Celtic 1888-89
Glasgow Rangers and Canada 1888
The Glasgow giants played a total of 399 competitive games between 1888 and 2012. Their first League meeting was actually the fifth game between the two sides. Here is a resume of the earliest Old Firm matches...
Game One: 28.5.1888- Celtic 5-2 A Rangers XI
Friendly played at Old Celtic Park.
Attendance 2000
It is fitting that Celtic's first ever game was against Rangers. Actually it was against a side of Rangers composed from their reserves (The
Swifts). The Celtic side was made up of loan players.
Contemporary report from The Scottish Umpire 5 June 1888:
It would appear as if the newly-formed Glasgow club, the Celtic F.C.,
has a bright future before it. At any rate, if the committee can place
the same eleven in the field as opposed the Rangers last Monday evening,
or an equally strong one, the Celtic will not lack for patronage and
support. A good team is essential to success, and this fact the
committee have not lost sight of. It will be interesting -to many of our
readers to know the composition of the team which represented the new
organisation in its first club match. Here it is :—Goal, Dolon
(Drumpellier) ; backs, Pearson (Carfin Shamrock) and McLachlan
(Whitefield); half-backs, Maley (3rd Lanark), Kelly (Renton), and Murray
(Cambuslang Hibs.); forwards, McCallum (Renton), Maley (3rd Lanark),
Madden (Dumbarton), Dunbar (Hibs.), and Gorevin (Whitefield)—a pretty
good eleven. The Rangers were without D. Gow, J. R. Gow, Hotson,
Peacock, Allan, and Aird ; but had Suter (Partick Thistle) doing
duty—the remainder being drawn from the Swifts. The match was a capital
one, fast and friendly—the home organisation playing with a combination
which could scarcely have been expected for an opening display. The
Celtic retired victors by 5 goals to 2—a result which must be indeed
gratifying to their supporters. After the match, over 70 gentlemen sat
down to supper in the Hall, East Rose Street, where a pleasant evening
was spent. Dr. Conway occupied the chair, and on the platform were also
Messrs. M'Fadden (Hibs.), McCulloch (Our Boys), Grant (Rangers), and the
Rev. Brother Walfrid. The latter gentleman, who took a deep interest in
the origin of the club, has every reason to flatter himself as to the
success of the Celtic. Long may it flourish in our midst.
Game Two: 27.10.1888- Rangers 1- 6 Celtic
The first "competitive" game between these two teams Glasgow Cup 3rd Rd, Ibrox
Attendance 4000
Rangers:-Nicol, A Vallance, D Gow, Hotson, McIntyre, Muir, Wylie, Whyte, Wilson, Pringle, McKenzie.
Goal:- Wilson .
Celtic:-Dunning, Gallagher, McKeown, W Maley, Kelly, McLaren, McCallum, Coleman, Groves, Dunbar, T Maley.
Goals:- Groves , Dunbar, Coleman, T Maley, Dunbar, Kelly.
Game Three: 6.8.1889- Rangers 0-2 Celtic
Rangers & Clydesdale Harriers Sports Cup Final, Ibrox
Rangers:- McKenzie, D Gow, Hendry, Marshall, McIntyre, Muir, Wylie, Low, J Hamilton, Henderson, Wilkie.
Celtic:- McLaughlin, Reynolds, McKeown, W Maley, Jas Kelly, Gallagher, Dowds, Dunbar, Coleman, Cunningham, Madden.
Goals:- Dowds (2).
Game Four: 6.9.1890- Celtic 1-0 Rangers
Scottish CupFirst Round, Old Celtic Park
Attendance 16000
Celtic:- Bell, Reynolds, McKeown, P Gallagher, McCallum, W Maley, Madden, Dunbar, Groves, Dowds, Crossan.
Goal:- Groves 43.
Rangers:- Reid, Gow, Muir, Andy McCreadie, Marshall, Mitchell, Wylie, Kerr, Hugh McCreadie, John McPherson, Hislop.
Contemporary newspaper report:
About 16,000 persons witnessed this tie at Celtic Park, Parkhead. The
Rangers had their full team, but the Celts were without Kelly and
McLaren. The Celtic won the toss, and played with the sun at their
backs. H McCreadie set the ball in motion for the Rangers. The Rangers
soon transferred the ball to the other end, where a shot from Kerr just
grazed the post amid great excitement.
The Celtic then gradually bore
down on their opponents, and from some smart play among the forwards
Madden sent a shot into Reid, who caught the ball and threw it out, and
then Groves shot over the bar.
The Rangers now opened out, and by
some good, wide passing they got right in front of the Celts’ goal
through a mistake by McKeown. Hislop had an open goal, but shot past the
side of the post. It did not matter much, however, as had the ball gone
through, he would likely have been judged offside.
Ten minutes from
the start, Groves tipped the ball to Madden, who in turn sent it to
Crossan, who headed it through amidst indescribable enthusiasm. To the
chagrin of the Celtic supporters, the goal, which was well worked for,
was disallowed on the ground of offside.
