1889-09-07: Celtic 0-0 Queen’s Park, Scottish Cup [Void]

Trivia

• Scottish Cup, 1st round tie played at Celtic Park.
• Before 16,000/20,000 spectators.
• The match was abandoned owing to crowd encroachment, and replayed next week.
• Match voided

Review

The Queen’s Park and the Celtic met at Celtic Park, Parkhead, on Saturday afternoon to play off their tie in the first round of the Scottish Cup competition. It was exceedingly unfortunate that two such famous exponents of the game should have been drawn against each other in the very first round of the national competition, because the result of the contest will undoubtedly rob the remaining ties of the importance which would otherwise have attached to them. However, the fates of the ballot were against the clubs, and there was nothing for it but to accept the inevitable.
Despite the counter attractions in the city, the crowd at Celtic park was of enormous dimensions. There were no fewer than ten entrances to the ground, but fully an hour previous to the match they were found to be totally inadequate. Every entrance was besieged by clamouring crowds, and many thousands had to be turned away.

Teams

Celtic:-
McLaughlin, Reynolds, McKeown, Gallagher, Kelly, McLaren, Madden, Dowds, Groves, Coleman, Dunbar.

Queen’s Park:-
Gillespie, Arnott, Smellie, Stewart, McAra, Robertson, Hector, Berry, J Hamilton, Allan, Sellar.

Att:- 16,000.

Ref:- Mr George Sneddon (President of East of Scotland Association)

Umpire:- Mr Tom Maley for Celtic,

Articles

• Match Report (See Below)
• Official Site

Pictures

• Match Pictures

Newspaper reports

Report 2

Celtic v Queen’s Park – This, the most important match in the first round of the Scottish Cup, was played at Parkhead, on the ground of the Celtic club. Unfortunately, for reasons explained below, the contest was not brought to a definite conclusion, and, in consequence, will have to be replayed. The weather in Glasgow was of the most magnificent description and as early as to o’clock, when the doors were opened, a large crowd put in an appearance. At three the ground was filled almost to capacity, and at the hour some 16,000 must have been present, while thousands were quite unable to gain admission.
The field was in grand order, and in every way well adapted for a match of such paramount importance. Reynolds for Dowling, and McAra for Harvey, was the only changes on the published teams. The Celtic, led by Kelly, were the first to make an appearance, and a hearty reception awaited them. Sellars showed the way for the visitors, and they also were well, though not so enthusiastically, received. Mr Sneddon acted as referee.
The Celtic, having lost the toss, kicked off at 4.4 and the game was soon in motion. The Queen’s were the first to make headway, but McKeown saved grandly on more than one occasion. The Celts, led by Groves retaliated, but the ball was sent past. Sellar all but lowered the home colours with a good screw shot, but McLaughlin turned the ball aside in grand style. Groves made off with one of his well-known runs until Smellie stopped short his career. Twenty-five minutes from the start Dunbar had the ball through, but Mr Sneddon declared it off-side, much to the disgust of the Celtic supporters. Some time was lost in keeping the ground clear, the crowd being so great that it was next to impossible to keep them off the field. Hamilton made a gallant attempt to capture the home citadel, but Kelly was playing such a great game as to be practically impassable. The Celtic now began to assert themselves in no uncertain manner, and the defensive tactics of the blazers was tested to the very utmost. At half-time neither side had scored.
It was fully ten minutes before the game could be restarted, the ground being again encroached upon by the spectators to quite an alarming extent. A corner soon fell to the Queen’s but it was cleared. Hamilton had a good run in the centre, and McLaughlin had to clear a good shot from his foot. The Celts left wing replied with a telling run, Arnott having to save, but the ball eventually was sent behind again. J. Hamilton was to the fore with a good run and kick, but McLaughlin, as on the previous occasion, proved equal to the task. At this point the spectators made their presence felt again, and the game had perforce to be stopped. A restart was ultimately made, and Sellars was soon conspicuous with one of his characteristic runs on the left. The breaks in on the part of the crowd now began to get serious, and the referee was compelled to declare it no Cup tie – with the consent, of course of the opposing captains. This decision had no apparent effect on the teams, who returned to the charge with renewed vigour. After a miskick by McKeown, Sellar missed a rare chance by shooting over the bar. All interest in the game, however, appeared to have vanished, and the people streamed out of the ground in thousands. No scoring whatsoever took place, and the game resulted in a draw.

