A NEW memorial for “one of Scotland’s greatest sportsmen” was unveiled over the weekend.
The gleaming white grave for the first black man to play for the Scottish men’s team, Andrew Watson, was revealed on Saturday.
Llew Walker, a historian from Surrey, honoured the thrice-capped footballer at a ceremony in London’s Richmond Cemetery - Watson’s final resting place.
The author of one of the few books on the man who brought the modern passing game to the south of England’s amateur teams, Llew worked with Scottish campaigner Alastair Firth to organise the renewal of Watson’s grave.
“He’s the one who got everything going,” said Llew.
“He saw the condition of Watson’s grave and couldn’t believe that someone so important to Scottish football had been allowed to deteriorate so much.”
Alastair raised funds and organised for the new headstone to replace the dilapidated old grave.
Watson was born to Scottish slave-owner Peter Miller Watson who owned a plantation in British Guiana in 1856.
He was educated at some of England’s top private schools and developed a passion for football which took him to Glasgow, where he played for Queen’s Park.
“He changed football across the world,” said Llew.
“His achievements were second to none.
“He needs a memorial in Scotland, especially for someone who is so important to Scottish football.”
While English Heritage are working on giving Watson’s former home in London, there are only murals to commemorate the player’s life and influence in Scotland.
Llew added: “He taught English teams how to play the modern passing game and that was taken all over the world - so why is he not memorialised in Scotland or taught in Scotland?”
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