British football clubs tours to South America

British football clubs tours over South America contributed to the spread and develop of football in the region during the first years of the 20th century. The first club to tour on the region was Southampton F.C. in 1904, followed by several teams (mainly from England although some Scottish clubs also visited South America) until 1929 with Chelsea F.C. being the last team to tour.

During those 25 years of tours, British teams' performances were decreasing while the South American squads' style of playing improved. Indeed, Southampton won all of their matches in 1904 with 40 goals scored in 1904 while Chelsea was defeated eight times (over 16 games played) in their 1929 tour.[1]

Background
Further information: Football in Argentina, Football in Uruguay, and Football in Brazil

Football (and other British-origin sports like rugby union) were gaining popularity in Argentina and Uruguay and the associations brought foreign teams to their countries as a way of encourage the practise of the sport among the large number of enthusiasts.[2] In fact, Argentine Primera División was the first football league outside of the British Isles,[3] having been held since 1891 to the present.

British teams were considered the best in the world by then, and some of them served as inspiration to establish football clubs in Argentina and Uruguay, helped by the immigration of British citizens that had arrived to worked for British companies (mostly in railway construction). CURCC (in Uruguay), Belgrano A.C., Rosario A.C., Alumni and Quilmes (in Argentina) are some examples of clubs established by British immigrants to South America.[2][4]

Football had been introduced many years ago in both countries, being the first game played in Argentina on June 20, 1867,[5] with the establishment of Buenos Aires Football Club, the first football club not only in Argentina but in South America.[2][6] In Uruguay, football had been introduced in 1870. Argentina organised its first league championship, Primera División, in 1891 while its Uruguayan homonymous held its first championship in 1900.

Both countries considered themselves rivals due to their proximity. Moreover, they had the only organised bodies in South America and had held some earlier competitions such as Tie Cup (1900) or Copa de Honor Cousenier (1905), played by champions of each association.

In some cases, the influence of British clubs on Argentine football extended to the colours adopted by some clubs. Arístides Langone, president of Club Atlético Independiente, was so impressed by the Nottingham Forest squad that beat local Alumni by 6–0 that he suggested to change the jersey colours from white and blue to red. The request was approved and Independiente adopted the colour that would later become an identity mark for the club, being known as El Rojo (The Red).[7]

Some versions also state that Quilmes A.C. was another institution that took the colours from a British squad, in this case the white jersey with blue details of the English national team, although there is no evidence to prove that statement.

Tours

Southampton F.C. was the first foreign club to tour South America, followed by Nottingham Forest F.C. in 1905. One of its games, against Alumni in Buenos Aires, was attended by 10,000 spectators, what proves the interest of Argentine fans to see the local forces facing British sides, considered technically superior by them.[8]

The first team to defeat a British side was Argentine Alumni, who defeated the South Africa team (mostly composed of British–origin players) by 1–0 at Sociedad Sportiva Argentina stadium in Palermo. The relevance of the victory was expressed by local media, such as La Nación writing: "For our national football, the Alumni v South Africa match was a great triumph that will be remembered for a long time in everyone's memory, serving as example and stimulus for the future", while British-origin newspaper The Standard wrote "it was a glorious victory and what happened in La Sportiva is promising for Argentine football".[9]

Corinthian F.C. of London was the first British club to tour Brazil in 1910, playing ten games in the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. The team inspired a group of railway workers to establish a club which they named after the British team,[10] therefore S.C. Corinthians was founded in September 1910.[11]

Corinthian F.C. would return to Brazil in 1913,[12] becoming the only British team that toured South America twice.[10]

Exeter City was the first British team to play beyond Argentina and Uruguay[13] when they reached Brazil to play a series of friendly matches in Rio de Janeiro (most of them v. local combined teams), finishing their tour on July 21, 1914, when Exeter played Brazil national team, in which was the first match ever played by the scratch.[14]

Nevertheless, newspapers in Argentina were left disappointed with City's performances during the tour. Tribuna describing them as "the most mediocre team of professionals sent out by the FA from the home of football", and the Buenos Aires Herald complaining that the Grecians were not "sufficiently superior".[15]

Plymouth Argyle thrashed the Uruguay national team 4–0 in their first game (Uruguay went on to win the first ever World Cup just six years later) before pulling off another shock by beating Argentina 1–0. Plymouth Argyle was the team that faced Argentina most times, with 4 matches played between both squads.[16]

The visit of Plymouth Argyle will be best remembered by the outstanding personality and genius of Moses Russell. His effective style, precise judgement, accurate and timely clearances, powerful kicking and no less useful work with his head...one of the most wonderful backs and one of the brainiest players ever seen on the football field.

