Spain’s Football History Rewritten: Oldest Match Found in Jerez
The origins of football in Spain may be older than previously thought. A study by the University of Cádiz (UCA) has uncovered documentation suggesting the first football match in the country was played in Jerez de la Frontera in 1869 – a decade earlier than historical records indicated. Rafael Cano, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Communication at UCA, confirmed the findings to the EFE news agency.
A Digital Discovery
This re-evaluation of Spanish football history was made possible by the digitization of a new archive within the National Library of Spain’s Hemeroteca two years ago. Researchers are continuing to search for further documentation that might reveal even older matches, emphasizing that their goal is not to create controversy, but to establish a more accurate historical record.
Played in Jerez: An English Affair
Traditionally, the Real Club Recreativo de Huelva has been credited with the birth of football in Spain, founded as the Huelva Recreation Club in 1889. The first match was believed to have taken place in the city on August 16, 1873, between workers from the Rio Tinto mines. However, the UCA study points to a game played on February 13, 1869, in Jerez de la Frontera between the Jerez Cricket Club and officers from HMS Endymion, a British naval ship docked in Cádiz.
The match reportedly lasted 80 minutes and featured entirely British players, according to the Gibraltar Chronicle. The final score was 1-0 in favor of the English team. The newspaper also noted a cricket match was played alongside the football game, a common pairing during the early days of both sports.
The Search for the Exact Location
The precise location of the 1869 match remains unknown, but researchers believe the Llanos de Caulina in the Jerez countryside is a likely candidate. The UCA study highlights the significance of the Gibraltar Chronicle’s coverage, suggesting the event was noteworthy enough to be reported on across geographical boundaries.
Ongoing Research and Celebration
The University of Cádiz emphasizes that this research is ongoing, with investigations extending to other towns with historical ties to British presence, such as Huelva, Riotinto, Seville, Vigo, Linares, and Tarragona. Researchers state they will publish and disseminate any evidence of older matches discovered in the future.
To commemorate the anniversary of this potentially groundbreaking discovery, a friendly match was held in Jerez de la Frontera, organized in collaboration with the university faculty and the city council.
FAQ
Q: Where was the first football match previously thought to have been played in Spain?
A: In Huelva, with the founding of the Huelva Recreation Club in 1889.
Q: What source confirmed the 1869 match in Jerez?
A: The Gibraltar Chronicle.
Q: Was the 1869 match played under official Football Association rules?
A: Yes, the match was played under the rules of the Football Association (FA).
Q: Is the University of Cádiz still researching earlier matches?
A: Yes, the research is ongoing, and the university welcomes any evidence of older matches.
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