&sq=&lang=&file=File:Andrew_Watson_Footballer_(cropped).jpg) Watson in 1882 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 24 May 1856 | ||
| Place of birth | Demerara, British Guiana | ||
| Date of death | 8 March 1921 (aged 64) | ||
| Place of death | London, England | ||
| Position(s) | Full back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1874 | Maxwell | ||
| 1874–1880 | Parkgrove | ||
| 1880–1882 | Queen's Park[1] | 0 | (0) |
| 1882–1884 | Swifts | ||
| 1884–1885 | Corinthians | ||
| 1885–1887 | Queen's Park[1] | 0 | (0) |
| 1887–1892 | Bootle | ||
| International career | |||
| 1881–1882 | Scotland | 3 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Andrew Watson (24 May 1856 – 8 March 1921) was a Scottish footballer who is widely considered to be the first black person to play association football at international level.[2][3][4] He played three matches for Scotland between 1881 and 1882. Arthur Wharton was previously commonly thought to be the first black player, as he was the first black professional footballer to play in the Football League, but Watson's career predated him by over a decade. There is evidence that Watson was paid professionally when at Bootle in 1887,[5] two years prior to Wharton becoming a professional with Rotherham Town; however, the Merseyside club did not play in the Football League at the time Watson played there.
- ^ a b The Scottish Football League did not commence until the 1890–91 season.
- ^ "First Black footballer, Andrew Watson, inspired Scottish soccer in 1870s". Black History Month. Archived from the original on 10 June 2010.
- ^ "Andrew Watson". 100 Great Black Britons. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2004.
- ^ "Andrew Watson". Football Unites, Racism Divides. Archived from the original on 18 March 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2008.
- ^ Moffitt, Dominic (14 October 2021). "Andrew Watson: The pioneering black footballer who turned pro at Bootle". Liverpool Echo.