| Match Pictures | Matches:1931 – 1932 | 1931 Pictures |
Trivia
-
Scottish Cup Final Replay
- First match finished 2-2, with Celtic scoring two goals very late.
- Bertie Thomson the fan's favourite got the ball rolling for the Celtic side in this replay of the Scottish Cup Final with a goal in just 9 minutes, but Johnny Murdoch equalised for Motherwell in 26 minutes before Jimmy McGrory and Bertie did a quick one-two in 30 and 34 minutes to make the score 3-1 to Celtic at the break. George Stevenson cut the lead in 68 minutes but Jimmy McGrory scored a fourth for Celtic in 88 minutes.
- The cup final meetings of his old club Celtic and his son’s club Motherwell must have caused mixed emotions for one of the greatest ever Celts, Jimmy McMenemy. Jimmy’s son John McMenemy played well at inside-right for Motherwell in the finals, but the honours went to his father's and his old-club where John had made 16 appearances between 1925-28.
- Strong precautions are being taken by the police at Bombay in preparation for the arrival of Lord Willingdon (the new Viceroy) and Lady Willingdon, and the departure of Lord and Lady Irvin. Mr Vallabhai Patel, the Congress President is reported to have made a series of provocative speeches in Gujerat.
- Following the declaration of the Second Spanish Republic the Queen of Spain, with members of the Royal Family, has arrived in France by train from Madrid, and King Alfonso, who is on board a Spanish cruiser, is believed to be proceeding to Marseilles. It is believed that the exiled Royal Family will come to England. In a Manifesto left behind in Madrid, King Alfonso declared that he has not renounced any of his rights.
Review
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Teams
CELTIC:
J. Thomson; Cook and McGonagle; Wilson, McStay, and Geatons; R. Thomson, A. Thomson, McGrory, Scarff, and Napier.
Scorers: R. Thomson, (2); McGrory, (2).
MOTHERWELL:
McClory; Johnman and Hunter; Wales, Craig, and Telfer; Murdoch, McMenemy, McFadyen, Stevenson, and Ferrier.
Scorers: Murdoch, Stevenson.
Referee: P. Craigmyle (Aberdeen).
Attendance: 98,579
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
The Scotsman – Thursday, 16th April 1931, page 14
FOOTBALL CUP FOR CELTIC
MOTHERWELL'S 4-2 DEFEAT
A CROWD OF 98,000.
The relayed final tie of Jim Scottish Cup between Celtic end Motherwell drew an attendance of 98,579 spectators to Hampden Park, Glasgow, last evening.
If the Celtic had fortune on their side when they effected a draw in the first match on Saturday, they were, on the whole, deserving winners at the second attempt, though a victory by 4 goals to 2 was rather flattering to them.
With the help of a fairly strong wind in the first, half, they had distinctly the better of the play, as was only to be expected, but in building up a lead of 3 goals to 1 in that period they were indebted more to blunders by the Motherwell defenders than to any good play of their own.
GOALKEEPERS ERRORS
Certainly, R. Thomson and McGrory were on the spot to place the ball in the net as the opportunities arose, the former scoring goals in 9 and 34 minutes and McGrory one in 30 minutes, but it was extraordinary to see a goalkeeper of the ability and experience of McClory repeatedly misjudge the flight of balls sent in on him. He and Hunter, the Motherwell left back, seemed to have a misunderstanding when the third goal was scored, either being in a good position, to clear the danger, but in the case of the first and second goals it was undoubtedly the custodian who was at fault. He came out to meet balls from the right wing, and each time advanced too far and left scoring an easy matter for the alert Celtic forwards.
Strangely enough, the goal obtained by Motherwell before the interval was made possible by an error of judgment on the part of J. Thomson, Celtic's international goalkeeper, who ran out to meet the ball, as it came over from a corner kick by Ferrier. He also misjudged the ball's flight and missed it completely, leaving Murdoch an easy task to score from close range.
In the second half Motherwell did not play well for a considerable time. Perhaps their exertions against the wind had taken too much out of them, but it was only after Stevenson had scored a brilliant goal in 25 minutes that they began really to harass the Celtic defence.