— The Standard, British newspaper published in Buenos Aires, at the end of the Plymouth Argyle tour.[17]

In the match against Boca Juniors on 9 July 1924, the Boca Juniors supporters invaded the pitch after their team had scored the opening goal and carried all eleven home players shoulder high around the stadium. After a half hour delay, the referee restarted the match, but a further invasion was sparked when the referee awarded a penalty against the home side. When the match was again restarted, the Argyle players had agreed that Patsy Corcoran would take the spot-kick and miss, to prevent another pitch invasion. However, the ultra-competitive Russell was not prepared to accept this, and just before Corcoran was about to take the penalty he was pushed aside by Russell who took it himself and scored. This prompted a further pitch invasion by the Boca fans and this time the match was abandoned.[17]

Chelsea F.C. was the last British club to tour South America, in 1929. Since the first tour in 1904, the South American players had evolved a lot, as they were described as "true masters in tactical play" by Chelsea chairman Kirby himself. He also remarked the style and ball control on offer, perhaps a consequence of the outstanding sporting facilities many of the amateur teams possessed.[18] The evolution of South American football was also evident in the tour results: of 16 games played during their three months tour, Chelsea only won five, with eight loses.[1] On the other hand, the Chelsea players emphasised the "unfair play" of some Argentine players and the violent surrounding atmosphere of the supporters in Argentina. The Chelsea management complained to the Football Association that "non-observance of the laws of the game hindered real football".[19]

Some players that were part of British teams touring South America, would then hired as coaches in the continent. Walter Bull of Totenham Hotspur went to Argentina, John Harley to Uruguay (he died there in 1959) while John Hamilton went to Brazil in 1907, becoming the first professional coach in the country.[8]

List of British clubs by year of tour

Countries visited indicated in each case:

  • Y Toured
  • N Not toured
Team Year Arg Uru Bra Source
Southampton1904YYN[20][21]
Nottingham Forest1905YYN[22][8]
South Africa F.A.1906YYN[23][9]
Everton1909YYN[24][25]
Tottenham Hotspur1909YYN[26][27][28]
Corinthian1910NNY[10]
Swindown Town1912YYN[29][30]
Corinthian1913NNY[10]
Exeter City1914YYY[31][32]
Third Lanark1923YYN[33][34]
Plymouth Argyle1924YYN[35][36]
Motherwell1928YYY[37][38]
Chelsea1929YYY[1]

Matches details (by club)

Complete list of visitors and games played in Argentina, Uruguay[39][40] and Brazil.[12]

  Indicates British clubs defeats.

Southampton
Southampton, the first British club to arrive, in 1904
Southampton
Date Venue Rival Score
26 Jun 1904Sociedad SportivaAlumni3-0
3 Jul 1904Sociedad Sportiva"Británicos" [note1 1]10-0
6 Jul 1904Sociedad SportivaBelgrano A.C.6-1
9 Jul 1904Sociedad Sportiva Argentina [16]8-0
10 Jul 1904Sociedad SportivaLiga Argentina [note1 2]5-3
14 Jul 1904Parque CentralLiga Uruguaya [note1 3]8-1
Balance
Pl W D L Gs Gc
6600405
Notes
  1. British-origin footballers that played in the Argentine domestic league[41]
  2. All-star team from the Argentine domestic league
  3. All-star team from the Uruguay domestic league

Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest team that played in Rosario, 16 June 1905
Nottingham Forest
Date Venue Rival Score
11 Jun 1905Parque CentralCURCC6-1
16 Jun 1905Plaza JewellRosario Combined [note2 1]5-3
18 Jun 1905Sociedad SportivaBelgrano A.C.7-0
22 Jun 1905Sociedad Sportiva"Británicos"13-1
24 Jun 1905Sociedad SportivaRosario Combined [note2 1]6-0
25 Jun 1905Sociedad SportivaAlumni6-0
29 Jun 1905Sociedad Sportiva Argentina[16]5-0
2 Jul 1905Sociedad SportivaLiga Argentina9-1
Balance
Pl W D L Gs Gc
8800576
Notes
  1. Team composed of players of Rosario Central and Rosario A.C.[42]

