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Celtic Games 1889 – Queen's Park
Trivia
- Glasgow Cup Final tie played at Cathkin Park.
- 12,000 persons witnessed it.
Review
The Celtic lodged a protest against the legitimacy of the second point scored by Queen’s Park.
At the close of the game an informal meeting of the Glasgow Committee was convened, and they resolved to provisionally present the cup to the winners.
The presentation was made at a social meeting held in the Royal Restaurant, West Nile Street, in the evening. The Celtic absented themselves, but a few members of their committee put in an appearance in the course of the evening.
Mr A Kirkwood, president of the Glasgow Association, handed over the cup to the custody of Mr D. C. Brown, president of the Queen’s Park, and the players were presented with their badges.
The Celtic excused their absence on the ground of policy.
Teams
Queen's Park:-
Gillespie, Arnott, Smellie, McAra, Stewart, Robertson, Gulliland, Berry, J Hamilton, Allan, Sellar.
Goals:- J Hamilton 10, Sellar, Allan Stewart.
Celtic:-
McLaughlin, McKeown, Reynolds, Gallagher, Kelly, McLaren, Madden, Dowds, Groves, Coleman, Dunbar.
Goals:- Coleman, Unknown 44.
Referee: Mr. Park.
Att:- 12,000.
Articles
- Match Report (See Below)
- Official Site
Pictures
- Match Pictures
From newspaper report from the time.
Report 1
The Scotsman – Monday, 16th December 1889, page 5
Queen’s Park v Celtic – At Cathkin Park, before about 10,000 spectators. The weather was favourable, and the ground greasy. The Volunteers made elaborate arrangements for the accommodation of the crowd. Hamilton kicked off to the south goal, but the Celts were first aggressive from a free kick, and were first over. Excitement was intense. The footing was treacherous, and falls were numerous. Berry had the first try, but it went wide. McLaren headed past at the other end, and in a few minutes more Gillespie had to fist out a strong one from the same player. In nine minutes, Hamilton scored with a long drive. McLaren made another good try, but high. Sellar missed by inches at the other end.
The Celtic made a dashing attack, and in twenty minutes Dowds scored, but it was disallowed for off-side. In half an hour the Queen’s scored a second point, but the Celtic strongly objected, and threatened to leave the field, alleging that Hamilton illegally charged the goal-keeper. Both umpires gave the goal. Better counsels prevailed and after an interval of seven minutes discussion, the Celtic resumed under protest. Two minutes after the restart Coleman scored. The Celtic improved wonderfully and put on hard pressure.
Half-time:- Queen’s Park, two goals; Celts, two. After an interval of scarce a minute, the teams again lined up equal. Groves got off with a smart run, and secured an abortive corner. Another followed alike unsuccessful, then the Queen’s aggressed, but were driven back. Groves was showing dashing form and repeatedly taxed both Arnott and Smellie to keep him in check. The Celtic resumed their pressure, and Gillespie had twice to save at close quarters. An unproductive corner gave anxiety. Berry changed the scene of operations, and Hamilton beat McLaughlin but the point was disallowed upon off-side. Immediately after, a swift low shot from Stewart’s toe took effect, and the Queen’s stood one up. Great cheering greeted this.
The play was not of the gentlest, the officials having to interfere; nor was it of the prettiest; but it was of a hard, determined nature. The closing period saw the Queen’s pressing strongly, and almost secured a fourth. Result :- Queen’s Park, three goals; Celtic, two goals.
Report 2
The final tie for the Glasgow Cup, played between the Queen's Park and the Celtic on Saturday afternoon, drew together a crowd of fully 12,000 notwithstanding that the price of admission was doubled.
The game was a disappointment from various causes. The ground was hard beneath, with a soft surface, and this prevented the men showing that accuracy which would have characterised their play with safer footing. Probably from this cause, little incidents occurred which under ordinary circumstances would have been obviated. For infringement of the rules, probably unintentional, both sides were penalised, and this gave rise to ebullitions of feeling and temper by several players during the game.
A member or two on both sides had to be cautioned for roughness, and , unfortunately , if reports are true the ill-feeling did not terminate on the men leaving the field, as a disgraceful incident is said to have occurred afterwards in the pavilion.
From beginning to end the game was a very fast one, and the spectators were treated to two different styles of play. The Celtic seemed to be the better balanced combination. The backs played a strong game, but probably left their goal too open at times; the half backs, and especially McLaren, were in grand form, and the short machine-like passing of the forwards were reminiscent of the style of Preston North End. The game was, however, one of the most keenly contested, considering the conditions of the ground, witnessed in Glasgow for a long time.
As usual the Queen's Park showed some brilliant flashes, but there were two or three weak spots in the team. The backs seemed to be quite as strong as ever, Smellie occasionally showing to even better advantage then Arnott, who also played well, particularly when in the opening stages of the second half the Celts were sending in shot after shot.
If there was any weakness it was among the half backs, if we except Robertson. The wings combined well, but the forwards as a whole were not nearly so effective as their opponents. The play of Berry and Gulliland, the right wingers, was a surprise to the majority of those present, for they certainly made good use of all their opportunities. On the left it was quite evident that Sellar had not recovered from his recent injuries. Gillespie in goal had far more work to do than the Celts’ custodian.
It might also be mentioned that seldom have more disputes been raised on the points scored, but in this matter the referee, and no doubt, seeing the Celtic have protested against the second goal taken by the Queen's, they will be called upon by the association to explain the points issue. But when all is said, one cannot protest too strongly against the rough play shown by members of both teams.
