1890-01-01: Celtic 3-2 Everton, Friendly

Matches: 1889 1890 | 1887-1900 | Forum

Celtic Games 1890 – Everton

Trivia

  • Friendly match played at Celtic Park, Parkhead.
  • Before 16,000 spectators.
  • Geary, of Everton, had to be played in goal because he had a bad knee.

Review

Wednesday afforded another example of the out-an-in form of the Celtic. One day they get crushingly defeated by Cowlairs; the next they defeat Everton, who have the distinction of being one of the best – if not the best – professional teams in England this season.
The Celts should be a little more consistent. They were ambitious to defeat Everton, they worked with that aim constantly before them, and meeting the Liverpool players with their own tactics, won a magnificent game by three goals to two.

Teams

Celtic:-
McLaughlin, Reynolds, McKeown, Gallagher, Kelly, McLaren, T Maley, Madden, Groves, Coleman, Dunbar.

Goals:- Maley 25, Maley 30, Maley.

Everton:-
Geary, Hannah, Doyle, Cain, Jones, Parry, Latta, Brady, Kirkwood, Chadwick, Millward.

Goals:- Jones, Millward.

Att:- 16,000.

Articles

Pictures

  • Match Pictures

From newspaper report from the time

Report 1

The Scotsman – Thursday, 2nd January 1890, page 2

Celtic v Everton – An immense crowd congregated at Celtic Park, Glasgow, yesterday to witness the second visit of the Everton. The weather was delightfully fine. The Celtic won the toss, and, playing up grandly, were soon busy round the Everton goal. The game was exceptionally fast, and play considerably in favour of the Celtic. Everton made great exertions to thwart the strong pressure brought to bear on Geary, but were only partially successful. Hannah and Doyle played hard to keep the men from Geary, but there was no holding in check the Celts, whose forwards, assisted by brilliant half-back play by McLaren, Kelly and Gallaher, forced the pace in an astonishing manner. Millward and Chadwick on the Everton right made fruitless endeavours to transfer the play to the opposite end, but were easily beaten back. After twenty-five minutes play, McLaren got nicely past the Everton halfs, and slipping the ball to Maley, that player promptly slipped the leather past Geary amid tremendous cheering. Unsuccessful attempts were made by the Everton to put a better complexion on the state of matters, but the game still went against them. Following this up, the Celts again attacked, but the ball was forced behind. Another incursion and a grand shot from McLaren struck the crossbar. Naughton caught the ball on the rebound, and for the second time the Everton goal fell. Still pressing, the Celts made it hot for their visitors, and McKeown sent a high ball into goal, and Maley taking advantage of a blunder by Hannah shot the third goal for the Celtic who led at half-time by three goals to nil. On resuming with the wind at their backs, the Everton were seen to better advantage. A corner fell to them, but proved unproductive. The game still proved as interesting as the preceding half. The Celts kept the play pretty open, and it was sustained with great dash. The Everton forwards combined much better, but found their opponents’ defence too strong. At last Jones beat McLaughlin from half-back. Open play followed and Groves and Maley each tried unsuccessfully to increase the score. Play was stubbornly contested to the close, and the result was a win for the Celtic, who avenged their former defeat by three goals to two.

Report 2

This match was played at Celtic Park in presence of 16,000 spectators. Kirkwood kicked off for Everton, the Celts having won the toss and played with the sun and the wind in their favour. The game was very fast from the start.
The Celtic pressed hard, being seldom away from the Everton goal. Geary defended in grand style until 25 minutes from the start McLaren beat the half backs, and Tom Maley scored amidst a wild scene of enthusiasm. Shortly afterwards the ball was again out through, but a foul was given beforehand, and the point was disallowed.
The Celts were fairly in it, and Everton could seldom pass midfield. At length Chadwick and Millward shot wide of the mark.
After 30 minutes’ play McLaren sent in a shot which struck the crossbar, and the ball landing at Maley’s feet, he scored the second goal for the Celts. Everton the put on pressure and gained a corner, which was unproductive.
Just about half time Maley scored the third goal for the Celts from a long kick by McKeown. Geary could not have saved. The game became very fast and exciting, and the Celts missed two chances.
At half time the Celts were leading by three goals to nil.
At the opening of the second there was a great improvement in the Everton play. The game became more open, and Everton were awarded a corner, which came to nothing, and then Chadwick shot over the bar. Previous to this Maley shot the ball into Geary’s hands, but he saved well.
Everton still pressed, and from a slanting shot by Jones they scored their first goal. Chadwick afterwards lost a good chance by shooting wide of the mark, and then Groves had a speedy run, and on passing the ball to Maley, the latter player shot wide of the goal by some yards.
A corner was conceded by the Celts, but it came to nothing. A foul was given against the Everton, but the strangers got away, and Latta nearly scored.
Millward who was lying at the post, scored the second goal for Everton. The Celtic disputed the point on the ground of offside, but the goal was allowed. The game had to be stopped for a short time owing to Parry being winded. A corner was afterwards granted to Everton, but it was badly taken.
Fast play followed on both sides, the Celts especially playing in grand form, particularly McLaren, Kelly, and McKeown.
A grand game ended in favour of the Celtic by 3 goals to 2. Just about the finish Groves had a run by himself, and would have scored but for Geary running out and sending the ball away.

