Some rare and fascinating footage of Celtic Park apparently from February 1921 for you to enjoy. It looks like a second reply of a Scottish Cup tie between Ayr Utd and Motherwell and Celtic Park is being used as a neutral venue to settle the tie.
The video is from the National Library of Scotland’s Moving Image Archive.
Check out, as a Celtic supporter points out, “the old pavilion, cowshed and original stand at Paradise”. A great find this…and when you’re watching here’s some pointers of what’s on the screen…
WATCH IT HERE.
Scottish Cup 3rd Round Replay Motherwell V Ayr United at Celtic Park. Result Motherwell 3 Ayr United 1. Green’s Film Service. [1st Match] Motherwell v. Ayr United at Celtic Park (Parkhead) – This being a neutral ground means that the match was probably at least the second replay between the teams. Ayr goalie possibly Hepburn, Scottish Internationalist, Teams emerge from Old Pavilion, Parkhead(0.29) – Motherwell out first with strip as in Ref 3356, Ayr Utd in horizontally striped shirts. Shots of game features original Parkhead “Jungle”[covered standing area]in background(1.26) [2nd Match] Scottish Cup 4th Round Motherwell v Partick Thistle at Fir Park. Result Motherwell 2 Thistle 2. Green’s Topical Productions Glasgow and London. (1.37) panning shot of crowd(2.17) teams emerge(2.34) Motherwell first, strip as in Ref 3356 followed by Thistle whose plain coloured shirt features a large thistle patch emblem. This match probably mid 1920s. Thistle goalie Kenny Campbell. Grandstand featured was present till 1960 – it did not stretch the entire length of the pitch as there was a private house built there March 1921 and not owned by Motherwell F.C.(2.37) gv’s match in progress (two goals scored) (4.34).
— Celtic Curio (@Celticcurio) January 17, 2021
AND A FEW WORDS ON THE TWO ‘SKELPING’ JIMMYS (SINCE WE’RE ON THE SUBJECT)…
Incidentally Celtic went out of the Scottish Cup that season losing 2-1 at home to Hearts. It was an all Glasgow Final in 1921 with Partick Thistle beating Rangers with Jimmy Kinloch scoring the goal of the game in the second minute. Thistle had beaten Hearts in the semi-final. The final was dubbed the ‘Boycott Final’ after the Scottish Football Association raised the admission price by 100% from one shilling to two shillings. It was also played in the midst of a miners’ strike.
Rangers also reached the Final the next season where they faced Morton. The Ibrox club once again lost 1-0 to a goal scored in the 12th minute by Jimmy Gourlay.
Not convinced that the footage shown above is from 1921 though. Anyone know for sure?
Absolutely fascinating stuff. The Parkhead game is a second replay – Ayr United 1 Motherwell 3 on Wednesday March 2 1921 – observe the TWO round bits on the Jungle roof! And the Fir Park game is even more fascinating – Motherwell 2 Partick Thistle 2 on Saturday March 5 1921, and unless I am mistaken, the last man to come out on the Partick Thistle side is no less than Jimmy Napoleon McMenemy. Both Scottish Cup ties. On the same day Celtic went down 1-2 to Hearts at Parkhead and Tommy McInally hit the bar in the last minute!