La Liga giants Sevilla Football Club honour Elgin man and founding president Edward Farquharson Johnston by naming roundabout next to their Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium as tribute
The Moray man who founded Spanish football giants Sevilla is being honoured by a construction in the Andalucian city.
Seven-time winners of the UEFA Cup and Europa League and former La Liga champions, Sevilla FC was established by Elgin man Edward Johnston in 1890.
The club, who once signed superstar Diego Maradona, are naming a roundabout linking two major roads next to their stadium as a tribute to their Scottish founding president.
Javier Terenti, a member of the club’s history department, discovered the unique connection between Moray and Seville more than a decade ago, with an article published in the Northern Scot celebrating the link.
He has now revealed that the government in Sevilla has approved the naming of a new roundabout off one of the main Avenida Eduardo Data roads in Mr Johnston’s honour.
“This roundabout is located very close to the club’s stadium and connects two of the city's largest avenues,” said Sr Terenti.
“In addition, the tram has also begun to cross the roundabout to connect the train station with the city centre.”
He said he expects the city to stage an event in connection with the inauguration of the roundabout around January 25 next year, the day that Sevilla FC celebrates its 135th birthday.
It was originally thought that the club was founded in 1905 until an article found in the British Newspaper Archive unearthed Mr Johnston’s work in beginning the club’s life much earlier.
Born in the old Newmill area of Elgin in 1854, Mr Johnston - also known as Ned - was educated at Weston House in Elgin where Alexander Graham bell was also taught, and later at the Mill Hill public school near London.
After completing his education, Mt Johnston entered the business house of Messrs. Robert McAndrew & Co, London who had business connections in Spain.
He became the firm’s representative in Seville in the early 1870s and later became the British vice-consul in Seville.
It was in 1890 when a group of residents in the city of British origin met at a cafe and formed Sevilla Football Club, with Elgin-born Johnston as their first president.
They went on to win La Liga, Spain’s top league, in 1946 and have accumulated a string of European football triumphs in recent years.
Current Aston Villa manager Unai Emery led Sevilla to three consecutive Europa League successes, and they have now won the competition seven times.
Late Argentinian great Maradona played for the club in the 1992-93 season.
