| Match Pictures | Matches: 1914 – 1915 | 1914 pics – 1915 pics |
Trivia
- Celtic & World War One
- The Glasgow Herald, noted for it's brevity where Celtic are concerned, give more coverage when the Bhoys suffer a setback and this match provides an opportunity for their schadenfreude.
- Ironically Ayr's only, and winning goal was scored by on-loan Celt, Joe Cassidy (later to be named Trooper Joe).
- The W McStay in defence for Ayr may be our Willie who joined the army and played as a guest for several teams but more research needed to confirm or otherwise.
- German forces have taken the city of Antwerp which has been defended by British and Belgian forces most of whom managed to withdraw without being taken prisoner.
- The US State Department is considering recognizing the government of General Carranza in Mexico but the question of $1m of taxes levied by the US while it occupied Vera Cruz has still to be settled, and until it is the US occupation force will remain.
Review
Teams
CELTIC:
Shaw, McNair, McGregor, Young, Dodds, Johnstone, McAtee, Gallacher, McColl, McMenemy, Browning
AYR UNITED:
Jack Lyall, John Bell, William McStay, John W Nevin, Herbert "Bert" Dainty, James "Switcher" McLaughlan, William Middleton, John Lawson Goodwin, James "Jimmy" Richardson, J Cassidy, Alex Gray
Scorer: Cassidy
Referee:
Venue: Somerset Park
Attendance: 10,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
- Match Pictures
Articles
Glasgow Herald, Monday 12th October, 1914
UNITED AND VICTORIOUS
The Celtic team of this season is as inconsistent as last season’s was the reverse, and as the elevens are identical, one can only fall back upon that hackneyed expression so often applied to cricket – the glorious uncertainty of the game – to explain away a defeat on Saturday at Ayr, where last season the Parkhead club won by half a dozen goals.
The Ayr officials claim considerable improvement for their team, and with good reason; but for an explanation of the difference between a 6-0 victory and a 0-1 defeat we shall have to look elsewhere – to the Celtic forwards in fact – as not even against Clyde in the Glasgow Cup tie was there such weakness in attack, though results were equally barren. Consistency rather than brilliancy ensures the League Championship and Celtic possessed both qualities last season. Now they are by turn brilliant and mediocre, as show by 8-0 victories over Greenock Morton and Dundee and ciphers against Clyde and Ayr United.
There is poetic justice in the defeat as no club suffered so much at the hands of the champions last season – 11-1 for two League matches, and Ayr’s first victory is rendered the more meritorious by their scoring the only goal of the game at a period when their centre forward was taking the place of Lyall in goal, the custodian having retired as a result of an accident.
The Scotsman, Monday 12 Oct 1914
The visit of the Celtic to Ayr attracted an attendance of fully 10,000 people, which was stated to be a record for the ground. The Celtic brought a big contingent of supporters from Glasgow by special train.
Dainty took his old place at centre-half for the United, and Johnstone resumed at left half for the Celtic. Neither side could claim much advantage in the first half, and if the finer points of the game were absent, there was nevertheless plenty to interest the spectators. Lyall and Shaw were seldom called upon, the forwards, as a rule finding the opposing backs too good for them.
The Celtic opened the second half as if they meant business, but their advantage was short-lived. Twenty five minutes or so had gone when McMenemy got through, but Lyall ran out and threw himself on the ball as the Celt was in the act of shooting. In the scramble which ensued, Lyall got a severe cut on the head, and was forced to retire. Richardson guarded the uprights in his absence, which lasted for a period of about ten minutes.
During Lyall’s absence Ayr played with renewed vim, and Goodwin was tackled in the act of shooting. The ball came out to Cassidy, who beat Shaw all the way.
The scene of enthusiasm which followed has rarely, if ever, been equalled at Somerset Park.
With their good lead Ayr kept at it, and in the end they won a great match.