Argentino de Quilmes, El Mate and the beat of their own drum

Words: Groundspotters

Images: Groundspotters

In the late 1800s, in a southern area of Buenos Aires province, more precisely in the area of Quilmes, history indicates that Quilmes Athletic Club´s members, with English roots, did not allow `criollos´ (European descendants born on Argentine soil) to be part of their football team.

In light of this situation, in December 1899, a group of students decided to create Club Argentino de Quilmes, which from its beginnings would mark a clear differentiation with its neighbours of British heritage.

The first fact to highlight is that founders of Argentino managed to translate the game’s rules into Spanish from the Asociación del Fútbol Argentino (AFA) regulations, which were in English.

But they also established variations through traditions: Quilmes Athletic Club received away teams with the British tea and biscuits, while for its part, Argentino de Quilmes chose to do so with `bizcochitos de grasa´ and `mate cocido´ (traditional Argentine pastries and herbal infusion),

This is how `El Mate´ was born as a nickname for the team.

Although its stadium does not have an official name, it is popularly known as `La Barranca Quilmeña´ or `La Barranca´, because of the place where it is located.

©Groundspotters/ Terrace Edition. Club Atlético Argentino de Quilmes.

After obtaining, in the amateur football era, a place in the first division in 1906, they obtained the land for a pitch on which it is still located to this day.

In 1927, the first stand was built completely of cement and with a tin roof, in an English style.

The inauguration of that stand came in a friendly game between Argentino de Quilmes and San Lorenzo.

In 2010, the new popular stand was inaugurated, replacing the old wooden stand for a cement new one. Then, in 2016, it was declared historical heritage of the city of Quilmes.

Since 2019, after Argentino’s promotion to the third division, remodeling and renovation work has been carried out on both on the field and the stadium.

Currently, in the historic `La Barranca Quilmeña´ platea stand you can see old wooden seats that were part of the boxes of Racing Club’s stadium until 1950.

In April 2003, Argentino’s ground was scene of what is known as `Longest penalty kick in the world´.

On April 5, Defensores de Cambaceres and Atlanta faced off at Cambaceres’ stadium. With ten minutes left, the referee gave a penalty to Atlanta, which unleashed the anger of home fans that ended with the game being abandoned

Eventually, the match was completed on April 29, at the neutral Argentino de Quilmes stadium, and did not begin with a normal kick-off but rather the penalty that had been sanctioned 14 days earlier.

Fast toward to 2023 and we join Argentino de Quilmes as they take on Acassuso in the Primera B Playoffs.

After having tied 1-1 a week before, the first concrete chance that Acassuso had in the 27th minute saw defender Sebastián Silguero put the away team ahead.

Despite this, Argentino did not give up and went in search of an equaliser.