South Africa
The South Africa team of 1906
South Africa playing Alumni in Buenos Aires, 1906
South Africa F.A.
Date Venue Rival Score
22 Jun 1906Sociedad Sportiva"Universitarios" [note3 1]14-0
24 Jun 1906Sociedad SportivaAlumni0-1
29 Jun 1906Sociedad SportivaBelgrano A.C.6-0
1 Jul 1906Plaza JewellLiga Rosarina9-0
8 Jul 1906Sociedad Sportiva"Británicos"4-1
9 Jul 1906Sociedad Sportiva Argentina[16]1-0
12 Jul 1906Sociedad SportivaEstudiantes (BA)3-2
15 Jul 1906Sociedad SportivaLiga Argentina4-1
18 Jul 1906Parque CentralLiga Uruguaya6-1
22 Jul 1906Sociedad SportivaAlumni2-0
26 Jul 1906Sociedad SportivaQuilmes5-1
Balance
Pl W D L Gs Gc
111001547
Notes
  1. Team formed for University students

Match details
Alumni 1–0 South Africa
A. Brown  61' Report
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Guillermo Jordán

Everton
Everton also toured to Argentina and Uruguay in 1909
Everton
Date Venue Rival Score
06 Jun 1909Sociedad SportivaTottenham Hotspur2-2
10 Jun 1909Sociedad SportivaAlumni4-0
13 Jun 1909Parque CentralLiga Uruguaya2-1
19 Jun 1909Sociedad SportivaTottenham Hotspur4-0
20 Jun 1909Sociedad SportivaLiga Argentina4-1
Balance
Pl W D L Gs Gc
5410164

Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur team of 1909
Tottenham Hotspur
Date Venue Rival Score
06 Jun 1909Sociedad SportivaEverton2-2
10 Jun 1909Parque CentralLiga Uruguaya8-0
13 Jun 1909Sociedad Sportiva Argentina[16]1-0
16 Jun 1909Sociedad SportivaLiga Argentina4-1
19 Jun 1909Sociedad SportivaEverton0-4
20 Jun 1909Club Argentino (R)Liga Rosarina9-0
24 Jun 1909Sociedad SportivaAlumni5-0
Balance
Pl W D L Gs Gc
7511297

Corinthian (1910)
The Corinthian F.C. squad that toured on Brazil in 1910, winning all matches
Corinthian
Date Venue Rival Score
24 Ago 1910das LaranjeirasFluminense10-1
26 Ago 1910das LaranjeirasRio de Janeiro Combined8-1
28 Ago 1910das LaranjeirasRio de Janeiro Combined5-2
31 Ago 1910São PauloA.A. das Palmeiras [note4 1]2-0
2 Sep 1910São PauloPaulistas Combined5-0
4 Sep 1910São PauloForeigners Sao Paulo8-2
Balance
Pl W D L Gs Gc
6600386
Notes
  1. "Associação Atlética das Palmeiras" (not to be confused with S.E. Palmeiras, established in 1914),
    was a football club that merged with members of C.A. Paulistano to form Sao Paulo FC in 1930

Swindon Town
Swindon Town playing Argentina national team at GEBA stadium, July 1912
Swindon Town
Date Venue Rival Score
16 Jun 1912GEBACombinado Norte2-2
22 Jun 1912GEBASan Isidro4-1
23 Jun 1912GEBACombinado Sur2-0
29 Jun 1912Club Argentino (R)Liga Rosarina3-1
30 Jun 1912GEBALiga Argentina2-2
4 Jul 1912GEBAEstudiantes (BA)4-0
7 Jul 1912Parque CentralLiga Uruguaya3-0
9 Jul 1912GEBA Argentina [16]1-0
Balance
Pl W D L Gs Gc
8620216

Corinthian (1913)
Corinthian
Date Venue Rival Score
21 Aug 1913das LaranjeirasRio de Janeiro Combined1-2
23 Aug 1913das LaranjeirasForeigners Rio4-0
24 Aug 1913das LaranjeirasBrazilians Rio2-1
28 Aug 1913Sao PauloPaulistano2-1
30 Aug 1913Sao PauloMcKenzie College8-2
31 Aug 1913Sao PauloA.A. das Palmeiras1-1
Balance
Pl W D L Gs Gc
6411187

Exeter City
See also: History of Exeter City F.C.
See also: History_of_Exeter_City_F.C. § Tour_of_South_America_(1914)
The 1914 Exeter City team that toured on South America
The first Brazil national team ever playing Exeter City in Rio de Janeiro
Exeter City
Date Venue Rival Score
14 Jun 1914RacingCombinado Norte0-1
21 Jun 1914RacingCombinado Sur3-0
24 Jun 1914RacingRacing2-0
28 Jun 1914Club Argentino (R)Liga Rosarina3-1
29 Jun 1914RacingCombined team5-0
9 Jul 1914RacingLiga Argentina3-0
11 Jul 1914Ferro C. Oeste Argentina[16]0-0
12 Jul 1914RacingLiga Argentina3-1
18 Jul 1914das LaranjeirasEnglish of Rio3-0
19 Jul 1914das LaranjeirasRio de Janeiro Combined5-3
21 Jul 1914das Laranjeiras Brazil0-2
Balance
Pl W D L Gs Gc
11812278