The Rangers were eager, and
so far, if anything, the Celts had the best of it. Some smart work on
the part of Hislop and McPherson resulted in the old Cowlairs men
placing the ball cleverly into the goal mouth. McKeown was there,
however, and saved in the nick of time.
From a throw-in by the
Rangers near the Celtic goal Madden got away, but was pulled up by
Mitchell, the Rangers captain. The right wings of both teams, Wyllie and
Kerr on one hand, and Madden and Dunbar on the other, were putting in
some grand work, which their confreres failed to take advantage of. A
mistake by Muir allowed the Celtic to become dangerous, but Donald Gow
dashed in on two occasions and saved brilliantly.
Madden was the most
conspicuous forward on the Celtic side, his centring of the ball being
beautiful. The Celtic gained the first corner of the match after 20
minutes’ play from some very clever forward play. Nothing came of the
advantage gained, and the Rangers made their way down the field, where,
from a regrettable incident in which McPherson was hurt, they gained a
free kick, which was fruitless.
The sun in the face of the Rangers
greatly troubled the Ibrox men, but all the same they were playing in
very good form, and McPherson had a shot which just went over the
crossbar.
As the result of some clever play by Dowds the Celtic
forwards took the ball down right in front of goal, and, from a free
kick, Groves sent it through amidst a wild scene of enthusiasm. The goal
was disallowed, however, probably before being kicked.
The Celts
were now clearly having the best of it, and Gave Rangers a warm time of
it. From a corner Madden placed the ball, and Gallagher just grazed the
bar with a shot.
The Celts returned to the attack, and, from a pass
by Madden, Groves scored the first goal for the Celts with a rather soft
shot, Reid falling in attempting to save just after 40 minutes’ play.
When the whistle blew calling half-time the scores stood – Celtic, 1 goal; Rangers, nil.
On
resuming, Crossan and Dowds had a clever run, and the ball finding its
way to madden that player forced a corner, which came to nothing. Then
Dowds had a beautiful screw-kick from the corner, the ball just grazing
the bar.
The Rangers in turn bore down on their opponents, but the
ball went behind. After a fruitless run by the Celtic, the Rangers again
returned to the attack, and their forwards were coming away in nice
style when their progress was stopped by McKeown, and then Crossan had
hard lines in not increasing the Celtic score, the ball just passing the
right post.
The Celtic forwards were playing well and accurately,
and upon the whole were having the best of it. There was some close and
exciting play in front of Reid, but he saved very cleverly indeed. After
some hot work in front of Reid, the Rangers, through the
instrumentality of Hislop and McPherson, got well down the field, when
McPherson sent in a quick low shot, which Bell blocked in front of goal,
and conceded a corner, which came to nothing. By some exceedingly
clever passing McPherson was enabled to send in another quick shot,
which McKeown this time saved, and then the Rangers had a corner flag
kick. The ball, however, was got away, only to be returned by Donald
Gow, and for a time the Celtic goal had two or three narrow escapes.
A
miss kick by Reynolds enabled Hislop to send in a scorching shot, which
was brilliantly saved by Bell. Reynolds made up for his mistake by
subsequently putting in some capital saving. All this time the Celtic
forwards were playing with great go and determination, but the half
backs were somewhat weak, and had it not been for Reynolds and McKeown
there would have been little to prevent the Rangers’ forwards from
scoring. What between a corner and other incidents the Rangers’ backs
were having a hard time of it, but they came out of the ordeal with
flying colours.
There was a feeling that if the Rangers’ forwards did
get down they would score, and, coming away in dashing style, Hislop
sent the ball through, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
The result of a good, fast, and hard game ended as follows – Celtic, 1 goal; Rangers, 0 goals.
Game Five: 21.3.1891- Celtic 2-2 Rangers
Scottish League, Celtic Park
Celtic:- Bell, Reynolds, McKeown, W. Maley, McGhee, Gallagher, Madden, Boyle, Dowds, McMahon, Campbell.
Goals:- Dowds, Campbell.
Rangers:-Reid, Gow, Hodge, Marshall, A. McCreadie, Mitchell, Hislop, Henderson, Kerr, McPherson, H McCreadie
Goals:- A. McCreadie, Hislop.
Karlsruher FV were formed in 1891, and during the first decade of the 20th century they enjoyed great success. They were South Germany Champions in 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1910, 1911 and 1912, runners up in the German National Champioships of 1905 and 1912, and German National champions in 1910. They won the championship under English coach Billy Townley.
Wanderers: R. de C. Welch; C.W. Alcock, M.P. Betts, A.G.
Bonsor, E.E. Bowen, W.P. Crake; T.C. Hooman, E. Lubbock, A.C. Thompson,
R.W.S. Vidal, C.H.R. Wollaston
Royal Engineers: Capt. Merriman, Capt. Marindin , Lieut.
Addison, Lieut. Creswell, Lieut. Mitchell, Lieut. Renny-Tailyour, Lieut.
Rich, Lieut. Goodwyn, Lieut. Muirhead, Lieut. Cotter, Lieut. Bogle.
