During the Terra Nova expedition from 1910 to 1913, in Captain Robert Falcon Scott's diary he mentions some excerpts from football/soccer practice "Today I had our first football game; a violent south wind started blowing, which helped my own side with three goals. "written on May 02. In another excerpt he describes the following "We play football at noon - the game gets better as we improve our conditions and skills in football" on May 19, 1911. It is possible to observe that sport was an entertainment activity and because of the climatic situation it was necessary to take a break. "there is little to lure someone out of the house ... However, we are only nine days out of the" light value "of the day we left football - I hope we can start the game again in that period." June 17, 1911.
The football/soccer game on record was in 1914 by Sir Ernest Shackleton during the Imperial Trans-Antarctic expedition. On January 5, 1915, there was another match for entertainment but it was necessary to be stopped after Captain Frank Worsley had an accident.
On South Georgia, which geographically belongs to (South) America), football/soccer matches continued to take place on the weekends of February. The Uruguayan, Eduardo Triunfo worked on a whaling factory in Grytviken, on the island of South Georgia, in the 1940s. He reports that he played "picados" as football/soccer was called, starting at 10:00 p.m. when it was daytime in Grytviken. He was the captain of his team. The opposing teams were formed by the Norwegian whale hunting crew as“Don Miles”, “Foca”, “Horca”, “Walrus” and “Narval”. Eduardo Triunfo said that he won all the matches and only lost to the Queen of Bermuda (UK) that had just arrived at the place.
On 1948, At Ensenada Martel on the King George island, there was a deactivated british base called the Station G. Argentina tried to take possession of that base but the british defended it causing a diplomatic crisis between the countries. So the US Department of State suggested a soccer match between argentine and british sailors to resolve the political crisis.
There was the first International football tournament in 1971 at the base of the argentine army called Esperanza. Adversary was the team of the aeronautical detachment Petrel and the chilean base called O'Higgins. The teams consisted of 6 players each and the temperature was minus 10 degrees. In the first match Esperanza won 7 to 3 over Petrel's team. In the second match there was a tie between Esperanza and O'Higgins. Esperanza was considered the champion, in addition to his topscorer Lieutenant Carlos F. Lazarte.
There are currently two civilian settlements in Antarctica. Esperanza Base is a permanent, all-year-round argentine research station based in Hope Bay. Administred by Argentine Antarctic Institute (under the supervision of the Argentine National Antarctic Directorate. Was established in 1953 and the last census (2014) had 55 people.
The other is Villa Las Estrellas, town and chilean research station located on permanent President Eduardo Frei Montalva Base, a military base chilean on King George Island. Administred by responsibility of Puerto Williams Mayor and de facto Base Commander. In summer it has a population of approximately 150 people and in winter 80 people.
There are football matches with the Vernadsky team against the tourist yacht teams that visited the Ukrainian station in Antarctica. The yacht sailors, "Podorange", "Selma" and "Spirit of Sidney" participate in the championship. Football/soccer matches are held at Akademik Vernadsky station during the winter, before the celebration of the Antarctic holiday known as "Midwinter" (it is a holiday in the middle of winter). Most of the station's inhabitants participate in the final. The winning team receives medals and real souvenirs from Antarctica.
Played in Port Foster, South Shetland Islands Teams ARA Seaver (ARG) - formed by the ship crew HMS Snipe (UK) - formed by the ship crew [Feb 5] HMS Snipe 1 - 0 ARA Seaver
2 times of 10 minutes, played in Deception Island (CHI) in parallel 63 south.
Time: 05:00 p.m.
Teams
Chileans - formed by the garrison military General Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme Base (CHI) -
permanent chilean base. Based in Cape Legoupil.
English - formed by the british weather station. Possibly the Station F or Station G.
[Feb 12]
Chileans 1 - 1 English
[Navy lieutenant (Luis Mansilla), ?]
Referee: don C. Perrone (weather base
Argentine Orcadas)
Chileans: captain Bonaffos, el capellán naval Miguel Cadieux, naval doctor Beddings, Halves,
lieutenant of Carabineros Ibarra, navy warrant officers Badiola and Seemann,
warrant officers Ross, lieutenant navy, Mansilla, lieutenant Thorton (captain of team),
lieutenant Venturini and lieutenant Araya.
