Ollie Watkins’ former PE teacher has revealed why the “Rolls Royce player” was destined for greatness – and the unusual award he received while at school.
Mike Slater, head of PE at South Dartmoor Community College in Ashburton, Devon, has said the pupils at Watkins’ old school found his last-minute goal in the Euro 2024 semi-final “hugely inspiring”.
“We couldn’t believe it. I had the WhatsApp [group] of former teachers here and they were saying ‘get Ollie on, get Ollie on’ for the winner and for him then to come on and score in the 90th minute was just unbelievable,” he said.
“Any reflected glory, we’re happy to take,” the PE teacher joked, “but we’re hugely proud to have someone that’s come through our school and ended up in the England team.
“It’s rare enough that they end up in an England side, let alone for them to score the winner in the 90th minute of the semi-final of a European championship, it’s just unbelievable.”
Mr Slater started teaching Watkins when he was in Year 10.
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“He gave me a bit of a runaround the first few lessons. He was a bit of a cheeky chappy but what was clear [was that] he was a really gifted sportsman.
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“The football shone but he could turn his hand to most things.
“He was one of those students where you could always have a bit of a laugh with [him]. He was polite, respectful but he had that cheeky side to him but he was a really good lad,” he said.
But there was one sport he did not take to.
“I tried to get him to play rugby once – he wasn’t too keen on that but everything else, he stood out,” Mr Slater said.
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His footballing talents were already so renowned at the school that he was awarded the student “most likely to be on a disgusting weekly salary” by the headteacher in his Year 11 yearbook.
The headteacher added: “I look forward to seeing you on the big screen one day!”
“The PE teacher at the time that was coaching the side – he said when Ollie was on it, he was just head and shoulders above everyone.
“He was like a Rolls Royce player. He just had a bit more time than everyone else, and he could do those few extra little bits of skills that other students – it was a bit beyond them. He was great to watch when he was on form,” Mr Slater added.
Watkins’ winning shot was “huge” for the pupils now at the school,” the teacher said.
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“You look at Premiership footballers and it just seems like a dream world to most students.
“But to know that we’ve had a student that’s come through our ranks, that’s sat in the classrooms that they’ve sat in, that’s played on this pitch where they play, it just makes it real and it’s hugely inspiring for the young people at our school.”
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Watkins joined Exeter City after leaving the school in 2012 where he played until moving to Brentford in 2017. The 28-year-old signed for Aston Villa in 2020.
