Google Doodle: Dedicated to the first black footballer Andrew Watson – His story

Today’s Google Doodle pays tribute to the Scottish footballer Andrew Watson. Andrew Watson is considered the first black international footballer and the first black footballer to captain his national team. On this day in 1884, Watson began playing football for Scottish club Queen’s Park FC in the first match played at the new Hampden Park stadium. Watson was born in 1856 in Georgetown, Guyana to a wealthy Scottish businessman, while his mother was originally from Guyana. At the age of 5, he and his father moved to Britain where football was becoming increasingly popular. He fell in love with the sport while attending English public schools in Yorkshire and Wimbledon. After his father’s death, Watson inherited his fortune and became financially independent. This allowed him to enroll at the University of Glasgow where he studied engineering, natural philosophy and mathematics. Instead of graduating, 21-year-old Watson started a wholesale business and played soccer as a winger. Watson gained a reputation for his quick and skilful style of play as a full-back for Queen’s Park FC, one of the best football clubs in Scotland.

After Queen’s Park FC won a Scottish football title, Watson got the chance to play for the Scotland international team. He became the first black player to captain the national team and led Scotland to multiple victories over rivals England, including a 6–1 victory — which remains England’s biggest home defeat. His success on the international stage attracted offers from the best clubs in Scotland and England. In 1887, Watson signed for Bootle FC in the north of England. At the time, amateur clubs didn’t pay their players, but Bootle FC were known to pay the big names. Had Watson been paid to play for Liverpool, he would have formally been the first black professional footballer. During his 14-year career, Watson won the Scottish Cup three times, but won all three matches he played against England. Over a century has passed since Watson’s playing days, but his impact is still felt throughout the sport today, as a shining example for past, present and future generations of black footballers.

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