Teams Esperanza Base (ARG) - permanent all-year-round argentine research station. Based in Hope Bay. General Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme Base (CHI) - permanent chilean base. Based in Cape Legoupil. Petrel Base (ARG) - non-permanent argentine scientific station in summer. Based in Dundee Island [May] Esperanza 7 - 3 Petrel Referee: Lieutenant Ochoa (CHI) and later aeronautics cable first Arévalo. Esperanza - O'Higgins [draw] Esperanza was considered the champions Esperanza: ensign Raúl J. Borges, sergeant first Silverio Rodríguez, navy cable first Carlos E. Orozco; sergeant Ay. Domingo Zacarías; lieutenant Carlos F. Lazarte (Head of Esperanza Base) and sergeant. Ay. Genaro Luna. Team technical director, sergeant. Ay. Francisco Magarello, personal trainer Subofficial 1º Hugo E. Villegas.
Teams
Artigas Base (URU) - permanent uruguayan scientific research stations.
Based in King George Island.
Tenente Marsh (CHI)
[Jan 19]
Artigas 2 - 2 Tenente Marsh
Artigas: Ferdinando Gelmini, Jacinto Acuña, José Melconian, Derceo Da Costa, Domingo Montaldo,
Miguel Dornelles, Luis Laurías, Luis Freitas and Orosmán Pereira.
Tenente Marsh: Hugo Godoy, Pedro Sandoval, José Vidal, Alejandro Frías, Omar Sáez,
Osvaldo Bahamondes, Gerardo Saavedra, Carlos Salazar, Marcos Arévalo,
Raúl Cuadra and Reineri Merino.
Referee: naval Rolando Carvallo
Football championship between base team Teams All are based on King George Island. Artigas Base (URU) - permanent uruguayan scientific research station. Bellingshausen Station (RUS) - permanent russian research station. Great Wall Station (CHN) - permanent chinese research station. Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva Base (CHI) - permanent Chilean base. [Jan] Artigas (URU) are champions
Teams Argentina - formed by the Teniente Jubany Base (ARG) [current Doctor Carlini] Brazil - formed by the crew of the NApOc Barão de Teffé (BRA) Played in Teniente Jubany Base (ARG) [current Doctor Carlini] Argentina - Brazil [draw]´ Thanks to Guillermo Tarapow - Argentina
Teams NB: Play during the transfer of the station to ukrainians. British Ukrainians - Gennady Milinevsky base commander team Ukrainians - British [ukrainians won] Ukrainians: Milinevsky, Bakhmutov, Sitov, Sidorovsky and Bratchik P.
Teams
King Edward Point - KEP (UK) - marine and fisheries research station. Owned by the
Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI)
and operated by British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Based in
Cumberland East Bay, South Georgia.
HMS Endurance
[Dec 26]
KEP 2 - 4 HMS Endurance
Teams RRS James Clark Ross - annual supply replenishment loading ship. South Georgia FC [Feb] South Georgia 1 - 3 RRS James Clark Ross
Teams
Rothera Research Station (UK) - permanent British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Based in Adelaide Island.
RV Lawrence M Gould (USA) - north american scientific ship.
[Jan ?]
Rothera 2 - 0 RV Lawrence M Gould
Teams
King Edward Point - KEP (UK) - marine and fisheries research station. Owned by the
Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI)
and operated by British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Based in
Cumberland East Bay, South Georgia.
RRS Ernest Shackleton - annual supply replenishment loading ship.
Played on the old whalers pitch behind the whaling station. Six-a-side match.
[Feb 27]
KEP 7 - 12 RRS Ernest Shackleton
Annual five-a-side football competition
Teams
Dash-7
Fish and Chips FC
Rothera Research Station (UK) - permanent British Antarctic Survey (BAS)
Twin Otters
Others teams are unknown
[Mar]
Fish and Chips FC are champions
Teams
Rothera Research Station (UK) - permanent British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Based in Adelaide Island.
RRS James Clark Ross - annual supply replenishment loading ship.
Played in the hangar area
[Dec 20]
Rothera 1 - 4 RRS James Clark Ross
Teams
Rothera Research Station (UK) - permanent British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Based in Adelaide Island.
RRS James Clark Ross - annual supply replenishment loading ship.
Played in the hangar area
[Dec 20]
Rothera 1 - 4 RRS James Clark Ross
Teams
King Edward Point - KEP (UK) - marine and fisheries research station. Owned by the
Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI)
and operated by British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Based in
Cumberland East Bay, South Georgia.
Royal Navy
[Dec 26]
KEP - Royal Navy
Teams
Bulgaria - Saint Kliment Ohridski Base (BUL) - non-permanent bulgarian base in summer. Based
in Emona Anchorage, Livingston island.
Spain - Juan Carlos I Base (ESP) - non-permanent spanish base in summer. Based in South Bay,
Livingston island.
