| Matches: 1889 | 1890 | 1887-1900 | Forum |
Celtic Games 1890 – Third Lanark
Trivia
- Glasgow Charity Cup tie played at Hampden Park.
- Before 12,000 spectators.
- Celtic had to play without James Kelly who was out with an injury, W Maley took his place.
Review
The weather was again favourable for the game on Saturday, but the card of fixtures was a small one, as the season is now rapidly drawing to a close. In the Glasgow Charity Cup tie the Celtic club was unexpectedly defeated by the Third Lanark.
The result being Third Lanark, 2 goals, Celtic, 0.
Teams
Celtic:-
McLaughlin, Reynolds, McKeown, P Gallagher, W Maley, McLaren, Madden, H Gallagher, Groves, Dunbar, Coleman.
Third Lanark:-
Downie, A Thomson, Rae, McFarlane, Love, Lochhead, Marshall, W Thomson, Lapsley, Burke, Johnstone.
Goals:- Burke 85, Lapsley 86.
Articles
- Match Report (See Below)
- Official Site
Pictures
- Match Pictures
From newspaper reports from the time.
Report 1
The Scotsman – Monday, 21st April 1890, page 5
Celtic v 3rd Lanark – The Glasgow Charity tie between these clubs was decided at Hampden Park in presence of 12,000 spectators. The Celtic had to play without their captain, Kelly, who was on the accident list. -The vacancy at centre half was filled by W. Maley. Lapsley was entrusted with centre position, while Johnston was once more in his old position on the left. The Celts lost the toss, and Groves kicked off. Play opened with great dash the Celts being the first to show up. Coleman and Dunbar brought the ball within range, but it was sent harmlessly behind. The Third repaid the compliment, but McKeown relieved with a huge kick, and once more the Celtic took up the running. Madden evaded the halfs and looked like scoring, when Rae dashed in and relieved. The play was equally maintained and of the most stubborn description. The passing of the 3d Lanark forwards was wide yet accurate and in general their play was more effective than their opponents’. Neither side relaxed their exertions, but the powerful back play checkmated the forwards’ attack. Groves had a fine run in the centre, and his parting shot tipped the cross-bar. Marshall and Thomson had several pretty runs, but McKeown proved a formidable stumbling block. The excitement increased towards the close of this half, as the contestants strained every nerve to ensure a lead of their opponents. The play of the Third Lanark was surprisingly good, and against the wind they held more than their own. The Celtic attack was strong, but individuality at close quarters lost several good openings. The clubs were equal on crossing over, no goals having been scored. ln the second half Gallagher, who had been slightly injured, played full back, Reynolds taking his place. The Third, with the wind very early expected to score. Twice the Celts almost beat Downie, and then Thompson tried a long shot at the opposite end, which nearly came off. The Celtic’s defence was grand. McLaughlin, McKeown, and McLaren particularly excelling. Try as they liked their forwards could not score. Corner succeeded corner with no result. Groves relieved with a rush up field, but Thompson kicked into touch close on goal. Burke shot wide when the ball was put to him, and thus lost some good chances. Johnstone had a good opening, but passed to Marshall, who failed to receive it. The play once more was directed to the 3rd Lanark end where Rae was successful in spoiling the attack. Down came the Third’ s forwards, and first Lapsley and then Marshall had the goal at their mercy, but failed to take advantage. Excitement ran high, but the play fell off to a very perceptible extent. A hard game ended—3rd Lanark, two goals; Celtic, none.
Report 2
The semi-final tie for the Glasgow Charity Cup, played at Hampden Park, attracted about 12,000 spectators. The Third were out in full force, but the Celts were without Kelly, their famous centre half-back, who had not recovered from an injury received while playing against the Blackburn Rovers, and his place was taken by W Maley.
In the first half the Celts, with the wind in their favour, had most of the play, but the defence of the Volunteers’ half backs and backs and Downie in goal was exceptionally good, and prevented scoring.
