Match Pictures | Matches: 1930 – 1931 | 1931 Pictures
Trivia
- Celtic had a comfortable victory over this Pennsylvania select XI. Jimmy McGrory had a hat-trick and Bertie Thomson and Charlie Napier got the others. The US team’s goal was scored by a Hun. Francis John “Hun” Ryan, an internationalist, so called because of his German roots. Also in the Penn select was Al Harker who would go on to represent his country in the 1934 World Cup.
- Scottish newspapers carry the story that centre-forward Johnny Laub scored the Penn goal, whereas US data does not include him in the squad, but have William Linglebach at centre-forward, and have the goal, from a penalty, being scored by Francis Ryan.
- The arrival of the Celtic party (portrayed in the New York Sun as an Irish team) on S. S. Caledonia was delayed by fog at sea and a Civic Reception planned by Jimmy Walker, the Mayor, was postponed. It is said that the United States Football Association had tried without success to get Celtic to tour the USA, but then Sam Mark, owner of the New York Yankees made them an offer they could not refuse. [See Match Pictures].
- This was Willie Maley‘s second crossing of the Atlantic. He first came to try to organise a tour of the USA in 1910 on “The California” with director Tom Colgan, when the voyage across the Western Ocean had not been an easy one. Willie Maley later told of how he and his cabin-mate had been laid low with sea-sickness for four days in a terrible storm [See Match Pictures].
- The Celtic team had been treated to a civic reception by Mayor Harry Mackey, who himself had been a keen sportsman. Earlier this year Mayor Mackey had warned of the possibility of civil unrest if the problem of Philadelphia’s 250,000 starving citizens was not addressed.
- The Scottish International football team were beaten by five goals to nil in Vienna on Saturday 16 May by the Austrian “Wunderteam”. The team was:–Jackson (Partick Thistle), Blair (Clyde), Nibloe (Kilmarnock), McNab (Dundee), Walker (St. Mirren), McDougall (Liverpool), Love (Aberdeen), Robertson (Dundee), Paterson (Cowdenbeath), Easson (Portsmouth), and Liddle (East Fife). The Austrian assistant manager is Jimmy Hogan.
- The Scotland team then suffered a second defeat in Rome on May 21 when in front of a 25,000 crowd which included Il Duce, the Italian Premier, Benito Mussolini they lost 3-0 to Italy. The game was filmed with Il Duce and Fascist symbols shown.
- Motherwell, on their tour of South Africa, beat Witwatersrand in Johannesburg on Friday 23 May by one goal to nil in front of a crowd of 25,000 spectators. Willie MacFadyen scored the only goal of the game.
- The Reading Eagle, of May 24, 1931, reports as follows: KLANSMEN DEBATE. The debating team of Philadelphia Chapter, Ku Klux Klan, won the State championship of the organisation by defeating the York county team in the third of a series of debates at Odd Fellows Temple here Saturday evening. The subject of the debate was, “Resolved, That democracy is a failure.” The York men, who argued the affirmative side, were Rev. C. M. Mitchell, Prof. D. V. Shank.
Review
The Scotsman – Friday, 15th May 1931, page 14
CELTIC’S AMERICAN TOUR
“GATES” OF 50,000 EXPECTED IN NEW YORK
New York, May 14.—The players and officials of the Glasgow Celtic football team are due to arrive here in the Anchor liner Caledonia, on May 21.
The visit of the famous Scottish club has created quite a stir in the United States, and their opening match against a picked team from the Pennsylvania and District Football Association at Philadelphia on May 23, only two days after their arrival in this country, is being eagerly awaited.
On the following day (Sunday)Celtic will meet the New York Giants, and it is confidently expected that at least, 50,000 people will watch the match.
Applications for tickets for this match have been pouring in from all parts of the United States and Canada, and it is certain that, all roads for miles around will lead to the Baseball Park on Sunday, May 24.
Other matches at present arranged are: —
May 30.— v. New York Yankees (national champions)—at Boston.
May 31.—v. Fall River at Tiverton.
June 7.—v. Brooklyn Wanderers—at Ebbets field, Brooklyn.
June 14.–v. Hakoah All Stars—at the Polo Grounds.
June 21.—v. Bricklayers—at Chicago.
June 25.—v. Picked team of the Michigan State Association—at Detroit.
July 4.—v.New York Yankees—at the Polo Grounds.
Other dates being considered are, June 17 or 28 at St Louis, and June 28 at Cleveland. —Press Association.
The Scotsman – Saturday, 23rd May 1931, page 19
CELTIC ARRIVE IN US
VISIT AROUSES INTENSE INTEREST
New York. May 22.—Twenty-three members of the Celtic Football Club are here hale and hearty to-day, and left for Brooklyn, where they will make their headquarters at the Knight of Columbus Club.
Mayor Jimmy Walker was to have welcomed the team to the City Hall, but fog delayed the liner and the arrangements had to be cancelled.
