The first black footballer to captain Scotland’s national team is to be honoured with a memorial outside Hampden.
It is understood Scottish FA officials have spent the last few months on the plans dedicated to Andrew Watson.
Experts on Watson, who died 100 years ago, have welcomed the proposal as a “fitting tribute”.
It comes ahead of a documentary on Tuesday presented by former Rangers star Mark Walters which examines Watson’s career.
The BBC Scotland show also looks at the racism Walters suffered when he joined the Light Blues in 1987.
Author Llew Walker – who wrote Andrew Watson, The Story Of The World’s First Black International Footballer – said: “Watson
is not only a leading light in Scotland but across the world.
"He was a pioneer and it’s frankly absurd he’s not been honoured yet with a statue.
“A statue would be a fitting tribute. There’s plenty of other footballers who have statues who never came anywhere close to achieving what Watson did, either in the game or influencing future players.”
Born in Guyana in South America in 1856 to Scottish dad Peter and his local wife Hannah Rose – the daughter of a slave – Watson moved to the UK when he was six.
By 13, his wealthy father, who owned a sugar plantation, had died.
His death left Watson with a sizeable inheritance that allowed him to pursue a football career after dropping out of a Glasgow University engineering course in 1875.
Within six years, Watson was representing Scotland in two thrashings of England and captaining the side.
He was lured south of the Border by English football authorities after he led Scotland to 5-1 and 6-1 victories over the Auld Enemy in 1881.
The left-back went on to play for numerous clubs before retiring to Kew in Surrey, where he died.
An SFA spokesman said: “The SFA is looking at plans for a lasting memorial to Andrew Watson, which will form part
of the redevelopment plans for Hampden Park.
“Additionally, we are in discussions with the Guyana FA over initiatives that will ensure future generations can be
educated on, and inspired by, Andrew’s career and legacy.”
Earlier this year, a study found a third of Uefa countries still hadn’t had a black player represent them.
Academics at Poland’s Jagiellonian University carried out the research.
Professor Przemysław Nosal, who led the study, said: “Watson was really a pioneer of pioneers.
“He was the first and his role can’t be underplayed.”
