| Matches: 1890 | 1891 | 1887-1900 | League Tables: 1890-91 | Forum |
Celtic Games 1890 – Hearts
Trivia
- With Renton’s expulsion from the League, this became Celtic’s first ever Scottish League game.
- Played at Tynecastle Park.
- Before 8,000 spectators.
- James Bell was later ruled as being an Ineligible player and Celtic were deducted 4 points.
Review
Hearts v Celtic –
The Celtic having benefitted by their defeat by Renton, reorganised their eleven, and gave a splendid exhibition on Tynecastle Park, Madden scoring twice and another from Groves made it three goals to nil in Celtic’s favour at half time.
Two goals in the second half from Dowds and another from Groves made the full time result – Celtic, 5 goals; Hearts 0.
Teams
Celtic:-
Bell, McKeown, Reynolds, W Maley, Kelly, McLaren, Madden, Dowds, Groves, Dunbar, Crossan.
Goals:- Madden 11, Madden, Groves, Groves, Dowds.
Hearts:-
Mackay, Adams, Foyers, Begbie, McPherson, Hill, Taylor, Mason, Jenkinson, Scott, Baird.
Ref:- Mr Robertson, 5th KRV.
Umpire:- Mr Tom Maley.
Att:- 8000.
Articles
- Match Report (See Below)
- Official Site
Pictures
- Match Pictures
Stats
*Renton were expelled from the League and all their games were declared void.
**Cowlairs were deducted 4 points for a rules infringement.
From newspaper reports from the time.
Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh, was opened, on Saturday afternoon for the season, the visiting team being the famous Celtic. The match was the first League fixture played in Edinburgh. Extraordinary interest was taken In the event, and long before the advertised time for the kick-off crowds streamed into the ground. Altogether there would be close upon 8000 spectators present. Heavy showers of rain fell during the day, but the strong sun, which shone at intervals, did much to dry the ground.
The visitors arrived a few minutes late, with their advertised team. The Hearts were also at full strength. Prior to the kick-off the home team were photographed, the crowd being evidently impatient at the delay thus occasioned, and indulging in sarcastic comments on the proceeding. Play commenced twenty-five minutes late in a heavy shower of rain.
The Hearts, having won the toss, Groves kicked off. The home team, assisted by the elements immediately pressed, and after a few minutes work in Celtic ground, Baird put a shot across from the left which was missed by the right wing, and the ball crossed the line, Good play by the left wing of the Hearts was again seen, but Maley and Reynolds got the ball away and the front rank of the Celts gradually worked it down, Groves finishing up with shot which went a yard over the bar.
Foyers was cheered for stopping a run by Madden, and Jenkinson getting on the ball, passed to Baird, who, amid great excitement, sent it well in, but McKeown was on the spot, and kicked it out. Another shot by Baird was also kicked out by the Celtic left back. Madden got away on the right, and giving the ball to Dowds, the latter, with a long pass, transferred it to Dunbar who failed to catch it. It was, however, still in play, and the Hearts' defenders had to work hard to save their lines. The ball came out to Kelly, who put in a splendid shot. Dunbar tipped it in its progress towards the goal and Mackay just saved, falling in his effort to do so. The Hearts’ forwards worked their way up and Jenkinson gave the ball to Taylor, but the right winger had a very poor shot at goal.
Two minutes later an equally bad shot by Baird sent the ball over the line amid shouts of disappointment by the Hearts' followers. Bad kicking by Adams and Foyers followed the latter, with the last of the miserable efforts made, giving a corner.
Crossan took the kick and planted the ball at the foot of KelIy, who sent it across to Madden. The right winger with a good shot struck the crossbar and the ball passed under, giving the first goal to the Celtic after eleven minutes’ play amid loud cheers from the visiting contingent on the ground.
After further good play by Madden, and spasmodic attempts by the Hearts’ forwards, Baird, in lifting his foot high in the air to catch the ball, gave Dowds a bad kick on the eye, cutting it severely. Another eighth of an inch and the Celt would have lost his sight. The injured man required to leave the field, and weakened by this loss the Celts were pressed for five minutes.
While the efforts of the Hearts' fronts, however, were good enough to carry play into the Celtic' s half of the field, the combination when approaching goal was poor. The Celtic forwards broke away, and Foyers, who was very unsteady, gave a flukey kick.
