| Match Pictures | Matches:1953 – 1954 | 1953-54 pictures |
Trivia
- McPhail was moved back to centre forward; Peacock dropped back to left half; Tully was again fit and played at inside left. Fernie was out with an ankle injury.
- The Irish Selectors were over to watch the performance of Tully in the game with a view to selection for the full Ireland team.
- Unlike other matches between the two team from this period, this game does not appear to have been an all ticket game.
- Heavy rain fell throughout the game making conditions slippery and treacherous underfoot and stamina sapping.
- Most of those arrested were bailed to trial in one month’s time on ‘not guilty’ pleas. One man was jailed immediately for 30 days.
Review
The main talk from this match was less the game itself but more the pitch invasion. Half an hour before kick off a large orange flag appeared at the Rangers end. This led to the Celtic end displaying a green and white flag with the police then wading in to confiscate a flag, arresting two people followed by a further nine later.
The Rangers end continued to display ‘blue favours and Union Jacks’ as well as the orange flag. Celtic fans were clearly aggrieved that there appeared to be one rule for one end of the ground and another for the other.
When the game kicked off flags were flown at both ends of the ground. The police then waded into the Rangers end at half time and whole scale fighting and bottle throwing broke out which led to the pitch invasion with thousands spilling onto the track to escape the fighting and bottles.
Mounted police entered the field and proceeded to drive the supporters who had been trying to get away from the general mayhem and rain of bottles.
The Rangers supporters apparently objected to the police treating them as the Celtic supporters had been. The half time interval lasted about five minutes longer than normal and the appearance of the players actually helped to return a degree of calm to the situation.
The half time and pre-kick off disturbances marred what was in truth an excellent game particularly in the first half. Celtic played well and their five forwards played as a unit – unfortunately one with poor finishing! The first half was played at a terrific pace in poor conditions. Tully had a fine half baffling McColl with his step overs and dummies and laying on many excellent passes.
With McPhail working with Tully there was good Celtic approach play but again woeful shooting. For Rangers, Waddell played well beating Fallon at will and that was about it. Bell, Haughney and Stein were aware of and dealt with most of his crosses. Waddell had two big shots on goal which Bell saved, and laid on shots for Grierson and Paton which were also saved. The Rangers goal came about from a Stein slip which allowed Paton the advantage to shoot and score.
Duncan who had swapped positions with Tully put Celtic back on level terms two minutes later following play between Walsh, McPhail and Collins.
Following the disturbances at half time and due also no doubt to the energy expended in the first half, the second half was a much more tame affair.
Celtic could have had a penalty in the second for a tackle on Walsh but his appeal was turned away by the referee.
Teams
Rangers:
Niven; Caldow, Little; McColl, Woodburn, Cox; Waddell, Grierson, Paton, Prentice, Hubbard.
Scorers: Paton (21)
Celtic:
Bell; Haughney, Fallon; Evans, Stein, Peacock; Collins, Walsh, McPhail,Tully, Duncan.
Scorers: Duncan (23)
Referee: W Brittle (Glasgow)
Attendance: 60,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
Evening Times 21st September 1953
