1891-02-14: Celtic 4-0 Third Lanark, Glasgow Cup

Matches: 1890 – 1891 | 1887-1900 | League Tables: 1890-91

Trivia

• Celtic’s first ever major trophy.

• Glasgow Cup Final
• The final tie for the Glasgow Cup between Third Lanark and Celtic was played at Hampden Park.
• Attendance was estimated at about 10,000 spectators.
• “Celtic have won a cup at last!”
• The trophy was presented on 25th February 1891 (11 days after the final!), see below report.
• Celtic had lost the 1889 Glasgow Cup final 3-2 to Queen’s Park, then the premier and most prestigious side in Scotland.
• Celtic had also lost the 1889 Scottish Cup final to Third Lanark.
• Game was played at Second Hampden (later to be Cathkin Park home of Third Lanark)

Review

Every journey begins with a single step, and in Celtic’s illustrious and dramatic existence, this tournament gave Celtic its first major trophy.

Granted Celtic had already won the Glasgow North Eastern Cup, but with all due respect that did not hold the same kudos as this cup did.

In the early days, it was the Scottish Cup, the League and the Glasgow Cup (in that order) which had the greatest status for teams in Scotland. The league had only just began, and so the Cups had the most history.

Celtic had had a fine start to the club’s existence, but the honeymoon was over and some success was needed to help support the investment that had been made in the club to date (in terms of time & emotional investment as much as financial). Celtic to survive had to justify their ambitions, as football clubs going in & out of business was not uncommon in the early days.

Celtic had already lost a few finals so it was time to bury that record.

Having lost the 1889 Glasgow Cup final, a repeat had to be avoided.

This time Celtic were playing Third Lanark in front of what would be seen now as a more modest size crowd of 10,000 but back then was quite sizeable for a club football match in those fledgling days. Celtic’s support was wholly partisan which was something that was changing football, rather then having neutral fans attending games as was commonly the norm back then. Celtic fans were very loud it was said:

“The Irish were very voluable“.

The match was to be wholly one-sided as Celtic ran rampant.

Chances at both ends, and Celtic went in front from an own goal to take Celtic thru to half-time. Dowds and then Campbell (x2) helped seal the final for Celtic.

“The Glasgow Football Association’s cup was presented last night to the winners – the Celtic. The proceedings took the form of a smoking concert in the Royal restaurant, West Nile Street.”

Cheers and songs filled the air through the night to celebrate. The tournament may have since long lost its lustre, but in the early days it was a major achievement. Far greater was to come but in its own way this victory had helped set Celtic up for the future.

Teams

Celtic:-
Bell, Reynolds, McKeown, P Gallagher, Kelly, W Maley, Madden, Boyle, Dowds, Campbell, Dunbar.
Goals:- Lochhead og 20, Dowds, Campbell, Campbell.

Third Lanark:-
Downie, A Thomson, Smith, Scott, Love, Lochhead, Lapsley, W Thomson, Johnstone, Burke, McInnes.

Att:- 10,000.
Ref:- Mr Watson, Dundee.

Umpires:- Mr Bishop, Falkirk and Mr Mackay, Campsie.
Stadium: Hampden Park (Second Hampden)

Articles

The Scotsman – Monday, 16th February 1891, page 4

Third Lanark v Celtic – This match was played on Hampden Park before a large attendance of spectators. The Celts kicked off, and the Third took up the running strongly during the first ten minutes. The Celts then wakened up, and had a bit of the best of the exchanges during the next five minutes, eventually scoring through Dowds. The Celts now played up with increased vigour, and the Volunteers made some bad misses near goal. The game was by no means one-sided, but the Celts were certainly the most dangerous when near goal. The game was stopped for a few minutes owing to Boyle having deliberately kicked Love.

The Celts’ defence was the steadfast of the two. The Third pressed hard towards the close, and Bell had to do all he knew to save. Half-time – Celts, one goal; Third, nil. On resuming the Third assumed the aggressive and had very hard lines during the first five minutes, Lapsley missing by inches. The Third continued having the best of it for a time, but the Celts raised siege and Dowds added goal number two after ten minutes’ play. At this point the Third seemed completely demoralised, and the Celts kept up a continuous peppering at Dowie, who managed to save well for a time, but latterly had to succumb to a shot from Campbell.

