Bristol Rovers have paid tribute to a legendary former player who has died. John "Josser" Watling was the last surviving link with the glorious Rovers side of the 1950s.
Born in Bristol on May 11 1925, "Josser" served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War and survived being on a boat sunk by Nazi warships off the Russian coast. Mr Watling signed for Rovers in October 1945 and joined the professional ranks in January 1947, making his league debut for the club in a local derby, 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.
