Match Pictures | Matches: 1946 | 1945-46 Pictures | Victory Cup

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Trivia

• Semi-final replay after 0-0 draw in first game of Victory Cup competition in which George Paterson's sending off was pivotal.
  
• A controversial replay which saw Rangers get loads of favours and trouble led to fines/suspensions for Celtic players and the club.
  
• In the other Semi-Final Hibernian beat Clyde 2-1 in front of a crowd of 30,000.
• One-off competition held after World War Two, won by Rangers.
  

Review

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Teams

Celtic:
Miller, Hogg, Mallan, Lynch, Corbett, McAuley, Sirrel, Kiernan, J.Gallacher, Paterson, Paton

Rangers:
Brown, Cox, Shaw, Watkins, Young, Symon, Waddell, Gillick, Thornton, Duncanson, Caskie
Scorers:
Waddell, Young (pen)

Referee:- Mr M.C. Dale (Glasgow)
Att:- 50,000

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THE SCOTSMAN (6 June 1946)

As a result of the Scottish Victory Cup Semi-Final Replay at Hampden Park, Glasgow last night, Hibernians will meet Rangers in the final at the same venue on July 15.

Last night Rangers beat Celtic 2-0 in a game spoiled by a remarkable incident which resulted in Paterson and Mallan of Celtic ordered off; and with Gallacher the Parkhead centre-forward, being forced to leave the field shortly after the restart, Celtic had to play most of the second half with eight men.

About 50,000 spectators saw the game, and while Rangers were good winners, Celtic were too severely handicapped in the second half to offer much opposition.

Waddell scored a very fine goal in the first half for Rangers, who, in twenty minutes after restarting were awarded a penalty when Thornton was brought down, Young converted, but not before the referee had the occasion to order off Paterson for contesting the decision. This incident marred what had been a good, well contested match. After the ordering off of the Celtic players, Rangers did not exert themselves fully, and they won in the end quite easily.

Miller again played a brilliant game in goal for Celtic, and Hogg and Millan were sound backs until the latter went to the pavilion.

Corbett was Celtic’s outstanding half-back, but the forwards never really settled and fell an easy prey to the solid Rangers’ defence in which Young, Cox and Shaw were dominant. From the start Rangers’ forwards played with a cohesion which Celtic’s front line never approached.

THE SCOTSMAN (13 June 1946)

The Referee's Committee of the S.F.A. yesterday announced their decision in connection with the incident in the Victory Cup tie between Celtic and Rangers at Hampden.

Paterson and Mallan of Celtic were suspended for three months and Lynch of Celtic for one month, to date from August 10. The Celtic Club were fined £50 and ordered to post warning bills, which must be renewed monthly.

THE SCOTSMAN (4 July 1946)

At a meeting of the S.F.A. Council yesterday, the Council rejected an appeal by M. Lynch of Celtic, against the sentence of one month suspension imposed recently by the Referee’s Committee.

The player denied that on the occasion of the replayed Victory Cup tie at Hampden Park against Rangers, following the ordering off of J. Mallan, he invited and incited members of the Celtic team to leave the field.

After hearing a statement by Mr R. Williamson (Morton), Chairman of the Referee’s Committee, the Council agreed unanimously that the appeal be dismissed.

THE SCOTSMAN (19 September 1946)

An application by Celtic F.C. for a reduction of the suspension sentence passed on two of their players George Paterson and J. Mallan was refused yesterday by the S.F.A. Executive Committee at a meeting in Glasgow.

The players were ordered off during the Celtic-Rangers Victory Cup tie at Hampden Park on June 5, and at a subsequent meeting of the Referee’s Committee, they were each suspended for three months until November 10.



The Glasgow Herald, June 6, 1946.

Rangers in Victory Cup Final

FROM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Rangers, 2; Celtic, 0.

By Defeating Celtic in the semi-final replay of the Victory Cup competition at Hampden Park, Glasgow, last night, Rangers qualified to meet Hibernian in the final on the same ground on June 15.

A scene remarkable in Scottish senior football occurred in the second half and completely spoiled what had previously been a hard and sporting game.

About 20 minutes from the end Rangers were awarded a penalty kick when Thornton, their centre-forward, was tackled and fell. After a protest by the entire Celtic team, the referee ordered off Paterson, the Celtic inside-left, who had been playing centre-forward at the time of the incident and who had been warned in the first half for appealing against a decision.

Celtic continued to protest, and after the ball had been replaced for Young to take the spot-kick, Mallan kicked it away. The left-back was immediately ordered off in turn.


Then when Young, Rangers centre half, had converted the penalty, one of the 43,000 spectators broke on to the field.
Play was stopped until he had been arrested by the police, who made three further arrests.

Later an obvious penalty kick was denied Rangers – as obvious as the one they failed to get in the first five minutes of the match when Miller the Celtic goalkeeper, in desperation gripped Gillick’s ankles when the inside right had side‐stepped his attempted dive to save.

The greasy ball and blustery wind had not prevented both teams from giving a first‐half display that was highly creditable. Celtic with a most unusual assortment of forwards, used the ball to extremely good advantage in the early minutes. Kiernan and Paterson being especially useful in contriving to keep the ball on the ground when they made the pass. But with the wind against them the Celtic defence found many of their clearances ballooning back on them and, as on Saturday, Miller had hardly an idle minute. Once again this goalkeeper played magnificently, as did Hogg and Mallan.


Rangers, more dangerous near goal, were, however, clearly superior. After Waddell had shot a most deliberate goal from Gillick’s excellent service, the crossbar kept out a smashing drive from the inside right.

Celtic’s nearest approach to a score was when Paton sped past Cox and when only five yards from goal missed his kick completely. The gallantry of Celtic’s defence let them turn round only one goal down – a slender enough lead for Rangers who then faced the wind. But after only one minute Gallacher was injured for the second time in the match and had to go to outside left. Soon afterwards he came down again, and had latterly to be carried off on a stretcher. With Sirrell limping on the right on the right wing and then the ordering off of the two others, Celtic were left with seven men and a cripple.

Rangers, one felt, were not unsympathetic towards their opponent’s plight and made no attempt to press home unduly their advantage. Teams.‐
Celtic – Miller; Hogg and Mallan; Lynch, Corbett and McAuley; Sirrell and Kiernan; Gallacher; Paterson, and Paton.
Rangers—Brown; Cox and Shaw; Watkins, Young and Symon; Waddell, Gillick; Thornton; Duncanson and Caskie.
Referee – M. C. Dale (Glasgow).