| Match Pictures | Matches: 1929 – 1930 | 1929 pictures |
Trivia
- First ever official Celtic match program released. See link
- The programme consists of advertisements, statistics and commentary and the commentary in three parts can be seen in the Match Pictures section and transcribed for clarity below at the end of Articles.
- The Grant Stand was demolished after the Pavillion Fire and the club employed Glasgow firm Duncan and Kerr to construct a new stand which was opened on this day.
- One bit of trivia in “From the Pavilion” tells us: “Peter Kerr, the Hearts’ captain, was playing senior football for Hibs before the lad he is opposing today was born.” Peter Kerr signed for Hibs from Wemyss Athletic in 1910 as a replacement for James Main who, tragically died as a result of injuries sustained on the football field on Christmas Day 1909. John Thomson and Peter Kavanagh were both born in 1909. Was the programme wrong?
- Peter Kavanagh makes his Celtic debut in this game and Monday’s Glasgow Herald article (below) has Dublin Bohemians in brackets after his name. Chalmers of Hearts has (Queen’s Park) appended to his name.
Review
The Glasgow Herald of Saturday August 10 states:
“At Celtic Park. At their newly constructed ground Celtic will have Heart of Midlothian as visitors, and a dour fight is anticipated for the points. So far as their defence is concerned, Hearts will be served by the men who bore their colours last year, but a change which has a peculiar interest to Glasgow people will be made in the forward line. A new right-wing, consisting of Chalmers (Queen’s Park) and Johnston (Coldstream), will be introduced. The Celtic side was moving none too sweetly last season, and when it lines up today, two well-known figures–W. McStay and McFarlane–will be missing from the back and half-back lines. Young Players. In fact, the team to-day will be composed of the youngest lot of players who have carried the green and white hoops for some time. Geatons will take the place of McStay at right-back and Donoghue will appear at left-back in place of McFarlane. Kavanagh (Dublin Bohemians) will be the only new player fielded. The stand erected during the close season will be opened to-day.”
Teams
CELTIC:
J. Thomson, Geatons, McGonagle, Wilson, J. McStay, Donoghue, Connolly, A. Thomson, McGrory, Scarff, Kavanagh.
Scorers:
McGrory, (2).
HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN:
Harkness, Herd, King, Kerr, J. Johnston, Bennie, R. Johnstone, Chalmers, Battles, McMillan, Murray.
Scorers:
Battles.
Referee: W. Bell (Motherwell).
Attendance: 30,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Links
Articles
The Scotsman 12 August 1929
CELTIC THE BETTER SIDE.
About 30,000 spectators were at Parkhead, Glasgow, for the opening of the season and the inaugurating of ground and stand improvements, which have brought the Celtic enclosure into line with the best in the country.
As an attraction the visit of the Heart of Midlothian was a first-class one, especially as there were once more hopes that the Edinburgh side would become challengers of the western supremacy.
Both sides showed important changes. The Hearts had captured Chalmers, of the Queen’s Park, and the Celtic had failed to come to terms with W. McStay and had transferred McFarlane. The odds appeared to favour the Edinburgh side but in actual play that was not the case.
For half an hour the game was fought on the hardest lines, with nothing between the sides. A strong Celtic opening, in which the Irish recruit, Kavanagh, did some good work was replied to strongly by the Hearts, for whom G. Johnston, who had been preferred to Smith at outside right forward, showed that he could carry on and cross very well.
McGrory was off hurt for a quarter of an hour, but the Hearts were not able to make use of that advantage. The Celtic concentrated in defence, and were dangerous in raids when they had pulled the visiting half-backs well up the field and exposed a weakness in the backs.
Neither side were sure in front of goal, and half-time was called without a score.
Play deteriorated in the second period, although the Celtic always looked the likelier lot to score. Still the Hearts survived, and could often show a raid that carried danger.
The last quarter of an hour settled the issue. The Edinburgh defence tired, was thrown open, and McGrory twice took the opportunity to dash between the backs and score goals which left Harkness without a chance.
Near the end Murray crossed a ball which Battles headed home.
The game showed the Celtic to be a well balanced side, and the Hearts to have weak spots. G. Johnston was too highly tried, Chalmers did not come up to expectations, the half-backs tired, and the backs were often in difficulties.
Registered Office : Celtic Park, Glasgow.
Directors: Thomas White, Esq., Chairman.
Thomas Colgan, Esq., John Shaughnessy, Esq., James Kelly, Esq., John McKillop, Esq.,
Secretary and Manager: William Maley.
