1931-09-19: Morton 3-3 Celtic, League Division 1

Match Pictures | Matches: 19311932 | 1931 Pictures

Trivia

  • Willie Hughes and Charlie Napier, (2); were Celtic's scorers but the hat-trick from Morton's centre-forward, Arthur Richard "Dick" Black, equalled their combined efforts. Charlie Napier "scored" twice with a penalty-kick, which was retaken, and John Falconer saved a penalty from Billy Clunas in 86 minutes.
  • Scotland beat Ireland 3-1 in an International at Ibrox and this meant that Celtic were without Jimmy McGrory (scorer for Scotland) as he was on international duty.
  • In League games, Motherwell and Kilmarnock kept their places at Rangers' heels with wins over Clyde and Cowdenheath respectively; but Celtic dropped another point when playing Morton. The Parkhead men, though still the only undefeated lot, have the distinction of having participated in more draws than any other club.
  • All the English League, leaders—Wednesday, West Brom, Arsenal, Shef. Utd., Everton, Huddersfield—were winners except Huddersfield Town, who fell in the clash with Sheffield Wednesday.
  • Communists again caused disturbances in Dundee, when the police were forced to use their batons in order to disperse the crowd. Several hundred Communists collected in Lochee, an industrial suburb, and it was when they were marching towards the centre of the city that they met the police. In the disturbance which followed the police used their batons, and an arrest was made. Several windows were broken by stones, but the crowd was soon dispersed.
  • Crowd trouble erupted when Sir Oswald Mosley addressed a meeting of 15,000 people on Glasgow Green. The meeting had to be abandoned and Sir Oswald was taken away by the police to his car. Sticks, stones, bottles, knives and even razors were said to have been used in the fighting that erupted.
  • The Glasgow Herald reports that a conference of the Board of the Admiralty had taken place to discuss the recent incident at Invergordon where sailors of the Home Fleet had caused unrest because of the 25% pay cut imposed on lower ranks. LINK

Review

Teams

MORTON:
Wilson, McGuire, McKendrick, Clunas, Bulloch, Ritchie, Lyle, Banks, Black, Graham, McCartney.
Scorers:
Black, (3).

CELTIC:
Falconer, Whitelaw, McGonagle, Wilson, McStay, Geatons, R. Thomson, A. Thomson, Hughes, Napier, Solis.
Scorers:
Hughes, Napier, (2).

Referee: M. G. McArthur (Airdrie).
Attendance: 15,000

Articles

  • Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

Articles

The Scotsman – Monday, 21st September 1931, page 4

TWO PENALTIES AND A "HAT-TRICK"

A draw of three goals each was a good result in the game at Greenock between Morton and Celtic.

From first to last it was a stirring encounter, and with the least bit, of luck Morton might have won. For their heroic fight put up in the second half they deserved a special word of praise.

Celtic were the more convincing team in the early stages, although they did not have matters all their own way, Falconer being frequently called upon.

Hughes opened the scoring for the Glasgow club after twenty-five minutes' play, and a great shot by Napier gave them a two-goal lead at the interval.

The game was full of incident in the second half. Morton warmed to their work, and arrears were speedily wiped off as the result of accurate shooting on the part of Black.

Celtic were obviously rattled at this stage. Miskicks by full backs were frequent and Falconer was sorely harassed.

A penalty for Celtic raised a storm of protest. Napier, with his shot, put his club once again in the lead.

Clunas missed a, penalty for Morton, but a minute or two later Black saved his club by completing his "hat-trick."

It was an exciting finish to the best game that has been seen at Cappielow this season. There was no outstanding player in either strip.

Morton v Celtic Sep 1931

"Hughes scored the first goal after half an hour, and Napier's pertinacity brought along a second five minutes later. During the second half Black opened Morton's account after twelve minutes, and scored a second in twenty-five minutes. Then came the struggle for the lead. With a quarter of an hour to go Napier gave Celtic the lead, following a penalty conceded by McKendrick in contact with Hughes. The kick was twice taken and the ball netted each time."