Scottish Cup Final 1907 – Celtic become Scotland’s first Double Winners…
Until this year, no team had achieved the League and Cup Double in Scotland.
Preston North End and Aston Villa had done it in England, but as yet no-one in Scotland. But this was a superb Celtic side who were far ahead of anyone in the League (they would win it in the midweek following the Cup Final) and today they were up against the team who had won the Scottish Cup last year, Heart of Midlothian.
The weather was blustery and unpredictable, but still 50,000 turned up at Hampden. The kick-off had to be delayed by 15 minutes because Hearts goalkeeper Tom Allan had been caught in traffic. (Horses and trams were even slower than modern cars and buses!)
Hearts had suffered another blow in the absence of Charlie Thomson, their best player, so Bobby Walker was the captain.
Celtic started well with the wind behind them but couldn’t score, and Hearts fought back. Both teams had chances, but half-time came with the game still locked at 0-0. It was at the start of the second half with Celtic now playing against the wind (but it was an unpredictable and capricious swirl) that Celtic took control.
It started with a penalty kick much complained about by the Edinburgh press in particular. It was awarded by Mr Philp of Dunfermline when Jimmy Quinn was impeded going for the ball by a Hearts defender. The job of taking the penalty fell to captain Willie Orr, now in the veteran stage. It cannot have been an easy job in the wind and rain but Willie duly beat Tom Allan.
It was the perceived wisdom in 1907 that no-one came back against this fine Celtic team. So it turned out, as Alec McNair, playing at centre half in place of the injured Willie Loney, dominated the centre of the park, while Hearts star man Bobby Walker was well policed by James “Dun” Hay.
Celtic then gradually took control of the game and two goals by the grossly underestimated Peter Somers, won the game for Celtic. Celtic finished the game well on top, and left the field to the cheers of their supporters.
David Potter
Scottish Cup Final, 20 April 1907 Hampden Park Celtic 3 Hearts 0
Celtic: Adams, McLeod and Orr; Young, McNair and Hay; Bennett, McMenemy, Quinn, Somers and Templeton
Hearts: Allan, Reid and Collins; Philip, McLaren and Henderson; Bauchope, Walker, Axford, Yates and Wombwell
Referee: : Mr D Philp, Dunfermline
READ THIS…Said Lizzie to Philip, on 20 May 1953 – Celtic have won my Coronation Cup
Alec McNair made over 700 appearances for the Hoops, captaining the club for a spell and winning a total of 34 major honours. In that sense he is a bonafide legend, but his role in the record breaking “Holy Trinity” and famous “Icicle” nickname cement his position in Celtic folklore.
A man who endured much trauma in his personal life, was initially rejected by Willie Maley, and worked in an important role during the First World War; McNair’s tale transcends football. The fact that he managed Dundee, immediately after Patsy Gallacher’s iconic goal against The Dark Blues, merely adds to the mystique of the story.
David Potter appeared as a guest on The Celtic History Podcast earlier this week (listen above). Throughout the episode, he discussed his latest publication and bequeathed listeners with some sensational stories about a man who ranks among the finest to ever pass through Parkhead’s gates.
Received my copy of the new Alec McNair book by David Potter today 📗
It was also a great pleasure to contribute with my collage designs on both the front and rear of the hardback.
The books available on the link below 🍀👇🏼 https://t.co/D4j8iFcgEm pic.twitter.com/u8O02K77NQ
— Celtic Curio (@Celticcurio) May 17, 2021
