Yahoo News Ollie Watkins' mum's wishes came true after pub rant at England manager
Ollie Watkins' mum wish for her son was granted to roaring success on Wednesday night after Gareth Southgate finally put the Devon-lad "on the f****** pitch". Mum Delsi-May Watkins-Campbell had previously been seen speaking to England fans before England's Euro semi-final match against the Netherlands in Dortmund, pleading with Southgate to allow her son to play.
Wednesday's vital match appeared set to go to extra time once again, just like the Slovakia and Switzerland matches earlier in the knockout stages, after Harry Kane’s spot-kick cancelled out a superb Xavi Simons opener. But Southgate's decision to replace captain Kane and Phil Foden with Watkins and Palmer fulfilled not only England's hopes of European victory, but a mum's hopes for her child.
"On Wednesday, [my wish is] that they finally let my son come on the f***ing pitch," Delsi-May said to excited fans a few days before the match. According to the Mail, Watkins admitted he felt "a bit frustrated" on the bench, having only played for around 20 minutes in England's group stage match against Denmark, but still came out blazing and scored the winning goal in the 90th minute.
Read more:
A warning that the video below does contain strong language
“I’m lost for words, really,” super sub Watkins said. “When you score there are emotions that come through your body but this is a different feeling. It was slow motion when I was running over to the boys and celebrating.
“I didn’t want to get off the pitch at the end because I wanted to soak it all in because it doesn’t happen very often really. The goal is my bread and butter, running in behind and causing defence trouble.
“I said to Cole we were both going to get on the pitch and he was going to set me up at half-time. It happened. I manifested it. As soon as he turned I knew to make the move. You don’t get that opportunity very often. I had to be greedy. I’ve seen it go in the bottom corner. I don’t think I’ve hit the ball that sweet before in such a special moment.”
The goal is the fourth career goal at national level for Torquay-born Watkins, who grew up in Abbotskerswell, just outside of Newton Abbot, and started his career at Exeter City's Academy at the U11 level, before later playing for Exeter City - scoring 10 goals for the team over 22 appearances in his first season in 2015-16.
Watkins’ life changed forever in Dortmund in what was just his second appearance of a challenging tournament for Aston Villa’s main man. “Recently, I’ve got a little bit frustrated,” he said. “I don’t like to be on the bench. I’ve had the best season of my career.
“I’ve had a few messages from my friends saying be patient. The amount of people I’ve had message me today saying I’m going to score tonight when I come on is ridiculous. Obviously they put it out into the universe so hopefully they can do the same for the final or even give me the lottery numbers!”
