Season 1904-05 saw the tightest league race for many years. When Rangers crashed to a dismal 4-1 defeat at home to Celtic in a game where victory would have all but sealed the title, that gave the Parkhead men the advantage as they moved 4 points in front. They only had 1 game to play, however and Rangers had 3 left. It meant if both teams won their matches, they would end level on points. And in 1905, that would mean a playoff.
But before the destiny of the league would be decided, the clubs were drawn together in the semi final of the Scottish Cup. Celtic completed their league season with thumping 6-2 victory over Motherwell and Rangers hammered Port Glasgow 5-1 to keep the title alive. Then on Saturday March 25th, the clubs lined up at Parkhead in front of 36,000 spectators, all of whom believed this was more like the final.
The early play was typically tense for such a huge match, with little in the way of flowing football. Celtic were mostly on top, but their attack found the Rangers defenders in uncompromising mood so clear chances were few. Rangers goalkeeper Tom Sinclair dealt quite comfortably with any efforts on his goal, and gradually the men in blue started to assert themselves. Then near the end of the first half came a crucial moment. Celtic full back Donnie McLeod, a man who lost his life in the battlefield of Passchendaele in 1917, suffered a leg injury and could not continue. With only 10 men against them in the second half, William Wilton's Rangers knew this was a glorious chance to put their great rivals to the sword.
With veteran winger Alec Smith in fine form, and inside forwards Finlay Speedie and Archie Kyle seeing plenty possession, the Celtic rearguard were defending with increasing desperation. In 65 minutes Kyke showed great trickery to burst clear down the left, and his pinpoint cross was headed firmly home by the onrushing Speedie. The Rangers support celebrated wildly, with their green counterparts now starting to vent their displeasure at the one way traffic they were watching.
Celtic centre forward Jimmy Quinn was allowing his frustration to affect him, and one late high challenge on Sinclair resulted in a stern lecture from referee Mr Robertson. In the 80th minute, Rangers ended the match as a contest when a fierce shot by Smith was parried by Celtic keeper Adams straight to centre forward Jacky Robertson, and the future Chelsea manager made no mistake from 10 yards.
This proved too much for Quinn, the prolific Celtic forward was sent from the field in the 81st minute by the referee after he blatantly kicked the young Rangers full back Alec Craig. This proved too much for a section of the Celtic support, who invaded the pitch, some armed with metal poles and other objects ripped from the surrounding fencing, with Mr Robertson and the Rangers players physically jostled and attacked. The players and officials needed police help to get off the pitch and it took several minutes to clear the playing surface. One attempt was made to restart the tie, but the ugly mood within the Celtic support had not been erased, and a further invasion occurred.
It may have been an attempt to get the match abandoned and replayed, it may have been not wanting to see their remaining 9 players suffer further humiliation, it may have just been mob violence and a wish to injure those they thought had defeated their team. But it ended the semi final after only 82 minutes play. Very quickly after the match, Celtic made it clear they would not want any replay and Rangers should be awarded the tie. This was also the unanimous view at the SFA, so the scoreline of Celtic 0 Rangers 2 stood as final.
The following week, an SFA disciplinary committee met to discuss punishment for Quinn and for Celtic. The minutes showed this decision:
A letter was read from the secretary of the Rangers Club claiming the tie played between them and the Celtic on Saturday at Celtic Park, and stopped about eight minutes from the finish by a break-in of the spectators. The claim was granted unanimously.
Subsequently a letter was read from Mr Tom Robertson. who was referee in the match, stating that he had had occasion to order Quinn, of the Celtic, off the field for kicking Craig, of the Rangers. He stated further that Quinn was, to his mind, one of the principal causes of the break-in towards the close of the game. A letter was also read from Quinn denying that he had kicked Craig either accidentally or intentionally. Craig caught him by the leg and held it, and he jerked it several times to get free. He though that if Mr Robertson had considered for a moment he would have seen that it was impossible that a person standing on one leg with the other held fast could possibly have been guilty of kicking. in a third letter from Craig, it was stated that he had neither been kicked nor stamped on by Quinn.
Mr Roonie moved that further consideration of the case be delayed till the next meeting of the Association on the 11th April, and that Craig, Quinn, and the referee be cited, but an amendment that the case be proceeded with forthwith was carried by 9 votes against 8.
