The one club man played 323 league games for Bristol Rovers and also survived being on a boat sunk by Nazi warships in World War II

Bristol Rovers have paid their respects to a renowned former player who has passed away. John “Josser” Watling was the only living link to Rovers’ great 1950s side.

Born on May 11, 1925 in Bristol, “Josser” served in the Royal Navy during WWII and survived being on a boat sunk by Nazi warships off the coast of Russia. Mr Watling joined Rovers in October 1945 and made his professional debut in January 1947, making his league debut against Bristol City on Valentine’s Day 1948.

Rovers lost 5-2 at Ashton Gate on that occasion, but it was the first of 323 league games he appeared in for the team, his only league club. He also scored 19 league goals, the first of which was scored against City in a 3-0 win at Eastville in September 1948.

An obituary written by Bristol Rovers’ former press officer Keith Brookman states: “Initially a deceptively quick left winger, he was converted to left-back during the latter part of his career and he skippered the side for four years until his retirement, in 1962. Not just a talented footballer, “Josser” was a real character among a team made up, predominantly, of local players who formed a closely-knit group in an era before the abolition of the maximum wage, before substitutes were even thought of, and when players seldom moved to other clubs.

“A natural comedian and entertainer, there are many photos of “Josser” playing the piano with his teammates gathered around him. He admitted to naming Alfie Biggs “The Baron” due to the striker’s dress sense, and he was proud to have represented the club in 15 consecutive seasons.

“The 288th player to represent the club in the Football League, he ran a fruit shop for four years following his retirement and then worked for many years as a storekeeper at Glenside Hospital. He also had a road named after him, Watling Way in Shirehampton.

“When I first met him, he was a regular at Rovers home games, always accompanied by his great friend and another former Rovers player, Bill Roost.” He was always up for a discussion and was plenty of stories from his time in the navy and as a Rovers player.

“Despite appearing in only five games during the 1952/53 promotion season, ‘Josser’ played for the club in both FA Cup quarter-finals in the 1950s, against Newcastle United in 1951 and Fulham in 1958.” In 1960, he also appeared in the first-ever League Cup match between Rovers and Fulham. Many fans will have had the pleasure of meeting him, and they, along with his close family and friends, will be mourning his death today.