Another of Ollie Watkins’ childhood football coaches recalled the moment he knew the player was “something special” - and how his failures fuelled his success, writes Ella Nunn from SWNS.

Sadly for Watkins and the England team, Sunday’s final proved a step too far against an outstanding Spain team.

Mark Taylor, 64, coached Watkins for four years while the young player was at Buckland Athletic Football Club, in Newton Abbot, between the ages of eight and eleven.

He recalled when the youngster failed trials for bigger teams - but just used it to fuel his determination to succeed.

Mark, 64, said his phone “took off with messages and commentary” when Watkins scored in the 90th minute of England’s Euro 2024 semi-final match against the Netherlands on Wednesday.

The retiree, who lives in Farnham, Surrey, said: “That was Ollie’s finest hour and I am very hopeful he gets another.

“He’s always worked hard, he’s so determined, he’s a humble guy and I am just so proud of him.

“I really hope he keeps going forward and eventually becomes the number one for England.”

Mark’s stand-out memory from his time coaching Watkins involved a “four versus four” training drill.

He said: “I remember doing this drill to switch up play a bit.

“The ball came to Ollie and he was going forward when he was blocked by a defender.

“He quite suddenly literally just flicked the ball up over his head, over the top of the defender and just drove forward and flicked it into the little goal.

“That’s when I knew he was something special, something more. He tried to solve the problem, he thought outside the box - and he was only 10-years-old.”

When Watkins was nine, he applied for the Exeter City Football Club academy - but failed the trial.

Rob recalled the nine-year-old’s determination after the rejection and said: “His response to not being successful was incredible - he was so young but had so much determination to succeed and just practised so much.

“Then, of course, he went back a couple years later and he succeeded. I remember he just practised and practised - he was so driven.”

Watkins, 28, spent a few years in Exeter City's youth set-up before going on loan to Weston-Super-Mare in 2014/15 and then returning to the club's first team.

He broke into the Championship in 2017 at Brentford before moving to Premier League side Aston Villa in 2020, where he has played ever since.

Mark recalled speaking to a friend the other day and questioning “when a coach can no longer claim or say he’s influenced a player”.

He said: “My friend turned around and said ‘at some point you have to recognise that some players just have a special, innate talent. With those players, you are helping them with their skills and what you will never know is when their finest hour will come’.

“‘You might not be there when that finest hour happens, but you might get the chance to witness it’.

“And I feel like yesterday - in just 10 minutes of football - I witnessed Ollie’s finest hour.

“He’s taken the opportunity, he’s worked so hard and I’m so proud of him.

“As a young player he was always good fun, always humble and he deserves all the success he’s now getting - I wish him the very best.”