| 1888 – 1889 | 1887-1900 |
Benefit match for East End Poor Children’s Dinner
Trivia
- Charity match played at Celtic Park, Parkhead.
- Witnessed by a large number of spectators
- Benefit for East End Poor Children’s Dinner.
- First match v opposition from outside of Scotland.
Review
Teams
Celtic:-
John Kelly, A Gallagher, McKeown, Jas Kelly, McLaren, P Gallagher, McCallum, Dunbar, Groves, T Maley, Coleman.
Goals:- McCallum, Groves, Unknown, Groves, Dunbar, Unknown, Unknown.
Mitchell St George’s:-
Halley, Gray, Hawkins, Barton Snr, Barton Jnr, Bailey, Marshall, Harrison, Davey, Davis, Blacham.
Goal:- Marshall 4.
Att:-2,500. (one report below says 4000)
Articles
- Match Report (See Below)
- Official Site
Pictures
- Match Pictures
From a newspaper report from the time.
The Celtic kicked off against a stiff breeze and on a very sloppy surface. They at once carried the ball to the strangers territory, and Groves narrowly missed scoring.
The Englishmen made a raid on the home goal, and some fine passing resulted in the right wing scoring the first point of the game four minutes from the start.
McCallum was soon after this, instrumental in putting in a shot which fairly beat Halley, but as a foul had previously been given the point was disallowed.
However, the same player equalised almost immediately afterwards. the home team thus early were having the best of the game, Groves putting in some good runs in the centre. From one of theses the ball was kicked into touch to save what seemed an inevitable goal.
The St George’s had several splendid opportunities, and it was indeed “hard lines” that a second did not fall to their lot. On one occasion the ball hit the cross-bar, and from the scrimmage which ensued the home goalkeeper conceded a corner kick, which proved fruitless.
A combined run by the forwards of the ground team enabled Groves to place his team in the ascendancy. A third goal was scored by the home team shortly before half-time.
In the second half the Celts soon increased their score, Groves doing the needful.
the strangers tried their utmost to register another point, and had a number of shots. They excelled their play in the first portion of the game, but the able defence which the Celts showed combined with the wind nullified the best efforts of the strangers.
On the other hand, the Celts seemed to improve, and a pass from McCallum enabled Dunbar to score the fifth goal. Other two goals were scored before the finish, when the game stood – Celtic, 7 goals; St George’s, 1 goal.
Lancashire Evening Post 31st December 1888
Nottingham Evening Post 31st December 1888
Glasgow Herald 1st January 1889
Sheffield Independant 1st January 1889
Celtic were fortunate in securing the services of the St George’s team. The match was a charity one for the benefit of the East End Poor Children’s Dinner, and was witnessed by a large number of spectators.
Neither team was fully represented, the opposition being without Howard Vaughton, an old International player.
