AN antique newspaper cutting from Scotland has shed new light on the origins of Sevilla FC, Spain’s oldest football club.

The 123-year-old article from the Dundee Courier explains how a group of young British and Spanish men decided to form the club after a night in the pub, 15 years earlier than previously thought.

The article, dated March 17 1890, details the first draft of the club’s newly written Constitution along with the names of its founders.

“The page in question contains a treasure for the history of Spanish football since it is an article that describes in detail how the club was founded 15 years earlier than it was thought, thus being Spain’s oldest football club,” said Sevilla historian Javier Terenti.

“Everything suggests that that Saturday 25 January, a group of young British, mainly Scots, along with other young men of Spanish origin, met at one of the bars in the city and celebrated Burns Night with the excuse of founding the first football club in Spain,” he added.

Sevilla FC president, Jose Maria del Nido, has been presented with a copy of the page, while another has been sent to the Spanish Football Federation.

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6 COMMENTS

  1. Interesting information, although as they were founded in 1889, this still makes Recreativo de Huelva Spain’s oldest club.

    This definitely tallies with other information I have of the first recorded game being between Recre and Sevilla – I had understood it was an unofficial Sevilla Gasworks team, though.

    This shines new light on a fascinating (for me, anyway) subject!

  2. Sevilla FC is NOT the oldest football Club in Spain. The Sevilla FC was founded in 1908. It’s True that in 1890 there was a football club in Sevilla, but that Club founded in 1890 disappeared. The current Sevilla FC is not the same as the 1890 Club.
    The oldest football Club in Spain is “Recreativo de Huelva” . “Recreativo Huelva” was founded in 1889 and practiced other sports like cricket or tennis. However Recreativo Huelva played football since 1886.
    You can check this information in the following official establishment of Spanish football: Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and “The League” (LFP)

  3. “Morbo” is an excellent read, I am currently reading the Sid Lowe book “fear and loathing in la Liga ” which is interesting take on the history between Real and Barca. However, the best book, well most entertaining I have read on Spanish football is “El Becks: a season in the sun” by Alex. Leith. He follows Real Madrid around Spain in Beckham’s first season here and not only gives a good insight into Spanish life but a decent account of Spanish football
    Link to book: “http://www.amazon.co.uk/El-Becks-A-Season-Sun/dp/0954642805”

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