Football in China is big business, new stadia and a last big pay-day for star players from across the World. But in contrast it started very quietly, in Shanghai, taken there by three Scots. The first of them was notable through his reputation as a veteran of Glasgow's football birth. He had played for his country too. In 1874 he had been the scorer of the first ever Scottish international goal in Scotland and the opening goal of the first ever Scottish win. The second was notable more by his actions. He had begun the ball rolling in 1879 when he organised the first football to be played in the city and country. A decade later he would affiliate his team with the Scottish FA and two decades later still be the first President of the city's first football league. And long before either they had been joined by a second Scotland international after a short but stellar club career.
