Celtic’s opening goal had led to a huge furore in the Tynecastle stands

Celtic will entertain Hearts at Celtic Park tomorrow afternoon…

However in the Bhoys’ first title winning season (1892-93), Hearts were not quite so welcome at Celtic Park, following the bizarre actions of a Hearts official earlier in the season. To learn more, read this excerpt from ‘The Bould Bhoys! Glory to their name’, about Celtic’s first ever League Championship…

The pre-match newspaper build-up reflected a sense of excitement and anticipation. The Scottish Referee described an “enormous amount of interest” and said that Hearts expected there to be a “record attendance” for a game in Edinburgh. The Edinburgh Evening News agreed by saying “great interest is being manifested in the event by many people to whom, not so long ago, football was little more than a name.” The publication also warned fans that they should go early “for if impressions prove in any way reliable the crowd will be large and eager.” Hearts were in a confident mood; the Scottish Sport wrote that “In Edinburgh they have agreed among themselves that Hearts are going to win, so …we will restrict all gossip to a question of goals.”

The match was scheduled for 4pm, and had the same pricing as Celtic Park; 6d entry for the terracing and 1s (1 shilling) for a seat in the stands. It was refereed by Mr Allison of St Mirren – described in the Scottish Referee as the “knight of the whistle” – whilst Celtic’s Paddy Gallagher and Hearts’ Curly Fraser were “umpires” (linesmen).

Celtic’s team for the game showed signs of growing strength, although still missed many of the club’s key players. Jerry Reynolds was absent due to illness, whilst Leith Athletic’s Jimmy Blessington still did not have permission to play league games. The Celts had four players featuring in the league for the first time this season: Willie Maley, Johnny Coleman, Sandy McMahon and Tom Dunbar. Johnny Madden – who scored in the previous season’s Tynecastle trip – was also in the team.

Pre-match expectations of a huge crowd proved accurate as the terraces were full. Newspapers disagreed on the exact attendance; The Scotsman estimated 16,000 whilst the Glasgow Herald said around 20,000. A large number of these fans were there to support the Celts, a public holiday in Glasgow allowing more people to come from the west, although many of the Edinburgh Irish also lent their backing.

All those present watched as Hearts won the coin toss and chose to play with the wind at their backs. In spite of this disadvantage Celtic started the brighter of the two and within only one minute had taken the lead. A good passing combination between Campbell, Madden and McMahon was finished off by Gallagher.

This goal spurred Hearts into better efforts and they had numerous chances before Waterston got the equaliser. As the game progressed both teams complained about the referee; Hearts saying that he missed a clear handball by a Celtic defender whilst the Bhoys were angry about a blatant trip on McMahon going unpunished. The Celts’ backs were doing well to repel further home attacks – “a sturdy and strong defence by Dan Doyle and his mates kept them at bay” said one account – and at half-time the game remained tied.

When the second half started “hostilities were resumed” and Hearts were soon celebrating. A shot from Baird – which reports suggested Cullen could have stopped – gave Hearts an early lead.

Shortly after this a second goal from Waterston put the home men well in front, and the same player was unlucky to not get a hat-trick when another strike smashed off the post. Celtic were having no luck – several journalists suggested they were the better team in the second half – but they crafted few clear chances and could not turn around the two-goal deficit. Hearts secured a “Tynecastle triumph” for the second season in a row with Celtic again dropping points in Edinburgh.

Unbeknownst to the players, Celtic’s opening goal had led to a huge furore in the Tynecastle stands between the Hearts and Celtic committees. The Bhoys’ representatives had naturally cheered and applauded this goal, but Hearts’ match secretary took exception to this. He ordered them to leave the pavilion and, when they did not do so, called on the police to remove them. As a consequence after the game Celtic did not accept any of Hearts’ hospitality and the Bhoys later received an official letter of apology from the Edinburgh club for the affair.

Matthew Marr

To find out the full story of Celtic’s first League title, you can buy Matthew Marr’s debut book, ‘The Bould Bhoys! Glory to their name’. It’s available now from Celtic Star Books and is the ideal Christmas present for the Celtic historian in your life. You can also pick up a copy at any Celtic FC store including the superstore.