Report 3
The Queen's Park and the Celtic met on Cathkin Park, neutral ground, to play off the final tie for the Glasgow Cup. The weather was excellent, but the ground was soft and slippery.
Despite the fact that the Third Lanark had erected a new stand capable of holding 1,600 persons, the accommodation was taxed to its utmost, and when the game started there would be fully 12,000 present.
The Celts won the toss, and Hamilton kicked off for the Queen's. The Queen's Park first assumed the aggressive, but Kelly relieved, and a foul against McAra brought the Celts dangerously near the Queen's goal. A foul was given against one of the Celts’ forwards. The Queen's got down a bit, but were again repulsed, the Celts’ forwards coming away in beautiful style, when a foul was given against McLaren for what was evidently a fair charge against McAra.
The excitement was very great at the start, and it rose to fever heat as the Queen's came down on the Celts’ goal. Gulliland was robbed of the ball, and Berry shot past.
From a pass by Coleman, McLaren headed past, and then Groves narrowly missed scoring. It was evident that the Celts were in grand form, for they kept pressing around the Queen's goal, and McLaren sent in a shot, which rebounded off Gillespie’s hands and went harmlessly behind.
In a twinkling the Queen's were at the other end, where J Hamilton scored the first goal for the Queen's ten minutes from the start. Immediately afterwards a corner fell to the premier club, and although the ball was well centred it was got away. A second corner was conceded to the Queen's, but Gulliland shot behind. The Queen's were having the most of it, but gradually the Celts got down the field – only, however, to be repulsed by Arnott, and once more the Queen's got into dangerous quarters, Hamilton causing McLaughlin to kick out.
After being hemmed in for a time, Groves carried the ball well down the field, and mclaen, who was in grand form, tried to score with a long shot, which was a trifle too high.
From a foul given against Groves the Queen's once more got down to the Celts’ charge, when Berry passed the ball over to Sellar, who shot promptly. Many persons thought the ball had gone through, but they were mistaken, and on the ball being kicked off the Celts were again at the other end when Groves slipped the ball past Gillespie. Offside was claimed and given, the decision not meeting with the general approval.
The Celts then fairly besieged the Queen's goal, and McLaren tried hard to score, but he accidently ran the ball over the line. Some beautiful play was witnessed by the Celts’ left wing, but the Queen's, ever on the alert, repelled all attacks.
There was not a goal between the teams so far as the play had gone. After some desultory play the Queen's got another goal, Sellar sending the ball through. The point was appealed, but the referee allowed it, and one of the Celtic players left the field, the game being stopped for a few minutes owing tp the unwillingness of the Celts to proceed. At length the game was resumed.
The Celts at once made their way down the field, and the ball being passed to Coleman, that player steadied himself, and with a good shot fairly beat Gillespie, the result being greeted with loud cheers by the Celts’ supporters. The Celts were again at it, and a good chance given by McLaren was spotted by one of his side shooting over the crossbar.
The Celts were now having the upper hand, but the Queen's tactics stood the in good stead, and although the Parkhead men tried very hard to draw level they were repulsed on every occasion. The game became very fast and exciting, if not somewhat rough, and the Celtic had a hot time of it defending their goal. Relief at length came to the Celts, but in trying a long shot for goal the ball was sent past.
The Celts, however, kept up the pressure, and from a foul against Hamilton a good shot was sent in, but headed out by one of the Queen's half backs, and shortly after Dunbar missed a good chance.
Just about the call of half time the Celts had a splendid run, and, crowding round Gillespie, they scored out of a scrimmage and equalised the game, the score standing 2 goals each.
No time was lost in beginning the second half. The Celts at the very start forced the Queen's to concede a corner. A good shot was sent in, but Gillespie was all there, and defended nobly. Another corner was granted the Celts, but nothing came of it, the Queen's finding their way into the Celts’ territory, only, however, to be again repulsed. The Celts looked superior in stamina, for they were now pressing the Queen's very hard, and nearly got the ball through.
Gillespie had a warm time of it, as the Celts were seldom away from him, but the Queen's custodian proved always equal to the occasion. His saving was really brilliant, for he was continually pressed.
At length the Queen's secured a corner, but made nothing of it, as Berry shot past the post. The Queen's, however, very nearly had the ball through a minute afterwards. Play became more open, but a foul against the Queen's for a trip allowed the Celts to get down again to the opposing goal. Gulliland, however, brought relief to the Queen's, who were conceded a corner, but the ball was easily got away.
The Queen's, however, returned to the attack, and Sellar, with a long shot, sent the ball through. McLaughlin, however, kicked the ball up, and, on appeal, to the surprise of the crowd, “no goal” was given. It was generally admitted that the ball was through, but there was a feeling, so to speak, that the decision squared accounts in the first goal of the Celts being disallowed.
Twenty minutes from the close the Celts did the pressing, one shot striking the post and rebounding into play. Two corners in succession fell to the Celts, but Arnott and Gillespie defended grandly. A foul was then given to the Queen's, who returned to the attack, when Hamilton sent the ball through, but it was disallowed for offside.
On the ball being kicked off, Allan Stewart with a long shot scored the third goal for the Queen's. The Celts tried hard to equalise, but could not, and a fast and exciting game ended as follows – Queen's Park, 3 goals; Celtic, 2 goals.