Played in Livingston Island, Spanish Base Juan Carlos I
[Feb 12]
Spain 3-3 Bulgaria
Players: Jordi Segui, Ricard Reixach, Christoph Dickel, Belen Mendiola, Juan Carlos Galindo,
Victor García, Ricardo Aquilué, Stanimir Modev and Yordan Yankov.
David Hita, Victor de Juan, Javier Cacho, Christo Pimpirev, Mihail Vajarov, Jordi Vilaseca,
Yordan Yordanov, Marin Ivanov, Nikola Petkov, Daniel Alcoverro, Dimo Dimov, Valentin Andreev.
Teams
Halley
Rothera Research Station (UK) - permanent British Antarctic Survey (BAS)
[Jun]
Rothera 1 - 0 Halley
Rothera 1 - 2 Halley
Teams
Saint Kliment Ohridski Base (BUL) - non-permanent bulgarian base in summer. Based in Emona Anchorage, Livingston island.
Juan Carlos I Base (ESP) - non-permanent spanish base in summer. Based in South Bay, Livingston island.
[Feb 14]
Saint Kliment Ohridski 6 - 6 Juan Carlos I
Teams
RRS James Clark Ross - annual supply replenishment loading ship.
Rothera Research Station (UK) - permanent British Antarctic Survey (BAS)
[Dec]
Rothera 0 - 1 RRS James Clark Ross
Teams Morrisons Builders Dream Rothera Research Station (UK) - permanent British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Based in Adelaide Island. [Feb 26] Rothera 0 - 0 Morrisons Builders Dream Teams Rothera Research Station (UK) - permanent British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Based in Adelaide Island. RV Lawrence M Gould (USA) - north american scientific ship. [Mar 2] Rothera 4 - 0 RV Lawrence M Gould Teams Brazilians - Brazilian Antarctic Program Czechs - Non-permanent Czech research station - Mendel Polar Station. Based in James Ross Island. Played in Mendel Polar Station Czechs 5 - 7 Brazilians
Teams
HMS Clyde - patrol ship based in the Falkland Islands.
South Georgia Island
[Mar]
South Georgia Island 4 - ? HMS Clyde
Teams
Rothera Research Station (UK) - permanent British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Based in Adelaide Island.
RRS Ernest Shackleton - annual supply replenishment loading ship.
[Mar 18]
Rothera 5 - 1 RRS Ernest Shackleton
Teams
King Edward Point - KEP (UK) - marine and fisheries research station. Owned by the
Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI)
and operated by British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Based in
Cumberland East Bay, South Georgia.
Rothera Research Station (UK) - permanent British Antarctic Survey (BAS)
[Jun]
Rothera 0 - 5 KEP
Teams
HMS Clyde - patrol ship based in the Falkland Islands.
Rothera Research Station (UK) - permanent British Antarctic Survey (BAS)
[Oct]
Played on the Grytviken pitch
Rothera - HMS Clyde [Rothera won]
Teams
Rothera Research Station (UK) - permanent British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Based in Adelaide Island.
RV Lawrence M Gould (USA) - north american scientific ship.
[Jan 23]
Rothera 4 - 0 RV Lawrence M Gould
Teams
King Edward Point - KEP (UK) - marine and fisheries research station. Owned by the
Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI)
and operated by British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Based in
Cumberland East Bay, South Georgia.
HMS Clyde patrol ship based in the Falkland Islands.
[May]
KEP 5 - 4 HMS Clyde
Teams McMurdo Station (USA) - permanent north american research station. Based in Ross Island. Rothera Research Station (UK) - permanent British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Based in Adelaide Island. [Feb ?] Rothera 0 - 1 McMurdo
Teams
Rothera Research Station (UK) - permanent British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Based in Adelaide Island.
RV Lawrence M Gould (USA) - north american scientific ship.
[Jan 21]
Rothera 6 - 0 RV Lawrence M Gould
Teams
Base Prat
RRV Ernest Shackleton - annual supply replenishment loading ship.
[Mar 7]
Base Prat - RRV Ernest Shackleton [Base Prat won]
Teams
King Edward Point - KEP (UK) - marine and fisheries research station. Owned by the
Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI)
and operated by British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Based in
Cumberland East Bay, South Georgia.
