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It were not the Alumni forwards who beat South Africa. It was Laforia –the goalkeeper– who did not allow a loss or a tie. He was unbeateable, extraordinary. South Africa played better than us. I did not more than take advantage of an excellent pass from Weiss, catching the ball at a distance of 6 or 7 meters from the goal. I only had to place my foot. I simulated to shot with the right one, but I let to pass the ball and kick it with the left foot, when the goalkeeper was completely undecided and confused. [4]
Alumni won another title the following season, the 1907 championship. The squad finished unbeaten, totaling 37 points with 17 wins. Alumni achieved a large number of thrashing victories over some rivals, such as San Martín AC (7–0), Reformer (7–0 and 4–0), Quilmes (7–2), Barracas AC and San Isidro (5–0 both), Lomas (4–0 and 5–0), Argentino de Quilmes (5–1 both times), and Belgrano AC (4–0). Due to that outstanding performance on the field, the team reached a record of 76 goals scored in 20 matches (3,8 goals per game). That year Alumni won another domestic cup, the Copa de Competencia Jockey Club defeating Belgrano AC at the final, and its 4th Tie Cup championship, defeating CURCC at Ferro Carril Oeste stadium.
Although Alumni did not win a Primera División title in 1908 (where finished 2nd to Belgrano AC), the team got its third consecutive Copa Jockey Club title, easily defeating Argentino de Quilmes by 5–0 in the final. Internationally, Alumni also won another edition of Tie Cup, easily beating Montevideo Wanderers by 4–0 in Buenos Aires.
Alumni continued its successful campaign winning the Primera División championship in 1909, with 32 total points in 18 matches played with only 1 loss. Alumni scored 74 goals (achieving its highest average: 4,11 goals per game), with some large victories over San Isidro (with a devastating 9–0), Belgrano Athletic (6–2), Lomas (8–1 and 4–0), Reformer (7–1) and Estudiantes de Buenos Aires 6–1. Alumni also defeated River Plate (which debuted in Primera División) 3–1 being the first time both teams played against. That was not the only title won by the squad so Alumni won its 3rd consecutive Copa Jockey Club, demolishing Rosarino team Newell's Old Boys by 5–1 in the final match. The team also won by 4th. consecutive time the Tie Cup, beating CURCC 4–0. It would be the last international title won by Alumni, which totaled 7 championships before its dissolution.
Alumni won again a Primera División tournament in 1910. The team got 25 points in 16 matches played, with 42 goals scored (decreasing its goal average to 2,62). The team easily defeated River Plate (3–0 both times), with large wins over Argentino de Quilmes (6–1), Quilmes (5–0) and Gimnasia y Esgrima (BA) (6–0).
The 1911 season was the last time Alumni played officially. From then on, the team would be occasionally reunited for some friendly matches or exhibitions to keep the legend alive. With the 1911 title, Alumni won its second trichampionship after the first success of 1900–1902. That was the season where Alumni finished with the most losses (4) in 16 matches played. Alumni also shared the first position with Porteño so both teams had to play a championship playoff. The game (hosted in Gimnasia y Esgrima de Buenos Aires stadium) was won by Alumni 2–1, thus becoming the new Argentine football champion. Alfredo Brown and Lett were the scorers for Alumni.
During the regular season, Alumni's highlights were some large victories to Quilmes (7–0), River Plate (3–0 and 5–1), Gimnasia y Esgrima (BA) (5–1), Racing Club (5–1, although Racing had defeated them 3–1 in the first round), Estudiantes (BA) (6–0) and San Isidro (5–0).
Alumni finished its last season in official tournaments winning its 10th. league title and becoming the most successful team of Argentina by then with 22 official championships (10 league titles, 5 national cups and 7 international titles). Alumni is also placed 6th. in the all-time ranking of most winning Primera División championships, along with Vélez Sársfield with 10 titles each. [18]
Despite being registered for the 1912 tournament, the team did not play any match. Alumni forfeited its games against Estudiantes (BA), Quilmes and Racing, respectively. After those forfeits, and based on the rules for the competition, the Association disaffiliated Alumni. Many of its players moved to Quilmes, other team with British origins, [19] [20] which finally would obtain the title that year. [21] [4]
Alumni A.C. Dear member: You are invited to a meeting which will be celebrated on 24 April in the A.F.A. building, located in Maipú street 131, at 9 p.m. The object is to discuss about the dissolution of the club and how the funds will be distributed according to our rules.
