The remarkable story of Celtic’s six-in-a-row from 1905-10

1904-05

By August 1904, Celtic were again ready to get into action. Having won the 1904 Scottish Cup – the first such final at the current Hampden Park – they hoped to use this as a springboard for league success.

This season included different examples of cup success for the Celts. Although the Bhoys were knocked out the Scottish Cup at the semi-final stage, they did claim the Glasgow Cup and Charity Cup, beating Rangers and Partick Thistle respectively.

However, it was in the League that they would have a truly memorable conclusion. With two games remaining, Celtic and Rangers were almost inseparable at the top of the table. The Bhoys then went to Ibrox.

This game was originally scheduled for 1 January 1905. And in fact, that game was started but had to be abandoned on 70 minutes, with the scoreline reading 0-0. The exit gates had broken and large crowds had rushed in, spilling onto the park.

In February 1905, the match was replayed and victory was essential for Celtic’s title hopes. Four goals later – thanks to doubles from Quinn and Hamilton – and the Celts had a 4-1 victory. Then two weeks later, the Bhoys beat Motherwell 6-2 to finish the season on 41 points.

However, this ended up being the same total as the Ibrox side. In those days, goal difference or similar was not used to separate teams that were tied on points. Instead, a playoff game was the method.

Before this could be played, another match served as a further sign of growing trouble between Celtic and Rangers, the year after the term ‘Old Firm’ was first coined.

Rangers came to Celtic Park for the Scottish Cup semi-final. It saw Jimmy Quinn sent off for kicking an opponent, and fans invaded the pitch on the 80th minute, meaning the fixture was abandoned. Despite the match not being concluded, Rangers were awarded the tie because they had been winning 2-0.

By May 1905, it was time to finally settle the destination of the championship. The two sides met at Hampden Park in a one-off match, which also doubled as a Glasgow League fixture.

So contentious were previous games that Fred Kirkham, an English referee, was brought in to officiate. Kirkham was best known as a domestic and international referee, although he also briefly managed Tottenham Hotspur from 1907 to 1908.

One hour into the match, it was still goalless. And then came ten minutes of excitement. Hamilton and then McMenemy put the Celts two goals ahead, before Rangers’ Robertson halved the deficit.

Despite further chances at both ends, 2-1 proved to be the final score, giving the Bhoys their first twentieth century title, and also first when wearing the Hoops.

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