Royal Navy
Played on the old recreation ground at Grytiviken
[Mar]
KEP 4 - 16 HMS Clyde
KEP - Royal Navy [KEP won]
Teams Rothera Research Station (UK) - permanent British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Based in Adelaide Island. RV Lawrence M Gould (USA) - north american scientific ship. [Jan 20] Rothera 1 - 0 RV Lawrence M Gould
Teams Palmer Station LTER (USA) - permanent north american research station. Based in Anvers Island. Rothera Research Station (UK) - permanent British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Based in Adelaide Island. [Jan 18] Rothera 3 - 0 Palmer Station LTER Teams General Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme Base (CHI) - permanent chilean base. Based in Cape Legoupil. Rancagua (CHI) [Jun 7] O'Higgins 3 - 2 Rancagua
Teams
A.L.E. (USA) Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions - formed by the north american logistics company.
Glaciar Unión (CHI) formed by military and scientific from the non-permanent chilean base summer
called Estación Polar Científica Conjunta Glaciar Unión. Based in Union Glacier.
Played in Union Glacier Camp
[Nov 10]
Glaciar Unión (CHI) 3 - 3 A.L.E. (USA)
Referee: Head of Glaciar Unión, Patricio Gonzalez (CHI)
A.L.E. (USA): David Beckham (ENG)
Teams
A.L.E. (USA) Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions - formed by the north american logistics company.
Glaciar Unión (CHI) formed by military and scientific from the non-permanent chilean base summer
called Estación Polar Científica Conjunta Glaciar Unión. Based in Union Glacier.
Played in Union Glacier Camp
[Dec 4]
Glaciar Unión (CHI) 2 - 1 A.L.E. (USA)
NB: South Georgia geographically belongs to (South) America. Teams Antarctic Endurance - formed by the mixed team Royal Navy and Royal Marines South Georgia Island [Feb 16] South Georgia Island 3 - 0 Antarctic Endurance [Apr] South Georgia Island 1 - 2 HMS Clyde
Teams
Argentina - Decepción Station (ARG) - non-permanent argentine antarctic base. Based in
Deception Island, South Shetland Islands.
Spain - Gabriel de Castilla Base (ESP) - non-permanen spanish research station. Based in
Deception Island, South Shetland Islands.
Shetland Islands - withdrew
Played on Piroclasto Stadium, Bahía Foster -Deception Island
[Jan 8]
Argentina - Spain
Teams British Antarctic Survey (UK). Based in Adelaide Island. HMS Protector Played in British Antarctic Survey's Rothera Research Station (UK) British Antarctic Survey 0 - 0 HMS Protector
Clem Collins Integration Cup Teams BAM Nuttall British Antarctic Survey (UK). Based in Adelaide Island. Played in British Antarctic Survey's Rothera Research Station (UK) BAM Nuttall 4 - 5 British Antarctic Survey
Teams BAM Nuttall British Antarctic Survey (UK). Based in Adelaide Island. Played in British Antarctic Survey's Rothera Research Station (UK) [Mar 20] British Antarctic Survey 5 - 4 BAM Nuttall Teams RRS James Clark Ross - annual supply replenishment loading ship. Rothera Research Station (UK) - permanent British Antarctic Survey (BAS) Played in British Antarctic Survey's Rothera Research Station (UK) [Dec 25] Rothera 3 - 5 RRS James Clark Ross Teams BAM Nuttall British Antarctic Survey (UK). Based in Adelaide Island. Played in British Antarctic Survey's Rothera Research Station (UK) [date unknown] BAM Nuttall 1 - 3 British Antarctic Survey
Teams HMS Protector King Edward Point - KEP (UK) - marine and fisheries research station. Owned by the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) and operated by British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Based in Cumberland East Bay, South Georgia. Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) and operated by British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Based in Cumberland East Bay, South Georgia. [Dec] KEP 2 - 1 HMS Protector
Rothera Research Station (UK), on Adelaide Island. [Dec 25]
[Jan 18, 6-a-side] Rothera 3 - 2 HMS Protector
Thanks to Mark Cruickshank for additional results
Sources:
Boletín de la Fuerza Aerea Chilena – January, 1986
Life diary of Sir Ernest Shackleton
Life diary of Robert Falcon Scott
Bulgarian Antarctic Institute
Czech Antarctic Research Programme
British Antarctic Survey
Magazine:
Revista Estadio N° 312, May 07, 1949 (publication of Óscar Pinochet de la Barra)
Newspapers:
La Tribuna Popular.
La Razón (ARG) May 25, 1971. "Fútbol con 10 grados bajo cero"
Websites:
https://antarctic-logistics.com/2015/11/11/david-beckham-plays-match-on-union-glacier/
antarcticsun.usap.gov
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https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keller_Peninsula#Station_G
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https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Las_Estrellas
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museomaritimo.com
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Prepared and maintained by Carlos Santos for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
Author: Carlos Santos
Last updated: 4 Mar 2024
(C) Copyright Carlos Santos and RSSSF 2023/24
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