The game now became an utter rout of the Third and the Celts had little difficulty in putting on a fourth goal, and time after time seemed on the point of adding further to their score. The Third made futile efforts to stem the tide, but it was no use. The finish found the Celts victors by four goals to nil.

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Newspaper report from the time…

The Celts lost the toss, and punctual to time Dowds kicked off in the face of the wind. After some play in mid-field the Third banged the ball to the Celts’ end, when Bell rushed out and cleared. madden and Boyle had a speedy run on the Celts’ right, and some hot work was witnessed in the Third’s endeavours to stop them. Campbell and Dunbar forced the pace to some purpose, and Andrew Thomson had to kick out to save his side. W Maley sent in a magnificently judged shot, high in the air, sad the ball landing on the side of the post Downie jumped up and smartly fisted away. A sharp attack followed on the part of the Volunteers, and they would have scored but for Reynolds heading away.

The Third, however, returned to the attack, and, one of the backs giving a corner, the Celts had an anxious time of it in defending their charge. Bell, however, proved equal to the occasion, and once more the Celts found themselves careering to the other end. from a pass by Kelly, the forwards had a beautiful run, but Smith headed the ball down the field.

The Volunteers had ultimately to concede a corner, but it was fruitless, and a throw-in falling to the Third, the pressure was relieved. The Celts were soon back again, and the ball passed from forward to forward in front of Downie, and was eventually allowed to run past harmlessly. After twenty minutes’ play a loud shout announced that the Celts had scored their first goal.

Campbell centred beautifully, and the ball rebounding from the post, Lochhead inadvertently sent it through his own goal. From a huge return by Smith, who was in champion form, the Third had a chance to equalise. They made the most of the advantage, but Bell having saved, all danger was averted. The Celts then pressed, and W Maley tried a long shot which was very near the mark. The Celts were having all the best of the play now, fairly playing round the Third at times, Madden and Dowds being most prominent in the attack, and doing some really clever things. The Thirds forwards were doing their very utmost to put a better complexion on the game, and once or twice their efforts nearly took effect. W Maley was undoubtedly the best of the half-backs, and some of his efforts were deservedly cheered.

Johnston was the most conspicuous in the Volunteers’ front division, and tried hard to score, but was not ably backed up. Working away with great persistency, the Third were now showing up better, and several times stormed the Celtic citadel. Scott sent in a grand shot, but it did not take effect, and at half-time the Celts were leading by one goal to nil.

The Celts had the wind with them in the second half. the Volunteers at once led the attack, and Burke forced Reynolds to concede a corner. Lapsley immediately headed the ball through, but he was judged off-side, and the point disallowed. The Celtic carried the ball to the other end, and a foul was given against the Volunteers near their goal, but W Maley shot the ball past. A rapid run by Burke was only stopped by a supreme effort of Reynolds; and the ball being transferred to the Thirds territory, Dunbar sent in a beautiful long shot, but Downie, catching the ball, eluded his opponents before anyone got near him. The Third were showing much better in this half, and playing a dashing, bustling game, fairly kept the Celts at bay, and once or twice nearly scored.

The Celts had a hard time of it in repulsing the third’s forwards, but at length, mainly through the instrumentality of Kelly, relief came, and Thomson had to concede a corner. from the kick Dowds banged the ball through, scoring the second goal amidst a wild scene of enthusiasm, and immediately afterwards they nearly had a third.

Downie saving at the expense of a corner. The Celts were now fairly hemming in their sturdy opponents, and a foul against the Parkhead men was a welcome relief. But the Celts were having all the best of it, and it was the merest chance that prevented them scoring. But it came at length, Campbell sending the ball through, scoring the third goal. the point was disputed, but allowed. From a foul against the Celts Love nearly scored, the ball just sailing over the bar. Madden scored a fourth goal cleverly for the Celts, but the referee disallowed it, judging him offside. The Volunteers were clearly outplayed, Lochhead and Smith being about the only men who put life into the game. From a foul Campbell shot a fourth goal for the Celts. The Third could make no headway, and for once were completely hemmed in till the close, a rather one-sided game resulting as follows:-

Celtic, 4 goals; Third, 0 goals.