‘Battle of Britain’ in Budapest weeks before the start of the Great War, the so-called war to end all wars…
21 May 1914 – Just weeks before one of the bloodiest wars in the history of civilisation, a ‘battle’ was arranged on the football field in Budapest Hungary between Celtic and Burnley although it was something of a surprise to the club as they didn’t actually know about it until they arrived in the city and had to alter their tour arrangements to take part.
It may have been sprung on them at the last minute, during their tour of Hungary, Austria and Germany, but with the proceeds of the match going to the refugees of the Balkans war, the club had no hesitation in taking part. Rightly so, as after all we are a club which was formed just 24 years earlier with the purpose of helping the most vulnerable in society.
Our opponents were Burnley who were the FA Cup holders and as Celtic were the Scottish Cup holders it was billed as a ‘Battle of Britain’ which was ironic as Britain would soon be at all out War with Austria, Germany and Hungary itself just a few short weeks later.
This ‘battle’ on a badly surfaced football field would pale into significance compared to what the enlisted young men on both sides would face in the coming weeks in the trenches. But as the game started both sides got stuck in the term ‘charity’ was cast aside, not helped by the Hungarian news who promoted it like a cup final. A finally designed, handsome cup valued at the pricey sum of £65 was even on offer as well as set of badges for players of both sides.
The game was played on a hot sunny day on a bumpy dry surface which was devoid of grass at the FTC Stadion home of Ferencvaros in front of 10,000 spectators.
Celtic won the coin toss and had the better of the first half aided with the fact they had the sun and wind at their backs and went in at the interval 1-0 up courtesy of a Jimmy Mcmenemy goal from the penalty spot in the 20th minute after the player himself was fouled in the box.
Burnley with the advantage of the conditions in their favour unsurprisingly had the best of the second half and they levelled the game 20 minutes into the second half which also came courtesy of the penalty spot.
The remaining 25 minutes was played at a fierce pace as the crowd roared the sides on as they were treated to an entertaining game which was end to end as both sides went in search of a winner.
The game was interrupted now and then with trainers on the field giving first aid as players from both sides were treated such was their commitment to winning, two players were even said to have come to blows in the closing stages.
The game would finish a stalemate, but Celtic players refused extra-time and the game was decided on a coin toss which Burnley won and The Clarets were presented with the cup and players from both sides were presented with badges.
Although the cup which was presented to the winners in the presence of seven sword wielding policemen wasn’t allowed to leave the country until one of the two sides ‘properly’ won it the next season.
A match that was decided a few months later on 1st September 1914 a few weeks after the outbreak of World War One as Celtic travelled to Burnley to take on The Clarets at Turf Moor in front of 10,000 spectators. A share of the profits was sent back to Budapest for the charities concerned as Celtic prevailed and won the game 2-1 courtesy of goals by McColl and Gallacher.
The original trophy wasn’t present as it was raffled at the start of the war to raise much needed funds for the Red Cross, but Celtic were confirmed as ‘unofficial’ World Club Champions although that paled into significance as many life’s were being lost in bloody battles in the trenches in a war that would last another four long years, all caused by a family at war. The Russia and German cousins paid the price but in London our lot hung on and their ancestors are still there to this day.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
