| Matches: 1887 1888 1889 | 1887-1900 | Forum |
Celtic Games 1888 – Albion Rovers
Trivia
- Scottish Cup Tie played at Celtic Park.
- Scottish Cup Third Round
- Before 600 spectators.
- Strictly this is now the oldest major competitive fixture for Celtic still ongoing/continuing as other early competitions were one-off or now regarded as minor tournaments, and the teams Celtic faced in the first two rounds (Cowlairs & Shettleston) are no longer around from the original clubs.
- Celtic had played Rangers before, but their club is now dead, and the other games outwith of the Scottish Cup were friendlies.
- Albion Rovers – “Crack Lanarkshire club” (B’ham daily post)
Report
Teams
Celtic:-
Dunning, McLaughlin, McKeown, Gallagher, Kelly, McLaren, McCallum, Coleman, Groves, Dunbar, T Maley.
Goals:- Gallagher, Groves, Dunbar, T Maley.
Albion Rovers:-
Haddow, Walker, Calder, Howatt, Chalmers, Harvie, S. Scott, Baird, Baillie, J. Scott, Anderson.
Goal:- Baird.
Att: est 600
Articles
- Match Reports (see below)
Birmingham Daily Post 15th October 1888
The Scotsman 15th October 1888
Glasgow Herald 15th October 1888
These clubs met on Celtic Park in the presence of about 600 spectators. Both teams were the same as usual except in the back rank of the Celtic where McLaughlin took Gallagher’s place, the latter taking W. Maley’s place in the half-back division. The Rovers kicked off with the sun in their eyes but a gusty wind in their favour, and showed up much better than anticipated. About ten minutes from the start the Rovers scored. Two corners then fell to the Celtic in rapid succession, but both proved fruitless. Though the Celtic did the most of the pressing, and got the ball to their opponents’ goalmouth, it was a few minutes before they were able to score, the Rovers’ guardian and back making a magnificent defence. After runs and counter-runs, the Celtic put themselves in the ascendancy by one goal. The remainder of the first half was very exciting. The Rovers made one or two fine attempts and though they combined and played well, the score then standing :- Celtic 2 Goals; Albion Rovers, 1 goal. An attack by Rovers on the Celtic goal commenced the second half. The Celtic then took up the pressing, and continued to have the upper hand for some time. They did not succeed in scoring, however, till nearly the end of the game, though they made one or two good attempts. The Rovers also continued to play well, and tried hard to equalise; but though they got within easy shooting distance the Celtic were able to clear themselves. The game continued exciting and interesting to the finish, and, the result was:- Celtic 4 goals; Albion Rovers 1 goal.
Coatbridge Express Wednesday 17 October 1888
(Thanks to @BrianNugentRS for this, and as he points out:
Rovers team line differences, some positional differences, Baillie listed on the website, McEwan in the below…)
