Before Leeds United’s first ever trip to the Hill Dickinson Stadium this weekend, Everton fans are reminiscing about a classic Goodison Park demolition from 2003, a game that belonged to an unlikely hero: right back turned winger Steve Watson.
With the dependable (and famously goal shy) Tony Hibbert holding the fort at the back, then boss David Moyes made a bold move for the visit of Leeds. He shoved the versatile Watson, then 29, into an advanced role on the right wing. What followed was pure fantasy.
In a blistering 26 minute spell either side of half time, Watson channelled the spirit of Andrei Kanchelskis to net a sensational hat trick, the first of his entire career. It wasn’t just a fluke. The Geordie utility man had already been in fine scoring form, finding the net against Fulham and Charlton earlier that season, making him Everton’s unlikely top scorer at the time.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo afterwards, Watson revealed the secret behind his explosion: a few choice words from Moyes. “The manager had a go at me in training on Saturday,” he admitted. “He said I’d been poor in the last couple of games and I needed to buck my ideas up. It certainly did the trick!”
The result was a statement 4-0 win that showcased Moyes’ knack for motivation and tactical flexibility. For Watson, it was the peak of a nomadic career that saw him regret leaving his boyhood club Newcastle United just as Sir Bobby Robson’s thrilling side was being assembled. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have regrets about the timing,” he later reflected.
The contrast with today is stark. While Everton’s current search for a reliable right back drags on, that day in 2003 highlighted a rare period of depth, allowing Moyes the luxury of using a defender as his most potent attacking weapon. It remains a cherished “I was there” moment for the Goodison faithful, a reminder that sometimes, the most inspired decisions come from putting a square peg in a round hole and watching him smash in a hat trick.
