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The earliest documented football match in Spain may have taken place a decade earlier than previously believed. A study by the University of Cádiz (UCA) has uncovered documentation indicating a game was played in Jerez de la Frontera in 1869, according to Rafael Cano, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Social and Communication Sciences, as confirmed by the Agencia EFE.

The research, made possible by the digitization of a new archive at the National Library two years ago, is ongoing, with researchers open to finding evidence of even older matches. Cano emphasized that the aim is not to create controversy, but to establish a more accurate historical record.

For years, the Real Club Recreativo de Huelva has been considered the birthplace of Spanish football, founded as the Huelva Recreation Club in 1889. The first officially recognized match was played in the city on August 16, 1873, near the Riotinto mines, between workers from the area. The first official game between two clubs, adhering to the rules of the Football Association (FA), took place in March 1890, featuring the Huelva Recreation Club and Sevilla FC.

However, the UCA study suggests a prior event: a match on February 13, 1869, in Jerez de la Frontera, between the Jerez Cricket Club and officers from HMS Endymion, a British naval vessel that had docked in the port of Cádiz. According to the Gibraltar Chronicle, the game lasted 80 minutes and featured only British players, with the English team winning 1-0. The newspaper too noted a cricket match was played alongside the football game, a common pairing in the early days of the sport.

The exact location of the match remains unknown, though researchers believe the Llanos de Caulina in the Jerez countryside is a likely candidate. The UCA team consulted the Gibraltar Chronicle, accessible digitally through the National Library, to verify the details of the game.

Cano stated that the fact the match was reported in Gibraltar highlights its significance: “It wasn’t just a casual game; it was played over a hundred kilometers away, considering the travel conditions at the time.”

The research involved several months of examining documents from across Spain, particularly in towns with historical ties to British communities, such as Huelva, Riotinto, Sevilla, Vigo, Linares, and Tarragona, where football was also played in the 19th century. The University of Cádiz stated they will publish and disseminate any documentation proving an earlier match.

To commemorate the anniversary of this potential first match, a game was played in Jerez de la Frontera with the collaboration of the university faculty and the city council.