Alexander Watson Hutton | |
|---|---|
 Photo of Watson Hutton, c. 1880. | |
| Born | 10 June 1853 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Died | 9 March 1936(1936-03-09) (aged 82) Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Known for | Founder of: |
Alexander Watson Hutton (10 June 1853 – 9 March 1936) was a Scottish teacher and sportsman who is considered "The Father ofArgentine football".[1][2] In 1893 he founded the "Argentine Association Football League" (currentArgentine Football Association). He also founded theBuenos Aires English High School andfootball clubAlumni, which was the most successful Argentine team with 22 titles won until its dissolution in 1911.[3][4]
Watson Hutton was born in theGorbals, inGlasgow, in 1853. He was educated at Daniel Stewart's School (nowStewart's Melville College) in Edinburgh and following this he graduated fromEdinburgh University and emigrated toArgentina in 1882.[1][2] He worked atSt Andrew's Scots School for two years. He was a keen sportsman and believed that sports were of fundamental importance in education. On 4 February 1884[5] he founded theBuenos Aires English High School, where he continued to instruct the pupils in the game.[6] In 1891 theAssociation Argentine Football League was established by Alex Lamont ofSt. Andrew's Scots School,[4] being the first football league outside of the British Isles.[7] Five clubs competed but only one season was ever played.
In1891 Alec Lamont, headteacher St Andrew's founded the "Argentine Association Football League" the first Argentine league, which was won bya team of Scots from St Andrew's.[8] The five team league only lasted one season but it is officially recognised by the Argentine Association as the first football league in the country.[9]
On 21 February 1893 Watson Hutton, along with representatives fromQuilmes, Old Caledonian's,St. Andrew's,BA English High School,Lomas andFlores clubs, established the "Argentine Association Football League",[1][2][10] and restarted the organization of tournaments after the 1892 hiatus. In 1898 his school formed a football team which went on to become the most decorated team of Argentine football by then, winning a total of 22 titles (15 domestic and 7 international championships) until its dissolution in 1911. The club, originally named the same as the school, changed to "Alumni Athletic Club" due to new rules by the Association. Alumni also provided many players for theArgentina national football team including his sonArnold Watson Hutton and captainJuan Brown.
In 1911 he retired and his club was disbanded. Watson Hutton died on 9 March 1936 inBuenos Aires and is buried inCementerio Británico.[11] The AFA library is named in his honour.
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