Feel the cool river breeze on your face. We stand before Muelle Dársena A Sur a place steeped in the history of Argentine football. This seemingly ordinary dock holds a secret. It was once the heart of a passionate rivalry. A rivalry between two legendary clubs Boca Juniors and River Plate.
Muelle Dársena A Sur wasn’t just a dock. It was the birthplace of football dreams. In the early 1900s both Boca and River played their first matches here. Their humble pitches were located right on the Dársena Sur’s edge. Imagine the shouts of the crowd echoing across the water. The smell of the river mixing with the sweat of the players.
River Plate’s first field was on the east side. Boca’s was just a block away. Their close proximity fuelled the intensity of their early matches. The origins of their colours are interesting too. River’s initial colours were white and red like the flag of Genoa. Many La Boca residents were from Genoa. Boca adopted blue and gold. A story claims it came from the flag of a Swedish ship.
The Dársena Sur wasn’t always a peaceful place. River Plate was evicted in 1907. The Ministry of Agriculture needed the land. They temporarily relocated. They eventually returned to the Dársena Sur. They played there until 1913. A cyclone destroyed their facilities that year. They were evicted again.
The only official match between Boca and River at the Dársena Sur was in 1919. It ended 0-0. This game was later annulled due to a split in the football association. The rivalry though continued to grow. It spread beyond the docks. It grew into the legendary rivalry we know today.
Muelle Dársena A Sur may seem unremarkable now. It’s a testament to the simple beginnings of two football giants. It’s a reminder that even the most iconic rivalries have humble roots. The spirit of those early matches still lingers here. Feel it as you stand on this historic dock.