But that dearth is gradually being reversed. Francis (Frank) George Watt was a Scot, that much known, born in Edinburgh in June 1854, his parents both local, his father a Blacksmith, himself starting as a Journeyman Joiner, as such marrying in Christina Smith in the city in 1876 but by 1891 and in his mid-thirties with three children recorded as a Clerk. But fifteen years earlier he had been one of the pioneers of the round-ball game almost on its arrival in Auld Reekie in 1873. As a player, a half-back, he had first joined the 3rd Edinburgh Rifle Volunteers, formed in 1874 and with strong associations to John Hope, the founder in 1824 of the city's Foot-Ball Club. He is said to have been Secretary, taking on the same dual role when he and six other players in 1876 split away to form the Swifts. The reason was religion. Hope was a anti-Catholic and had wanted Hibernian excluded from the Edinburgh FA. Watt, although married in the Church of Scotland, did not, Hearts too to their credit.

Indeed Watt, who after playing then refereed, would soon be appointed as the first Secretary of that same Edinburgh FA and also became a Scotland selector. That is until the offer of £140 per year came in from St. James's. Thus it was that by 1901 installed