1904-04-16: Celtic 3-2 Rangers, Scottish Cup Final

Articles

Glasgow Herald 18th April 1904

The Scotsman, Monday 18th April, 1904.

FOOTBALL

SCOTTISH CUP FINAL

RANGERS V. CELTIC

Never in the history of the Association game in Scotland have two clubs attracted such a crowd as which witnessed the thirty-second final for possession of the Scottish Cup, played on Saturday at the Queen’s Park ground at New Hampden, Glasgow, between the Celtic and Rangers.

The capacious and splendidly equipped enclosure of Queen’s Park, which is reckoned the largest and best in the kingdom, had hitherto not been really tested, so that, with a view to that being done, the Scottish Association officials departed from the usual admission charge of a shilling and tied it at the popular sixpence, and that the reduced charge appealed to enthusiasts from all quarters was readily seen by the crowds which thronged the three entrances to the ground. The scenes at the Inter­national the previous week at Celtic Park paled before those of Saturday at New Hampden.

There were over forty turnstiles working, and yet these were unable to cope with the thousands who besieged the gates. Long queues led up to all the approaches to the ground, and even when the game had started there were still thousands who had not got inside the gates. All previous records for a club game were exceeded, and the “gate” yielded £1400, which represents an attendance of sixty thousand spectators. The stands and reserved enclosures produced £400.

The attendance was twenty thousand in advance of that which witnessed the International, and only four thousand below the largest crowd that ever attended the Scottish – English International on this side of the Border. The largest gate drawings which the Scottish final had yielded previous to Saturday were taken in 1893 on the occasion of the meeting between Celtic and Queen’s Park at Ibrox, when £1401, 12s, 9d, was the sum which the clubs divided. That, however, was shilling gate, and only represented an attendance of thirty thousand spectators, which was exactly half the number that crowded New Hampden on Saturday.

It was truly a red letter day for Scottish Association football, for even the most ardent official never cherished the idea that a crowd of such dimensions would have flocked to the game.

Inside the enclosure the scene was a particularly striking one. On all sides of the ground, save the eastern portion, the spectators were congregated in a manner that reminded the onlooker from the stands of representations of the amphitheatres of old. They rose, tier upon tier, nothing but a sea of faces met the eye on every side.

The terracing was of the safest description, being built on a solid earth banking, and having a plentiful supply of sway resisters. So well arranged was the enclosure that from all parts of the ground the spectator never had his view obscured, which is one of the most commendable features of the ground.

For the game the weather was all that could be desired. Both teams had changes in their eleven, the Rangers being minus Hamilton and Fraser, while the Celtic were unable to play Bennett.
The Game.

The Celtic lost the toss, and Quinn kicked off against the breeze. The loss of the toss appeared to affect the Parkhead forwards very slightly, as they early got into a fine-going stride, and by dint of pretty passing, dashing wing play, and readiness in shooting, they caused their opponents to take a secondary position.

During this period of stress the Ibrox defence stood the test gallantly, and if the trickery of the opposing forwards was at times hard to combat, and if their shooting frequently gave cause for much anxiety, Drummond and his comrades at the end of ten minutes had the satisfaction of repelling the opposition.

A. Smith then broke away for his side and after giving Young and McLeod the slip, he shot across the goal, where Speedie, from a good position, headed into the custodian’s hands, Adams clutched the ball, but, being apparently excited, he let it drop at his feet and roll into the net, thus giving his opponents a goal on their first visit.

Matters had been going so badly with the Rangers previous to this that this unlooked for goal gave them the necessary heartening. The spirit of the Celtic attack began to flicker, and then the Ibrox side, getting their opponents in a wavering condition, rushed all before them. Smith on the left was again prominent, and in another run by him he forced McLeod to concede a corner. This was well taken by himself, and as the ball sped goalwards the players clustered in front of the custodian. The ball, however, fell at the feet of Speedie, who banged it into the net, amid much enthusiasm. The custodian had his vision completely obscured by the players in front.

The Celtic, who had opened with such irresistible dash, and who had raided their opponent’s goal on numerous occasions, but failed to score, looked like falling to pieces after such rapid and unexpected successes on the part of their opponents. For a time they could do nothing right, and the Rangers, cheered to the echo by their supporters, who were in the happiest state of mind, ran through all opposition and shot from all ranges. The game was proceeding on the fastest lines, and there was no laggard on either side.

