| Matches: 1892 | 1893 | 1887-1900 | League Tables: 1892-93 |
Trivia
- A strange occurrence happened at this game. Pat Gallagher scored a goal after some great play by Celtic in just the first minute. Renton boss Councillor Angus Campbell and the Celtic Party on the Tynecastle pavilion balcony applauded, which led to the Hearts secretary to see red and ordered them off, even invoking the police to evict them!
Review
Teams
Celtic – Cullen; Dunbar and Doyle; W. Maley, Kelly, and Clifford; Gallacher, Coleman, Madden, Campbell, and McMahon.
Articles
The Scotsman – Monday, 29th August 1892, page 4
Heart of Mid-Lothian v Celtic – A brilliant opening in their home engagements in the League competition was made by the Heart of Mid-Lothian on Saturday, when they defeated such a powerful combination as the Celtic, the holders of the Scottish Cup, Glasgow Association Cup, and Glasgow Charity Cup.
Probably no club match at Tynecastle has been productive of such an extraordinary amount of interest as the match under notice evoked, and the reason for that was not too far to seek, as it was generally expected that the game would give a very good indication of the chances of the teams in the important competitions in which they will figure throughout the season.
Naturally, therefore, a great attendance of spectators was looked for, and such proved to be the case, for when the game started there could not have been fewer that sixteen thousand persons within the ground, which was generally regarded as a record gate for Tynecastle. Within the city, long before the hour of start, it was amply apparent that a match of paramount importance was down for decision, every car travelling Tynecastle-wards being literally besieged by an excited and expectant crowd, and filled to overflowing within the space of a few seconds.
Notwithstanding that extra cars had been brought into requisition, the service provided was quite inadequate for the amount of traffic, and as a result all sorts of vehicles were pressed into service, while hundreds of people proceeded to the ground on foot.
Inside the ground it was apparent that a fair proportion of the spectators hailed from the west, the trades holidays there having afforded many an opportunity of travelling east to see the match. Before the start of the game it became known that Dowds would not play for the Celtic after all, having, it was reported, gone to Birmingham to play for Aston Villa, while Blessington’s transfer from the Leith Athletic to the Celtic having been refused by the League, the Celts were also deprived of his services. W. Maley filled Dowds’ place at half-back, the forward right wing being Gallacher and Coleman.
A few minutes before the advertised time the game was started by Madden for the Celtic, Begbie, winning the toss, having taken the advantage offered by the wind. Opening fast, the early stages of the game were decidedly in favour of the visitors, and not more than a minute had elapsed ere M’Mahon, after some beautiful left wing play, centred finally across, Gallacher having not the slightest difficulty in securing the first goal for the Celts, amid tremendous applause from the Celtic followers. This reverse seemed fairly to take the Hearts and their supporters by surprise, and though the team did their best to make amends, they did not at this period show to any thing like the same advantage as their opponents, whose neat, accurate, and well-timed passing was quite a treat to witness. Russell, however, tried his best to put a different appearance on matters, and to some extent was successful, as he broke down the field and got a long shot at goal, the ball, however, going over the bar.
Coming back again, however, the Hearts made a determined onslaught on their opponents’ citadel, and would almost certainly have scored a goal had not one of the defenders fouled the ball with his hand – a proceeding which unfortunately escaped the notice of the referee. On the whole, at this point the decisions of that official were giving anything but satisfaction. The Hearts now played in something more like the form expected of them, and again they seemed just on the point of scoring. Russell, however, when about to shoot was tripped up, but recovering, he passed to Baird, who made a good, but unsuccessful attempt to put the ball through. For a brief period the Celts were again dangerous, the left wing and centre showing up finely, and Madden sent in a shot which just missed the posts. A “trip” by Adams while M’Mahon was sprinting down the field was the next point of note, and the Hearts were fortunate in not having another goal notched against them, a fine shot by Doyle from the free kick passing just over the bar.
Soon after this the Hearts, still further improving in their play, came away in grand fashion, and, amidst deafening applause, Waterson put on the equalising point from a shot which Cullen failed to stop. Naturally this success had great effect on the play of the home team, and they held their own easily, despite several dangerous-looking dashes by the Celtic forwards. For a time play slowed down, and when the half-time interval arrived the score stood one goal each. Starting the second half, the Hearts had to face the wind, but they began in a determined manner, which inspired their supporters with confidence, Baird early sending in a splendid effort, which just missed by inches.
Repeating his performance, however, a few minutes later, Baird, who was now playing a remarkably dashing and clever game, was more successful, with the result that he succeeded in giving his team the lead amid a scene of excitement not easily to be forgotten. Still the Celtic were not done with, and rallying in splendid fashion, they made an attack on the home goal, but the defence was now all that could be desired and nothing was accomplished.
Once more assuming the aggressive, the Hearts came away, Baird being again to the front. A fine shot from that player’s foot was fisted out by Cullen, but Waterson was up in time and smartly put through the third goal. This was more than the Celts had bargained for, but though their play in no way deteriorated, they found the home defence too much for them. The half-back line of the Hearts from this point played a perfect game and proved almost impassible, Begbie, Macpherson, and Marshall showing up their opponents at all points, to the great delight of the Tynecastle frequenters.
Begbie particularly came in for hearty encomiums by reason of the masterly manner in which he neutralised all the brilliant efforts of the powerful wing opposed to him. The forward line of the Hearts also asserted themselves, Russell being ever on the ball, and had he paid a little note attention to Baird in his passes, something further might possibly have been accomplished for the Hearts.
As it was, the Celtic goal had more than one narrow escape, several exceedingly dangerous shots being sent at Cullen. To the finish, however, the Hearts had all the best of the game, their opponents being quite unable to assert themselves as they did in the first half, with the result that a grand display of football, full of interest throughout, ended in a glorious victory from an East of Scotland point of view as follows: – Heart of Mid-Lothian, three goals; Celtic, one goal.
Celtic – Cullen; Dunbar and Doyle; W. Maley, Kelly, and Clifford; Gallacher, Coleman, Madden, Campbell, and McMahon/