1902-04-30: Rangers 2-3 Celtic, British League Cup

Match Pictures \| Matches: 1901 – 1902 \| 1902 Pictures

Match Pictures | Matches: 1901 – 1902 | 1902 Pictures

Trivia

Glasgow International Exhibition Cup
aka: the Glasgow Exhibition Trophy, the British League Cup, the Ibrox [Stadium] Disaster Trophy or the (first) Coronation Cup
Trophy competition organised by Rangers to provide funds for the victims’ relatives of the Ibrox Tragedy of 1902.
Celtic win 3-2 after extra time. Several newspapers prematurely reported the match as a draw and likely as they have cut-offs for print. Apparently the extra-time was unplanned which is also why various fans & the press left early.
Played at Cathkin Park
Mighty Quinn wins the trophy for Celtic.
Some doubt about who Celtic’s right back was. Some sources say Bobby Davidson, others say Hugh Watson. Glasgow Herald report states Hugh Watson.
The Coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra should have been on June 26, but had to be postponed until August 9 because of the King’s illness which required his appendix to be removed.
The trophy itself had first been won by Rangers the previous year as the Glasgow International Exhibition Cup. Despite its inscription still stating “Awarded to Rangers F.C.” after Celtic won the British League Cup competition, they kept the trophy permanently.
Willie Maley in his book “The Story Of The Celtic” gets this game wrong. He thinks it went to a replay! No, it was extra time!
Celtic were then surprised at the end of the season when Rangers’ directors who assumed the cup would be returned arrived to take back the cup. Celtic believed they were the rightful owners after winning the cup fairly in a properly organised competition. Lawyer’s letters were sent back and forth between the clubs with both clubs claiming ownership. Rumour has it that letters were still received by Celtic from Rangers demanding that they give the cup back over a century later.

Review

Jimmy Quinn scored the winner late in extra time from a Willie Loney corner kick, having scored two goals in the 90 minutes.

“Some say the Rangers are guid at fitba’

That Gibson, Crawford and Speedie are bra’

But Jimmy Quinn, he diddled them a’

At the Glasgow Exhibition, oh!”

Some doubt about who Celtic’s right back was. Some sources say Bobby Davidson, others say Hugh Watson.

Willie Maley in his book “The Story Of The Celtic” gets this game wrong. He thinks it was a replay! No, it was extra time!

Teams

Celtic :
McFarlane, Watson, Battles, Loney, Marshall, Orr, Crawford, Campbell, Quinn, McDermott & Hamilton.
Goals : Quinn (3)
(some reports claim it was Davidson and not Watson who played in this match)

Rangers :
Dickie, K Smith, Crawford, Gibson, Stark, Robertson, Lonnie, Walker, Hamilton, Speedie & A Smith.
Goals : Smith, Speedie.

H/T 2-2
Referee: J Hay (Greenock)
Attendance: 10,000