1927-04-16: Celtic 3-1 East Fife, Scottish Cup Final

Trivia

• Scottish Cup final

• Celtic win Scottish Cup for 12th time.
• East Fife were the first Second tier team in the Final for thirty years
• The first Cup Final to be broadcast live on radio.
• John McMenemy playing for Celtic, his father having won six Scottish Cup titles with Celtic, so now seven Scottish Cup titles in the family.
• Celtic's last major trophy of the 1920s.

Review

Teams

Celtic:-
Thomson, W McStay, Hilley, Wilson, J McStay, McFarlane, Connolly, Thomson, McInally, McMenemy, McLean.
Goals:- Robertson 8 og. McLean 15, Connolly 46.

East Fife:-
Gilfillan, Robertson, Gillespie, Hope, Brown, Russell, Weir, Paterson, Wood, Barrett, Edgar.
Goal:- Wood 7.

Ref:- Mr T Dougray, Bellshill.
Att:- 79,500 / 80,070 (reports from the time differ)

Newspaper cuttings in an elastoplast tin

Articles

• Match Report (See Below)

Pictures

• Match Pictures

Report

Glasgow Herald 18th April 1927

From newspaper reports from the time.

The Celtic added lustre to their remarkable history by winning the Scottish Cup for the twelfth time at Hampden Park, Glasgow, defeating East Fife in the final by 3 goals to 1. The event will not be remembered as one of the most thrilling contests on record; as a matter of fact, for the major portion of the second half play was remarkably dull, but the appearance of a Second Division eleven in the last stage for the first time in nearly thirty years lent piquancy and interest to the encounter. That the Second Leaguers failed to crown a remarkable run of Cup successes, in the course of which they administered knock-out blows to First League teams in Aberdeen, Dunfermline Athletic, and Partick Thistle, was a big disappointment to the sporting public, whose fancy had been caught by the plucky Fifers.

For exactly seven minutes there was a prospect of the redoubtable Celtic being overthrown. East Fife gave themselves the tonic their admirers earnestly desired for them – a goal in the first seven minutes. Barrett and Edgar between them smartly outwitted Wilson, and the wing man manoeuvring out of an awkward position at the corner, lifted the ball beautifully into the centre, where Wood turned it into the neat with his head.

A BITTER PILL
That point, of which the crowd expressed their approval in a titanic roar of delight, should have been the foundation of East Fife’s success, if success were to be attained. Congratulations were short-lived, however, for within a minute the Celtic were on level terms, and it was a bitter pill for East Fife that such an important point should have been literally gifted to their opponents. Connolly turned the ball across the goalmouth, too far in to be within reach of McInally, and Robertson, the East Fife right-back, in endeavouring to trap the ball, turned it into the net well out of Gilfillan’s reach. A more crestfallen player than Robertson it would have been difficult to imagine.

In old actuality that goal was the turning point of the game. East Fife a goal to the good would have fought like tigers to hold their lead; on an equal footing they were never too sure of themselves, and anxiety was written over much of their play. Not that they struck their colours, on the contrary they fought dourly to the end, but rather as those who have not much hope than as a team bidding for victory.

Within fifteen minutes, the Celtic craft had gained the whip hand and they took the lead by McLean, who dashed in to snap a cross from Connolly to round off a delightful passing movement that had the East Fife defence completely beaten. It was the best goal of the three obtained by the winners. The third one came immediately after the interval. Straightway after the kick-off Connolly dashed away, and, running through the defence, lifted the ball over Gilfillan’s head into the far corner of the net.

SUPERIOR HALF-BACKS
Two goals ahead, the Celtic played delightful football. From toe to toe the ball travelled with the minimum of effort on the part of the players, the half-backs giving their forwards innumerable opportunities which were not turned to account. McInally was the principle offender. Time and again he shot wildly when well placed. Of the front line the wing men were best, but the principal honours for the winners were easily taken by the half-backs. They were far ahead of the East fife three, and the distinctions of class between the sides were most emphasised in that department.

The Celtic men appeared to through a vast amount of work with effortless ease, whereas East Fife were continually on the run. They were always chasing the ball, and when they got it, they banged it away without overmuch attention to placing. As a result the Fife forwards suffered. Edgar, when he got the opportunity, showed that he was a dangerous attacker, but he was not played to as he should have been. All the forwards, however, were triers, and when they got a semblance of a chance they banged the ball towards Thomson without overmuch time being wasted in manoeuvring.

In defence, East Fife were well served by Gillespie and Gilfillan, both of whom kept cool heads all through. No one worked harder than the left back who tackled well and cleared with power.

In the end the Celtic were good winners on play, and with a scoring centre might have won by a much bigger margin. Of the losers it could be said they fought well and took the credit that goes to plucky losers. Their prospect of victory was shattered when they lost their lead.

With the weather conditions fine, there was a large attendance, the official estimate of the crowd being 79,500, who paid £3200 in admission money, exclusion of tax and stands.