Andrew Watson (Footballer) Cause of Death

Scottish footballer Andrew Watson died of pneumonia on March 8, 1921, at age 65 in 88 Forest Road, Kew, London, United Kingdom.

Born May 24, 1856, in Demerara, Guyana, Andrew Watson was the son of a wealthy Scottish slave holder and sugar planter Peter Miller Watson (1805–1869) and a local British Guianese slave woman named Hannah Rose.

He was educated at Heath Grammar School in Halifax, West Yorkshire and then from 1871 at King’s College School, in Wimbledon, London, where records show he excelled at sports including football.

Watson later studied natural philosophy, mathematics and engineering at the University of Glasgow when he was 19, where his love of football blossomed.

Watson commenced his playing career with Maxwell in 1876, where he turned out at full-back and was also the first black administrator in the British game as he took on secretarial duties alongside his playing commitments.

He was also a talented athlete and won several high jump competitions in his younger years.

Signing for Queen’s Park in April 1880 – who were Britain’s biggest team at the time – he helped them to two Scottish Cup triumphs.

Andrew Watson is widely considered to be the world’s first black person to play association football at the international level. He played three matches for Scotland between 1881 and 1882.

Andrew Watson married twice and had four children; Rupert Andrew, Agnes Maude, Henry Tyler and Phyllis Kate.