Everyone at Queen of the South is absolutely devastated at the news this morning of the death of young Charlie Watson. He only turned 20 yars old last month.

As a 16 year old Charlie joined Queen of the South in the summer of 2021. Over the course of the next three years he became a regular in both the 18's and Reserve teams, being on the fringes of a first team call up at times. An outstanding footballer, he had a very successful loan spell at Dalbeattie Star and was awarded the Reserve Coaches' Player of the Year in 2024 at the season ending awards event.

However, in the background he had also been diagnosed with Stage 4 skin cancer late in 2023, something most people were completely unaware of for a long time as he chose to bear it bravely and quietly. Remarkably, despite regular chemotherapy, he continued his football career and joined Threave Rovers in a permanent move in the summer of 2024. He was a regular for Threave for most of last season despite the worsening of his illness, which was by then public and featured heavily in the build up to Threave's televised Scottish Cup tie with Stranraer in October. Typically of the way Charlie fought his illness, he was combative that night, seeing a red card late in the game. As he fought the cancer he and his family, together with his team and most of the local football community also campaigned for more care to be taken with unusual moles and blemishes.His campaign raised vital funds for melanoma research.

Charlie had many friends amongst the players and staff at Queen of the South still, as he did of course at Threave Rovers, Dalbeattie Star and every other club he previously played with. Tonight our thoughts are with all of them but most especially with Charlie's mum, Amanda, and the rest of his family.

Rest easy now Charlie.