When Chris Turner brought striker Gordon Watson to Pools in September 2001 it was a risky move. Watson had played just one full game of football in 4 years having suffered a dreadful injury while playing for Bradford. The gamble paid off as Watson led the line with a swagger and scored 18 times in 31 games. The 2002/03 season was a frustrating one for Watson as a broken leg ruled him out for much of the club's successful promotion campaign. Watson was forced to retire in the summer of 2003.