Jim Craig: Five past Brooklyn

On this day in 1931, in the 6th match of the tour, Celtic met Brooklyn at Ebbets Field in New York and the team was J Thomson, Whiteside, McGonagle, Wilson, McStay, Scarff, R Thomson, A Thomson, McGrory, Napier and Hughes.

Right from the whistle, this was a keenly contested match, with pressure on both defences. Just before the interval, though, Jimmy McGrory made a breakthrough when he scored from inside the box.

That remained the only score until the 56th minute, when good work by Bertie Thomson down the right let him feed McGrory, who beat his immediate opponent before getting the second. Brooklyn kept up the pressure but that man McGrory just could not keep out of the headlines and this time it was him having to leave the field in 70 minutes after he received a blow to the mouth.

Celtic played with 10 men for the remainder of the match but got further goals through Peter Scarff and Bertie Thomson (2).

Final Score: Brooklyn 0 Celtic 5

Jim Craig

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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