DASG Blog

Cupa na Cruinne

Following Garry’s blog last week I thought it would be pertinent to discuss the next major event on the horizon for football: the World Cup.

This year’s contest is in Russia - an issue of controversy but, as Scots, we can take relief from the fact that our team has boycotted it.

Many other countries with prestigious footballing histories have also failed to qualify. The Italians won’t be appearing at a World Cup for the first time since 1958 - when a young player called Pele made his first appearance. The country of Cruyff, van Basten, and Bergkamp won’t be there either, as the Netherlands similarly failed to make it past the qualifiers.

But while Scotland may not be at the World Cup, football was introduced to many of the competing nations by the migration of Scots (and English, Welsh, and Irish) under the aegis of the British empire. Among the countries most favoured to win it, there’s one - Spain - where football was introduced not just by a Scot but by a Highlander: Hugh MacKay Matheson.

This man was one of the Mathesons of Sutherland and his uncle was James Matheson, the landlord of Lewis between 1844 and 1878 who made his fortune through the opium trade with China. When James’ tyrannical factor, Donald Munro, lost his position in 1874 due to events following the Bernera Riot, Hugh MacKay Matheson assumed the duties of administering Lewis until his uncle’s death. 

At the same time as he was doing this, Hugh was also busy establishing the Rio Tinto mining company in the south of Spain. As part of this company’s broader colonial aims, Hugh encouraged his Scottish workforce to introduce football to the region in the hope that the sport would be a vessel through which the culture and mores of the British empire could be established among the local population. In the years which followed the first Spanish football club, Recreativo de Huelva, was established in the town of Huelva, about 25 miles from the Rio Tinto mines. From this starting point football spread across the country.

Therefore, whenever someone next asks you what the connection is between Lionel, Ness and Lionel Messi you’ll know how to answer them!

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