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For many years Arthur Wharton, Preston North End's famous goalkeeper has been considered the world’s first black football player. When Wharton signed for Preston in 1886 he unquestionably became the world’s first black professional footballer. In Scotland, however, there was a prominent black footballer named Andrew Watson, playing as early as the mid 1870’s. Watson has long been forgotten despite a brilliant career that brought him silverware with Queens Park - Scotland’s prominent team of the period and international honours with Scotland. Recently the Scottish Football Museum based at Scotland’s National Stadium, Hampden Park, uncovered the fascinating story behind Andrew Watson.
Andrew Watson (top)
Andrew Watson was born in Demerara, Georgetown, Guyana in 1857. Little is known of his early life in Guyana and Scotland but he joined his first club, Maxwell FC. Moving on to Parkgrove in the Govan suburb of Glasgow where he eventually became match secretary. As a young up and coming player Watson began to make a name for himself at Parkgrove. The Scotland Football Association Annual for 1878-79 listed him alongside some of the most notable players in Scottish football.
On 14 April 1880, Watson gained his first representative honour when he was selected for Glasgow against Sheffield. Glasgow won the match 1-0 at Bramwell Lane. On 12 March 1881 Andrew Watson won his first cap for Scotland against England at the Oval in London. He was made captain and Scotland won the match 6-1. Two days later Watson received his second cap against Wales at the Racehorse ground in Wrexham. The Scots won the match 5-1. His third and final cap came against England on 11 March 1882. The match was played at First Hampden Park and resulted in a 5-1 victory for the Scots. The Glasgow News on the 13 May reported “Watson…very steady and his speed aided Scotland to a great extent.”
The museum’s research into Watson serves to demonstrate that the early history of Scottish football remains largely untapped. This became very apparent to museum staff with the discovery of a second player called Robert Walker. Playing with the Third Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers during the mid 1870’s. He took part in the Scottish Cup Final and replay of 1876 when Thirds lost to Queens Park. The Scottish Referee publication of Monday 8 February 1904 points conclusively to Robert Walker’s ethnic appearance – “Third Lanark are the only team to have a half caste playing for them…”
Although there is still much research to be conducted it appears evident that Watson and Walker’s place in football history is undisputed. |
