1890: First football match in Spain and the North British Daily Mail

Sevilla FC’s History Department has once again discovered a very important document for the history of Spanish football. It is an old article published by the Scottish newspaper North British Daily Mail on April 11, 1890. The article describes how Sevilla FC organized and won the first football match played in Spain. The historic meeting was held in Seville on March 8, 1890.

The article continues and, among many other details, also describes the important victory of Sevilla FC in the first tennis match played in Spain between two clubs.

FOOTBALL

ATHLETICS IN SPAIN. — Some months ago several of the British residents in Seville had a meeting at which they decided to form a football club. The use of the ground at the racecourse having been granted, and the necessary goal posts and other apparatus obtained; after a few practice games an invitation was sent to the recently-formed recreation club of Huelva to send a team to Seville to try issues. The match took place on the 8th of March, but unfortunately the weather was unfavorable, still amid a downpour of rain, what is believed to be the first football match in Spain took place, resulting in favour of the Seville players by two goals to nothing. The teams were: — Huelva — Goal, Gibson; backs, Curtis and Alcock; half-backs, Coto, Daniels and Broadley; forwards, Wakelin, Duclos, Kirk and Yates. Umpire, Mr. Palin. Seville — Goal, Manday; backs, Annandale and MacColl; half-backs, Stroneger and Logan; forwards, Ritson, Welton, White and Greig. Umpire, Dr. Langdon. Referee, Mr. Johnston. In the evening the two teams dined together in the Suizo Hotel, under the presidency of Mr. Johnston, the British Vice-Consul. On Saturday, March 29th, the return match took place at Huelva. The Seville team was, as before, captained by Mr. MacColl, late of the Pollokshields Athletic and Ulster Clubs, and the Huelva team by Mr. Alcock, of Rio Tinto. The weather was on this occasion more propitious, and after a very closely contested game the result was a draw, two goals each. One of the Seville goals was, however, disputed on the plea of the ball having been out of play, one umpire deciding for a goal and the other against, and as the referee, from the position he was in, could not see the line it was decided to throw the ball up at midfield and leave the question unsettled. In the evening the teams dined together in the Hotel Colon, under the presidency of Mr. Adams of the gas works. A unique feature of this match was a service of tea at half-time and at the close of the game by some of the lady friends of the members of the Huelva Club. The teams were — Seville — Goal, H. Lindberg; backs, MacColl and Stroneger; half-backs, Logan, J. Lindberg and Henderson; forwards, Ritson, Welton, Pollock and Crombie. Umpire, Mr. Johnston. Huelva — Goal, Wakelin; backs, Brunton and Mathews; half-backs, Rollet, Duclos and Coto; forwards, Stephen, Alcock, Coto, Young and Garcia. Umpire, Dr. Mackay. Referee, Mr. Palin. Before this latter match a team from Seville played a team representing Huelva a lawn tennis match, with the following result: —

Number of games — Seville, 28; Huelva, 23.