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Celtic Games 1890 – Rangers
Trivia
- Celtic go through to the second round of the Scottish Cup.
- The gates were closed before kick-off and an estimated 6,000 fans were locked-out.
- 16,000 were present
- This game was regarded by some commentators as possibly "the first titanic struggle between the clubs".
Review
Dundee Evening Telegraph 5th September 1890.
Teams
Celtic:-
Bell, Reynolds, McKeown, P Gallagher, McCallum, W Maley, Madden, Dunbar, Groves, Dowds, Crossan.
Goal:- Groves 43.
Rangers:-
Reid, Gow, Muir, Andy McCreadie, Marshall, Mitchell, Wylie, Kerr, Hugh McCreadie, John McPherson, Hislop.
Att:- 16,000.
Ref:- Mr A McA Kennedy (Dumbarton).
Umpires:- Mr Tom Maley for Celtic, and Mr JM Grant for Rangers.
Articles
Birmingham Daily Post 8th September 1890
Dundee Advertiser 8th September 1890
Dundee Courier 8th September 1890
Glasgow Herald 8th September 1890
About 16,000 persons witnessed this tie at Celtic Park, Parkhead. The Rangers had their full team, but the Celts were without Kelly and McLaren. The Celtic won the toss, and played with the sun at their backs. H McCreadie set the ball in motion for the Rangers. The Rangers soon transferred the ball to the other end, where a shot from Kerr just grazed the post amid great excitement. The Celtic then gradually bore down on their opponents, and from some smart play among the forwards Madden sent a shot into Reid, who caught the ball and threw it out, and then Groves shot over the bar. The Rangers now opened out, and by some good, wide passing they got right in front of the Celts’ goal through a mistake by McKeown. Hislop had an open goal, but shot past the side of the post. It did not matter much, however, as had the ball gone through, he would likely have been judged offside. Ten minutes from the start, Groves tipped the ball to Madden, who in turn sent it to Crossan, who headed it through amidst indescribable enthusiasm. To the chagrin of the Celtic supporters, the goal, which was well worked for, was disallowed on the ground of offside. The Rangers were eager, and so far, if anything, the Celts had the best of it. Some smart work on the part of Hislop and McPherson resulted in the old Cowlairs men placing the ball cleverly into the goal mouth. McKeown was there, however, and saved in the nick of time. From a throw-in by the Rangers near the Celtic goal Madden got away, but was pulled up by Mitchell, the Rangers captain. The right wings of both teams, Wyllie and Kerr on one hand, and Madden and Dunbar on the other, were putting in some grand work, which their confreres failed to take advantage of. A mistake by Muir allowed the Celtic to become dangerous, but Donald Gow dashed in on two occasions and saved brilliantly. Madden was the most conspicuous forward on the Celtic side, his centring of the ball being beautiful. The Celtic gained the first corner of the match after 20 minutes’ play from some very clever forward play. Nothing came of the advantage gained, and the Rangers made their way down the field, where, from a regrettable incident in which McPherson was hurt, they gained a free kick, which was fruitless. The sun in the face of the Rangers greatly troubled the Ibrox men, but all the same they were playing in very good form, and McPherson had a shot which just went over the crossbar. As the result of some clever play by Dowds the Celtic forwards took the ball down right in front of goal, and, from a free kick, Groves sent it through amidst a wild scene of enthusiasm. The goal was disallowed, however, probably before being kicked. The Celts were now clearly having the best of it, and Gave Rangers a warm time of it. From a corner Madden placed the ball, and Gallagher just grazed the bar with a shot. The Celts returned to the attack, and, from a pass by Madden, Groves scored the first goal for the Celts with a rather soft shot, Reid falling in attempting to save just after 40 minutes’ play. When the whistle blew calling half-time the scores stood – Celtic, 1 goal; Rangers, nil.
On resuming, Crossan and Dowds had a clever run, and the ball finding its way to madden that player forced a corner, which came to nothing. Then Dowds had a beautiful screw-kick from the corner, the ball just grazing the bar. The Rangers in turn bore down on their opponents, but the ball went behind. After a fruitless run by the Celtic, the Rangers again returned to the attack, and their forwards were coming away in nice style when their progress was stopped by McKeown, and then Crossan had hard lines in not increasing the Celtic score, the ball just passing the right post.
The Celtic forwards were playing well and accurately, and upon the whole were having the best of it. There was some close and exciting play in front of Reid, but he saved very cleverly indeed. After some hot work in front of Reid, the Rangers, through the instrumentality of Hislop and McPherson, got well down the field, when McPherson sent in a quick low shot, which Bell blocked in front of goal, and conceded a corner, which came to nothing. By some exceedingly clever passing McPherson was enabled to send in another quick shot, which McKeown this time saved, and then the Rangers had a corner flag kick. The ball, however, was got away, only to be returned by Donald Gow, and for a time the Celtic goal had two or three narrow escapes.
