17/06/2026
Its not to late to contribute to our football exhibition. Even our friends at Strathnaver Museum appreciate the legendary Lybster footballers πβ½οΈπ΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώπ₯³
As Scotland face Haiti in the early hours of this morning we thought we'd trawl the archives for some football related heritage to share in celebration of all things football!
On 8th March 1890 the first organised football match on Spanish soil, under the Football Association rules, was played. The two teams involved, Sevilla Football and Huelva Recreation Club, just happen to have been set up respectively by a Scotsman and a German.
The Scotsman was Dr William Alexander Mackay, born in Lybster Caithness in 1860, and he is credited with introducting football to Spain. After graduating from The University of Edinburgh with a degree in medicine he went to work in southwest Spain as a doctor for the Rio Tinto mining company in Minas de Riotinto.
Mackay was a talented footballer and had success representing Edinburgh University AFC when they won the East of Scotland Shield in 1883. Utilising his keen interest in sport he set up a Recreation Club to help keep the Rio Tinto workforce physically fit, and to provide quality leisure time. As part of the social and sports club Mackay organised football, tennis and cricket matches. Although the club was originally solely for Rio Tinto Company staff it soon grew into Spain's first amateur football club in 1889.
The Recreation Club would play matches against visiting ships crews in Huelva and against Club de Regatas de Sevilla; a club set up on similar lines by German-Spanish businessman Wilhem Sundheim de la Cueva.
On the 8 March 1890 workers from the Rio Tinto mining company, under the name of Sevilla Football, played Huelva Recreation Club. Sevilla Football were the victors with a! 2-0 win over Huelva Recreation Club. Making it the first team to win an organised football match under The Football Association rules on Spanish soil.
Who is staying up to watch? Can we do it? Aye we can! Good luck Scotland