In the second half the Third put on the pressure, but so good was the back play of the Irish team, especially McLaren and McKeown, that it was close on the call of time before the Cathkin Park men scored their first goal, followed immediately afterwards by a second, the game was thus terminating somewhat unexpectedly in favour of the Third by two goals to none.
The Celtic forwards did not combine so well as usual, while, on the other hand, the Third’s front division were in exceptionally good form, Marshall in particular showing that he is far from being “done” yet.
Next Saturday the final tie will be played between the Queen’s Park and the Third, when there is sure to be a monster attendance.
Report 3
Celtic and Third Lanark met on Hampden Park in the semi-final round of the Charity Cup. The greatest interest was manifested in the meeting of the clubs, as they were considered well matched. About four o’clock – the hour of kicking off – there would be about 9,000 people inside the enclosure.
Kelly, of the Celtic , was unable to [lay, and W Maley took his place. Groves kicked off for the Celtic, with the wind in their favour; but the Parkhead men for a time did not make much of the play, the Volunteers defending cleverly and to considerable purpose.
Madden, however made a very good run for the Celts, but he shot the ball over the touch line far from goal. In turn, Marshall had a try at the Celts’ goal, but he likewise shot wide of the mark. A foul against the Third near their goal looked dangerous, but the pass from McLaren was headed over the bar by Groves. The latter player just after this headed another ball right into Downie’s hands, a piece of clever work that almost cost the Volunteers a goal.
So far the play was equally divided – the Celtic at one time and the Volunteers at another crowding round the goals. There was thus early, however, no lack of energy on both sides, and before the game was ten minutes old several fouls were given for questionable tactics. As the game progressed the play improved, but still fouls and free kicks were given in profusion.
While McLaren seemed to be out of sorts, McKeown was kicking brilliantly, and Groves in centre was putting in a lot of splendid work for the Celts.
Rae and Thomson at back, and Love and McFarlane at half-back, were doing well for the Volunteers, who, even with the wind against them, were making a fair appearance against their opponents.
Downie saved some well aimed shots from the Celts’ forwards, among whom Groves was prominent. There seemed, however, to be a lack of the Celts’ usual combination, and their passing seldom came off, through being too long and wide.
On the other hand the Volunteers were passing on the ball in a closer and more taking way, the consequence being that, even with the wind against them, they were oftener at the Celts’ goal then the Celts were at theirs. At one time the Celts had two corner kicks in succession and a foul against the Third right before their goal, but from none of them could or did they obtain the least advantage.
That the Celts pressed hard for a time just before the whistle blew must be admitted, but someway or other they did not seem exactly to be themselves, and when half-time was reached neither side had scored a point.
In the second half Reynolds played half back, and P Gallagher, who had sprained his leg slightly, took his place at back. The Celts only got a corner kick, and H Gallagher almost managed a point for his side, the ball just grazing the crossbar in its progress. From a throw-in by Reynolds, Groves once more almost scored for the Celts, but Downie saved cleverly, just catching the ball as it landed fair in the mouth of his goal. Thomson, in turn, had a try at the Celts’ goal, but the ball passed the post by about a foot.
With the breeze against them the Celts were, like the Volunteers, playing better than with the wind in their favour. Still, there was a want of finish and go about the play that one expects from such combinations, and as a consequence the enthusiasm of the spectators was seldom aroused. As the Volunteers, however, continued to press the Celts and very narrowly escaped scoring, the spectators grew enthusiastic, and cheered the Cathkin men to the echo.
All the time, however, the Celts defended splendidly. With only an occasional break away, the Third now hemmed in their opponents, and McLaren and McKeown got ample scope for the exercise of their defensive powers. Kelly, in this half, was greatly missed, but still Maley and Reynolds did well at half back. McLaren put in a beauty to Downie, but the latter saved cleverly. This was followed by Groves shooting it over the Third’s cross bar, and by the Third again pressing the Celts.
Five minutes from the close, Burke, from a neat pass by Marshall, scored the first goal for the Volunteers, and Lapsley, a minute afterwards, added a second goal.
The Third thus won an indifferent game by 2 goals to 0.