A miss kick by Reynolds enabled Hislop to send in a scorching shot, which was brilliantly saved by Bell. Reynolds made up for his mistake by subsequently putting in some capital saving. All this time the Celtic forwards were playing with great go and determination, but the half backs were somewhat weak, and had it not been for Reynolds and McKeown there would have been little to prevent the Rangers’ forwards from scoring. What between a corner and other incidents the Rangers’ backs were having a hard time of it, but they came out of the ordeal with flying colours.
There was a feeling that if the Rangers’ forwards did get down they would score, and, coming away in dashing style, Hislop sent the ball through, but the goal was disallowed for offside. The result of a good, fast, and hard game ended as follows – Celtic, 1 goal; Rangers, 0 goals.
Preston Herald 10th September 1890
The Scotsman 8th September 1890
The Scotsman – Monday, 8th September 1890, page 4
Celtic v Rangers – Extraordinary interest was manifested in the result of this contest, certainly the most important which the first round of the ballot had brought forth. Celtic Park, Glasgow, was the scene of the struggle, and favoured as the match was with magnificent weather, a tremendous crowd – not less that 16,000 – witnessed the proceedings. The home side had perforce to take the field without their captain, James Kelly, who is under suspension by the Scottish Association, while McLaren was also unable to assist his team. The absence of these famous players was viewed with apprehension by the numerous followers of the Celtic, while by way of contrast the Rangers, who played their full League team, were confident of success.
Fully alive, however, to the necessity of an exceptionally brilliant effort, the Celts fairly ran their opponents off their feet, and were rewarded with a well-deserved victory by one goal to nothing. As early as ten minutes to four the teams were on the field, both being well received by their respective admirers, although it was quite evident that the home team had much the larger following.
Punctually at four o’clock McCreadie started the game, his side having to face a very strong sun. Kerr was immediately prominent with a good run, and his parting shot gave Bell some anxiety. The Celts, led by Madden, gallantly responded to the shouts of their admirers, the right winger and Groves both missing chances. Still the home team pressed severely, and Groves with admirable judgement passed the ball to Crossan, who sent it out of Reid’s reach amid deafening cheers. Crossan, however, was palpably off-side, and the appeal to the Rangers’ umpire was promptly sustained.
This narrow escape prompted the visitors to united action, and McPherson made off with the ball in beautiful fashion, only to see his efforts thrown to the wind by the incapacity of his companion, Hislop, to take advantage of the opportunity. For the first twenty-five minutes the game appeared to be anybody’s, but the wonderful combination of the Celts’ forwards gradually asserted itself, the Rangers resorting to some very questionable tactics in keeping their opponents at bay. The Celtic were rewarded with a foul close to the goal-mouth, when Groves adroitly tipped the ball to Dowds who with a fast low shot sent it through. This second point was also disallowed, to the very apparent chagrin of the Celts and their supporters.
Nothing discouraged, they persistently bombarded the Ranger’s goal, and their efforts were at last rewarded with a brilliant goal from the foot of Groves, amid scenes of extraordinary enthusiasm. This was just before half-time.
Groves started the second period, and the Celtic who were playing a running game, immediately asserted themselves, a shot by Dowds just missing its mark by inches. The Rangers then broke away, and but for the bungling of McCreadie must surely have secured a point. Their advantage was but temporary, for the Celtic soon [word illegible] themselves at Reid’s end, where a shot of Crossan hit the right-hand post and, fortunately for the Rangers, passed outside. It was a desperately near thing, and the incident caused no little excitement.
Time was now drawing near, and, with almost inevitable defeat staring them in the face, the Rangers pulled themselves together and showed something akin to their true form for the first time during the whole contest. As a result Bell had a very bad ten minutes of it, but he exhibited goal-keeping of an exceptionally high order, shot after shot being successfully negotiated. Once certainly luck was with him, for he only partially stopped the ball, which hit the post and went outside. This was the last chance which presented itself to the Ibrox men, for the Celts wisely contented themselves with holding their own, and when the whistle blew they had passed into the second round. The customary exciting scene was enacted at the finish, the winners coming in for a tremendous ovation as the retired from the field.
- Match Report (See Below)
- Official Site
Pictures
- Match Pictures
The Celtic had to take the field without their captain, James Kelly, who was suspended by the Association. They were also missing McLaren who was injured. The Rangers were fully represented. McCreadie kicked off punctually at four o’clock.
Willie Groves put on the only goal of the game just before half time and the Celtic won the tie by 1 goal to 0.