| Match Pictures | Matches: 1892 – 1893 | 1887-1900 | Crowd Complaint |
Trivia
- Celtic made a complaint following this game, see: Abercorn crowd complaint
- SFA:
- A letter was read from the Celtic complaining of the conduct of the spectators at Paisley during their match with the Abercorn.
- The conduct of the spectators, it stated was about the worst their team had ever experienced.
- The execrable oaths and blasphemies yelled by the crowd were simply indescribable.
- At the close of the game the spectators rushed on the field, and the Celtic players were assailed with all sorts of vile epithets by the crowd, and were otherwise severely assaulted.
- A letter was read from the Celtic complaining of the conduct of the spectators at Paisley during their match with the Abercorn.
- Celtic went on to win the league and Abercorn came second bottom and were not re-elected to the league for the next season, i.e. they were relegated.
- Further info see: The Death of a Professional Paisley Football Club | Cairters Corner – St Mirren database
Review
(from: The Death of a Professional Paisley Football Club | Cairters Corner – St Mirren database)
What is also noticeable according to media reports from the time, is the hostility their supporters showed towards opponents, and on at least two occasions during the 1891/92 season opposition players were attacked by the Abbies crowd, including what would appear to be a full on attack on all eleven Celtic players after a home victory at their Underwood Park ground. Over exuberance possibly, but eye witnesses claim that the attack included assaults with fists, feet and sticks! Curiously, the subsequent report by Celtic into the matter claimed the language used was ‘blasphemous’ which is maybe the first ever recorded incidence of sectarianism in Scottish football.
The early success enjoyed by the club would not last however, when fate would deal them a cruel hand and their own refusal to turn professional accelerated their decline into the football abyss. In 1893 both Abercorn and Clyde were voted out of the top league for failing to embrace professionalism, but they once again led a pioneering role within the game when along with clubs such as Hibernian, Motherwell, Morton and Partick Thistle became founder members of the Second Division, meaning they are the only club to have started both original divisions in the Scottish game.
Teams
Celtic Team:- Cullen, Reynolds, Doyle, Clifford, Kelly, T. Dunbar, Davidson, Blessington, Madden, McMahon, Campbell
Scorers:- McMahon, Davidson
Abercorn:- McCann, A, and D, Cuthbertson, Kirkwood, Bowie, Reid, McLardie, Murray, Millar, Smith, Bonnar
Scorers:- McLardie, (2); Bonnar, Millar.
Referee:- Mr. M McQuarrie, Partick Thistle.
Linesmen – For Abercorn:- Mr Anderson; for Celtic:- Mr P Gallacher.
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
- Match Pictures
Articles
The Scotsman – Monday, 13th February 1893, page 4
Abercorn v Celtic – Played at Underwood Park, Paisley, before an enormous turnout of spectators. The home club kicked off against a strong wind, and for fully ten minutes kept their opponents dangerously near their own uprights. During this time some fine kicking was shown by Reynolds and Doyle, who on many occasions kept their charge from downfall. The Celtic retaliated, and after receiving a fruitless corner, the home team again pressed in on Cullen. A corner was gained, and the leather being neatly placed by Bonnar, M’Lardie registered the first goal. New life was now put into the game, and the Celtic for a few minutes had the upper hand. M’Cann and the brothers Cuthbertson, however, kept their goal intact. Breaking away, the Abercorn again had the advantage, and after several unsuccessful attempts, Bonnar beat Cullen for a second time. No sooner had the leather been kicked off from the centre than the strangers pressed in on M’Cann, and Davidson finding an opening, scored. A minute later M’Mahon equalised. During the remainder of this half play was of a fast description, and two minutes from the crossover M’Lardie put his team in the ascendancy. The strangers resumed the second portion, but Bowie returned, and the home forwards getting possession, had the ball safely through the uprights two minutes from the start. The Celtic tried to force the pace, but at every point were beaten, and throughout the remainder of this half Abercorn has the best of the play. At one time the Celtic had really hard lines in not scoring, but grand defensive work by the brothers Cuthbertson and M’Cann at goal frustrated their efforts. The last fifteen minutes of the game saw both teams trying to improve their position, but at the call of time neither team had scored, and one of the fastest games seen on Underwood Park for several seasons ended in a win for the Abercorn by four goals to two.
