Spanish club Sevilla FC have marked the 128th anniversary of their founding by commemorating the role that Scottish football played in the creation of the club.

In 1890 a group of British men, whilst celebrating Burns Night in Seville, founded a football club – Sevilla Futbol Club. Amongst group were Edward Farquharson Johnston from Elgin and Hugo MacColl, from Glasgow.

Johnston was elected as the first President of the club, while MacColl was elected as the first captain, along with Isaias White, from Seville, as the first club secretary.

One of the first measures agreed by the members was to adopt the Association rules and to include the words ‘Football Club’ in the name of the club.

On March 8, 1890, Sevilla FC played their first ever match; a 2-0 victory over the Huelva Recreation Club.

To mark the 128th anniversary of the club’s founding, Sevilla Futbol Club’s Chairman, Jose Castro Carmona, wished to show Scottish football his gratitude for the role it played in the club’s history. As such, Mr Carmona sent a framed copy of the page of The Dundee Courier where the club’s foundation and first match are described in detail.

Thanking Sevilla and Mr Carmona for the gift, Scottish FA President Alan McRae commented:

“I would like to thank Sevilla FC and their President for sharing the occasion of their club’s 128th Anniversary and the most wonderful gift to commemorate it.

“For a club to be the oldest sporting club in Spain, solely devoted to football, is truly amazing and to have won so many prestigious games and tournaments throughout the years is outstanding.

“It is an honour, as President of the Scottish FA and as a Scotsman, to learn that Scotsmen were involved in the founding of Sevilla FC and had a pivotal role in introducing and developing football in Spain.”

The full article with in The Dundee Courier reads:

“‘Some six weeks ago a few enthusiastic young residents of British origin met in one of the cafés for the purpose of considering a proposal that we should start an Athletic Association, the want of exercise being greatly felt by the majority of us, who are chiefly engaged in mercantile pursuits. After a deal of talk and a limited consumption of small beer, the “Club de Football de Sevilla” was duly formed and office-bearers elected. It was decided we should play Association rules (…) We were about half and half Spanish and British”.