| Match Pictures | Matches: 1938 – 1939 | 1931-1940 | Forum |
Trivia
- At a talk held in the Coliseum Theatre Glasgow, under the auspices of the Council for German Jewry, Lord Rothschild described conditions for Jews in concentration camps. The expectation of life at these camps he said, was one year.
Review
The score was Burntisland 3, Celtic, 8. It sounds easy, but the score was 3-3 early in the second half. Burntisland were well up for it because they felt insulted that Celtic should strip at a nearby hotel and go straight from the coach on to the Kirkton Park pitch rather than use their pavilion.
Teams
Burntisland Shipyard
A. McNiven; G. Sprott; A. Murdoch; J. Neish; J. Brown(captain); A. McDonald; M. Clark; W. Johnstone; G.Aitken; W.Bisset; A. Birrell.
Scorers:
Aitken, (2); Birrel.
Celtic
Kennaway; Hogg; Morrison; Lynch; Lyon; Geatons; Delaney; McDonald; Crum; Watters; Murphy.
Scorers:
MacDonald, (3); Crum, (2); Watters, Murphy, Delaney.
Referee: J.L. Provan, Chapelhall
Attendance: 3,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Link
Articles
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Burntisland Shipyard. 3 Glasgow Celtic. 8
Undoubtedly the biggest match the Shipyard has ever played in took place on Saturday 21st January 1939 when the club hosted Celtic in the 1st round of the Scottish Cup. An estimated crowd of 3000 attended the match with adults paying 1s (the stand was extra) and boys 6d. The stand was a temporary construction built by the men in the yard. The papers on the Monday after the match were full of praise for the Shipyard, who put up a gallant effort and matched Celtic for an hour before finally losing by 8 goals to 3.
It was reported that Celtic stripped in the George Hotel rather than use the club’s facilities and arrived at the ground a minute before the start. Celtic started well and had all the early pressure which finally paid off after 19 minutes. Delaney beat 3 men before crossing to Crum who gave McNiven no chance. 2 minutes later the Shipyard were level when the unmarked Clark crashed the ball against the crossbar, but Aitken was lying handy and promptly put the ball in the net. Celtic again took the lead. Delaney emerged from a ruck of players and practically walked the ball into the net. What the Shipyard lacked in ability they made up for in sheer enthusiasm. The Shipyard equalised again when from a corner, Birrell beat keeper Kennaway with a grounder. More was seen of the Yard after this goal and the Parkhead defenders were called on to stop Bisset and Aitken. 5 minutes before the interval Celtic scored again when Murphy passed to the unmarked McDonald who had no difficulty in netting. Both teams created chances but the score remained 3-2 in Celtic’s favour at half time.
At the start of the second half Delaney had a chance, but, after beating the backs his shot was smothered by McNiven before it reached the line. This was followed by a sensation when a cross from Clark was snapped up by Aitken and, as Lyon was out of position, the centre coolly placed the ball out of Kennaway’s reach. With the scores level again Celtic pressed and were awarded a penalty when Delaney was unceremoniously stopped by a defender and Murphy made no mistake from the spot. 2 minutes later it was 5-3 when McDonald turned in a cross from Murphy. After 75 minutes Delaney centred for McDonald to bring the Celtic total to six. It was all Celtic by this stage and they added another two goals through Watters and Crum.
Burntisland Shipyard. – A. McNiven; G. Sprott; A. Murdoch; J. Neish; J. Brown(captain); A. McDonald; M. Clark; W. Johnstone; G.Aitken; W.Bisset; A. Birrell.
Celtic. -Kennaway; Hogg; Morrison; Lynch; Lyon; Geatons; Delaney; McDonald; Crum; Watters; Murphy.
Referee. – J.L. Provan, Chapelhall
N.B. The above article and the team photo were kindly provided by Burntisland Shipyard F.C. and are extracts from a book being written on the history of the club.
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The Scotsman – Monday, 23rd January 1939, page 4
CELTIC WEAR DOWN AMATEURS
Celtic overcame Burntisland shipyard at Kirkton Park, Burntisland, by eight goals to three. For three-quarters of the game the Amateurs put up a stout resistance, and it was not until the closing stages that the Glasgow team, fresh from a holiday at Seamill, found goal-scoring easy.
A. McNiven, the home goalkeeper, made many fine saves, but conceded two soft goals near the end. J. Brown, the pivot gave Crum little scope, while of five sprightly forwards, M. Clark. G. Aitken. and W. Bisset were the most dangerous. Celtic's outstanding performer was Delaney, and Geatons was the pick of the rear divisions.
Nineteen minutes had gone when Delaney, by beating three Shipyard defenders, paved the way for Crum to open the visitors' account. Two minutes later Clark crashed the ball against the cross-bar at the other end, and Aitken, who was lying at hand, promptly placed it in the net.
Delaney restored Celtic’s lead, but following a corner kick, A. Birrell put the Yard on level terms again. Before the interval McDonald turned a cross from Murphy past McNiven, but the game had only been resumed for two minutes when Aitken trapped a ball from Clark, and placed it out of Kennaway's reach.
Though the Shipyard players fought hard to remain on level terms they were gradually worn down by the better trained Celtic side, who took the lead when Murphy scored from a penalty kick granted for a palpable foul on Delaney. Two more goals were added by McDonald, and one each by Watters and Crum in the closing stages.