La Nación, 18 to 24 April 1913. [4]
There were two main reasons for Alumni's demise: the first cause was the shortage of players due to the fact that Alumni rarely admitted players outside the English High School. The second reason was that Alumni was losing a lot of money (due to the fact that the club often donated its incomes to benefit) and it seemed unlikely that the team could fulfil its matches for 1912 season. The club was dissolved on 24 April 1913. All the members were invited to the assembly, but only 7 attended.
Once the team was disbanded, the assets ($12.322,29) were donated to eight public institutions, the Hospital Británico and the Patronato de la Infancia were among them [3]
Despite having been dissolved, former Alumni players used to reunite to play friendly matches.
In 1951 the English High School asked its former students for permission to re-establish the name "Alumni" for a rugby team, which would be immediately approved so the "Asociación Alumni" was founded [22] and has remained to date.
The most prominent Alumni's player was Jorge Brown, who was the team's captain during two periods: first from 1903 to 1906, and then from 1910 until its dissolution. Five of Jorge's brothers were also players for Alumni: Alfredo, Eliseo, Carlos, Juan and Ernesto, and his cousin Juan Domingo as well.
Another notable player was the goalkeeper José Buruca Laforia, who arrived at the club in 1905 and remained until 1907. Juan McKechnie (1891–94, 1900–04) was another remarkable goalkeeper who gave sterling service to the team.
Alumni was also famous due to its notable strikers, with many of them being the top scorers of the first division championships. Amongst them were Alfredo and Eliseo Brown, Carlos and Ernesto Lett and Arnoldo Watson Hutton.
Many Alumni footballers were usually called up to play for the Argentina national team. Moreover, four of the Brown brothers were repeatedly called together for a match, while five of the Brown cousins took part of Alumni squad for the Brazil tour from 2 June to 14 July 1907.
With a team consisting of many Alumni players, the Argentina national football team won the Copa Lipton four consecutive times: 1906 (8 players from Alumni), 1907 (7), 1908 (5) and 1909 (7). The squad also obtained the Copa Newton in 1906 (with 7 players from Alumni), 1907 (4), 1908 (7) and 1909 (3). Argentina also won the "Copa de Honor Gran Premio de Argentina" in 1909 (7) and 1911 (6).
Season | Player | Goals |
---|---|---|
1900 | Spencer Leonard | 8 |
1902 | Jorge Brown | 11 |
1903 | Jorge Brown | 12 |
1904 | Alfredo Brown | 11 |
1905 | Carlos Lett | 12 |
1906 | Eliseo Brown | 8 |
1907 | Eliseo Brown | 24 |
1908 | Eliseo Brown | 19 |
1909 | Eliseo Brown | 17 |
1910 | Arnold Watson Hutton | 13 |
1911 | Ernesto Lett | 10 |
Period | Player |
---|---|
1899–1902 | Andrés Mack |
1903–04 | Jorge Brown |
1905 | Juan J. Moore |
1906 | Jorge Brown |
1907–10 | Alfredo Brown |
1910–11 | Jorge Brown |
The English High School uniform was based on what students wore at school: a white T-shirt with horizontal red stripes. When the team changed its name in 1901 so the uniform was changed to vertical red stripes. The shorts were white in most of the cases, but Alumni also used a black model and other in navy blue.
During its short existence, Alumni achieved a considerable number of large victories over its rivals. Lomas Athletic, Reformer, Belgrano Athletic and San Isidro were some of the teams thrashed by Alumni several times. The list below includes the results by 4 or more goals of difference over its opponents. [25]
Asociación Alumni, usually just Alumni, is an Argentine rugby union club located in Tortuguitas, Greater Buenos Aires. The senior squad currently competes at Top 12, the first division of the Unión de Rugby de Buenos Aires league system.
Association football is the most popular sport in Argentina and part of the culture in the country. It is the one with the most players and is the most popular recreational sport, played from childhood into old age. The percentage of Argentines that declare allegiance to an Argentine football club is about 90%.
Quilmes Atlético Club is an Argentine sports club based in the Quilmes district of Greater Buenos Aires. Established in 1887, Quilmes is the oldest club of Argentina still competing in championships organised by the Argentine Football Association. Quilmes' football team currently plays in Primera Nacional, the second division of the Argentine football league system.