EDITOR’S NOTES.
It is with great pleasure that we submit for the approval of our supporters the first issue of our Official Programme, which we feel will meet a long-felt want.
The sporting pages of the newspapers are certainly useful and helpful in giving the football public news about our National game, but, having such a wide field to cover, they cannot, naturally, fill the space or give any items of information or gossip pertaining to our own particular club, which our followers look for. That will be our task, and it will be our endeavour to give in each issue information and criticisms on the doings of the club and all matters affecting it.
The programme will be made as attractive as possible, and, no doubt, it will wile away the weary hours of waiting the kick-off of the game each Saturday. Your attention is drawn, particularly, to the “From the Pavilion” page. There you will find many items of news of an official nature which will attract you, and an informative “Who’s Who” and general authentic statistical matter we commend for your approval.
We hope also to include in future issues of our programme and “Answer to Queries” column, and we shall be pleased to reply in it to all matters relevant to the game.
The results of matches will be inserted in each issue on the fixture list as they are played, and the League tables will be kept carefully up-to-date.
The teams and officials whose names appear on our centre pages will be officially supplied, and any late alterations will be intimated on a board which will be taken round the track prior to kick off.
The Half-Time scores, which will be supplied by a world-famed news agency, will be displayed as early as possible.
It is our intention in future issues to discuss in the Editor’s Notes the previous week’s game and criticise impartially the teams and the players.
We feel that the expense entailed in issuing such a programme for the convenience of our patrons will be appreciated in tangible form by always seeing that you are in possession of a copy at each game. We would like you to retain it and its successors as a guide to the team’s activities and to increase its popularity by bringing it to the notice of your companions on the stand or on the banking. Any suggestions for its improvement will be carefully considered.
We intend to do our best for you. Will you assist us by doing your best for us?
As there is a certain amount of painting and furnishing to be done yet in the Board-Room and offices, etc., the official opening of the new premises will not take place today. But that won’t prevent Jimmy McGrory and his chums from doing their best to open the points account with a couple.
To those who have not visited Celtic Park since the demolition of the grand stand or the destruction of the pavilion by fire, the old “Paradise” will be unrecognisable.
The general appearance of the ground has been altered entirely.
Celtic’s change uniform this season is a white jersey with a large green V. It looks exceptionally smart and is reminiscent of the original shirt worn by the club, white shirts with green facings. They also had a green pocket with red Celtic cross.
That good fellowship exists between the Celtic and Clyde Boards is proved by the assistance they have given each other when ground troubles came along, while the players have been fraternising daily at training.
Celtic have five players whose Christian name begins with “P”, but strange to say, there is only one Pat in the lot—Connelly, McGonnigle, Wilson, Scarff and Kavanagh are all Peters.
Three of the latest additions to Celtic’s list of players vary in height from 5ft. 11ins. to 6ft. J. Ferguson is 5ft. 11ins., Graham Robertson is 5ft 111/2 ins., and J. Gallacher is 6ft.
Joseph Gallacher, Celtic’s most recent recruit, was signed-on owing to the display he gave in the practice game at Shawfield.
Competent judges predict a bright future for the big Coatbridge lad, who came right from Juvenile ranks.
Last time Hearts visited Celtic Park the performance of the rival goalkeepers were carefully watched and compared. Both were splendid, and the unanimous verdict was that Scotland’s goal would be safe while guarded by either.
When Barney Battles, the Hearts’ centre-forward, made his first (and only until today) appearance at Celtic Park last season, he was unfortunate enough to strain a muscle in the opening minutes of the game. May he be more fortunate to-day. His name will always command respect, if not affection from Celtic supporters.
Peter Kerr, the Hearts’ captain, was playing senior football for Hibs before the lad he is opposing today was born. How is that for a record?
The Hearts are a world-famous club instituted in 1873, and they are always welcome on their visits to Glasgow.
“Edina’s Darlings,” as they are affectionately called by the football public of Edinburgh and elsewhere, have been almost continuously in the forefront of Scottish football, but of recent years honours have eluded them. However, they have made valiant efforts to bring one or more premier prizes to the Capital, and hopes are high at Tynecastle that this year they will not disappoint their loyal following. Since their formation, the Hearts have been winners of the Scottish Cup in 1890-1, 1895-6, 1900-1, 1905-6, and champions in the Scottish League, Division 1., in 1894-5 and 1896-7.
Last season they finished fourth in the League table with 47 points from 38 games.
