The following article, unearthed in The British Newspaper Archive by Sevilla FC's History Department, describes
in full detail how Sevilla FC was founded in 1890 and how Spanish
football was born when Sevilla FC beat Huelva Recreation 2-0 during the
first football match ever played on Spanish soil.
FIRST FOOTBALL MATCH IN SPAIN
(FROM A SEVILLE CORRESPONDENT)
Some
six weeks ago a few enthusiastic young residents of British origin met in one
of the cafés for the purpose of considering a proposal that we should start an
Athletic Association, the want of exercise being greatly felt by the majority
of us, who are chiefly engaged in mercantile pursuits. After a deal of talk and
a limited consumption of small beer, the “Club de ‘Football’ de Sevilla” was
duly formed and officebearers elected. It was decided we should play
Association rules, and so that no time might be lost we determined to have a
practice game next (Sunday) morning. Accordingly next morning at eight o’clock
some ten of us started from the Regatta House on the Guadalquivir, and rowed
down to the Tablada or Racecourse, a distance of about a mile and a half. Permission
had already been obtained from the Racecourse Club, and goal posts, &c.,
duly rigged up.
We were about half and half Spanish and British, and had a very
pleasant game - five a-side - working hard, and stiffening our joints for a few
days to come. In the course of events it was found we were to have difficulty
in getting a turnout on the Sundays, not so much, I am afraid, as a matter of
principle as the question of turning out of bed. As you have at home, we do not
enjoy the advantage of the Saturday half-holiday; but immediately the various
members put the matter to their commercial chiefs we had no difficulty in
getting the concession. Consequently, for some Saturdays pass we have had very
fair fields, and lately came to think something of ourselves.
There being a
Recreation Club amongst our compatriots in Huelva, we wrote asking them if they
could form an eleven and come to Seville and try their strength against us, and
in a few days got a wire that they would meet us on Saturday, 8th March. Last week
we had glorious weather, though somewhat chilly; but, altogether, prospects
were bright, and the Saturday looked forward to with great expectations. The
local press puffed us, we were assured of a good field of spectators, but,
unfortunately, with the arrival of our friends from Huelva came rain. However,
they had come eighty miles to play us, and play we had to. The ground was in
very good condition notwithstanding the steady downpour, and at 4.45 a start
was made, before about twelve dozen spectators. The players presented a motley
appearance, all kinds of costumes being in requisition, and our left wing,
never before having the honour of belonging to any athletic club, appeared on
the scene in night dress, in the shape of a fantastically patterned suit of
pyjamas. He was hailed with shouts of derisive laughter, and dubbed by the
natives as the Clown Yugles. The game was a most pleasant one of two
thirty-fives, resulting in a win for Seville by 2 to 0, Ritson drawing first
blood, followed shortly after by the Clown Yugles, unexpected by all, not less
so by himself. It is only fair to state that the Huelva Club had never played
together before, and had also that morning a railway journey of four hours, and
consequently played under great disadvantages.
Our English doctor acted as
umpire for Seville, the Secretary of the Recreation Club acting in a similar
capacity for Huelva, the British Vice Consul discharging the duty of referee to
everyone's satisfaction. This being the first known football contest in the
south of Spain, probably in all Spain, it was thought worthy of a special
banquet, and at eight o’clock covers for thirty were laid in the saloon of the
Suizo Restaurant. After a sumptuous dinner, part Spanish, part French, with a
slight inkling of British fare thrown in, Mr Edward Johnston, who presided, in
a few well chosen remarks, toasted our Queen, Prince of Wales, and Royal
Family, together with the Queen Regent and young King of Spain, touching
feelingly on Alfonso XIII.’s recent illness. It is needless to say the toast
was drunk with due enthusiasm. The evening was pleasantly spent with toast,
song, and sentiment; the non-success of the "Clown Yugles" in
endeavouring to balance himself on a vacant chair not even marring the harmony
of the meeting. It is just likely Seville will visit Huelva in a few weeks, and
we look forward to the repetition of as pleasant a time as Huelva had here; and
no doubt the inauguration of the game in this part of the country will be
followed by organisations of a similar kind in all parts where a British colony
exists in Spain.
March, 17 1890. The Dundee Courier
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