British Football Club was a Mexican football club based in Mexico City, that played in the Liga Mexicana de Football Amateur Association from 1902 to 1913. Founded in 1901 under the name British Club, in the 1909–10 season it changed its name to British FC. In the 1910–11 season, it merged with Popo Park FC and changed its name to British-Popo. Finally, in the 1911–12season, it reverted to the name British FC.
History The club was founded in 1901 by Percy Clifford, a Cornish immigrant, who at the time was a member of the Club Reforma.
Clifford decided to dedicate his life to becoming one of the best players in the Mexican league and would later go on to become a manager and board member for the club. The club's main economic support came from the Club Británico, a British sports club in Mexico City, which was founded in 1899. The team played its home games in the Club Británico's multifunction park which was directly in front of its headquarters.
The club sometimes traded players with the Reforma Athletic Club a day before a match in order to fill each club's rosters. Clifford had been involved in the establishment of the Reforma Athletic Club football team in 1902. The two clubs were linked in this way because both had British roots.
The team wore uniforms and maintained a position that sport and aesthetics were compatible with sportsmanship. During half-time, the teams drank tea at tables located at the sidelines, which were attended by women.
1907–1908 In the 1907–08 tournament, Puebla A.C. withdrew from the Primera Fuerza due to the long distances they would have had to travel, and defending champions Reforma AC were ranked last, failing to win any games. It was the first Mexican championship title for British Football Club (Mexico City), whose players were almost exclusively British. The player-trainer Percy Clifford, centre half-back "Jack" Caldwall and the Hogg brothers were the most prominent characters.
British John Easton Alexander Dewar Pierce Mennill Percy Clifford Bryan White John Johnson British John Hogg Douglas Watson Stephen Crowder George Ratcliff John Caldwall Horace Hogg
Honours Amateur Liga Mexicana de Football Amateur Association: 1907–08 Copa Tower: 1910–11
Top Scorers 1904–05 Percy Clifford (5 Goals / 8 games) 1906–07 Percy Clifford (5 Goals / 8 games) 1907–08 John Hogg (4 Goals / 6 games) 1911–12 John Hogg (3 Goals / 4 games)
See also Football in Mexico
References