1914-08-15: Heart of Midlothian 2-0 Celtic, League Division 1

Match Pictures | Matches: 1914 1915 | 1914 pics1915 pics

Trivia

  • World War One
  • In this, the first match Celtic played during World War One, Hearts shocked the champions in the opening game of the new season.
  • The match would prove to be a good indicator for the season ahead as the Edinburgh side emerged as the main rivals to the Hoops.
  • After Saturday’s match the first steps were taken to conclude unfinished business betwee Celtic and Burnley when a coin was tossed to decide the venue of the Budapest Cup decider. Burnley won.
  • Celtic fans who travel to Tynecastle by train may have stopped for a pint in “Paddy’s Bar” without realising that this pub was named after its Hearts player owner Paddy Crossan.
  • The Glasgow Herald records the death of the Rev. Jacob Primmer, minister of Townhill, Fife who organised the “Great Protestant Demonstrations” and wrote several books including “Which is the Greater Evil Rome Or Rum? and the Cure for Both.”

Review

Of the eight Heart of Midlothian players mentioned by name in the Scotsman report below, three, Tom Gracie, Henry Wattie, and James Hodge Speedie were killed in action in WWI. LINK

The only Celtic player mentioned by name in the report, Peter Johnstone, was also killed in action in WWI, and a memorial garden is being constructed in his home village in Fife to commemorate him. LINK

Teams

CELTIC:
Shaw, McNair, Dodds, Young, Johnstone, McMaster, McAtee, Gallacher, McColl, McMenemy, Browning


HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN:

A. Boyd, Crossan, Frew, Briggs, Mercer, Nellies, Low, Wattie,Gracie, Speedie, Wilson
Scorers: H. Wattie, T. Gracie (88min).

Venue: Tynecastle
Referee: T. Dougray
Attendance: 18,000

Articles

  • Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

  • Match Pictures

Articles

Hearts v Celtic 1914

First game in WWI

The Heart of Mid-Lothian had every reason to feel satisfied with their two clear goals
victory at Tynecastle, Edinburgh, over the Celtic, the Parksiders being able to do
everything but score. That the Hearts kept their goal intact was almost wholly due to
the adamant defence of Boyd their new custodian, and to the clever tackling of their
full backs, Crossan and Frew. To defeat such a powerful combination as the Celtic
requires more, however, than a stalwart defence, and it was only by an all round
exhibition of pluck, grit, and determination that victory was obtained by the Tynecastle
brigade. Mercer, at centre half in the first portion of the game and at outside right in
the other, was the best player engaged; but for injury to his knee just before the interval
it is rather more than likely that the Hearts victory would have been still more decisive.
Johnstone the Celtic centre half, was a host in himself, as Gracie, the Hearts new centre,
found to his cost. The latter, for all that, paid his way in the Tynecastle side. Wattie, who
opened the scoring, played his usual robust, and sound game, although the cleverest
touches in the home van came from the left wing, Speedie and Wilson. The second goal
was got by Gracie near the close. There were 18,000 spectators.

N.B.
Of the eight Heart of Midlothian players mentioned by name in this Scotsman report, three, Tom Gracie, Henry Wattie, and James Hodge Speedie were killed in action in WWI.
The only Celtic player mentioned by name, Peter Johnstone, was also killed in action in WWI.