It was the finale the organisers of the competition had dreamed of when the plans had first been put into place. A team from Scotland against one from England in the final of the Empire Exhibition Trophy – Celtic versus Everton at Ibrox Park on this day in 1938.
And on that evening, the crowd of 82,000 got a match to remember.
The Celtic side was Kennaway, Hogg, Morrison, Geatons, Lyon, Paterson, Delaney, McDonald, Crum, Divers and Murphy. It was a classic encounter, a close contest played at a tremendous pace, in which each and every player rose to the occasion.
As so often happens, both defences allowed their opponents room for pretty passes and quick attacks but shut down space in the vital areas. For Celtic, Joe Kennaway was superb, Willie Lyon outstanding. For Everton, the main strength was in the half-back line, where Mercer, Jones and Thomson were particularly strong.
Play ranged from end to end in hectic fashion but at the end of 90 minutes the game was still goalless, so the match went into extra-time.
The deadlock was eventually broken in the 96th minute, Johnny Crum scoring with a well-place shot. In his excitement, Crum ran behind the goal and did a little dance while waving to the Celtic fans, an action which more than one newspaper correspondent remarked on unfavourably the following day!
Everton did get the ball in the net near the end, a header by left-winger Boyes but he was clearly in an offside position and the goal was chalked off.
It was fine win by Celtic, who thus added the Empire Exhibition Trophy to the League Championship and the Charity Cup as their honours for the season.
Jim Craig
