Colin Calder

Colin Bain Calder (16 April 1860 - 25 January 1907) was the Scottish founder, and first president, of Club Atlético Rosario Central of Argentina.

Colin Bain Calder 1st. President of Club Atlético Rosario Central
Born	(1860-04-16)April 16, 1860 Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland
Died	January 25, 1907(1907-01-25) (aged 46) Rosario, Argentina
Resting place	Cementerio de Disidentes, Rosario
Monuments	Colin Bain Calder street, Rosario
Nationality	Scottish
Citizenship	United Kingdom
Alma mater	Saint Clement's School
Occupation	Railway worker
Employer	Central Argentine Railway
Title	President of Club Atlético Rosario Central
Term	24 December 1889 - 1900
Successor	William Taylor Paul
Spouse(s)	Mary Green
Children	Lily Jane, Charlotte, Margaret, Elizabeth, John Colin Alexander
Relatives	Michael H. Green, Danny Green (brothers in law)

First years

Dingwall's Coat of Arms.

Calder was born in Dingwall, county of Ross and Cromarty, in the Scottish Highlands. He received in his name the maternal surname Bain. His family enjoyed prosperity, as his father was a prestigious cabinetmaker. After his death, when Colin was 10 years old, the family economic situation worsened. Calder studied in the Saint Clement's School, and years later embarked on a trip to Argentina.[1][2]

Arrival to Rosario

He arrived young to Rosario to work on the Central Argentine Railway Company, a company of British capitals and served as head of the Painting Workshop.[3]

His family

In 1890 he married Mary Green, also Scottish, born in Addiewell, sister of Michael and Daniel Green. They had five children: Lily Jane, Charlotte, Margaret, Elizabeth, and John Colin Alexander.[3]

Labor as President of Rosario Central

Before 1889, Calder, together with his secretary Chamberlain, ordered the railway company to give them land in order to organize the practice of football. Once achieved, in the historic day of December 24, 1889, he was elected as the first president of Rosario Central. He had a fiery speech in favor of football, and to the detriment of cricket, the other sport that the British had brought to Argentina and was prevailing. He served until 1900, being 11 years in office the third rogue president who exercised the most time, behind Víctor Vesco and Federico Flynn.[4]

Death

Calder died in 1907, at age 46. Their remains rest today in the Cemetery of Dissidents of Rosario.[3]

Acknowledgments

Plate at the beginning of Colin Calder street that remembers the date of its mention.

On December 23, 2014 Colin Calder Street was inaugurated, by order of the Municipal Council of Rosario. The same is located in the Alem Park, joining Colombres Avenue with Nansen Street.[5]

In 2011, after a contact initiated by a descendant of Calder, was named like Citizen of Honor by the city of Dingwall, its native land.[2]

References

1. "Who were ye?: Scot who brought football to Messi city". BBC. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
2. "Argentinians pay tribute to their 'father' from Ross". Ross-shire Journal. Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
3. "Colin Bain Calder, el primer Presidente de Central". Central Crece. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
4. Brisaboa, Jorge (1996). De Rosario y de Central. Rosario: Homo Sapiens Ediciones. pp. 13 to 15. ISBN 9508081007.
5. "El primer presidente tiene calle". InfoNews. Retrieved 22 December 2014.