Gradually the Celtic worked back to their earlier position, their forwards once more taking up the running and keeping the opposing defence ever on the alert. Somers, owing to a slip by Drummond, got through the defence and shot with great force at Watson. The custodian, however, saved cleverly.

Though two goals down, the Parkhead eleven were playing the better game, and when at length Quinn ran in and scored a cleverly taken goal, they only got their just reward. Having all the play and only a goal down gave the Celts great encouragement, and maintaining the fast pace they set at the start, the Parkhead forwards were proving a difficult lot to overcome.

Towards the interval, Muir ran up the wing at a great rate, and when approaching goal he was met by Robertson and Drummond. He succeeded in evading both these players, and from the corner flag centred with fine judgement. Quinn, who was in front of goal, met the ball, and sent it past Watson for the second time. This, the equalising goal, was greeted with great cheering.

Staggered by this transformation, the Rangers responded with great vim, Walker on the right making ground by means of smart foot work. A well-judged shot across the goal by him gave Mackie and Speedie a chance to score, but both these players missed the ball. Half-time then arrived, with the game standing: – Rangers, two goals; Celtic, two goals.

SECOND HALF.

After a prolonged interval, the game was resumed. At the start the Rangers were the more dangerous side. Walker got off by himself, and, having successfully passed Hay and Orr, he sent, well into goal. Here Mackie and Speedie were slow to accept the opening, and Loney cleared.

The Celts in their first break away forced a corner off Drunmond, which was cleared by Stark. Then Smith on the left, for the Rangers, changed the aspect of affairs by sprinting along the wing. When challenged by Young and McLeod, he sent the ball across to Mackie, who, rushing in on goal, had no one to beat but Adams, but, to the astonishment of all, the centre sent the ball over the bar.

This lucky escape caused the Celts to make desperate efforts to get away from the role of defenders. Hay was the player who gave the forwards the first opportunity to break away, and this they did to effect, for on reaching goal a shot by Somers grazed the upright. Then Quinn scampered off past the halves. He was shaping straight for goal when Drummond met the ball with his hand, and a free-kick was given.

Walker next made progress, but was beaten by Hay, from whose return Muir dashed on for goal. He, however, was well held by Robertson, though Muir forced a corner from which N. Smith all but scored against his side by heading past the post.

Following that a free kick against the Celts for an infringement by Young looked promising for the Rangers, but Young, stepping in at the right time, robbed Robertson of the ball, after which Quinn got off, but to the relief of the Rangers he was adjudged off-side.

The play continued as fast as ever and the Celts did most of the attacking, beautiful play by the Parkhead forwards brought them near Watson, where a splendid cross shot by Muir was cleverly saved by the custodian. Only occasionally did the Rangers succeed in becoming dangerous, so frequently were the Celts attacking.

Fifteen minutes of the game had yet to go, and still the leading goal was wanted. Muir got the chance to score it, but, delaying to shoot, he was forcibly bowled over by Drummond.

That the Celts were the likeliest set to get the winning goal was seen by the dashing work of their forwards. Quinn all but got the point, for, having beaten Stark and Drummond, he was only disposed of by W. Smith at goal.

A long kick by N. Smith was met by Orr, who, after dribbling a bit, sent on to Hay, who in turn slipped the ball forward to Quinn. Catching it on the side of his foot, he sent it past Stark, and racing at top speed he made for goal. There was keen excitement us he sped on, with the Rangers’ backs running close on him, and endeavouring to charge him off. He, however, clung to the ball till within an arm’s length of Watson, when he softly tipped it into the net for the third time.

The supporters of the Parkhead side cheered lustily, and the Celtic players themselves, having got the lead, gave many signs of their delight.

A run by Donnochie looked like dampening the joy of the Celts, for from only a few yards from goal he shot with much force and with good aim, but fortunately for his side Adam was on the spot and saved.

After that the game was more than ever in favour of the Celtic, who easily maintained their lead to the close.

Celtic……………………………..Three goals.
Rangers…………………………..Two goals.