01 29 Eglinton Street: The Birthplace of Alexander Watson Hutton, Father of Argentinian Football
Alexander Watson Hutton, the father of Argentinian football was born here in 1852.
An important 'Scotch Professor' (Scots who taught the passing and moving game), Hutton was born here in the Gorbals at 29 Eglinton Street, but was tragically orphaned at age five. He moved to Edinburgh, where he received a free education and graduated from Edinburgh University in 1881 with a Philosophy Degree.
Eglinton Street and Bridge Street in the early twentieth century.
Eglinton Street and Bridge Street today.
In 1882, Watson Hutton accepted a position at St Andrew's Scots School in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Alexander Watson Hutton taught and played football; however, rugby was Argentina's most popular sport. He resigned after an unsuccessful attempt to convert the school to play football.
Watson Hutton set up the Buenos Aires English High School in 1884, with 500 pupils regularly attending and playing football. Football spread like wildfire and became the centre of a new sporting culture.
Argentine Football Association memorial stone to Hutton in Buenos Aires.
Alexander Watson Hutton was joined in 1891 by a group of Scots and formed the Argentine Association Football League - this is the 3rd oldest football league in the world.
Watson Hutton was elected its first President, and the institution evolved into the current Argentinian Football Association.
Watson Hutton's legacy in Argentinian football is unmatched. He was the architect of one of the world's footballing powerhouses, which to this day has an obsessive fan culture linked to the beautiful game.
Football is a religion in Argentina, and Watson Hutton was the pioneering spirit behind its development.
Eglinton Street view towards the river Clyde and the former site of Dewars Hotel (site 2) where the Scottish Football Association was founded.