| Match Pictures | Matches: 1924 – 1925 | Pictures: 1924 – 1925 |
Trivia
- Scottish Cup 3rd Round
- Solway Star are based in Annan Dumfriesshire
- The team had been founded in 1911
- Celtic drawn v Solway Star, and are two league tiers above them.
- Solway Star might have gone out of the competition but their share of the gate takings of £320 would have eased their disappointment a little.
- The Glasgow Herald records the cup upset of holders Airdrieonians who lost 3-1 to Dundee at Dens Park. LINK
Review
In the early decades of the 20th century, a football team known as Solway Star was based in Annan, Dumfriesshire.
The team had been founded in 1911, initially only being involved in friendly matches and cup ties but in season 1923-24, they were invited to join the newly-formed 3rd Division along with Arthurlie, Beith, Brechin City, Clackmannan, Dumbarton Harp, Dykehead (Shotts), East Stirlingshire, Galston, Helensburgh, Leith Athletic, Mid-Annandale (Lockerbie), Montrose, Nithsdale Wanderers (Sanquhar), Peebles Rovers, Queen of the South Wanderers and Royal Albert (Larkhall).
In the Scottish Cup of 1921-22, Solway Star were beaten 7-2 in the first round by St Mirren. They then missed out in qualification for the 1922-23 and 1923-24 competitions but did get through to the 1924-25 Scottish Cup, where they beat Stenhousemuir 4-2 in Round One before overcoming Vale of Leven in Round Two by 2-1 in a replay after the first match ended in a 3-3 draw.
That, of course, put the Borders side in the draw for Round Three and when the teams were paired up at the SFA offices, the Solway Star officials must have been both delighted and a little apprehensive when their name came out alongside that of Celtic – pleased that they would pick up some money from the gate at Parkhead but possibly a little nervous about playing a side two divisions above them.
On this day in 1925, a crowd of 7,000 was inside Celtic start to witness the tie. Right from the start Celtic took control but their finishing was not good. Alec Thomson eventually opened the scoring with a header and near the interval Jimmy McGrory made it 2-0 to Celtic.
In the second half, Solway Star did come back into the match but their finishing was as erratic as the home team and Celtic held out fairly comfortably for a 2-0 victory.
The Celtic side on the day was Peter Shevlin, Willie McStay, Hugh Hilley, Jimmy McStay, Vincent McGrogan, John MacFarlane, Paddy Connolly, Patsy Gallagher, Jimmy McGrory, Alec Thomson and Adam Mclean.
Solway Star might have gone out of the competition but their share of the gate takings of £320 would have eased their disappointment a little.
Teams
CELTIC: Shevlin, W. McStay, Hilley, J. McStay, McGrogan,
McFarlane, Connolly, Gallacher, McGrory , Thomson, McLean
Scorers: McGrory, Thomson
Solway Star: Muir, Robinson, Harkins, Graham, Duncan, Hardie, W Alexander, Higgins, Edgar, Black, Smith
Referee: W. F. Campbell (Dundee)
Attendance: 7000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
- Match Pictures
Articles
The Glasgow Herald – Mon 23 Feb 1925
The home side were first to make progress, and the Solway Star defence was severely tested. After a long period of pressure Celtic opened the scoring. Thomson beating Muir with a header. Near the interval McGrory added Celtic’s second goal. In the second half Celtic continued the pressure, but Solway Star rallied and attacked the home goal, but their play was erratic end they failed to score.
The Scotsman Mon 23 Feb 1925
CELTIC SAFE
The Celtic got through their tie with Solway Star easier than the score of 2-0 would suggest, and it was only in the closing stages, when they were without the services of McGrogan, who was injured, that the visitors did any pressing. There was nothing exciting in the play, which was uninteresting from start to finish. The Celtic took the game in hand from the start, but half an hour had gone before they could get the better of the Solway defence. Muir distinguished himself on several occasions, but a run and shot from McLean found him in difficulties. He could only palm the ball out to Thomson, who headed into the net. From that point to the interval the Celtic were “on top”, but the visitors’ defence put up a plucky fight, Muir, Robinson, and Duncan especially doing good work. McGrory, however, got an opening and beat Muir with a fast ground drive. The play in the second half ran on the same lines, but the Solway Star never gave up trying. Several times they worked the ball nicely up to goal, but none of the forwards was quick enough to seize an opening and Shevlin had practically nothing to do. For the visitors their entire defence did well, and in the forward line that showed little combination Alexander and Higgins were best. The gate drawings amounted to £312 exclusive of tax, representing an attendance of about 9000.