| Match Pictures | Matches: 1935 – 1936 | 1936 Pictures |
Trivia
-
Celtic seal the league title for first time in a decade
- Jimmy McGrory scores another hat-trick taking his goal tally to 50 in 32 league games, but misses a penalty which would have taken his goal tally to within one of Willie Macfadyen's, in this match.
- Rangers win the Scottish Cup for the third successive year. The attendance at Hampden was 88,859, and the gate receipts amounted to £3,304, exclusive of stand and tax. Celtic's 6-goal win (including a McGrory hat-trick) over Ayr United virtually makes them League champions, as Rangers can retain the flag only if they win their last three games by a phenomenal number of goals.
- In England Chelsea, down 0-2 at the interval to goals from Scots Hugh O’Donnell and Jimmy Maxwell, stage a remarkable comeback to beat Preston North End 5-2 at Stamford Bridge.
- The Queen Mary underwent a "shake-down" and Speed Trials at the Tail o’ the bank and reached speeds of almost 33 knots before sailing for Southampton from where she began Trans-Atlantic passenger service, but, after only one full season as World War II loomed, Queen Mary was laid up in the neutral port of New York and was then pressed into military service as a Troop Carrier.
- Serious rioting between Jews and Arabs in Jaffa, and Tel-Aviv, Palestine followed the deaths and funerals of two Arabs, who it is alleged were murdered by Jews.
Review
Teams
CELTIC:
Kennaway, Hogg, Morrison, Geatons, Lyon, Paterson, Delaney, Buchan, McGrory, Crum, Murphy.
Scorers:
McGrory 14, McGrory 35, Murphy 44, McGrory 56, Lyon 60, Buchan 86.
AYR UNITED:
Hepburn, Dyer, Strain, Taylor, Currie, Baigrie, Pope, McGibbon, Fleming, Fitzgerald, Torbet.
Referee: Mr M C Hutton.
Attendance: 12,000.
Articles
- Match Report (See Below)
Pictures
Articles
From a Newspaper Report
Celtic’s eagerness to win the league, and Ayr’s plight at the foot of the table, gave this game prime importance. The fact that the Charity Cup Final between Rangers and Third Lanark, was taking place at Hampden told heavily against the attendance, which at the start of play was little over 4,000.
There was almost a sensational start to the match. From a pass by Fleming, Fitzgerald dribbled around Geatons. Next he deceived Hogg, and, swerving to the inside, dashed into the Celtic penalty area. Morrison dashed over and was beaten in the tackle, and Fitzgerald finished with a lob which, went over Kennaway’s head, and hit the inside of the upright. A goal for Ayr seemed assured, but their luck was out, as the ball rebounded twice from the post, and Morrison quickly drove it into touch to give Celtic relief.
This was indeed a let-off for Celtic, and a big piece of misfortune for United.
Celtic responded, but the move petered out when Murphy ran the ball over the line. Celtic, by now had taken a grip of the game and won three corners in a row. From one of these corners Hepburn cleverly fisted the ball clear with several opponents harassing him.
There was a diversion from the game when the referee called a halt to allow a wire-haired fox terrier to be removed from the field.
McGrory made a commendable effort to glide a free-kick drive by Paterson into the net. A beautiful drive by Geatons was slipped over by Hepburn, who next moment, caught a header by McGrory close to the post. The Celtic centre forward rose high above Currie to get to the ball.
A high ball lobbed into the danger zone caused Hepburn to leave his goal. McGrory, however, beat him in the air, and from the centre’s head, the ball flew just over the bar.
It was bound to come – a goal for McGrory – and it came after 14 minutes when, once again, Hepburn, having to leave his charge, was beaten in the air by the International forward and the ball sped from Jimmy’s head to the back of the net like a stone from a catapult.
It was a great goal and the supporters cheered it vociferously.
United put in a telling reply on the left and they won a corner. From the kick, McGibbon got in a fine header and Hogg, on the goal-line, was pleased to have the chance to head clear. Kennaway, however, was close at hand.
This showed that the visitors were prepared to dispute every inch of the field.
Celtic were soon back again, and another goal for McGrory seemed imminent when the Celtic centre-forward connected with a grand cross by Murphy. A magnificent save by Hepburn, who parried the ball for a fruitless corner, baulked him.
A Fleming move was frustrated when Kennaway came out to prevent the centre from getting a return pass, and another Ayr raid ended when Torbet shot weakly past.
