Lisbon Lion Jim Craig tells the story of Celtic’s first ever match, a 5-2 win over Rangers on 28 May 1888. The rest, as they say, is history…
This was it! The day everyone involved with this new club in the East End of Glasgow was as high as a kite – whether it be a committeeman, a subscriber, one of the many workers who gave their time free to help prepare the new ground, the players specially chosen to make up the first team and not forgetting the supporters.
All of them were heading for this impressive stadium just off Dalmarnock Road on this day in 1888 where this new side – called Celtic – would take on one of the other Glasgow sides, Rangers.
Happy Birthday @CelticFC this was the day that you played your first ever game in 1888 ☘️☘️☘️ beating Rangers 5-2 with Neil McCallum scoring the 1st goal James Kelly and Tommy Maley scoring a hat-trick ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ ⚽️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/sfsy7lPSui
— jamief (@jamiebhoy2009) May 27, 2025
As Celtic had no signed players at that time, the committee invited footballers from other clubs in and around the city to take part and the final team was Dolan (Drumpellier), Pearson ( Carfin Shamrock), McLachlan (Whitefield), W Maley (Third Lanark), Kelly (Renton), Murray (Cambuslang Hibs), McCallum (Renton), T Maley (Third Lanark), Madden (Dumbarton), Dunbar (Hibs) and Gorevin (Whitfield).
Rangers FC was also run by a committee and they must have pondered whether it would be a wise idea to take on this match. They would have seen the enthusiasm for the new club in the East End and the amount of work that had been put in to bring it to fruition.
The Ibrox members were just beginning to regard themselves as one of the top clubs in the city – along with Third Lanark and Queen’s Park – and they would not have been too happy to see this newcomer take much of the headlines in the press.
At the same time, they did not want to ignore the invitation to play Celtic in the opening match on their new ground but could also do without a possible defeat.
So, in the end, after a great deal of discussion, the committee decided to send their reserve side – known as the Rangers Swifts – to take part in the occasion.
Unfortunately for the club from Ibrox, the Rangers side just could not cope with the sparkling play of the Celtic Eleven and lost 5-2, Neilly McCallum becoming the first Celtic player to score for the club with a header early on.
Jim Craig
Jim Craig, writing in his diary on The Celtic Star on 28 May 2018.
🗓 On This Day 28th May 1888
Celtic Football Club played their First ever match 🍀
Winning 5-2 against the now liquidated Rangers 👏🏼
Tom Maley grabbed a hat-trick, James Kelly also scored but Neil McCallum had the honour of scoring our First ever goal ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/SVB0MHhrSe
— Celtic Curio (@Celticcurio) May 28, 2025
The Scottish Umpire’s Review published on 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.
The Scottish Umpire, 5 June 1888
🗓️ On This Day, 1888…
Celtic played their first ever match. 136 years ago today, the story began.#CelticFC🍀🏆 pic.twitter.com/nG5TtDlGbq
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) May 28, 2025
