1888-11-17: Celtic 0-2 Queen’s Park, Glasgow Cup

Matches: 1887 1888 1889 | 1887-1900 | Forum

Celtic Games 1888 – Queen's Park

Trivia

A Glasgow Cup Semi-Final Tie.
Played at Celtic Park, Parkhead.
Before 7,000 spectators.

Review

Teams

Celtic:-
Dunning, Gallagher, McKeown, W Maley, Kelly, McLaren, McCallum, Dunbar, Groves, T Maley, Coleman.

Queens Park:-
Gillespie, J Neil, Smellie, McAra, Stewart, Robertson, Fraser, Berry, J Hamilton, DS Allan, Eccles.

Goals:- Berry 1, Robertson 51.

Att:- 7,000.

Articles

Match Report (See Below)

Pictures

Match Pictures

From a newspaper report from the time.

Report 1

The Scotsman – Monday, 19th November 1888, page 9

Celtic v Queen’s Park – This match played on the Celtic's ground at Parkhead was generally regarded as the most important yet played in connection with the. Glasgow. Cup. Upon its decision largely depended the location of the cup itself. Consequently in spite of the very inclement weather, a crowd of 5000 or 6000 surrounded the ropes. The Celtic were represented by their usual eleven, while the Spiders were without Sellar and A. Hamilton.
The Queen's lost the choice of ends and kicked off towards the south. In a minute a regular daisy-cutter from the toe of Berry just got through low down at the corner. Notwithstanding a perfect downpour, a greasy ball, and a soft pitch the play now waged furiously from end to end. The Celts put in some excellent work, but they were met by a dogged half-back line, and Smellie at back was in his best style.
The Queen’s Park forwards seemed to gain in confidence from the excellence of their defence, and troubled the Celtic rearguard frequently, and occasionally very dangerously. The dirty weather and heavy ground seemed to suit the Queen’s, and they rattled away in determined style. The Celts’ precision of passing and excellence of manipulation seemed to be greatly handicapped by the adverse conditions, but they could fairly claim to have had the best of the play, though not the most dangerous tries at goal in the first half. When the teams crossed over, the Queen’s led by a goal to nil. The hard play of the first half did not appear to have had any appreciable effect on the players, who again went at it vigorously.
The Celts were the first over, and for the first few minutes had the best of it. Then the Spiders took up the running, and from a third corner in succession Robertson headed a second goal for the visitors amidst great cheering. The reverse did not seem to improve the Celts’ play. It lost its effectiveness, and became erratic and wild, while the Spiders were now playing better than ever, and tried severely the good home defence.
A portion of the crowd who had got inside the enclosure dragged one of the officials into the crowd, where he was badly handled, and all round threats were showered on the referee. The conduct of the game was above civil, and had nothing whatever to do with the result. Fortunately the prevailing excitement did not reach the players, who, although playing hard and vigorously, did not descend to foul play. For the greater part of the last half the Spiders completely outplayed their opponents, who, although coming very near to scoring, had in the end to retire with a most unexpected defeat of two goals to love against them.

Report 2

The weather on Saturday was of the worst possible description for football. Rain fell heavily all afternoon, converting the fields, which had previously been bad enough, into quagmires.
The East End of the city was the scene of two of the most important games which have taken place this season.
At Parkhead the Celtic met the Queen's Park, and at Barrowfield the Clyde had the Partick Thistle, both matches being semi-finals for the Glasgow Cup. Probably most interest was taken in the meeting of the Celtic and Queen's Park. It was the first occasion on which they had face each other, and despite the elements fully 7,000 spectators were present.
It was generally believed that the Celts would pull off the event, especially as the premier club were placed at a disadvantage in not being able to play A. Hamilton, their clever right wing forward, while Sellar also was unable to appear, his place being taken by Eccles, late of Dykebar. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, the Queen's rose to the occasion, and fairly surprised their supporters and opponents alike.
Before the game had been a minute in progress, Berry led off the scoring for the Queen's Park, and this seemed to give confidence to all members of the team.
The Celtic played a hard and fast game, never slackening their efforts, but owing to the magnificent defence of Smellie, Roberston, and Stewart, and the really brilliant goalkeeping of Gillespie, they had to retire defeated by two goals to nothing.
Those who had witnessed the premier club's form recently had some difficulty in believing that they were the same team on Saturday. All round they played a dashing game, and fairly won on their merits.
It was the first defeat of the Celtic on their own ground this season, and bearing in mind that their position for the cup was looked upon as almost impregnable, the victory of the Queen's is all the more popular.
For the Irishmen, Dunning in goal played excellently, and although the Queen's were seldom away from his charge during the last fifteen minutes of the match, he proved equal to the occasion, and saved many dangerous shots. McKeown was in grand form at back, his tackling powers, being greatly admired. Groves was probably the best of the forward division.
The Celtic are undoubtedly one of the toughest teams in Scotland, and if an improvement could be made on their forward play, they will prove difficult to beat.

The Dundee Courier & Argus (Dundee, Scotland), Tuesday, November 20, 1888