| Matches: 1891 – 1892 | 1887-1900 | League Tables: 1891-92 |
Trivia
- First Time Goal Nets were used at Celtic Park.
- Celtic goalkeeerp Tom Duff was quipped as "Duffer" due to the number of goals conceded.
- Major Burke of the Buffalo Bills Wild West Show kicked off the match
Review
The Scotsman – Saturday, 2nd January 1892, page 10
Celtic v Dumbarton – These teams met at Parkhead, Glasgow, on New years day and played before 15,000 spectators. Buffalo Bill’s manager Major Burke kicked off. Dumbarton started and were first over. Celtic retaliated and Cherry of the Clyde who, who replaced Kelly, gave a chance. Hard forcing play in midfield followed. McLeod had twice to save on the post. McMahon was walking through the County defence. Dumbarton came away occasionally in brilliant form, but the ground defence was at its best. Still they were beaten sometimes. Taylor scored for the Dumbarton in twenty-five minutes, and Boyle put on a second a minute after. Before other five minutes Bell put on a third. Duff’s goalkeeping was very indifferent. Dumbarton were fairly [word indistinct] their opponents, who fell away considerably. With five minutes to go Thomson put on Dumbarton’s fourth. Dumbarton’s front play was brilliant, Bell’s considerably so. Another came from Thomson before the interval. Half-time:- Dumbarton, five goals; Celtic, nil. After a brief interval the teams resumed, and Dumbarton began best, but Celtic struggled through to the end. A hard game resulted:- Dumbarton, eight goals; Celtic, nil.
An erratic display from Duff is said to have been largely to blame for the Bhoys being thumped 8-0 in a friendly clash with Dumbarton at Parkhead. However, there were probably a lot of sore heads after the Hogmany drinking binge, as as this was a friendly many may not have taken the match as seriously as much beforehand as during it.
"On that day Celtic used goal nets at Parkhead for the first time and poor Tom, having presumably celebrated the New Year late if not to excess, had to retrieve the ball eleven times in a 0-8 defeat (three goals were struck off)." – Eugene MacBride
The Scottish Sport was crueller about him stating: "Duff for the day spelt his dame D-U-F-F-E-R. It will take a lot of his best saving to recover the reputation lost".
Celtic Team:- Duff, Reynolds, Doyle, Maley, Cherry, Dowds, McCallum, Brady, Madden, McMahon Campbell.
Dumbarton :- McLeod, Richmond, Watson, McMillan, Boyle, Lang, Thomson, Taylor, Miller, McNaught, Bell.
Scorers:-