Report 2

Association football is the rage, some say the evil, of the day. Without entering into the pro’s and cons of the question, no one, we think, will have the hardihood to deny that at all events it has become the sport of the people. Saturday was the day on which the ties in the first round of the Scottish Cup competition were down for settlement, and a modest estimate shows that some 40,000 persons attended the various games in Glasgow alone.
The fates of the ballot necessitated the Queen’s Park and Celtic meeting each other thus early in the season. The tie took place on the ground of the Celtic at Parkhead, and will long be remembered as one of the most notable events in the history of the game in Scotland.
Incredible as it may appear, hundreds of persons were seen wending their way along the Gallowgate en route for Celtic Park as early as noon. The match was advertised to begin at four o’clock, but fully an hour before that time the grandstand, for which an extra charge was made, was packed with spectators, and all around the enclosure there was not an inch of spare room. It is calculated that the field is capable of holding 20,000 persons, a good many of whom obtained admission free, while a large number could not be admitted at all.
Regarding the game, little need be said. Both teams were in good form, but every fifteen minutes the crowds broke into the field, and play had to be stopped. It was more of a scramble than good football. The Celts scored not long after the start, but the goal was disallowed for offside, and there being no further scoring the game ended in a draw.
There can be no doubt that the teams are very equally matched. The full-back play of the Queen’s and the goalkeeping of Gillespie make them without doubt the most formidable team in Scotland to beat.
We would suggest that the tie be replayed on neutral ground either on Cathkin or Ibrox parks, with a preference for the former as being of more central.
Some over-zealous person conveyed the information to the reporters at Celtic Park on Saturday that Mr Sneddon, the referee, had declared the match no cup tie. Mr Sneddon, on his own authority, did nothing of the sort. It is not within the power of the referee to declare a match no cup tie, and to order a friendly game to proceed. A referee’s power in this direction is clearly explained in the following clause from rule 12, “Laws of the Game:” – “The referee shall have power to stop the game whenever, by reason of darkness, interference of spectators, or other cause, he shall think fit, and shall report the same to the Association under whose jurisdiction the match was played, who shall have full power to deal with the matter.”
That a referee has no power whatever to declare a cup tie no cup tie is further proved by Rule 17 (a recent addition) of cup competition rules, which says:- “When it can be proven that the spectators at a cup tie match conduct themselves in such a manner as to interfere with the players, the Association shall, on the application of either club, have power to order the match to be replayed on another ground, neutral if possible.”
In support of the argument that a referee has no power to declare as has been pointed out, the memorable final tie in the snow last year may be mentioned. In spite of the agreement entered into between the captains of the contending clubs to play only a friendly game, the Association declared the match a bona fide cup tie, but ordered it to be replayed on certain points of protest.