The Glasgow Herald – Feb 13, 1893. Page 10
Punctually at half past three the teams made their appearance on the field.
Abercorn started the game, Millar sending the ball down well down into the Celts’ territory. Kirkwood succeeded by dribbling the leather towards Cullen, but was intercepted by Reynolds just in the nick of time.
A throw-in for the Celtic gave them some advantage, and the Abercorn charge was placed in danger for a short time. McCann, aided by the “brothers” Cuthbertson, however, was equal to the emergency, and, after some tackling, D. Cuthbertson sent the ball well out of danger.
The Celtic forwards then made a combined raid on the home charge. Davidson and Blessington gave the Abercorn half-backs a good deal of trouble, but they very creditably managed to keep the leather at safe distance from the uprights.
Campbell, on the left, had a nice run by himself. When nearing the Abercorn goal he passed to McMahon, who sent in a fine shot, which would undoubtedly have taken effect had not Davidson made a mistake at the critical moment.
Abercorn, however, renewed their pressure, and a few minutes afterwards, from the midst of a scrimmage, McLardie, popped through the first goal of the game for the Abercorn. This advantage was received with great cheering by the supporters of the Underwood club. Within another ten minutes Bonnar registered a second point for Abercorn.
The Celtic retaliated strongly, and a few minutes afterwards Davidson put through the first goal for them. Immediately on restarting McMahon put on a second. Some very keen play followed, and shortly before half time McLardie slashed through a third point for Abercorn.
No further scoring took place in this half, the score at the interval being – Abercorn, 3 goals, Celtic, 2 goals.
Both teams resumed in great determination, and in about a couple of minutes from the start Millar scored for the Abercorn. The Underwood men had now a pretty fair lead, but they did not allow their play to abate in the least degree. Continuing to press, they worked their way once more toward Cullen, and Bonnar sent in a beauty, which that player had to fist out.
The Celtic, however, picked up a bit, and began to look rather dangerous, their forwards besieging the home goal for a good ten minutes. McCann had some grand shot to tackle, but the Cuthbertsons, Kirkwood, Bowie and Reid, rallied round him, with the result that the Celtic attacks were rendered fruitless.
The Celtic were conceded a corner, which proved barren. A foul for Abercorn followed. D. Cuthbertson took the kick, and put in a fine shot, which, however was saved by Clifford heading out in the nick of time.
The Abercorn had the upper hand undoubtedly, and it did not look likely that the Celts, in the quarter of an hour left to them had any chance of defeating the Underwood men. They, however played strongly, but the Abercorn team appeared to be invincible.
Towards the end play was of a very give-and-take nature, both teams playing equally well. The Celtic however, seemed determined to score. Kelly and Dunbar tackled splendidly, and McCann saved as if by a miracle.
The game ended – Abercorn, 4 goals, Celtic, 2 goals.
Abercorn crowd complaint
The Scotsman – Wednesday, 22nd February 1893, page 5
Scottish Football Association Committee
A letter was read from the Celtic complaining of the conduct of the spectators at Paisley during their match with the Abercorn. The conduct of the spectators, it stated was about the worst their team had ever experienced. The execrable oaths and blasphemies yelled by the crowd were simply indescribable. At the close of the game the spectators rushed on the field, and the Celtic players were assailed with all sorts of vile epithets by the crowd, and were otherwise severely assaulted. (Laughter) The Abercorn secretary asked that the matter should be delayed until he could get information, and this was agreed to, the matter being held over until the next meeting of the Committee on 4th April.
The Glasgow Herald – Feb 22, 1893, Page 6.
S.F.A. Committee. – The Celtic wrote a strong letter complaining of the way they had been treated at Paisley when playing the Abercorn there on 11th February. The Abercorn replied that they had not received sufficient time to prepare their defence, and it was ultimately agreed to postpone the matter until next meeting.