St. Andrew's Athletic Club
When we look at the footballing map of the world. It’s hard to believe that the third oldest league in the world is not in Europe it is the Argentinian league system.
Scotland in the 1695 tried to set up a colony in Panama. The Scottish Government passed and act which created the Bank of Scotland. This colony was an attempt to start an empire to match England and become a richer and more prosperous nation. It however, failed the English Colonies in the area at the start promised to help the fledgling Scots however, they quickly turned their back and left them to their fate.
In 1699 the Scots took to raiding Spanish Ships in the area. This led to the Spanish raising a force of 500 men to take the lands the Scots held. When they marched in, they found that the land was all but abandoned and of the 2000 settlers that left Leith in 1695 only 150 would see their homeland again. Most had fell to disease. As a result, it was officially abandoned in 1699. This failure had cost Scotland half a million pounds at the time effectively bankrupting the country to such a state that it was a main factor behind the act of union in 1707.
Scotland very much failed in its attempt to build an empire the size of England's at the time. However, the tiny nation at the top of Europe would arguably have a bigger impact on the world than any army or navy ever could.
Throughout Europe and the world, the starting points for all footballing league would feature a Scotsman and Scotland's stars travelled around the world taking a sport so easy to play with anything circular to the four corners of the globe.
Argentina is no different. The story of Argentinian football started 8000 miles away in the Gorbals, Glasgow in 1853. When on the 10th June that year. Alexander “Alejandro” Watson Hutton was born to Robert Hutton and Ellen Hutton at 29 Eglinton Street. The tenement that he was born in is now the sight of the 02 Academy.
His parents died when he was young, so he was sent under the care of his aunt to Edinburgh University. Where he graduated with a degree in Philosophy. However, after losing his brother to TB he left Scotland in 1882 as a part of the mass emigration to Argentina at the time.
He took up a post with St Andrews High School in Buenos Aires. As soon as he joined the school his keenness for physical fitness and sports was evident. The school at the time already had a Rugby and Cricket team. So, when Watson Hutton joined the school and brought football with him it was added to the list of activities that the club already had.
In 1884 Watson Hutton left St Andrews to start his own school called Buenos Aires English High School. However, by this time the seed was well and truly planted. In would not be until 1890 that with some railway workers that St Andrew's Athletic Club was officially formed.
In 1891 Alec Lamont (another Scot and a teacher at St Andrew's) and Alexander Watson Hutton formed the Argentine Association Football League. The direct predecessor to the Primera Division.
That first season 5 teams partook in the league St Andrew's Athletic Club, Old Caledonians, Buenos Aires & Rosario Railway Belgrano Football Club and Buenos Aires Football Club. All these clubs have a very strong connection to Britain by being formed by British Immigrants. It would not be until 1913 when Racing won the league title that a team with no connection to Britain would win the league title.
In the 1891 season each team played 8 times. Both St Andrew's and Old Caledonians won 6 games drew 1 and lost 1 each so the first season ended with a play off between the two sides. On the13th September 1891 St Andrew's beat Old Caledonians 3-1 to become the first champions of Argentina.
As with a lot of early leagues the league did not return in 1892 but did in 1893 when St Andrew's declined to partake in the season. They did take part in 1894 where they finished 5th out of 6 teams losing 7 games. The club never played an official game again and dissolved in December 1894 never to play again.
The club’s legacy still lives on in Argentina. Independiente still keep the club’s history alive. The clubs first crest was inspired by St Andrew's and since the 90's the away kit has the original crest on it. Recently the clubs third top is a memorial to St Andrew's Athletic Club.
The High School is still going strong today. It still participates in Hockey and Rugby Union under the name Club San Andres. However, it is now a separate organisation to the football club that folded. As the current club was formed in 1911 So despite the club closing nearly 130 years ago it is still remembered fondly in Argentina. With a legacy still going strong today.
By Jeff Webb