Black History Month (BHM) has been celebrated every October in Glasgow since 2001. It is a month of celebration which brings together people of all cultures and ethnicity to celebrate the uniqueness of their heritage, the contributions and achievements made by visible minority people in Scotland.
The month long celebrations will provide a unique opportunity to educate, document and acknowledge the positive role the BME people have played in shaping Glasgow’s history. It will also provide us with the opportunity to engage in critical debate about the importance of history and its influence on our future. We all have a lot to learn and a part to play in shaping history and making sure that Black History Month is well celebrated across Scotland. GARA is responsible for publishing the promotional booklet for events happening in Glasgow during BHM.
THE LEGACY OF ANDREW WATSON -1857-1902 SCOTLAND'S AND THE WORLD'S FIRST BLACK FOOTBALLER - AND SCOTLAND TEAM CAPTAIN 2nd Andrew Watson Memorial 5-a-sideFootball Tournament October 16th/17th - Venue TBC 
Andrew Watson was born in Guyana to a 19th century Scottish father and African mother. He attended medical school at Glasgow and Edinburgh universities and became Scotland's first professional sportsman.
In the 1890s he won the Scottish FA Cup three times with Queens Park FC and as Scotland Captain (see picture left) he led the nation to three consecutive victories over England - including a 6-1 thrashing! Recently 
Our Inaugural 2009 Andrew Watson Tournament (AWT) was inspired by the 2005 BBC a bio-picture documentary about him. We wanted to highlight that it's nothing new to have Laryea Kingston at Hearts or Feruz Islam at Celtic - African & Caribbean players have always played the game in Scotland. The BBC recently also did Walter Tull's story as England's first Black Professional who died an officer in the trenches of WW1. However, Andrew Watson was first.
Andrew Watson was the first Black footballer in Scotland, it can be argued that he is therefore the first Black player to represent any British Isles nation internationally. He was playing even earlier than England's Arthur Wharton, but as a gentleman amateur at Queens Park FC (which is still to this day non-professional), whereas Arthur Wharton was the first paid professional black footballer.
Born in Demerara, part of the British Guiana (now Guyana) in 1857, Andrew Watson came to Britain to complete his schooling at a public school in Halifax and this is when his football career began. He became a successful player for Queens Park FC and then began studying at Glasgow University aged 19, in November 1875. Watson enrolled to take classes in Natural Philosophy, Maths, Civil Engineering and Mechanics.
Among some of the landmark achievements of Andrew Watson, he can possibly claim to be:
- the first Black player to play for Scotland, whom he represented 3 times between 1881 and 1882 (taking part in 6-1 and 5-1 thrashings of England - home and away!)
- He played for Queens Park, the top Scottish team of the day.
- the first Black captain of an International team (for Scotland v England 1881)
- the first Black player to win a major competition (Scottish Cup 1881)
- the first Black player to play in the English FA Cup (London Swifts 1882)
- The Black player (maybe the forst Scotsman!) to join the elite London gentleman amateur club Corinthians FC - formed specifically to find players to beat the supremacy of Scotland's national team!
- the first Black football administrator (he was Match Secretary for 5 years at Parkgrove and Queens Park FC)
"Watson, Andrew: One of the very best backs we have; since joining Queen's Park has made rapid strides to the front as a player; has great speed and tackles splendidly; powerful and sure kick; well worthy of a place in any representative team."
read his entry in the Scottish Football Association Annual of 1880-81
Watson married, had children and later emigrated to Australia where he lived for the rest of his life as a civil engineer until his death in January 1902. He is buried in Sydney.
2009's inaugural winners were Glasgow Ansar Captain Atta Yacoub pictured here (right - yes that really famous actor now featuring in the starting line-up for German TV!) with representatives of Partick Thistle FC Keiron Dempsey and Ami Small, George MacIntosh of Queens Park FC, co-hosts Afroscots United FC captain Jonathan Ssembatya and A&CN's Graham Campbell. Show Racism the Red Card also generously supported Afroscots.
In Novembe
r 2010 we held the 2nd AWT at Maryhill FC and Firhill Complex with 7x Men's teams of varying nationalities which was won by Sudanese-led team Zuhall FC. Golden Boot was won by the prolific Ivan Kassa of Guinea Lions . What won games was the stirling defence of Vegas and Zuhall FC which beat the more talented and younger teams of Guniea Lions who scored 30 goals! but couldn't beat Zuhall's defence in the semi finals.
The AWT Trophy (yes it's meant to look like the World Cup!) and gold medals w
ere presented by Anne McLaughlin MSP to Zuhall captain Hamid Kriem. Silver medals and Best goalie (Kenny Bonella) went to amazing runners up Glasvegas, all over 30 and with no subs! Bronze medals were won by Guinea Lions vs Persian Gulf in 4th place. Simon Weir of revitalised Third Lanark FC presented the Best referee award to....well AWT organiser/founder and A&CN officer Graham Campbell, refereeing his first ever tournament.
In March 2011 the second AWT event co-hosted with SEMSA and Glasgow Life was the International Women's Sports Day attended by 4x womens teams. Coaching sessions, free refreshments and taster sessions were given to over 30 women and 120 men. Events were funded by Central & West Integration Network, 2014 Communities and Voluntary Action Fund.
We were unable to fund the 3rd AWT scheduled for October/November 2011 which we have postponed to March 2012. However, to take part in next year's AWT contact 07758 253 823 or email
gcampbell@acnglasgow.org
THANK YOU FOR THE IMPACT - ROSA PARKS