| Match Pictures | Matches: 1920–1921 | 1920 pictures |
Trivia
- Celtic, thanks to a Gallacher rebound off a saved penalty from McStay, win an open game. Celtic legend Jimmy McMenemy plays his first game against the club which he served with distinction, while James B Murphy makes his first team debut.
- The Glasgow Herald carrying the report of this game leads its home news with a report entitled “A Wild Weekend in Cork” with news of the troubles in Ireland, where it reports the burning of the heart of Cork city, but suggests it was not the auxiliaries but IRA who did it. LINK
- Also in the Herald is an advert for the Christmas pantomime “Babes in the Wood” at the Coliseum Theatre, starring Sybil Arundale in the female lead.
Review
Teams
CELTIC:
Scorer: Gallacher.
PARTICK THISTLE:
Referee: A M Mabon (Motherwell)
Attendance: 30,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
- Match Pictures
Articles
Match report from The Scotsman, 13th December 1920
[…] The 30,000 spectators present at the Celtic-Partick Thistle encounter at Celtic Park saw a game worth going to see. The teams were evenly matched, and the verdict hung in the balance practically the whole ninety minutes. Fifteen minutes after the start the Celtic were awarded a penalty kick for an infringement against McInally. McStay struck the bar from the spot, but Gallagher, catching the ball on the rebound, drove it into the net. In the second half, the Thistle made a strong effort to draw level, but could not get the better of Celtic’s strong defence. McMenemy made his first appearance against his old club, and was the Thistle’s best forward until he retired ten minutes from the finish knowing to a leg injury.
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The Glasgow Herald – Dec 13, 1920
Celtic’s Weakness
The principal game in Glasgow was the meeting of Celtic and Partick Thistly at Celtic Park as, besides being old opponents, the clubs stood second and third respectively on the table of merit. An additional interest was imparted to the meeting by the appearance, for the first time of McMenemy, the noted Scottish international player in opposition to Celtic in whose ranks he built up his deserved reputation. The match was won by Celtic through the agency of a penalty kick correctly awarded for a simple-looking offence, but it may be said at once that Celtic justified their victory by a right superiority in play. Partick Thistle had credit in their display, and it seems fairly well established now that the acquisition of McMenemy has raised the standard of football appreciably above what we have been accustomed to witness from Partick Thistle in recent years. Celtic’s strength, and at the same time their weakness was demonstrated in defence, the power and ability of McNair and McStay at back being counteracted by mediocre play in the intermediate division.
Celtic’s Weakness
The principal game in Glasgow was the meeting of Celtic and Partick Thistly at Celtic Park as, besides being old opponents, the clubs stood second and third respectively on the table of merit. An additional interest was imparted to the meeting by the appearance, for the first time of McMenemy, the noted Scottish international player in opposition to Celtic in whose ranks he built up his deserved reputation. The match was won by Celtic through the agency of a penalty kick correctly awarded for a simple-looking offence, but it may be said at once that Celtic justified their victory by a right superiority in play. Partick Thistle had credit in their display, and it seems fairly well established now that the acquisition of McMenemy has raised the standard of football appreciably above what we have been accustomed to witness from Partick Thistle in recent years. Celtic’s strength, and at the same time their weakness was demonstrated in defence, the power and ability of McNair and McStay at back being counteracted by mediocre play in the intermediate division.