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Celtic Games 1889 – Dumbarton
Trivia
- Friendly match played at Celtic Park.
- Before fully 4,000 spectators.
Review
The Scotsman – Monday, 2nd September 1889, page 4
Celtic v Dumbarton – On the Celtic ground in the presence of 5000 spectators. Bell kicked off for Dumbarton. The visitors early gave indications of good play, and in five minutes scored the first goal. The game was waged with equal vigour, the play being very fast, but scarcely up to the standard of the contestants. Towards the end of the first half a free kick for a back charge resulted in the downfall of the Dumbarton goal, the goal ball being sent through by Gallacher. On crossing over the two teams were level, and when Groves kicked off, the players were as keen on the ball as at the commencement. Groves and Cunningham brought the ball well down but the parting shot went wide. A hard fought, but far from brilliant game, ended in a draw of one goal each.
Teams
Celtic:-
McLaughlin, W McCallum, Dowling, Gallagher, Kelly, McLaren, Madden, Dowds, Groves, Coleman, Cunningham.
Goal:- Gallagher 30.
Dumbarton:-
McLeod, Stewart, Hannah, McMillan, Boyle, Keir, Weir Lindsay, Bell, Miller, Mair.
Goal:- Miller 5.
Att:- 4,000.
Ref:- Mr Robertson (Ayr).
Umpires:- Mr McKillop for Celtic, Mr McKinnon for Dumbarton.
Articles
- Match Report
- Official Site
Pictures
- Match Pictures
From newspaper report from the time.
Report 1
The game between Celtic and Dumbarton ended in a draw, each side scoring a goal. The play throughout was fast and exciting, and the result denotes the merits of the teams on Saturday’s form. The Celtic forwards are as good as ever, but McKeown was greatly missed at the back, although his substitute McCallum played fairly well.
Dumbarton’s defence was superior to that of their opponents, and at close quarters the county men could scarcely be passed. McLeod was remarkably clever in goal, and better back play than that shown by Stewart has seldom been witnessed in the East End. Should Dumbarton play with as much dash as they did on Saturday, their tie with their neighbours Vale of Leven will be a memorable one.
Report 2
The Celts played the first match this season on their own ground at Parkhead, their opponents being the famous Dumbarton. Celtic Park has undergone considerable alterations since last year. The pitch has been lengthened, and this together with other improvements, make the field one of the best in the city.
In view of the first of the Scottish ties next Saturday, when the Celtic oppose the redoubtable Queen’s Park, Saturday’s match was looked forward to with great interest in the East End. The weather was delightfully fine, and as early as three o’clock – the match was advertised to begin at four o’clock – crowds arrived from the city, and when play commenced there must have been fully 4,000 spectators present. The Celtic had their usual eleven with the exception of McKeown, who was in Ireland.
Dumbarton kicked off a quarter of an hour late, and after being repulsed by Kelly, their right wing got right down the field, but the parting shot was a few feet wide of the mark.
The Celtic forwards made strenuous endeavours to get away, but the Dumbarton backs thus early showed good form, and the Irishmen were never allowed to become dangerous. On the other hand, McLaughlin was called upon to save a shot, which he did smartly.
Dumbarton, however, kept at it pluckily, and after about five minutes’ play Miller scored with a splendid shot. This aroused the Celts to a sense of the situation, and a pretty piece of play by the front division resulted in Dumbarton conceding a corner, which, however, came to nothing, the ball going behind. Dumbarton fairly astonished the crowd by their fine defence, while their forwards put a great amount of dash into their play.
The Celts’ attack was now beginning to tell on their opponents, and as the game advanced the excitement increased. The home side secured a foul right in front of their opponents’ goal, but the ball was sent past.
A beautiful bit of passing by the Dumbarton’s forwards transferred the ball to the other end, where McLaughlin had twice to kick out. Dumbarton’s defence was decidedly superior to that of their opponents.
The Celts put forth every endeavour to score, and had very hard lines. The ball was sent into goal twice in succession, but McLeod was all there, and fisted out smartly, and ultimately it was headed over the bar. Shortly afterwards Groves, who had the goal at his mercy, sent in a strong shot, but McLeod saved capitally.
Dumbarton once more assumed the aggressive, and a corner flag-kick was the result. But the Celts managed to clear their lines. Dumbarton’s splendid defence stood them in good stead, for the Celts’ forwards, of which Coleman was the best, were often at their opponents’ goal.
At length, after half an hour’s play, a foul was given against Dumbarton for a charge in close proximity to their goal, and Gallagher kicked the ball through, thus equalising the score. There was some dispute as to the point, but it was allowed.
Both sides tried hard towards the close of the first half to increase their score. Dumbarton never relaxed their efforts, and came very near being successful, while the smart forward play of the Celts was greatly admired and repeatedly cheered. Leitch Keir played stubbornly at half-back, and watched Madden closely.
For the Celts, Kelly was in good kicking form as ever, but occasionally lacked judgment. McLaren looked somewhat fagged, but was all there when wanted. Groves occasionally proved too fast for opposing backs, but when he looked dangerous the ball was invariably placed in safe quarters.
At half-time the score was equal, each side having a goal.
On resuming, the Celts came away with great dash, and twice were within easy an ace of scoring. It was only occasionally that good combined play was shown, the men being far too excited. Groves got on the ball about twenty yards from goal, and was making straight for the opening when he was met by two or three Dumbarton men, and the ball was sent into touch.
Play became exceedingly fast, both sides being very anxious to score. The Dumbarton right wing took the ball right down the field and crossed to the left. Miller got the ball at his foot and sent in a stinging shot which struck the crossbar and rebounded into play. It was certainly very hard luck for Dumbarton, who were playing a really dashing game.
The Celts also experienced hard lines, and it was by the merest accident they did not score. McLeod saved brilliantly on more than one occasion. The Celts kept up a perfect siege close at their opponents’ charge, and just as it seemed as if they must score, Dowds kicked the ball over the bar.
Upon the whole the play was very equal, and there were not two goals of difference between the teams. The game became very rough, and, despite repeated efforts, the Celts were unable to add to their score, McLeod keeping goal splendidly. McLaren was playing a great game for the Celts, while forward Weir was the most prominent for the Sons of the Rock.
The feature of Dumbarton’s play, however, lay in their defence, Stewart in particular showing grand form. At close quarters they were impregnable. Towards the close the Celtic goal narrowly escaped downfall, McLaughlin just fisting out in the nick of time, and before the opposing forward could get on him.
A good but unnecessarily rough game ended in a draw – 1 goal each.