1931-06-14: Hakoah 1-1 Celtic, American Tour

Match Pictures | Matches: 1930 – 1931 | 1931 Pictures

Trivia

• On the eve of the game the New York Evening Post of 13 June carries a page headline of “Celtic to Battle Hakoah at Polo Grounds; Visitors Show Improvement.” and at the bottom of the page an advert states: “GANG RULE-New York Can Break Its Grip!” [See Match Pictures]
• Despite the pre-match socialising between the two teams, courtesy of Jimmy Walker, the Mayor of New York, the match was anything but friendly and the man who would go on to be one of the game’s most succesful managers, Bela Guttmann ,and Rudolph Nikolsburger (Hakoah), along with Charlie Napier and Peter Scarff (Celtic) were ordered off for fighting. Many of the Hakoah team were ex-Austrian/Hungarian internationalists, with New Yorker and USA internationalist Philip Slone and Englishman, George Moorhouse (1st Englishman to play in the World Cup), augmenting them in opposing Celtic.
• The result of this drawn match and the standard of football were secondary to the reports of the trouble and the four sending-offs. One US newspaper wrote: “as to the roughness of play here Napier, Bert Thompson and McGonigle <sic> of the Celtics were far from shrinking violets. The way Napier kicked little Leo Greenfield’s legs from under him in the good will game gives the Celtic player the undisputed title of ‘a real shin-buster’”.
• Hakoah was founded by members of the Austrian Jewish team of that name which had toured the USA, they were riding high in the USA having won the 1929 National Challenge Cup.
• Petition Against Orange Demonstrations. The Roman Catholic community of Carfin has petitioned the County Council of Lanark protesting against the permit given to Orange processions parading in the main street outside Carfin Grotto. Serious disorders attended the passing of a procession at Carfin a month or so ago. The Carfin petition will come before a Committee meeting of the County Council next week. The Carfin Grotto is in close vicinity to the main street. The Grotto forms a huge square containing many statues of the saints, sacred walks, and retreats for prayer. It is contended by the petitioners that the Orange processions are attended by such disorderly elements as to constitute a menace to the religious peace of the Roman Catholic community. The petition has excited great interest all over the West of Scotland, particularly in view of the Orange celebrations on the 12th of July. The Scotsman

Review

The Scotsman – Thursday, 11th June 1931, page 15
CELTIC PLAYERS ENTERTAINED
NEW YORK, June 10.—The members of the Glasgow Celtic and Hakoah All Stars football teams were entertained by Mayor Walker yesterday. The “All Stars,” a local team composed of Jews, will meet the Celtic at the polo grounds on Sunday next.—Press Association.

“The Story Of The Celtic” (1938) By Willie Maley: “They [Celtic team] were by this time fairly well accustomed to the rough-and-ready conditions and to the inefficient referees, but the Hakoah lot were a different proposition. This team, I think, was made up of Jews, not that it made any difference, of course, but they appeared to have a way with them, as the referee did whatever he was told.”

Teams

HAKOAH:
Lajos Fischer, Ludwig Grosz, Laszlo Sternberg, Philip Slone, Bela Guttmann, Pavel Mahrer, Josef Gruenfeld, Moritz Haeusler, Rudolph Nickolsburger, Siggy Wortmann, George Moorhouse.
Scorers:
Nickolsburger.

CELTIC:
J. Thomson, Cook, McGonagle, Wilson, McStay, Whitelaw, R. Thomson, A. Thomson, Scarff, Napier, Hughes.
Scorers:
Napier.

Referee: James Walder (Philadelphia).
Attendance: 20,000.
Venue: The Polo Grounds, New York.

Articles

• Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

• Match Pictures

Articles

The Celtic drew with the Hakoah “All Stars” a local Jewish combination at one goal each at the Polo Grounds here yesterday. The match was marred by frayed tempers, which resulted in two players from each side being ordered off the field.

After a parade headed by a police band and including various members of Tammany Hall and the players of both teams, the dapper Mayor of New York, Mr Jimmy Walker, set the ball in motion. Before the start a delegation of Celtic supporters dashed on to the field with a wreath of roses, on which, was inscribed “Good luck to the Celtic.”

Charley Napier, inside left of the Glasgow Celtic soccer team is the most talked of player in New York today. It was said the he is the best forward on the team although the youngest and that the goal he scored against Hakoah at the Polo Grounds yesterday came from the foot of an artist.

There were other things about Napier which weren’t nearly as flattering. Owner of a nervous temperament, he has been known to fold up in the most crucial games.

Against Hakoah, Napier displayed almost every one of these characteristics. His goal gave Celtic a 1-1 draw. And it was a beautiful shot, coming from a distance of twenty-five yards or more. He tried to pick a fight with the referee ten minutes after the game started and later argued with the Celtic captain and trainer.

From a biography of the great Bela Guttman who played in the 1-1 draw with Hakoah.

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1931-06-14: Hakoah 1-1 Celtic, American Tour