1937-04-03: Celtic 2-0 Clyde, Scottish Cup SF

Match Pictures | Matches: 19361937 | 1937 Pictures

Trivia

  • In a big game before a big crowd at Ibrox McGrory opened the scoring with a flying-header in 26 minutes. Clyde pressed to equalise in the second half but an own goal by Robb knocked the wind out of their sails.
  • It is said that in this game ex-Celt Willie Hughes of Clyde did such a good job of marking his old team-mate Jimmy Delaney that a Celtic fan jumped on the pitch and grabbed the ball which he would not give back to Hughes until he had berated him for the hard time he was giving to Delaney.
  • Over 107,000 fans watched the two semi-final ties at Ibrox and Easter Road as Celtic and Aberdeen booked their places in the cup-final.
  • In England Scots dominated the scoring with Willie McFadyen (ex-Motherwell) scoring the winning goal in the Huddersfield Town victory over Stoke City, while Jimmy Maxwell and Frank O’Donnell both scored in Preston’s 2-0 win over Middlesbrough. Other Scots to trouble the scorers were ex-Celt Charlie Napier and Dally Duncan of Debry County, Bobby Davidson of Arsenal, and David McCulloch the Brentford forward.
  • Over 5,000 people are now unemployed as a result of the strike of apprentices on Clydeside and the Parkhead Forge dispute. Earl de la Warr, Under-Secretary of state told a Labour Committee meeting in Glasgow that strikes were irresponsible and workers should get behind the rearmament programme, but also that employers should share the fruits of prosperity that they bring.
  • An advert in the Herald promises “Gay and happy holidays to be had at Campbelltown, Argyll. The particular holiday resort”

Review

Teams

CLYDE:
Brown, Kirk, Willie Hughes, Beaton, Robb, Stewart, Robertson, Rankine, Wilson, Noble, Gillies.

CELTIC:
Kennaway, Hogg, Morrison, Geatons, Lyon, Paterson, Delaney, Buchan, McGrory, Crum, Murphy.
Scorers:
McGrory, Robb o.g.

Referee: J. Horseburgh (Bonnyrigg).
Attendance: 76,000

Articles

Glasgow Herald 5th April 1937

1937-04-05 GH

  • Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

Articles

The Scotsman – Monday, 5th April 1937, page 4

CELTIC ON TOP

EASY WIN OVER CLYDE

McGRORY’S OPPORTUNISM

Clyde failed to rise to the occasion against Celtic at Ibrox, and as a consequence the game lacked the thrills and tension associated with Cup-ties.

Though no more than two goals ahead at the finish, Celtic were always the masters, and they won without ever being called upon to show their traditional cup-fighting qualities.

Entering the game with a smooth assurance, they soon had the Clyde defence in difficulties. Brown was heavily employed, and the frequency with which he stopped shots without clearing decisively produced some excitement. First Hughes and then King had to kick the ball away from the goal-line with the goalkeeper lying prone on the ground.

The opening goal came in 26 minutes, thanks to a typical piece of enterprise by McGrory who lunged lull length, to head a cross from Murphy past Brown. Apart from an inter-passing run between, Noble and Gillies there was never a glimpse of good attacking by Clyde before the interval.

The Shawfield side opened the second half in better style, but two incidents, following each other in quick succession, sealed their fate. Everybody was ready to hail the equaliser when Rankine got clean through, but the Clyde inside right dallied so long over his shot that Kennaway was able to come out and smother the ball.

Celtic reasserted themselves after that escape, and in endeavouring to clear from McGrory, Robb turned the ball into his own goal. Clyde never recovered from that tragedy, and the game jogged along to a tame finish.

Speed—in thought and action—was the vital difference between the teams. Celtic were off on a foray while the Clyde players were still deliberating which foot they should put forward. Even veteran McGrory was quicker off his mark than some of the Shawfield players.

McGrory, indeed, could be considered the matchwinner, as the other Celtic forwards rather faded out as potential scorers after a promising enough beginning.

Clyde placed great hopes in their left wing—Noble and Gillies—but Hogg was always their master. Other Celts to do well were Geatons and Crum. Clyde were best served by their defenders among whom Hughes and Robb apart from his misadventure with McGrory did best.

Celtic v Clyde Apr 1937