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Celtic Games 1889 – Preston North End
Trivia
Friendly match played at Celtic Park.
Before 9,300 spectators.
Review
The Scotsman – Monday, 27th May 1889, page 5
Celtic v Preston North End – The English cupholders visited Glasgow on Saturday and tackled the Celtic at Parkhead before 9300 spectators. The visitors were under the disadvantage of playing the first half with a strong sun in their faces. The home team commenced well, Groves scoring a splendid goal in two minutes, Dunbar heading a second five minutes later. The North End transferred operations to the opposite goal, but were easily repulsed, and open play followed, the Celtic forwards exhibiting magnificent combination. The game was generally fast, and at times really brilliant. At half-time the Celtic lead by two goals to nothing. Resuming, the North End came away with determination, but were forced back. Ross, Jnr, scored with an easy shot, which McLaughlin might easily have saved. The hard nature of the play in the first half told its tale in the end, and the game disintegrated, the one side having as much of the general game as the other. No further scoring resulted, and the Celtic thus pulled of their first match with the North End by two goals to one.
Teams
Celtic:-
McLaughlin, Dowling, McKeown, Gallagher, Kelly Jas, McLaren, Cunningham, Dowds, Groves, Dunbar, Coleman.
Goals:-Groves 3, Dunbar 8.
Preston North End:-
Trainer, Graham, Holmes, Kelso, Russell, Robertson, Gordon, Ross Jnr, Thomson, Ross Snr, Drummond
Goal- Ross Jnr.
Att:- 9,300.
Articles
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From newspaper report from the time.
The long-talked-of match between the Celtic and the Preston North End came off on Saturday on the ground of the former at Parkhead. There were some 10,000 spectators present, all the more remarkable considering that the final tie for the Charity Cup was being played in another part of the city.
The Celtic depended on their usual eleven, and North End were strongly represented, being all Scotchmen with the exception of two.
In the first half the Celts scored two goals to one, and there being no further scoring the game ended in favour of the home side. The North End scarcely played up to their usual form, and seemed unable to cope with the close and effective passing of their opponents, who fairly won on their merits.
By arrangement a good many weeks ago the Preston North End played a friendly game against the Celtic, on Celtic park, Parkhead. Notwithstanding the counter attraction at Hampden, about 10,000 spectators assembled. The North End team drove to the field in a brake, and were some minutes late in arriving owing to the driver having mistaken the way; but they were already stripped, and consequently not much time was lost.
The North End started the game, and a throw-in took place against the Celts immediately. After some general play in midfield, Coleman and Dunbar had a run, and soon after Groves got on the ball and scored the first goal for the Celtic within three minutes of the start from a beautiful shot.
It was soon evident that the Celts were in excellent form, and, after a nice bit of passing, which fairly surprised the opposing back divisions Cunningham sent in a short shot from the right, which Trainer had some difficulty in saving.
Whether or not because they were aided by the position of the sun, the Celts were undoubtedly outplaying their opponents, and shot after shot was sent in. These were generally too high, but before the game was ten minutes old the home team once more surrounded the Englishmen’s charge, and a header by Coleman resulted in a second point.
The Celtic backs had not got much to do as yet, and as for the forwards they played most brilliantly, and the way they whisked the ball about amongst the feet of their formidable opponents was sometimes amusing. The Preston seemed to be getting into their usual form, and short, accurate passing became the rule.
On resuming Ross Jnr, scored a clever and somewhat unexpected goal for the North End. McLaughlin might easily have saved it but he apparently did not see the ball properly.
After about ten minutes’ play Cunningham got the ball neatly between the posts, but a foul had taken place previously. The Preston took the kick, but it was discovered that the foul had been in favour of the home team, and the ball was once more placed. From this the North End goal had another narrow escape; but in the meantime a second foul had taken place almost on the same spot, this time against the Celts, and from this advantage the Englishmen approached the home goal.
The play on both sides continued to be of a high class order, and Groves especially distinguished himself amongst the Celtic forwards. The home team, however, had a slight penchant for passing the ball back instead of forward, which, though interesting to watch, was as a rule only a waste of time. Little Dowds, too, on the left, won great admiration.
Amongst the visitors it would be difficult to mention anyone as particularly shining; all round, however, it was evident that they had met their match. Indeed, on the whole, the Celts had the most of the play, and, with fully 20minutes to play, even the North End supporters had almost given up hope.
The following was the result – Celtic, 2 goals; North End, 1 goal.