1890-04-12: Celtic 1-1 Notts County, Friendly

Match Pictures | Matches: 18891890 | 1887-1900 | Forum


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Trivia

  • Played at Celtic Park, Parkhead.
  • Before 4000 spectators.
  • Willie Groves was playing for former club Hibernian, in their Roseberry charity Cup defeat to Hearts.
  • McKeown and McLaren were also supposed to play but never travelled through to Edinburgh.
  • Groves scored one goal for Hibernian in the defeat.

Review

At Celtic Park the Celtic had a visit from Notts County, a team that includes such well-known Scotch exponents of the game as the Oswald brothers, Calderhead, and Ferguson. The County were fully represented, but the Celts were without McLaughlin, Coleman, Groves, Kelly, and McLaren, several Cowlairs men forming able substitutes.
The match was exceedingly well contested, and resulted in a draw of one goal each. The Notts forwards played a clever passing game, but were met by stubborn defence. The Celts forwards especially John McPherson (Cowlairs), Kerr (Cowlairs), and H Gallagher were in capital form, and severely tested the strength of the strangers’ back division, brilliant as was the defence of McLean and McMillan, and Toone in goa.

Teams

Celtic:-
Duff (Cowlairs), McKeown, Reynolds, Dowds, P Gallagher, James McPherson (Cowlairs), Dunbar, John McPherson (Cowlairs), Maley, H Gallagher, Kerr (Cowlairs).

Goal:- Maley 1.

Notts County:-
Toone, McMillan, McLean, Ferguson, Calderhead, Shelton, John Oswald, Oswald, Daft, Smith, McInnes.

Goal:- McInnes.

Att:- 4000.

Ref:- Mr Robertson (3rd KRV)

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From newspaper reports from the time

Notts County, a team which reached well into the final stages of the English Cup competition Played at Celtic Park. This famous English combination of first-class amateur and professional talent oppose the Celtic at Parkhead before 4000 spectators. The visitors were at full strength, but the Celtic were short of half their usual team. Coleman and Kelly were on the injured list, while Groves was assisting his old club at Edinburgh. Madden, McLaren and McLaughlin were away owing to unforeseen circumstances. It was fortunate Cowlairs were disengaged, and the services of such well-known players as the brothers McPherson, duff and Kerr, all of that club, were readily scoured.
Losing the toss, Tom Maley kicked off for the Celts against a slight breeze. the play opened fast and exciting, the Celts, being early prominent, Maley scoring with a good shot in the first minute of the game. the Notts were completely taken by surprise at this early reverse, and, they played up desperately hard. Daft and the two Oswalds were next conspicuous for clever play on the left and centre, but McKeown interposed on the first occasion, and Duff smartly saved a good shot a minute later. The game was a particularly good one, the combination of the Notts being ahead of their opponents. The Celts, notwithstanding, were equally as effective – in fact, a shade more so – McPherson, Dunbar and Kerr in front playing an admirable game. They found most trouble from Toone in goal. Celtic repeatedly looked like increasing their score, but the consistent play of the players mentioned brought them up. After James Oswald had twice narrowly missed scoring for Notts, McInnes rushed in and quickly shot past Duff. At half-time the score was the same, and amid additional excitement the game resumed. Maley opened the second half with a brilliant run and wound up with a scorcher, which Toone saved. Notts responded well. Throughout, the game was well contested, and exceedingly interesting to watch but it was left drawn – one goal each.