Lyon, keen to see Celtic have a bigger lead, made his way into the Ayr penalty box, and then slipped the ball to McGrory. The pivot expected the ball to be returned to him, and if McGrory had done so, the chance of another goal was distinctly good, but McGrory veered it to the left on his own, and found that the way to goal was barred.
Delaney then got the better of Strain. His pass went to McGrory, who, with a good chance, shot over the bar.
A minute later, or ten minutes from the interval, McGrory gave Hepburn no chance when he took a pass from Buchan, who had lofted the ball over Currie’s head.
Jimmy McGrory’s goal-scoring feats were a feature for the crowd. His brace of goals left him three short of McFadyen’s record total for a season in Scottish League football.
After Hepburn had effected two masterly saves when his goal seemed bound to fall, Ayr experienced more bad luck at the other end. McGibbon shot against the upright with Kennaway completely beaten.
One minute before the interval, Murphy, from a cross by Delaney, headed a third goal for Celtic.
Half-Time
Celtic 3-0 Ayr United
As a result of a leg injury sustained by McGrory when he scored the second goal, Celtic reorganised their forward line. Crum took over the leadership, and McGrory went to outside-right, with Delaney as his partner.
With the wind and sun at their backs, Ayr at once buckled to. Had McGibbon shot first time when the ball was sent over by Pope, the leeway may have been reduced. He dallied, and the way was blocked, a fruitless corner resulting. This was followed by another fruitless corner.
Celtic also won a couple of corners, from the second of which a hirpling McGrory made a bold effort to complete the hat-trick with his head.
A fine run and cross by Buchan, promised another goal for Celtic, but Hepburn was on the spot for Murphy’s shot. The goal wasn’t delayed for too long, for in the eleventh minute McGrory, back in his own position, completed his “hat-trick” with a spectacular goal. The ball was sent across goal by Geatons, and when from the goal-line, Murphy nodded it back and down, and at a terrific rate, and a deceptive swerve, the ball flew into the net past Hepburn.
A burst by Ayr saw Fleming try to score with a header from a cross by Pope, but Kennaway’s anticipation was sound. Delaney had a solo run, but was brought down, and to the loud approval of the crowd Lyon called on McGrory to take the penalty. To the disappointment of his friends, however, McGrory failed to convert from the spot, the shot passing just outside Hepburn’s left-hand post. Thus McGrory lost a chance of coming closer to McFadyen’s record.
With 25 minutes gone, Lyon put Celtic further ahead with a glorious free-kick from 25 yards out.
Delaney, as a result of an injury, went to his usual place at outside-right, and McGrory returned to centre-forward.
Four minutes from the finish, when a McGrory header came off the crossbar, Buchan headed the rebound into the net for a sixth goal.
Full-Time
Celtic 6-0 Ayr United.
The Scotsman – Sunday, 19th April 1936, page 5
SIX GOALS FOR CELTIC
McGRORY'S PART IN EASY WIN OVER AYR
By scoring six goals without reply against Ayr United, Celtic assured themselves of at least a share in the League Championship honours for the first time in ten years. As the score suggests, Celtic had an easy win at Parkhead.
McGrory had the distinction of scoring three goals, and he secured the last after he had sustained an injury and retired to the wing position. A penalty-kick which had been awarded Celtic was also taken by him after his injury, but he sent wide.
From the outset Celtic dominated the play, with the exception of an escape in the opening minutes, when Fitzgerald dribbled through the home defence to drive hard for goal. The ball struck a post and rebounded along the goal-line, to be scrambled clear.
A series of corner kicks against the United ended in McGrory heading past Hepburn—a great effort, as the centre had to jump high to do so. During the last ten minutes of the first half. McGrory and Murphy scored again for Celtic, giving them a lead of three goals at the interval.
McGrory resumed limping at outside right, but he was on hand to accept and score from Murphy’s header in 11 minutes. Then followed the penalty-kick already referred to, Delaney having been brought down as he was driving into goal. Lyon and Buchan added the other goals, and the home team retired very easy winners.
Celtic were the complete masters of their opponents, but McGrory, despite his injury, must be regarded as the hero of the day. Ayr United were never impressive, only Currie and McGibbon displaying any initiative. Fleming could make nothing of Lyon, and the others were easily held.
The attendance was 12,000.
