| Match Pictures | Matches: 1919 – 1920 | Pictures: 1919-20 Pictures |
Trivia
- A Rangers' anthem of old ran a line: "at whose feet Paddy Gallacher falls, crown him, crown him, Fister Walls", which referred to the industrial methods employed by the half-back to stop the mercurial Patsy. In this case his rough-house tactics were too much for the referee and he saw red.
- The Glasgow Herald carrying the report of this game also has an article by their war correspondent Philip Gibbs who describes his first post war visit to the continent entitled "After the Storm" LINK
- In the Letters section of the Herald a defender of the increase in salaries of RC teachers chides the newspaper editorial which, the writer claims, is no better than the views of zealots opposing RC schools.
Review
Teams
CELTIC:
Shaw; McNair, W McStay, Gilchrist, Cringan, Brown; McAtee, Gallacher, McInally, McMenemy, McLean.
Shaw; McNair, W McStay, Gilchrist, Cringan, Brown; McAtee, Gallacher, McInally, McMenemy, McLean.
Scorers: McLean
RANGERS:
Referee: G. W. Hamilton, (Motherwell)
Attendance: 64,000
Articles
Glasgow Herald 8th September 1919
THE GLASGOW CUP
60,00 AT PARKHEAD
The meeting of Celtic and Rangers in the first round of the Glasgow Cup competition proved sufficiently interesting to attract 60,000 spectators to the ground and enclosure of the Parkhead club. Past performances and present equality indicated a strenuous contest, also that element of uncertainty which so fascinates in all branches of athletics and which has ever been a feature of Celtic and Rangers encounters. No teams have ever dis ted that elusive quantity known as form to those teams which have represented the Parkhead and Ibrox clubs for three decades. At present holders of the city trophy, and therefore the last to defeat Celtic in that competition, as one of the four clubs to take three points from the League champions last season, Rangers appeared less likely to than Celtic to meet with initial defeat on Saturday. The reception accorded the Ibrox players at the beginning of the game was testimony of the confidence felt by their admirers, and a more subdued welcome given the home team was equally expressive of mingled hopes and fears.
Celtic Forwards Surprise
But as so often happened in these inter-club contests, the enthusiasts were stilled, the faint-hearted elated, when early in the game the home forwards developed an attack that presaged a complete reversal of form. With McMenemy as the strategist of the line, Gallagher the tactician, McAtee and McInally bold and skilful foragers, the Ibrox defence was completely overran, and a less agile and resourceful custodian than Lark would have been beaten more than once before McLean ultimately scored. Aware of their limitations the Ibrox forwards did not attempt to establish an understanding with each other they could not maintain. The one player on the side who could hope to emulate McMenemy as a leader was lacking in inspiration for once, and the more robust Cairns, Cunningham and Archibald had perforce to resort to individual methods that were lost on McNair when not countered by Cringan and McStay. The first half ended with the reputedly weaker team holding a lead in play but faintly represented by McLean’s goal. The unexpected had happened once more.
Rangers’ Recovery.
But not for the first time, for hardly had Rangers become reconciled to the loss of Walls – dismissed by the referee for alleged unfair treatment of Gallagher – than the attacked became the attackers. Bowie at half-back became at once a defender and attacker, Gordon initiated many telling runs, Dixon for the first time held up the Celtic inside forwards, and gradually the numerically stronger team was beaten back, and all but beaten down. The last ten minutes found Rangers busily and unprofitably engaged at their opponents’ goal, and it would have been in keeping with previous experiences had Cairns and Dixon scored, as both so nearly did in the closing passages of an intensely exciting encounter. It was not Rangers’ good fortune however, to repeat their Glasgow Cup triumph of pre-war days when at Hampden and with ten players they overcame Celtic. Though narrowly beaten on Saturday by opponents who merited their victory, the Ibrox team showed sufficient courage and virility in defeat as to indicate victory coming their way when they meet their Cup conquerors in the League tournament.
The meeting of Celtic and Rangers in the first round of the Glasgow Cup competition proved sufficiently interesting to attract 60,000 spectators to the ground and enclosure of the Parkhead club. Past performances and present equality indicated a strenuous contest, also that element of uncertainty which so fascinates in all branches of athletics and which has ever been a feature of Celtic and Rangers encounters. No teams have ever dis ted that elusive quantity known as form to those teams which have represented the Parkhead and Ibrox clubs for three decades. At present holders of the city trophy, and therefore the last to defeat Celtic in that competition, as one of the four clubs to take three points from the League champions last season, Rangers appeared less likely to than Celtic to meet with initial defeat on Saturday. The reception accorded the Ibrox players at the beginning of the game was testimony of the confidence felt by their admirers, and a more subdued welcome given the home team was equally expressive of mingled hopes and fears.
Celtic Forwards Surprise
But as so often happened in these inter-club contests, the enthusiasts were stilled, the faint-hearted elated, when early in the game the home forwards developed an attack that presaged a complete reversal of form. With McMenemy as the strategist of the line, Gallagher the tactician, McAtee and McInally bold and skilful foragers, the Ibrox defence was completely overran, and a less agile and resourceful custodian than Lark would have been beaten more than once before McLean ultimately scored. Aware of their limitations the Ibrox forwards did not attempt to establish an understanding with each other they could not maintain. The one player on the side who could hope to emulate McMenemy as a leader was lacking in inspiration for once, and the more robust Cairns, Cunningham and Archibald had perforce to resort to individual methods that were lost on McNair when not countered by Cringan and McStay. The first half ended with the reputedly weaker team holding a lead in play but faintly represented by McLean’s goal. The unexpected had happened once more.
Rangers’ Recovery.
But not for the first time, for hardly had Rangers become reconciled to the loss of Walls – dismissed by the referee for alleged unfair treatment of Gallagher – than the attacked became the attackers. Bowie at half-back became at once a defender and attacker, Gordon initiated many telling runs, Dixon for the first time held up the Celtic inside forwards, and gradually the numerically stronger team was beaten back, and all but beaten down. The last ten minutes found Rangers busily and unprofitably engaged at their opponents’ goal, and it would have been in keeping with previous experiences had Cairns and Dixon scored, as both so nearly did in the closing passages of an intensely exciting encounter. It was not Rangers’ good fortune however, to repeat their Glasgow Cup triumph of pre-war days when at Hampden and with ten players they overcame Celtic. Though narrowly beaten on Saturday by opponents who merited their victory, the Ibrox team showed sufficient courage and virility in defeat as to indicate victory coming their way when they meet their Cup conquerors in the League tournament.
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
- Match Pictures