Lomas Athletic Club is an Argentine sports club from the Lomas de Zamora district of Greater Buenos Aires. One of Argentina's oldest clubs still in existence, Lomas is one of the four institutions that founded the "River Plate Rugby Championship" in 1899, The rugby union team currently plays in Primera A, the second division of the URBA league system.
The Buenos Aires English High School, also known for its abbreviation BAEHS, is a bilingual school established in Belgrano, Buenos Aires in 1884 by Alexander Watson Hutton, considered "the father" of Argentine football. Watson Hutton was born in Scotland and emigrated to Argentina in 1882. The first educational institution where he worked was St. Andrew's Scots School for two years. As a keen sportsman, Watson Hutton believed that sports were of fundamental importance in education. Nevertheless, he resigned a short while later due to St. Andrew's not having funds to acquire sports facilities, which were considered by Hutton as an essential component of his teaching methods.
1906 in Argentine football saw Alumni regaining the Argentine championship for the 6th time in seven seasons. The team also won the local Copa de Honor Municipalidad de Buenos Aires and internationals Tie Cup and Copa de Honor Cousenier, obtaining four titles within the same year.
Alexander Watson Hutton was a Scottish teacher and sportsman who is considered "The Father of Argentine football". In 1893 he founded the "Argentine Association Football League". He also founded the Buenos Aires English High School and football club Alumni, which was the most successful Argentine team with 22 titles won until its dissolution in 1911.
Jorge Gibson Brown was an Argentine footballer of Scottish ancestry, who was one of the most important figures in the early years of the sport in that country. During his career, he won a total of 21 titles playing for Alumni and Quilmes and captained the Argentina national team between 1908 and 1913.
Belgrano Athletic Club is an Argentine amateur sports club from Belgrano, Buenos Aires. One of Argentina's oldest institutions still in existence, Belgrano was one of the four clubs that founded the Argentine Rugby Union in 1899. The senior team currently competes at Top 12, the first division of the Unión de Rugby de Buenos Aires league system.
Flores Athletic Club was an Argentine sports club from Flores, Buenos Aires. The club was pioneer in the practise of some sports that would become popular in Argentina, such as football, cricket, rugby union, polo, and tennis.
Carlos Arturo Lett was an Argentine footballer who played as forward. Lett played most of his career in Alumni and the Argentina national team.
José María Buruca Laforia was an Argentine association football goalkeeper. Nicknamed El Vasco, Buruca Laforia is considered the first great goalkeeper of Argentina.
St. Andrew's Athletic Club was a sports club established in Argentina by Scottish immigrants from the St. Andrew's Scots School, the oldest private school of Argentina.
The 1903 Tie Cup Final was the final match to decide the winner of the Tie Cup, the 4th. edition of the international competition organised by Argentine and Uruguayan Associations together. As its previous editions, the final was contested by two teams from Argentina, Alumni and Rosario A.C..
The 1901 Tie Cup Final was the final match to decide the winner of the Tie Cup, the 2nd. edition of the international competition organised by the Argentine and Uruguayan Associations together. The final was contested by two Argentine sides, Alumni and Rosario A.C., from Buenos Aires and Rosario respectively.
Lanús Athletic Club was an Argentine sports club located in the Remedios de Escalada district of Lanús Partido, established by employees of railway company Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway.
The 1905 Copa de Honor Municipalidad de Buenos Aires was the final that decided the champion of the first edition of this National cup of Argentina. In the match, held in Sociedad Sportiva Argentina, Alumni defeated Quilmes 1–0 in extra time, becoming the first winner of this competition.
The 1906 Copa de Honor Municipalidad de Buenos Aires Final was the football match that decided the champion of the 2nd. edition of this National cup of Argentina. In the match, held in the Estadio Belgrano Athletic in Buenos Aires, Alumni defeated Estudiantes de Buenos Aires 3–1. to win their second Copa de Honor trophy.
The 1908 Copa de Competencia Jockey Club final was the football match that decided the champion of the 2nd. edition of this National cup of Argentina. In the match, played at the Virrey del Pino and Superí field in Belgrano, Buenos Aires on 2 August 1908, Alumni defeated Argentino de Quilmes 5–0. to win their second consecutive Copa de Competencia trophy.
The 1909 Copa de Competencia Jockey Club final was the football match that decided the champion of the 3rd. edition of this National cup of Argentina. In the match, played at the Banco de la Nación Field in Colegiales, Buenos Aires on 22 August 1909, Alumni defeated Newell's Old Boys 5–1. to win their third consecutive Copa de Competencia trophy.