THE FIRST BLACK FOOTBALLER?

Full back, Andrew Watson, played for Scotland three times between 1881 and 1882. Contemporary reports on the game, made no reference to the "colour of his skin". These days, Watson will be known as the first black international footballer. He was born in Demerara, British Guyana in 1857, the son of a wealthy Scottish sugar cane plantation owner and British Guyanan mother. He was sent to private school in London and then went on to Glasgow University, where he settled and played for Queen's Park, becoming the club secretary. The Scottish FA Annual referred to him as "One of the best backs we have, he has great speed, tackles splendidly, is powerful with a sure kick; well worth a place in any representative side". He played for Queen's Park whilst in Scotland, helping them to win the Scottish Cup.

Queen's Park FC, The Spiders! Watson is back left.
He made his debut for Scotland on March 12th 1881and led his country to a win over England of 6-1 at The Oval. England also lost to Wales that year 0-1, both friendlies! EC Bambridge (OC and The Swifts) played in the 6-1 loss.
Watson also played for the English club "The Swifts" and for The Corinthians 13 times, an elite team determined to maintain amateur status in the football club at a time when professionalism was emerging.

In the History of the Corinthians, "The Birth of Corinth", Andrew Watson's debut was recorded on January 18th, in the 1882-3 season, as a 0-7 defeat against Upton Park. He then played on tour for Corinthians against Accrington (23rd March) watched by 3,000, then on the 24th v Church, on the 26th v Bootle and on the 27th March v Stoke.

In 1883/4 season he is recorded as played against Charterhouse School on March 5th in a winning team 2-1 with some Old Boys includeding OC, JM Prinsep (worth looking him up!) and ATB Dunn an Old Etonian (of Arthur Dunn cup fame).
I am hoping to watch a Dunn Cup tie at Repton School on Saturday when the Carthusians are the opponents.
Watson also played against Sheffield on December 28th (1883) winning 5-2.

In 1884-5 Watson is recorded as playing friendlies on tour against Blackburn Rovers (8-1 win), Darwen 1-2 (then a decent league team), Blackburn Olympic 4-4, Preston NE 1-3, Bolton W 0-6, Notts 2-3 (probably County) and Preston again The Oval with 2,000 witnessing a 3-2 win.

He later moved to Liverpool to work as a marine engineer, playing for Bootle. He worked on passenger ships and sadly not much more is known of him. His family lived in Glasgow later but there was no reference to Watson in the 1901 census.

After football, he emigrated to Australia with his family and died in Sydney in 1902 aged 44.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSTBOE3YiiE This is 15 minutes long. Well worth looking at!