Watkin played for
Congleton Town before joining
Stoke City. He featured in five
Third Division North games in the
1926–27 title-winning season, and scored in three games in a row: a 2–1 win over
Crewe Alexandra at the
Victoria Ground (12 March), a 2–2 draw with
Stockport County at
Edgeley Park (19 March), and a 4–0 home win over
Southport (26 March). However, this was the extent of his appearances with the "Potters". He was signed by
local rivals Port Vale in June 1929. He picked up a
knee injury in a 2–2 draw at
Rotherham United on 19 October 1929, which kept him on the sidelines for four months. He made his return in style, gaining revenge over Rotherham by scoring five goals in a 7–1 win over them at the reverse fixture at the
Old Recreation Ground on 22 February. He finished the
1929–30 Third Division North title-winning season with nine goals in 13 appearances. He struggled to nail down a place in the side, though and never featured in the
1930–31 Second Division season. He was given a
free transfer back to former club Congleton in April 1931. ==Career statistics==