Third Lanark
Third Lanark (dark jerseys) and Zona Norte combined entering to the pitch, 10 June 1923
Third Lanark
Date Venue Rival Score
10 June 1923River PlateCombinado Norte0-1
17 June 1923River PlateCombinado Sud1-3
19 June 1923Estación Pocitos Uruguay1-1
24 June 1923River Plate Argentina1-3
29 June 1923River PlateIndependiente1-2
1 Jul 1923River PlateCombinado Provincia3-2
4 Jul 1923Estación PocitosPeñarol2-0
8 Jul 1923River PlateCombinado Argentina/Uruguay3-2
Balance
Pl W D L Gs Gc
83141214

Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle v. Argentina national team: Welsh back Russell (left) fights to cut off centre-forward Sosa
Plymouth Argyle
Date Venue Rival Score
22 Jun 1924Sportivo Barracas Argentina[16]0-1
29 Jun 1924Sportivo Barracas Argentina[16]0-3
4 Jul 1924Parque Central Uruguay4-0
6 Jul 1924Newell'sRosario Combined0-0
8 Jul 1924Boca JuniorsRosario Combined1-2
9 Jul 1924Boca JuniorsBoca Juniors0-0
13 Jul 1924Boca Juniors Argentina[16]1-0
18 Jul 1924Parque Central Uruguay1-1
20 Jul 1924Sportivo Barracas Argentina[16]0-1
Balance
Pl W D L Gs Gc
923478

Motherwell
Motherwell F.C. players entering to River Plate field to play the first match of the tour, May 1928
Motherwell
Date Venue Rival Score
13 May 1928River PlateCombinado Capital [note5 1]0-1
17 May 1928River PlateCombinado Provincia [note5 2]1-2
20 May 1928Sp. BarracasCombinado Capital2-3
25 May 1928IndependienteLiga Rosarina4-3
27 May 1928Boca Juniors [note5 3] Argentina [note5 4]3-0
3 Jun 1928River PlateCombinado Rioplatense3-0
5 Jun 1928RacingCombinado del Interior4-1
7 Jun 1928Newell's O.B.Liga Rosarina3-2
9 Jun 1928Boca Juniors [note5 3]Boca Juniors0-2
10 Jun 1928Parque CentralPeñarol1-0
14 Jun 1928Estación PocitosPeñarol1-2
21 Jun 1928das LaranjeirasRio de Janeiro1-1
24 Jun 1928das Laranjeiras Brazil1-4
Balance
Pl W D L Gs Gc
137062421
Notes
  1. Players of teams from Buenos Aires city.[43]
  2. Players of teams from Greater Buenos Aires.[43]
  3. Located in Brandsen and Del Crucero, it stood (1924–38) before La Bombonera was built on the same place.
  4. As the main Argentine players were at Amsterdam playing the Summer Olympics tournament, the team was composed of players from the
    Asociación Amateurs de Football, a dissident league that organised its own championship from 1919 to 1926.

Chelsea
The Chelsea F.C. team that toured on South America, photographed in Argentina in 1929 [44]
Chelsea v. Corinthians, in Sao Paulo. Both captains greet before the match
Chelsea
Date Venue Rival Score
25 May 1929San LorenzoCombinado Capital3-2
26 May 1929RacingCombinado Provincia0-4
31 May 1929River Plate Argentina1-0
2 Jun 1929Boca JuniorsCombinado Capital2-3
8 Jun 1929Buenos AiresSan Lorenzo2-0
9 Jun 1929Estación PocitosPeñarol1-2
15 Jun 1929AvellanedaIndependiente1-1
16 Jun 1929Newell's O.B.Combinado Rosarino1-2
16 Jun 1929Santa FeUnión (SF)0-5
20 Jun 1929RacingRacing0-1
22 Jun 1929River PlateEstudiantil Porteño3-2
23 Jun 1929Parque CentralWanderers1-0
28 Jun 1929das LaranjeirasCombinado R. de Janeiro1-1
30 Jun 1929das LaranjeirasCombinado R. de Janeiro1-2
4 Jul 1929Parque AntarcticaCorinthians4-4
7 Jul 1929Parque AntarcticaCombinado Sao Paulo1-3
Balance
Pl W D L Gs Gc
165382332