McFadyen ought to have equalised when a daring rush took him close in on goal, but he could get no pith into his shot, and Thomson was able to save at full length on the ground. Ferrier hit the top of the post with a fast drive, and then two minutes from the end another mistimed rush by McClory gave McGrory a simple fourth goal for the Celtic, the ball bouncing slowly into an unguarded net.
MISTAKEN TACTICS
Undoubtedly the outstanding feature of the match was the number of fatal mistakes made by the two custodians, Stevenson's goal for Motherwell being the only one of the six scored for which no blame could be apportioned to the goalkeeper beaten.
In view of the character of the Celtic's equalising goal in the first game on Saturday, when Craig headed an awkward ball through his own goal, it seemed that Motherwell had adopted the policy of allowing McClory to come out to meet high balls. If such was the case, the tactics were quite a failure.
Every other player on the Motherwell side did well, with perhaps the exception of Ferrier, who again played disappointingly on the left wing. He could seldom beat a man, and his crossing left a lot to be desired.
Johnman and Hunter were a better pair of full-backs than Cook and McGonagle, of the Celtic, Hunter playing particularly well against the strong wing in opposition. His kicking was well-timed and accurate, and, if beaten by R. Thomson at times in the first half, he was seldom in difficulties later on.
Wilson, Celtic's right-half, played delightful football all through the game. He and Stevenson had many interesting duels, and on the whole the Celtic came off best.
McStay and Craig were strong and resolute pivots, and, if the latter is awarded more credit it can only be for his gallant efforts to assist his forwards, McStay confining himself almost entirely to defence.
Wales also shone in a constructive sense at right-half for Motherwell, and Geatons improved as the game went on at left-half for the Celtic.
McGRORY TAKES HIS CHANCES
Neither side was able to produce much in the way of sustained combination in attack, the tackling being too keen and good by both sets of defenders. The Celtic attack was lop-sided in both halves, the right wingers doing nearly all the forcing of the play in the earlier portion, and the left wingers taking up the running after the interval, when it was found that Hunter had got the measure of R. Thomson.
Both wings paid their way, and McGrory was an energetic, if not a clever centre forward. He was always up on the chance of a shot for goal, a faculty of his that served his side well.
Motherwell's inside forwards were most dangerous. McMenemy playing excellent football at inside right and Stevenson doing almost as well at inside left. The latter's goal was perhaps the ***-bit of a game that was fought tremendously hard by both sides.
As the play went the Celtic were a shade the better team and deserved to win. Their shooting was no better than that of Motherwell, but they were slightly quicker on the ball in the second half, and their men had a capacity to beat opponents in individual tussles that several of the losers could.
PRESENTATION OF CUP
Immediately after the match the Cup was handed over to the Celtic Club, the ceremony taking place in the Hampden Board room. Mr Campbell, president of the S.F.A., in handing over the Cup, said that they had been privileged to see three hours of the most exciting and strenuous football that they had seen in the Scottish Cup in recent years.
Both teams were, to be heartily congratulated on playing the game The two clubs were alike in that they played the very highest standard of Scottish football, but were unlike in that one, Celtic had just come of age in cup finals—they had made that day their 21st appearance—while Motherwell were new campaigners.
On the day's play he thought Celtic were worthy winners, but the fates were very unkind to Motherwell on Saturday. In accepting the trophy, Mr T. White said that he sympathised with the losers. If Celtic had not won the Cup he would rather that Motherwell, more than any other club, had proved successful.
Mr T. Ormiston, Motherwell F.C., congratulated the Celtic team on winning the Cup for the thirteenth time. At the same time, he could not help feeling disappointed as during the last five minutes of Saturday's game he had visualised the Scottish Cup standing on his sideboard.
The following were the teams: — Celtic—J. Thomson; Cook and McGonagle; Wilson, McStay, and Geatons; R. Thomson, A. Thomson, McGrory. Scarff, and Napier. Motherwell—McClory; Johnman and Hunter; Wales, Craig, and Telfer; Murdoch, McMenemy, McFadyen, Stevenson, and Ferrier. Referee—P. Craigmyle. Aberdeen.
Match report from The (London) Times, Monday, Apr 16, 1931
Glasgow Herald 16th April 1931
