Alexander Watson Hutton
Encyclopedia
Alexander Watson Hutton (10 June 1853 - 9 March 1936) was a Scottish
teacher and sportsman and is considered the father of Argentine football
. In 1893 he founded the "Argentine Association Football League", which is now known as the Asociación del Fútbol Argentino (Argentine Football Association). He also founded the Buenos Aires English High School and Alumni Athletic Club, the team that dominated the Amateur era in Argentine football
.
Watson Hutton was born in the Gorbals
, in Glasgow
, in 1853. He graduated from Edinburgh University and emigrated to Argentina
in 1882. He worked at St Andrew's Scots School for two years. He was a keen sportsman and believed that sports were of fundamental importance in education. In 1884 he founded Buenos Aires English High School.
In 1891 Alec Lamont, headteacher St Andrew's founded the "Argentine Association Football League" and Argentine league, which was won by a team of Scots from St Andrew's. The five team league only lasted one season and is not officially recognised. The Association and league only lasted one season.
On February 21, 1893 Watson Hutton restarted the "Argentine Association Football League", and formed the first officially recognised league outside the British Isles
. In 1898 his school formed a football team which went on to become the most decorated team in the Amateur Era of Argentine football, in 1901 they were renamed Alumni Athletic Club
. The club won ten league titles a record only ever surpassed by five teams (Racing Club
, River Plate
, Boca Juniors
, Independiente
and San Lorenzo). Alumni provided many players for the Argentina national football team
including his son Arnold Watson Hutton
.
In 1911 he retired and his club were disbanded, he died on March 9, 1936 in Buenos Aires
and is buried in Cementerio Británico
. The AFA library is named in his honour.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
teacher and sportsman and is considered the father of Argentine football
Football in Argentina
Football in Argentina is the most popular sport, the one with the most players and is the most popular recreational sport, played from childhood into old age...
. In 1893 he founded the "Argentine Association Football League", which is now known as the Asociación del Fútbol Argentino (Argentine Football Association). He also founded the Buenos Aires English High School and Alumni Athletic Club, the team that dominated the Amateur era in Argentine football
Amateur Era in Argentine football
The amateur era in Argentine football lasted between 1891 and 1931.-History:The first league tournament outside the United Kingdom took place in Argentina in 1891, it was dominated by British expatriate players and teams. The Scottish influence is evident in the names of the league's first winners...
.
Watson Hutton was born in the Gorbals
Gorbals
The Gorbals is an area on the south bank of the River Clyde in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. By the late 19th century, it had become over-populated and adversely affected by local industrialisation. Many people lived here because their jobs provided this home and they could not afford their own...
, in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, in 1853. He graduated from Edinburgh University and emigrated to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
in 1882. He worked at St Andrew's Scots School for two years. He was a keen sportsman and believed that sports were of fundamental importance in education. In 1884 he founded Buenos Aires English High School.
In 1891 Alec Lamont, headteacher St Andrew's founded the "Argentine Association Football League" and Argentine league, which was won by a team of Scots from St Andrew's. The five team league only lasted one season and is not officially recognised. The Association and league only lasted one season.
On February 21, 1893 Watson Hutton restarted the "Argentine Association Football League", and formed the first officially recognised league outside the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
. In 1898 his school formed a football team which went on to become the most decorated team in the Amateur Era of Argentine football, in 1901 they were renamed Alumni Athletic Club
Alumni Athletic Club
Asociación Alumni, usually just Alumni, is a rugby union and former football club located in Tortuguitas, Greater Buenos Aires, Argentina.-The beginning:...
. The club won ten league titles a record only ever surpassed by five teams (Racing Club
Racing Club de Avellaneda
Racing Club is an Argentine professional football club from Avellaneda, a suburb of Greater Buenos Aires. Founded in 1903, Racing has been historically considered one of the "big five" clubs of Argentine football...
, River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
, Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
, Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente is an Argentine athletic, sports and social club, which has its headquarters and stadium in the city of Avellaneda, Buenos Aires Province. The club is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División....
and San Lorenzo). Alumni provided many players for the Argentina national football team
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
including his son Arnold Watson Hutton
Arnold Watson Hutton
Arnold Pencliffe Watson Hutton was an Argentine football striker for the Argentina national team. He also played cricket, tennis and waterpolo for Argentina....
.
In 1911 he retired and his club were disbanded, he died on March 9, 1936 in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
and is buried in Cementerio Británico
Cementerio Británico
Cementerio Británico, also known as Buenos Aires British cemetery, is a cemetery in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is in the district of Chacarita in the northern part of Buenos Aires, adjacent to La Chacarita Cemetery.-History of the British Cemetery:...
. The AFA library is named in his honour.