1931-05-31: Fall River 1-0 Celtic, American Tour

Trivia

• In this defeat at the hands of Fall River Celtic would encounter another member of the 1930 USA World Cup squad in Tom Florie (then with New Bedford Whalers) who captained the USA squad and scored in their 3-0 win over Belgium in Uruguay. Also in the Fall River team is Hill O’Beath born Fifer Bill Paterson, who played centre-forward with Cowdenbeath and Derby County before coming to the USA in 1926. The only goal of the games was scored from a free kick just outside the penalty area by Billy Watson (ex-Ayr Utd.).
• Despite this loss there was some good to come out of the game as Fall River’s Canadian goalkeeper Joe Kennaway caught the eye of Willie Maley. This encounter would prove eventful for the two, who would share many experiences in the future when Joe came to Celtic.
• Sunday 31 May saw several serious street disturbances in Glasgow and Mossend Lanarkshire after processions of the Catholic Boys Guild. The riotous scenes at Mossend, included a hammer being thrown at a statue of the Virgin Mary in the procession and were only subdued when police dispersed a mob by baton charges. In Glasgow the most serious trouble was in the Calton and Bridgeton areas and police reinforcements had to be drafted in from the Central Division to cope. In Rowchester St. trouble started when a body of young men, who it was stated were going to the Protestant League Church in Campbellfield St. encountered young men from the Boy’s Guild procession. In Bath St. a man brandishing a bayonet as the procession passed was set upon and thrown into a cellar. The 10,000 – strong procession started from Blytheswood Square and ended at St Andrew’s Hall, by way of Sauchiehall St., Buchanan St., and Argyle St. After the service led by the Archbishop of Glasgow in St Andrew’s Hall, the boys were advised by Father Lawton to discard their white sashes and return home individually and not in processional order. Many of the young men ignored this advice and marched home in groups headed by pipers. LINK
• The Canadian Pacific liner Empress of Britain rounded Cape Race at 12.23 Sunday 31 May entering the St Lawrence River bound for Quebec having set a new record for a land-to-land crossing in five hours and thirty-five minutes faster than the three and one-half days advertised schedule. Montreal Gazette.

Review

Teams

FALL RIVER:
Joe Kennaway, Tommy McMillan, Johnny Rebello, Billy Watson, Jimmy Montgomerie, Johnny Caldwell, Scott, Willie Ballantyne, Bill Paterson, Mike McLeavy, Tom Florie.
Scorers:
Watson.

CELTIC:
J. Thomson, Cook, McGonagle, Wilson, McStay, Geatons, R. Thomson, A. Thomson, McGrory, Scarff, Napier.

Referee: Robert Bethune.
Attendance: 7,000
Venue: Mark’s Stadium, North Tiverton, Rhode Island.

Articles

• Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

• Match Pictures

Articles

The Scotsman – Tuesday, 2nd June 1931, page 13

FOOTBALL

CELTIC LOSE AGAIN

FALL RIVER’S LATE GOAL

Fall River (Massachusetts), June 1,—Glasgow Celtic F.C. are beginning to realise that baseball is not the only ball game at which Americans excel.

Yesterday they suffered their second defeat within two days, when they were beaten by the Fall River team by one goal to nil.

On Saturday they were beaten by New York Yankees, the national champions, by 4 goals to 3.

Fall River secured the only goal of the match three minutes from time, when McGonagle fouled Scott just outside the penalty area. Watson took the kick, and planted the ball right under the crossbar, where J. Thomson, in attempting to clear, pulled it into the net.

The terrific heat seemed to affect the Scottish Cup-holders, who rarely threatened danger. All the players indulged in far too much lofty kicking, thus putting combination out of the question.

After Mayor Sullivan had kicked off, the American League team swarmed all over their opponents, and shot after shot was rained at J. Thomson, who, however, was his usual brilliant, self.

The Scottish forwards broke away on several occasions, but the rival goalkeeper was equally clever, and dealt capably with their shots.

Assisted by the breeze in the second half, Celtic pressed hotly, and corner after corner came their way, but their efforts were frustrated by the fine defensive work of the American team.

Both sets of forwards tried hard to snatch the advantage, and just when it seemed that the match would end in a goalless draw McGonagle was adjudged to have brought Scott down unfairly just outside the penalty area.

The Celtic team returned to New York after the match to prepare for two hard games during the next week-end, the first of which is against Pawtucket Rangers on Saturday, and the second against Brooklyn Wanderers at Brooklyn on Sunday .—Press Association.

And to think that Sam Mark, owner of the Yankees, was forced to outbid the United States Football Association, in arranging for the tour of the Celtic!

Judging from the showings of Celtic, it seems it won’t be long before foreign organisations will be asking American teams to come over for a tour.