. Strong interest from Scottish Premier League side Aberdeen was to follow for the rest of the season, but never materialise.

Ballymena suffered an inconsistent 2006/07 campaign, in which young Aidan's form was similar to that of the team, as the Sky Blues finished a disappointing ninth; he clocked up 29 appearances but failed to score that season.

The season just past turned out to be an injury nightmare for Watson as a niggling shin injury kept the 21-year-old Killyleagh midfielder out for long periods - managing only 13 games during the whole 2007/2008 season.

Despite rumours of a departure from the Showgrounds, new Ballymena boss Roy Walker offered out-of-contract Aidan a new two-year deal to stay at the Braid and will be looking to get his career back on track and put his prolonged injury worries behind him.