Report 3

The Queen’s Park and the Celtic met at Celtic Park, Parkhead, on Saturday afternoon to play off their tie in the first round of the Scottish Cup competition. It was exceedingly unfortunate that two such famous exponents of the game should have been drawn against each other in the very first round of the national competition, because the result of the contest will undoubtedly rob the remaining ties of the importance which would otherwise have attached to them. However, the fates of the ballot were against the clubs, and there was nothing for it but to accept the inevitable.
Despite the counter attractions in the city, the crowd at Celtic park was of enormous dimensions. There were no fewer than ten entrances to the ground, but fully an hour previous to the match they were found to be totally inadequate. Every entrance was besieged by clamouring crowds, and many thousands had to be turned away.
Before play commenced the crowd was estimated at 25,000, being a record gate.
The Queen’s won the toss, and Groves set the ball in motion for the Celts. At the very outset the Celts showed grand tactics. The Queen’s however, were all there, and played up exceedingly well. A mispass by Kelly gave Sellar the ball, and that player passed it to Berry, who shot wide of the mark.
A foul was given against the Queen’s in the Celts’ territory, but it came to nothing, the ball ultimately going behind. The Queen’s returned to the attack in most determined fashion, and twice they were repulsed, first by Reynolds and then by McKeown. The excitement ran high, and every bit of good play was cheered to the echo.
The first bit of good passing was shown by the Celtic forwards, in which Groves and the left wing, Dunbar and Coleman, figured prominently. Arnott, however, came to the rescue, and, tackling his man, the ball went past.
Shortly afterwards the Queen’s had a good run down the field, but J Hamilton took a long shot and the ball went wide of the mark. The sun was in the face of the Queen’s, and this considerably handicapped them. The Queen’s forwards, however, formed a perfect siege round their opponents’ goal, and shots were sent in by Stewart, Berry, and McAra, but McKeown got the ball away just when it seemed that a point would be scored. The Queen’s, true to their traditions, kept pegging away, and Sellar sent in a beauty, which struck the crossbar and rebounded into play. Hard lines for the Queen’s.
Groves then got away at full speed, and Arnott being outpaced, Smellie came to the rescue, and robbed the Celts’ centre of the ball. The Queen’s were playing a grand defensive game, Smellie, in particular, being in fine form, and several times stopping the rushes of Madden and Dowds.
Arnott took the kick from a foul near the Celts’ goal, and the ball was so well placed that it looked as if the Queen’s must score. McLaughlin, however, got the ball away, and then the Celts were at the other end and tried to score, but without avail. After the Celts’ goal had a narrow escape, Madden got the ball and passed to Dunbar, who sent it through amidst a wild sense of excitement. A dispute arose, and on an appeal to the referee the goal was disallowed on the ground of offside, and greatly to the disappointment of the Celts’ partisans. The game was stopped for a minute, and the decision discussed , but ultimately the play was resumed.
The reporters’ view was now blocked by the crowds in front, and it was impossible to see the play. The ground was unable to hold the crowds, and they broke into the field, necessitating a stoppage of the game. The teams and officials consulted together on the field. At length, the spectators were kept back a bit, and the game was resumed. For a considerable time the play was of a give and take nature, being, if anything, in favour of the Celtic. The backs of the home team were playing very effectively, and Madden, in the front division, was playing a great game.
The Queen’s tried hard to get away, but the half-back line of the Celts, especially Gallagher, were in fine fettle, and repulsed all the efforts of the premier club. The Celtic forwards were playing grandly, but Arnott and Smellie defended well, and, except on odd occasions, they were seldom allowed to become dangerous. At length Sellar compelled Reynolds to concede a corner, but the ball was sent past.
In turn the Celtic were breaking in all over the field, and it was indeed, questionable whether a cup tie was being played.
Half time was called, neither side having scored.
In the second half play had to be stopped shortly after the start owing to the crowds again breaking into the field. After a time, however, operations were resumed. The Queen’s secured a corner, but the ball was kicked behind. The Queen’s however, returned to the attack, and Hamilton sent in a stinging shot, which was just saved in time.
The game became very much of a scramble. With the wind in their favour, the Celtic were seen to more advantage, and twice in succession the ball was sent over the Queen’s lines. Following the kick off, Madden broke away on the right, but when seemingly dangerous his further progress was intercepted by Smellie. Sellar was next conspicuous, but had to embrace mother earth, the result of contact with McKeown. In conjunction with Hamilton, Sellar again brought the ball within shooting distance, but Gallagher proved equal to the occasion.
Still the Queen’s Park hovered in dangerous proximity to McLaughlin, and again McKeown came to the rescue. An endeavour by the Celts to change the venue of operations was unsuccessful, for the left wing of the Queen’s were again instrumental in returning to the attack, and Sellar shot behind.
At this stage the spectators interfered with the progress of the game, and it seemed highly probable that an abandonment of the tie was both judicious and necessary. However, another start was made, and the Celtic got to the other end , where Gillespie caught the ball and saved easily. The game was again stopped, and the referee decided that no cup tie was being played. It was the only course open in the circumstances.
There was no scoring on either side.