Andrew Watson – The World's First Black International Football Player
Born on 18 May, 1857 in Georgetown, British Guiana, Andrew Watson is now considered to be the world's first black international association football player. He won three caps for Scotland between 1881 and 1882 and is also widely believed to be Britain's first black player. The superbly talented Arthur Wharton takes credit for being the world's first black professional association footballer, but Watson was playing as an amateur in Scotland at least ten years before the emergence of the mercurial Arthur Wharton. Interestingly they both have the same initials of A.W.
He was the son of a Scottish Sugar Planter, Peter Miller and local woman, Rose Watson, he was sent to Kings College, London at age 14 to begin his formal education. His school records show he excelled at many sports including football. His footballing story starts in Halifax, England where he came to complete his secondary education at a Public School in this part of West Yorkshire. He later moved to Scotland, and at age 19, he enrolled at Glasgow University to study Maths, Mechanics, Civil Engineering and Natural Philosophy.
His first Scottish club was Maxwell FC but soon signed for another local club Parkgrove FC in 1876 where he became the club's match secretary as well as a player earning him yet another historical first as the world's first black football administrator. He married a Glasgow girl and not long after the marriage he transferred to Queens Park with whom he won several major Scottish Cups and later became the club's secretary.
Scotland's form in the late 1800s is a lot better than it is now as he was on the winning side in all his three internationals. He skippered the team in his first international match against arch rivals, England, on 12 March, 1881, at the Kennington Oval, London and Scotland put six passed the English goalie whilst only conceding one goal. Wales were the next to succumb to the unstoppable Scots on 14 March losing 1-5 at Acton Park, Wrexham two days later. Andrew's last cap was again against the “auld” enemy on his home soil beating England 5-1 on 11 March, 1882 at Hampden Park, Glasgow.
Such were his skills on the field of play he was comfortable playing on either side of the defensive line up, and he had no qualms at all about playing midfield when required. In testimony to his prowess on the pitch, J.A.H. Catton, editor of the Athletic News and writing under the pseudonym “Tityrus” in 1926 endorsed the talented Watson by including him in his own Scottish all-time squad at left back. Catton had been watching and writing about the Scottish National Team for the previous 50 years so this was indeed an honour and adds credibility to the somewhat foggy match reports of that period. In essence, Andrew Watson was an awesome force on the pitch as well as his historical claim to fame.
Unfortunately, there is little known of his later life, but he did emigrate to Australia and is buried in Sydney. The official date of his death is believed to be 16 January,1902, but I have to emphasise this date is only speculative. As are the facts relating to his appearances in the FA Cup Final. I have made no attempt to include these finals in this article because the information is sketchy to say the least and in the majority of cases inaccurate.
There are striking similarities between Andrew Watson and Arthur Wharton in regard to their, colour, parentage, education and choice of sport. Wharton being the first professional black association footballer, and Mr. Watson being the first ever black football player in Britain and the World's first black international player among several other footballing firsts to his name. I will please the folk from north of the border by saying the key ingredient common to both men is their paternal Scottish ancestry.
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