1916-01-29: Celtic 3-1 Ayr United, League

Match Pictures | Matches: 1915 1916 | 1915 Pics1916 Pics

Trivia

  • Celtic & World War One
  • This match is Celtic's twelfth undefeated. They last lost to Hearts 2-0 in November 1915.
  • The Celtic FC website gives the identity of McStay, Hay and Cringan as being ex-Celts but there was another one in the opposing ranks Alex Gray, apparently on loan, and perhaps as he was less prolific than the others he is not given Christian name recognition.
  • Page 11 of the Glasgow Herarld reports that Mr. Robert Smillie of the Independent Labour Party addressed a meeting of miners at the Metropole Theatre, Glasgow. Also at Glasgow Green Mr Emanuel Shinwell and Mr Harry Hopkins chaired a meeting where a motion was proposed by Mr. John McLean. Both meetings were in opposition to the proposal of conscription into the armed forces. LINK
  • The same page of the same paper also reports a pro-war rally in Saughton Park Edinburgh where Lord Rosebery addressed an assembly of volunteer soldiers and rallied them with a promise that they will bring the "Prussian bloodthirsty tyrants to their knees".

Review

Teams

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

AYR UNITED:
Kerr, Bell, Willie McStay, Jimmy Hay, Willie Cringan, McLaughlan, Ingram, McKenzie, Richardson, Jackson, Alex Gray
Scorer: Mackenzie

Referee: J. M. Dickson (Glasgow)
Attendance: 12,000

Articles

  • Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

Articles

The Glasgow Herald, Monday 31 January 1916
PLUCKY LOSERS
Buoyed up with an easily earned victory at Somerset Park and a lead of three goals at home, the Celtic team felt called upon to take matters easy towards the finish of the return match, and it may be said of Ayr United that they made the most of their opportunity, even if the were only once beaten. In the last half hour the visiting forwards showed praiseworthy persistency and skill of the highest order. The inside men passed to each other so swiftly and accurately as to demoralise any other team than the experienced Parkhead defenders, and as it was Shaw was asked to make two extremely fine saves from Ingram and Richardson, seldom has one seen a Celtic defence as harassed as it was in the closing stages of what at one time promised to be a one-sided game and it was perhaps well for the champions that they took a commanding lead before slowing down. Certainly on Saturday’s form no team can afford to trifle with United.

The Scotsman, Monday 31st Jan, 1916
A fast game was seen by 10,000 spectators at Celtic Park, Glasgow. Gallagher opened the scoring in five minutes. The Ayr forwards repeatedly got within shooting distance, but they lacked the steadiness of the opposing five, and shortly before the interval McColl got a second goal for the Celtic. After the change of ends Ayr were an improved company, and maintained a stout offensive without, however, being able to turn it into goals. McAtee scored a third goal for Celtic. Mackenzie succeeded in scoring Ayr’s only point. Both teams were strong in defence, but forward the Celtic were superior.