This let the visitor’s centre off, and he put in a hot shot to Mackay, which the latter kicked out, but the ball coming to Madden, the right-winger again banged it through amid enthusiastic cheering. Play after this was conducted amid great excitement, which a continuous downpour of rain seemed unable to abate in the slightest.
The Celts, with only ten men; decidedly held their own, the play of a number of the Hearts team being flukey. Baird caught the ball almost on the goal-line and sent it across with a splendid screw. Taylor was lying handy, and let fly, the ball passing on the outside of the post so closely that the home supporters broke into enthusiastic cheering in the belief that it had gone through. When the ball was kicked off from goal there was a good deal of hissing, a number of the spectators apparently thinking that a plea of offside had been put in and sustained.
After ten minutes' absence, Dowds appeared on the field, and was greeted, with loud cheers. His head was bandaged up, and he did not resume his usual place, but changed positions with Dunbar. Aided by his return, the Celtics again commenced pressure on the Hearts.
The finest piece of play yet seen in the match now took place. Madden and Dunbar with a beautiful combined run, carried the ball down the right, bewildering Hill and Foyers in their progress. Madden, with a splendid kick passed into the centre. Groves was on the spot, and catching the ball on the hop, banged it through in a twinkling; this third success of the Celts fairly eliciting screams of jubilation from their supporters on the stand.
Madden, who was playing a splendid game, again carried the ball down and passing across to the left Dowds shot past. Baird worked hard on the left wing, but the advantage was invariably lost on the right, McKeown playing a fine game, and holding the men securely. Just before half-time the Hearts’ goal had a marvellous escape. Through another miserable piece of play by Foyers, Madden got past him, and sent the ball in towards goal where Crossan, coming in handily, kicked it in, but it rolled along the line and was ultimately got away amid great excitement.
At half-time the score stood :— Celtic, three goals: Hearts, none.
The second half was started by good play by Groves and Dowds. The Hearts' defenders worked hard, but the Celts maintained a good pressure, and another goal might have fallen to them had Dowds been able to see in making his shot. A free kick was given, to the visitors through Groves being tripped, but from the place the ball was lifted over the bar. Taylor endeavoured to make way on the right, and, assisted by Mason, had the better of McLaren, the international half-back, being much too fat to keep in check the smart right-winger.
Good play by the whole front rank of the Hearts carried the ball down the field, the passing reminding the spectators of what they are capable of doing. Baird’s shot, however, put the ball over the bar. The Celtic returned, and through a crowd of his opponents, Groves managed to set a shot, but MacKay caught the ball. A couple of questionable pieces of play by the home team gave the Celts two free kicks in front of goal, but on both occasions the ball was got away. After an attempt by the Hearts, another goal fell to the Celts in a manner that was simply confounding. Dunbar gave the ball to Dowds in the centre of the field, and the latter kicked it up past Adams.
Groves made a rush for the ball, and MacKay also rushed out of goal towards it. When half way the goalkeeper hesitated, and returned to his goal, but before he could reach it, Groves with a long shot-easily dropped the ball through. It is a long time since the Hearts were made such a show of, if we except last week at Ibrox Park. They appeared to be utterly disorganised, and to have no confidence in themselves. Apparently enraged at their want of success. Several members of the team did questionable things. Adams, in particular, was, in a very short time, penalised three times.
As indicating the one-sided nature of the game, it may be mentioned that people started to leave the ground half-an-hour before the finish. The Hearts tried hard, to notch a point, Taylor, fed by Begbie with the ball, especially prominent, but their disconcerted efforts seemed to have no chance of success. The reorganisation of the Celtic eleven seemed to have enormously strengthened them. The forwards were almost irresistible, and the usually strong defence of the Hearts was utterly unable to cope with them. At half-back Kelly was in great form; W. Maley worked hard, but his kicking was occasionally flukey; but McLaren was the worst of the lot being much too fat. McKeown and Reynolds were safe at back; but Bell's abilities as a goalkeeper could not be judged, as he was scarcely ever troubled.
A quarter of an hour from the finish, Dowds, who was now playing outside left, easily walked around Adams, and with a fine screw kick put the ball out of MacKay’s reach for the fifth time; amid loud shouts of laughter.
The match resulted:— Celtic, five goals; Heart of Mid-Lothian, none.