They will be given an official reception this evening at the Crescent Athletic Club, Brooklyn, which has many Britishers on its books.
The Scottish team will leave for Pennsylvania to-morrow, where they play a picked East Pennsylvania XI. at Frankford. They will return to New York on Sunday to meet the Giants.
Intense interest has been aroused by the forthcoming visit to New York, and it is expected that a record crowd will watch the match.—Press Association.
NEW YORK EVENING POST, SATURDAY, MAY 23, 1931
Glasgow Celtic Opens U.S. Soccer Campaign in Game on Philadelphia Field Today.
SCOTCH-IRISH TEAM MEETS AMATEURS IN AMERICAN DEBUT
Visitors Choice Over Pick-Up Team—Play Giants Tomorrow
VISITING ELEVEN SHOWS IMPRESSIVE MARK FOR YEAR
By ISAAC GELLIS
Staff Correspondent of Evening Post.
FRANKFORD STADIUM, Pa., May 23.—Old Rip Van Winkle could not have been more startled when he awoke than this somnolent city appeared today before the invasion of the Glasgow Celtic, Scottish-Irish soccer champions, who open their fourteen-game tour of the United States against a picked eleven of local amateurs.
Whistles shrilled in the industrial sections; trolley cars fluttered with banners announcing the coming of Celtic; immaculate dressers favored green ties—why, even the policemen were polite and loquacious.
It might have been different if the gaudy pageantry were presented in New York. The young Celts, soon after arriving yesterday, admitted that they felt at home and anticipated an unusual reception before they opposed the professional Giants tomorrow at the Polo Grounds.
50,000 at Game Tomorrow
Word was passed along when their boat docked yesterday that 50,000 were expected to see Celtic in their New York debut. As most of the team still are in their twenties and consented to making the tour just for the experience, the news of their immense appeal elicited joy.
William Malley, Celtic manager for forty-three years, made no secret of his intentions’ to recruit any likely looking prospects after being informed of the ability of William Linglebach, center forward of the Philadelphia booters.
Linglebach, former star of the Penn eleven, was the last to be picked by the committee choosing the amateur opposition because of his lack of practice.
The Celtic manager pointed to his roster. “Can you name any of these,” moving his finger up and down, “who has had any previous senior club experience?
We rarely take finished players. That is why my present squad is the youngest In Scottish League, first division, and why we’ll continue to recruit em.”
Thomson Fine Young Goalie
There is John Thomson. He is our goalie, and a right good one too. I think he is the best Scotland has produced in a long while. He came to us when he was seventeen years old. He has been with us five years. Played International against England this year and was unscored on.
“James McGrory—that chap over there. He has held the goal-scoring record since 1926-27, when he accounted for forty-nine. He made the only two goals against England. He played one of the greatest games of his brilliant career in the first game against Motherwell. What an opportunist!”
Celtic will use the same team which won the Glasgow Charity Cup, with the exception of Willie Cook, right full-back. Cook has a twisted left ankle, and will be on the sidelines for the first few matches. Jimmy Morrison will replace him. [See Match Pictures]
Teams
PENNSYLVANIA ALL-STARS:
Albert Cooper, Al Harker, Smith, Laird, Purvis, Larkin, Francis Ryan, Deal, William Linglebach, Nicols, Eddie Davies.
Scorers:
Ryan.
CELTIC:
J. Thomson, Whitelaw, McGonagle, Wilson, McStay, Geatons, R. Thomson, A. Thomson, McGrory, Scarff, Napier.
Scorers:
McGrory, (3); A. Thomson, R. Thomson, Napier.
Referee:
Attendance: 12,000
Venue: Yellow Jacket’s Club, Frankford, Philadelphia.
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
The Scotsman – Monday, 25th May 1931, page 6
CELTIC RUN RIOT
SIX GOALS IN OPENING MATCH IN UNITED STATES
Pennsylvania, May 23.—The Celtic F.C. won the opening match of their tour of the U.S. by beating Western Pennsylvania “All Stars” by 6 goal to 1 on the ground of the Yellow Jackets Club to-day.
The Scottish Cupholders, who gave a fine exhibition of football, were held by the home side in the first half and only scored once.
In the second half, however, Celtic ran riot, and, led with marked cleverness by McGrory, who scored three goals, treated the crowd of 12,000 to a display of how football is played in Scotland.
Napier, R. Thompson, and A. Thompson secured Celtic’s other goals. Pennsylvania’s solitary point was scored by Laub, the centre-forward, who converted a penalty awarded when he was tripped.
Amazing scenes were witnessed at the end of the match. When the final whistle sounded, thousands of spectators invaded the pitch and carried the Celtic players to the dressing room.
The Scots received a rousing welcome, crowds lining the vicinity of the station when they arrived here this morning.
After being officially received at the City Hall by the Mayor, Harry Mackey, the players were entertained to luncheon by the Pennsylvania Athletic Association.
The Mayor attended the match and kicked off.—Press Association.
