| Match Pictures | Matches: 1930 – 1931 | 1930 Pictures |
Trivia
- Charlie Napier faced his brother George in this fine victory for Celtic in which McGrory starred with a hat-trick. With Motherwell dropping a point at Methil the title race is effectively of the two-horse variety.
- In England the long-time leaders Arsenal were beaten 2-1 by Newcastle at Highbury in the shock result of the day. Only 35,000 attended the match and saw Kelty-born Duncan Hutchison (ex-Dundee Utd.) score the winning goal. Chelsea and Portsmouth shared the points in a 1-1 draw with Alex Jackson (ex-Aberdeen and Dumbarton) scoring Chelsea's goal. Two Scots, Jimmy Connor and Hooky Leonard (3) starred in Sunderland's 6-1 victory over West Ham at Roker Park.
- London Midland and Scottish Railway advertises London and back by Express corridor train leaving Glasgow Central station for 30/- (£1.50).
- LMS Hotels advertise Christmas and New Year's breaks at the Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire, and the Turnberry Hotel, Ayrshire from 25/- and 30/- per. day. respectively, (£1.25 & £1.50).
Review
Teams
KILMARNOCK:
Clemie, Robertson, Nibloe, Morrison, T. Smith, McEwan, Connell, G. Napier, Maxwell, Ramsay, Aitken.
Scorers:
CELTIC:
Thomson, Cook, McGonagle, Wilson, McStay, Geatons, R. Thomson, A. Thomson, McGrory, Scarff, Napier.
Scorers:
McGrory, (3).
Referee: D. Reilly (Port-Glasgow).
Attendance: 15,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
The Scotsman – Monday, 22nd December 1930, page 5
McGRORY'S "HAT TRICK"
While the margin of three goals to nothing in their favour exaggerated their superiority, Celtic deserved to win their game, with Kilmarnock. Their combination and positional play was well ahead of Kilmarnock's, and they had a definite advantage in the forward line. It was in that division that Kilmarnock were weakest.
At the same time, credit must be given to J. Thomson, the Celtic goalkeeper, for the part he played in foiling the Kilmarnock forwards when the game was running against his team. After McGrory had given Celtic the lead, twelve minutes from the start, the home side held the advantage until the interval, and Thomson was often in action.
The second half was more evenly contested, and, with only a goal separating the teams, the issue remained open until eight minutes from the end, when McGrory, profiting by the clever play of the right-wing Thomsons, scored twice in quick succession.
Nibloe, left-back, and McEwan, left-half, had a hard afternoon's work against R. Thomson and A. Thomson, on the Celtic's right wing, and in the end the visitors had the better of the tussle.
Robertson and Morton, on the other side of the field, were more successful against the Celtic left wing, and T. Smith, the Kilmarnock centre-half, played a useful game. Connell and Ramsay were Kilmarnock's best forwards, Maxwell, at centre, being eager, but too lightly built to do much damage against a centre-half of McStay's ability.
Cook was the better of a safe pair of Celtic backs, and Wilson was clover in constructive work at right-half behind the Thomsons.
Besides the Thomson wing, the best on the field, McGrory was outstanding at centre-forward for the Celtic. His three goals were the result of his alertness and opportunism.
The attendance was estimated at fully 15,000.