January 2, 1890. The Liverpool Courier
The Everton who defeated the Celtic some months ago paid them a return visit to Parkhead, Glasgow, yesterday afternoon. The weather was fine, and there was an immense crowd, about 18,000 being present. The teams were: – Everton; Geary, goal, Hannah (Captain), and Doyle, backs, Cain, Jones, and Parry, half-backs, Latta, Brady, Kirkwood, Chadwick, and Milward forwards . Geary was placed in goal on account of his having a bad knee, and the usual goalkeeper could not get away. The following was the Celtic team: – McLagham goal, Reynolds, and McKeown backs, Gallacher, Kelly, and McLaren half-backs, Maley, Madden, Groves, Coleman and Naughton, forwards. The Celts were not fully represented; they won the toss, and played with wind and sun in their favour. Kirkwood kicked off for Everton, the Celts at once assured the aggressive, and got down in front of Geary, but a foul was given against them, and in a twinkling the strangers were at the other end, and would have scored, but for a grand save by McKeown. There was another grand run by Latta and Brady, and Everton would have scored, but for the marvelous work of McLaughan in goal, and latterly Chadwick shot behind. The game was exceedingly fast and well contested; the Celtic had the wind in their favour and pressed most, by their shooting was not accurate. After a time Everton renewed their aggressive tactics, and Chadwick sent in a beauty which was brilliantly saved by McLaughlan. The Celts obtained a free kick; a capital shot was sent in the ball striking the post and Doyle kicked it out. Again the Everton goal was besieged, but Geary fisted out smartly. Indeed Everton were now acting purely on the defensive, and the Celts had the hardest of hard lines in not scoring. Kelly, who was playing in grand form, sent in a beauty, but Geary had ample time to fist it out. The Celts making the pace hot for their opponents and Doyle had to kick into touch to save. Shot after the Celts, but all to no effect sent in shot, the defence was too good, there was also no element of luck in it. Another corner was granted the Celts and a goal almost resulted, Geary although hard pressed many time kept goal in grand style. The Everton made stremous endeavors, but Reynolds and McKeown were in grand form and repelled all attacks. After twenty-five minutes play they got down right in front of Geary and Mclaren beating the half-backs, Tom Maley scored amidst a scene of great enthusiasm. The Celts were fairly in, playing with great dash, and had it not been for the grand play of Hannah they would have scored again. However, the ball was sent through ultimately, but a foul was given beforehand and the point was disallowed. The Everton were now fairly hemmed in, and seldom got pass midfield. At length Chadwick and Milward had a nice passing run, but the parting shot was wide. The Celts again returned to the attack, and McLaren striking the crossbar, Naughton scored the second goal for the Celts, amid great cheering, after 30 minutes play. Everton then pressed and obtained a corner, which came to nothing, Kelly kicking the ball down the field. Just about the call of half-time Tom Maley scored the third goal for the Cetic, from a long kick by McKeown; Geary could not have saved. The game was very exciting, and the play was grand, but rough on both sides. Half-time result, Celtic 3 goals Everton nil. The second half saw an improvement in the Everton play. They made the game more open, and obtained a corner, which came to nothing. At the other end, and Maley shot the ball into Geary's hands, but he saved well. The Everton returned to the attack, but Chadwick shot over the bar, Everton continued their aggressive tactics, and after ten minutes play they scored their first goal, from a slanting shot sent in by Jones. The Celts again returned to the attack, and Geary saved well. The game was very fast and the Everton again came down in fine style, when Milward lost a good chance by shooting wide of the mark. Groves than had a speedy run, and passed to Maley, who shot wide by some yards. A foul was given against Everton for topping Groves, but Everton got away, and Milward scored the second goal from the left. The point was disputed on the plea of off-side, but the goal was given. The game had to be stopped for a short time owing to Parry being winded. A corner was afterwards granted, Everton, but it was very badly taken. A grand game ended in favour of the Celtic by 3 goals to 2.