| Match Pictures | Matches: 1897 – 1898 | 1897-98 League |
Trivia
- Match abandoned after 65 minutes due to crowd encroachment.
- The large sum of £1024 was drawn at the gates.
- The stands brought in an extra £455.
- The total of £1479 – forms a record for a sixpenny gate in Scotland.
The Sporting Mirror and Dramatic and Music Hall Record(London, England), Monday, January 09, 1899; pg. 3; Issue 350. New Readerships.
Review
[…]
Teams
Celtic:-
McArthur, Welford, Doyle, Goldie, Russell, King, Gilhooley, Campbell, Allan, McMahon, Henderson.
Goal:- Gilhooley.
Rangers:-
Dickie, N Smith, Drummond, Gibson, Neil, Glen, Miller, McPherson, Hamilton, Hyslop, A Smith.
Goal:- Hamilton.
Ref:- T Quairns (Clyde),
Linesmen:- Mr P Gallacher (Celtic); Mr J Muir (Rangers)
Att:- 50,000+
Articles
Edinburgh Evening News 1st January 1898
Yorkshire Evening Post 1st January 1898
Dundee Courier 3rd January 1898
Dundee Evening Telegraph 3rd January 1898
Edinburgh Evening News 3rd January 1898
Glasgow Herald 3rd January 1898
From a Newspaper Report at the time
Extraordinary Scene At Parkhead
Regarded as having a distinct bearing on the settling of the League Championship for the season, the return League fixture between the Celtic and the Rangers attracted a crowd of mammoth proportions to Celtic Park.
Long before the kick-off the enclosure was thronged with an excited mass of spectators pushing hither and thither in a vain endeavour to secure suitable vantage ground. Half an hour before the time advertised for the start of the game the crowd to the left of the press box, augmented by others from all parts of the field invaded the cycling and foot tracks, and latterly took possession of the field of play. The police arrangements were of the most primitive order for a game of such importance, and consequently the onlookers had practically a free hand in choosing a position from which to view the game. Many resigned themselves, with stoic fortitude, to their misfortune, and coolly perambulated along the back of the foot track conscious that a game, of which they could see nothing was proceeding. The pitch having been cleared of onlookers, as far as the touch lines.
The Rangers having lost the toss, Hamilton kicked off. Leading his men on in fine style. Miller shot with great force from the right, the ball landing on the net.
From the kick-off the Celts’ front rank made for Dickie, but Drummond, watching his chance, averted the threatening danger, and once again the visitors’ rearguard, by some really brilliant forward play, forced McArthur to run out to save.
Gilhooley was giving no end of bother to Glen and Drummond, and from one of his quick cross passes Henderson just headed the ball past the post.
After each goal had been assailed, the Celtic left put in some fine concerted work; the ball was finally slipped across to Gilhooley, who, when seemingly offside, scored easily. Although vigorously protesting against the granting of the point, the Rangers latterly obeyed the mandate of the referee, and restarted the game, not, however, without showing that they felt distinctly aggrieved.
Smarting under this unlooked for reverse, the opened out in dashing style. They tried every legitimate artifice to overcome the Celtic defenders, but all to no purpose Welford and McArthur in particular playing superbly.
After severe pressure on Welford by Hyslop and Smith, the celt as compelled to yield a corner. This was splendidly taken by A. Smith: the ball coming sailing in front of the goalmouth, Hamilton cutely stepped forward and headed into the net.
The point was greeted with tremendous cheering, and in the excitement the crowd encroached still further on the field, and it was with the greatest difficulty the game was resumed. The Rangers played even better now than before, and McArthur had a busy time defending his goal. Recovering from the shock of the Rangers’ impetuosity, the Celts put in some splendid shooting. So deadly was their aim that Dickie had twice to resort to the risky expedient of using his feet to the ball to save his goal.
Coolness alone saved the downfall of the visitors’ goal. Gilhooley was maintaining his good form, and repeatedly baffled Glen. One of his flying runs was cleverly stopped by N. Smith.
Gilhooley fell, and as he did not seem in a hurry to rise, it was surmised that he must be hurt. The game was consequently stopped for a minute. Gilhooley limped badly for a few minutes after the resumption of hostilities.
After some good work by Hyslop and A. Smith, and a clever save by McArthur, the game had to be temporarily stopped owing to the encroachment of the spectators. It took a considerable time to effect a clearance of the pitch.
The Rangers, on resuming, went at their work with a will, and A. Smith scored. Only, however, to find that the point was disallowed for off=side.
The Rangers’ outside left winger tried hard to get a leading point, but his efforts were of no avail, McArthur saving from a fine screw kick. At this point the strangers were certainly holding their opponents easily, and, on play, looked likely to obtain the leading goal. Now and again the Celts freed themselves from the pressure of their opponents, Smith and Drummond having a busy time of it staving off Campbell, Allan, and Gilhooley.
The Celtic halves worked much better than hitherto, Russell in particular giving his forwards many an opportunity to shine. From a foul kick well taken by Drummond, A. Smith just missed scoring by inches. A little later Hamilton missed a swift square pass by Hyslop, after the latter had executed a good single-handed run.
It was evident the nearer it approached half-time, unless the crowd behaved much better in the second-half, it would be altogether impossible to finish the game.
Half-time arrived with the game standing 1 goal each
The teams did not leave the field during the interval. The few minutes’ respite was utilised in trying to coax the crowd to stand back. This was only partly managed by the few police and the committee men. Handfuls of stones, however, thrown at the offending spectators by those who had remained in their proper places, caused the obstreperous ones to retreat.
The game having been restarted, the Celts made a warm attack on the Rangers’ goal, but soon the visitors made their way towards McArthur.
A good chance was lost by Hamilton, when palpably off-side, being pulled up by the referee. From the free kick McMahon and Henderson tricked Gibson, and forced the Rangers to grant a corner, which, however, could not be taken until the crowd could be persuaded to go back. After a delay of about five minutes Henderson took the kick, but Allan headed the ball past.
A free kick was immediately thereafter awarded to the Rangers on the verge of the twelve yards line, but no tangible result accrued to the visitors. When hovering dangerously around the Rangers’ goal, the Celts must have considered themselves unlucky to find the game stopped to allow of the crowd being forced back.
Another start was made and Dickie had a busy time clearing his lines. On one occasion he was almost beaten.
The Rangers were playing much below their first-half form. McPherson tried a long shot only to find his attempt cleverly headed out of danger by Russell
A foul against N. Smith for too close attention to Henderson almost resulted in the downfall of the Rangers’ goal.
From now on till the contest was finally stopped the game degenerated into a complete fiasco. The excited spectators took possession of the field, and although the game was restarted again, and yet again, it was perfectly plain that the match would not be finished. After much arguing and pushing by policemen, officials, and players another start was made.
In less than a minute Dickie, who had possession of the ball, was surrounded by spectators, and the crowd taking possession of the whole field, the referee blew his whistle to indicate the abandonment of the game. Nothing approaching such a scene has ever been witnessed in Scotland on a football field, as the players rushed to the pavilion, followed by the referee. Fortunately there was no disturbance, the crowd dispersing slowly and quietly, to the relief of the officials of the ground club.
When the game is replayed, it is hoped that the police arrangements will be in keeping with the importance of the occasion. With this important detail attended to and an increased charge for admission, it will be possible to fight out the question of points to a satisfactory conclusion.