Matches: 1888 1889 1990 | 1887-1900
Celtic Games 1889 – Corinthians
Trivia
- This match was played before one of the largest crowds that ever witnessed a game in Scotland to this point.
- The proceeds, after payment of the visiting teams expenses, went for charity, such as the providing of a dinner to the poor children and old men and women.
- Upwards of 20,000 tickets were sold by the committee and friends of the Celts.
- It is understood that the sum realised by the match amounts to between £300 and £400.
- Debut for Pat Dowling.
Review
Continuing their annual tour, the Corinthians met the Celtic on Celtic Park, Parkhead, before one of the largest crowds that ever witness a game in Scotland.
The proceeds, after payment of the visiting team’s expenses, went for charity, such as the providing of a dinner to the poor children and old men and women.
Teams
Celtic:-
John Kelly, Dowling, McKeown, Gallacher, Jas Kelly, McLaren, McCallum, Dunbar, Groves, Maley T, Coleman.
Goals:- McCallum 5, Coleman 10, Dunbar, Maley, McCallum, Coleman.
Corinthians:-
Cooper, A.M. Walters, P.M. Walters, Stewart, Holden-White, Wreford-Brown, Barrant, Cotterhill, Currey, Dewhurst, Lambie.
Goals:- Dewhurst, P.M. Watters.
Articles
- Match Report (See Below)
Pictures
- Match Pictures
Articles
Glasgow Herald 4th January 1889
The Celtic won the toss, and the Corinthians kicked off. The home side at once began to press and a foul being given against the strangers the ball was taken dangerously near goal, but McLaren shot past the post.
After the Corinthians had a run in to their opponents territory, some fine passing and dodging were shown by the Celts, Ultimately Kelly, with a long shot, transferred the ball to the other end, where Cooper had plenty of time to defend his charge. the Corinthians returned to the attack, and kept up a perfect siege at the Celts’ goal. Shot after shot was sent in, but Kelly, the new goalkeeper, who hails from the Mearns club, saved miraculously.
The enthusiasm of the spectators was tremendous, and it knew no bounds when the home team, after about five minutes’ play scored the first goal of the match. Groves dribbled beautifully down the field, and after eluding the half-backs passed the ball to McCallum, who shot it through.
The ground was very soft, but notwithstanding the teams kept their feet fairly well. The Celts continued their aggressive tactics, and after some clever passing Coleman scored the second goal ten minutes from the start.
At length Mr Jackson’s men got away, and Lambie was making straight for goal when he was tackled by Gallagher, who conceded a corner. Lambie placed the ball finely, and in a twinkling Dewhurst headed it through, scoring the first point for the strangers.
The ball was scarcely in play when the Celts’ forwards rushed it up to the other goal. Cooper had to fist out, but Dunbar came up and breasted the ball through, making the third point for the Celts. After this Dewhurst had a brilliant run, and caused Kelly to save. The Corinthians were defending well all this time, but their forwards were hardly up to form. On the other hand, the Celtic front division combined magnificently, and out of a scrimmage Maley scored the fourth goal. The interest in the play never slackened, but with the exception of an occasional run by the Englishmen, when Kelly saved, the Celts had the best of it. For fully five minutes the home side crowded round Cooper, and, although they had two corners in succession, they could not get the ball through. The brothers Walters were sorely troubled, and in the circumstances showed great resource in defending. the Celts fairly excelled themselves, and played in really grand form. The Englishmen made most determined efforts to get away, but the half-backs and backs of the Celts withstood all attacks. After a long time the Corinthians’ right wing got away and outpaced McKeown. The ball passed to Lambie, who sent in a slanting shot, but no one came up in time, and a good opportunity was lost. On the ball being set in motion, Groves had one of the finest runs that could be witnessed. He was tackled by one of the Walters, but he succeeded in passing the ball to McCallum, who dribbled until within a few yards of goal and scored. Meantime, however, a foul had been given against the Celts and the point was disallowed.
The Corinthians had next a look-in, and although they had a corner, and sent in repeated shots, Kelly saved in brilliant style.
Half-time was called soon after, the score being – Celtic, 4 goals; Corinthians, 1.
On crossing over, the Corinthians had the benefit of the wind. Notwithstanding this, the Celts in the opening period kept the upper hand, Maley outrunning Walters, but sending the ball wide of the mark. Shortly afterwards the strangers secured their second point, which was disputed, but allowed.
Apparently chagrined at this, the Celts at once invaded English territory, where a corner kick resulted. McCallum placed the ball well, and though it was relieved at the time, it was almost instantly returned, when a fifth goal was gained.
A combined run by the home forwards enabled Coleman to notch a sixth point. The remainder of the game was determinedly contested, but the Celts held the upper hand till the close. The result – Celtic, 6 goals; Corinthians, 2 goals.
It has been asserted that the Celtic show their paces best on dry ground. Yesterday the field was in a perfect puddle, but notwithstanding the Irishmen showed great speed and stamina, and altogether fairly surpassed themselves.
It is understood that the sum realised by the match amounts to between £300 and £400.
Nottingham Evening Post 3rd January 1889
South Wales Daily News 4th January 1889
The Scotsman 4th January 1889
The Scotsman – Friday, 4th January 1889, page 3
Celtic v Corinthians – These teams met at Celtic Park, Parkhead, Glasgow. It was the first meeting between the teams, and the interest in the engagement was heightened by the excellent display made by the visitors at Hampden Park on New Year’s Day. There was consequently a very large crowd present, probably 10,000, when the teams faced each other. The Corinthians who were late in appearing, and whose team was somewhat different from that played on Tuesday – Allan Stewart and Lambie, of Queen’s Park, playing for them – they received a hearty welcome to the East End. The heavy mist which hung over the city on Wednesday had cleared away, and the weather, although not the ground, was all in favour of a good game. The footing was very bad, the mud being ankle-deep. The Corinthians, who kicked off against the wind laid a grand siege at the Celts’ goal shortly after the start, but had very hard lines, shot after shot being sent in and grandly saved. Immediately afterwards a splendid run down by the Celtic resulted in their scoring amidst great cheering. In other three minutes the Celts again scored. The scorers were in grand form, literally running through their opponents. The visitors, who could not manipulate the mud at all, got the ball headed past Kelly, after a little sieging. Then the Celts played up grandly, scored two more points, Cooper making a mess of one of them. The Corinthians began to get more of the play, and towards the finish of the first half had very hard lines in not scoring. On resuming, the Corinthians, although they ran the ball oftener into Celts’ territory, did not get rid of the fatal mistake of attempting to dribble. They consequently lost many opportunities, and they appeared to lose heart, also. The Celtic never relaxed efforts, and time after time troubled the defence considerably. Groves and Maley were in specially good form, the former especially. The game towards the close lost in interest. It was pure mud larking on the Corinthian side, but the Celts were evidently in their element. The Corinthians scored a second point from a free kick, which was hotly disputed, although no dispute was admissible. The home men replied with other two points, and when time was called they were winners of a spoilt game by six goals to two.