‘All Hampden was covered in green, white and gold,’ David Potter’s Seven Magnificently Random Celtic stories

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DAVID POTTER’S Seven Magnificently Random Celtic stories – which is attracting a faithful audience every day, continues today and will run all this week, only on The Celtic Star…

1. BRITISH LEAGUE CUP

Otherwise known as the Glasgow Exhibition Trophy, or the Coronation Cup, the British League Cup was a one-off tournament held in 1902 for the Ibrox Disaster Fund. Rangers had won the Glasgow Exhibition Trophy in 1901, and put up this cup for the first-ever British tournament between themselves, Celtic, Sunderland and Everton, the champions and runners-up in each country.

The Ibrox Disaster Fund would benefit, and the winners could claim to be the best in Britain. By coincidence, the tournament was played in the run-up to the coronation of King Edward VII, and is sometimes referred to as the Coronation Cup, but it should not be confused with that of 1953.

Celtic beat Sunderland 5-1 at Celtic Park on 30 April 1902 with two goals from Tommy McDermott and one each from the old faithful left wing partnership of Sandy McMahon and Johnny Campbell. After a draw at Goodison, Rangers beat Everton on 3 May at Celtic Park, the venue determined by Ibrox still being out of commission.

Cathkin was the venue for the final between Celtic and Rangers on 17 June 1902. The late date of this game can be explained by the desire to have the game played as close as possible to the coronation of King Edward VII, which was scheduled for 26 June. In the event, King Edward VII took ill with appendicitis and the coronation had to be postponed until 9 August. The receipts from this final were a very healthy £314, and it took a late header from Jimmy Quinn, in the last minute of extra time, to decide the issue.

Celtic had gone two goals ahead through Jimmy Quinn, but before half time Bob Hamilton had taken full advantage of a goalkeeping fumble to reduce the leeway, then Finlay Speedie equalized for Rangers. The second half saw no further scoring, and when full time came many of the public and the press had gone home, assuming that there would be a replay. But both teams agreed to extra time of ten minutes each way, and Jimmy Quinn scored at the very end.

Celtic: McPherson, Watson, Battles, Loney, Marshall, Orr, Crawford, Campbell, Quinn, McDermott, Hamilton.
Rangers: Dickie, N. Smith, Crawford, Gibson, Stark, Robertson, Lennie, Walker, Hamilton, Speedie, A. Smith.

This triumph was much celebrated by Celtic fans
Some say the Rangers are guid at fitba’
Wi’ Speedie, Gibson and Lennie an a’
But Jimmy Quinn, he diddled them a’
At the Glasgow Exhibition oh!,

but it was very much a Celtic team in transition. They had disappointed their fans by losing the Scottish League and the Scottish Cup in 1902, and the great Celtic team of a few years later had still to assemble.

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About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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