One of Argentina's most storied football clubs, Newell's Old Boys, where global superstar Lionel Messi honed his early skills, has a surprising connection to a teacher from Kent. The club, based in Rosario, bears the name of Isaac Newell, an Englishman who emigrated from Strood as a teenager in 1869, leaving an indelible mark on Argentine football culture.
Newell's journey began with the establishment of a school in Rosario. Crucially, he introduced the sport of football to his students, a move that played a significant role in popularising the game across Argentina. His vision extended beyond the classroom, fostering a love for sport that would eventually lead to the creation of a major football institution.
The club itself was founded in 1903, four years before Isaac Newell's death, by his son, with the intention of providing a sporting outlet for the school's staff and former pupils. Since then, Newell's Old Boys has become a powerhouse in Argentine football, clinching the country's top division title six times. Its alumni include not only Messi, who spent six years at the club from the age of seven, but also other prominent figures such as Diego Maradona, Gabriel Heinze, Marcelo Bielsa, and Mauricio Pochettino.
In Strood, efforts are underway to fully recognise Newell's legacy. Adrian Pope, a campaigner who discovered Newell's story while teaching English in Argentina, has spent the last 25 years advocating for a statue of the teacher in his hometown. Pope highlights Newell's strong belief in the combined value of education and sport, a philosophy that profoundly shaped his contributions abroad.
Medway Council leader Vince Maple has expressed pride in Newell's growing recognition, stating that his name has become a source of local honour. Maple underscored the profound impact Newell had, suggesting that Argentine football would not be what it is today without his pioneering influence. Currently, an exhibition celebrating the club is housed at Strood's local sport centre, where football pitches are named after former players of Newell's Old Boys, further cementing the unexpected link between Kent and one of the world's most famous footballing nurseries.