References
  1. South American Trip of Chelsea FC 1929 by Pablo Ciullini on RSSSF
  2. Historia del Fútbol Amateur en la Argentina, by Jorge Iwanczuk. Published by Autores Editores (1992) - ISBN 9504343848
  3. "Salvation army", The Guardian, 4 June 2006
  4. Plaza Jewell, el club donde nació el deporte rosarino, cumple hoy 145 años, La Capital, 27 Mar 2012
  5. A un siglo y medio del primer partido de fútbol en la Argentina y en Sudamérica by Oscar Barnade, Clarín, 20 Jun 2017
  6. Historia de Fútbol de AFA: Orígenes 1891/1899, by Carlos Yametti. Published by Edición del Autor (2011) – ISBN 978-987-05-9773-5
  7. Independiente y Nottingham Forest unidos para siempre on Olé, 27 Aug 2010
  8. The World's Game: A History of Soccer, by Bill Murray, William J. Murray
  9. A cien años de un triunfazo on Clarín, 24 June 2006
  10. Corinthian FC Football Pioneers by Vince Cooper, 2 Oct 2017
  11. NO BOM RETIRO, EM 1910, COMEÇA ESTA HISTÓRIA, Folha de S.Paulo, 5 Dec 1976
  12. British and Irish Clubs - Overseas Tours 1890-1939 by Javier García on RSSSF
  13. Exeter City’s 1914 South American Tour & its Legacy Today by R.I. Ngah
  14. A century of the Seleção: the remarkable story of Brazilian football on The Guardian
  15. Hamilton, Aidan (2014). Have you ever played Brazil?: The story of Exeter City's 1914 tour of South America. Exeter City AFC Supporters Society. ISBN 0992967600.
  16. Argentina national team - List of Other Matches 1901-2008 by Héctor Pelayes on RSSSF
  17. Chapter 13: 1920-1930 by Colin Parsons on Green on Screen website
  18. When Chelsea went to Rio on Chelsea FC official site, 12 Jul 2014
  19. ¡Golazo!: A History of Latin American Football by Andreas Campomar – Quercus Publishing Plc (2014) – ISBN 978-1848668560
  20. Rio de la Plata tour of Southampton FC 1905 by Pablo Ciullini on the RSSSF
  21. source
  22. Rio de la Plata trip of Nottingham Forest 1905 by Pablo Ciullini on the RSSSF
  23. Río de la Plata Trip of South African Football Association 1906 by Pablo Ciullini on the RSSSF
  24. Rio de la Plata trip of Everton FC 1909 by Pablo Ciullini on the RSSSF
  25. The South American Tour 1909 on Everton Collection website
  26. Rio de la Plata trip of Tottenham Hotspur FC 1909 by Pablo Ciullini on the RSSSF
  27. Hotspur Towers - Spurs in South America
  28. Everton & Tottenham Hotspur in South America 1909, Association football around the world, 1863-19378
  29. Rio de la Plata trip of Swindon Town 1912 by Pablo Ciullini on the RSSSF
  30. When Saturday Comes magazine, Sep 2010
  31. South America trip of Exeter City 1914 by Pablo Ciullini on the RSSSF
  32. Exeter City return to Brazil one hundred years after special trip by Kalika Mehta, BBC Sport, 18 July 2014
  33. Rio de la Plata trip of Third Lanark 1923 by Pablo Ciullini on the RSSSF
  34. Tommy McInally: Celtic's Bad Bhoy? by David Potter - Black & White Publishing (2009) - ISBN 9781845022600
  35. Argentina and Uruguay trip of Plymouth Argyle 1924 by Pablo Ciullini on the RSSSF
  36. SOUTH AMERICAN TOUR 1924
  37. South American Trip of Motherwell FC 1928 by Pablo Ciullini on the RSSSF
  38. Motherwell: Beating Argentina & bringing football to South America, BBC Sport, 16 July 2020
  39. British and Irish Clubs - Overseas Tours 1890-1939
  40. British Clubs in Argentina and Uruguay (1904-1929) (RSSSF)
  41. La gira del Southampton on Viejos Estadios
  42. Notthingham Forest en Rosario on Historia del Fútbol Rosarino, 5 Mar 2019
  43. La gira del Motherwell en 1928 on Viejos Estadios website
  44. Asociación Amateurs Argentina de Football: Memoria y Balance 1929, pag. 159, AFA Library
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