Mr Hutton moved that Quinn be suspended for a month. Mr Ward seconded. Mr Steven moved that he be suspended till the end of the season, and this was seconded by Mr Danks. Mr Roonie move that he be severely censured. Mr McLachlan seconded. Ultimately the motion for a month's suspension was carried by a majority.
Also, a motion to close Parkhead for a period was defeated as the committee were persuaded that the pitch invaders were a small minority and that the club had responded quickly to condemn them and not seek a replay.
Rangers lost the final to Third Lanark in a replay. But they did win their last 2 league games, forcing a playoff to decide the title. By the time the match was played on May 6th, Quinn had "served" his 1 month suspension, a month in which Celtic played NO competitive games. Celtic took the title with a 2-1 win, and although he didn't score, the newspapers reported Quinn to be the best forward on the field.
I'm sure Colin Stein in 1969 must have wished SFA justice worked like that for him.
The Rangers team for the semi final who won 2-0 then were attacked on the pitch:
Sinclair, Fraser, Craig, Henderson, Stark, May, Donnochie, Speedie, Robertson, Kyle, Smith.
But before the destiny of the league would be decided, the clubs were drawn together in the semi final of the Scottish Cup. Celtic completed their league season with thumping 6-2 victory over Motherwell and Rangers hammered Port Glasgow 5-1 to keep the title alive. Then on Saturday March 25th, the clubs lined up at Parkhead in front of 36,000 spectators, all of whom believed this was more like the final.
The early play was typically tense for such a huge match, with little in the way of flowing football. Celtic were mostly on top, but their attack found the Rangers defenders in uncompromising mood so clear chances were few. Rangers goalkeeper Tom Sinclair dealt quite comfortably with any efforts on his goal, and gradually the men in blue started to assert themselves. Then near the end of the first half came a crucial moment. Celtic full back Donnie McLeod, a man who lost his life in the battlefield of Passchendaele in 1917, suffered a leg injury and could not continue. With only 10 men against them in the second half, William Wilton's Rangers knew this was a glorious chance to put their great rivals to the sword.
With veteran winger Alec Smith in fine form, and inside forwards Finlay Speedie and Archie Kyle seeing plenty possession, the Celtic rearguard were defending with increasing desperation. In 65 minutes Kyke showed great trickery to burst clear down the left, and his pinpoint cross was headed firmly home by the onrushing Speedie. The Rangers support celebrated wildly, with their green counterparts now starting to vent their displeasure at the one way traffic they were watching.
Celtic centre forward Jimmy Quinn was allowing his frustration to affect him, and one late high challenge on Sinclair resulted in a stern lecture from referee Mr Robertson. In the 80th minute, Rangers ended the match as a contest when a fierce shot by Smith was parried by Celtic keeper Adams straight to centre forward Jacky Robertson, and the future Chelsea manager made no mistake from 10 yards.
This proved too much for Quinn, the prolific Celtic forward was sent from the field in the 81st minute by the referee after he blatantly kicked the young Rangers full back Alec Craig. This proved too much for a section of the Celtic support, who invaded the pitch, some armed with metal poles and other objects ripped from the surrounding fencing, with Mr Robertson and the Rangers players physically jostled and attacked. The players and officials needed police help to get off the pitch and it took several minutes to clear the playing surface. One attempt was made to restart the tie, but the ugly mood within the Celtic support had not been erased, and a further invasion occurred.
It may have been an attempt to get the match abandoned and replayed, it may have been not wanting to see their remaining 9 players suffer further humiliation, it may have just been mob violence and a wish to injure those they thought had defeated their team. But it ended the semi final after only 82 minutes play. Very quickly after the match, Celtic made it clear they would not want any replay and Rangers should be awarded the tie. This was also the unanimous view at the SFA, so the scoreline of Celtic 0 Rangers 2 stood as final.
The following week, an SFA disciplinary committee met to discuss punishment for Quinn and for Celtic. The minutes showed this decision:
A letter was read from the secretary of the Rangers Club claiming the tie played between them and the Celtic on Saturday at Celtic Park, and stopped about eight minutes from the finish by a break-in of the spectators. The claim was granted unanimously.
Subsequently a letter was read from Mr Tom Robertson. who was referee in the match, stating that he had had occasion to order Quinn, of the Celtic, off the field for kicking Craig, of the Rangers. He stated further that Quinn was, to his mind, one of the principal causes of the break-in towards the close of the game. A letter was also read from Quinn denying that he had kicked Craig either accidentally or intentionally. Craig caught him by the leg and held it, and he jerked it several times to get free. He though that if Mr Robertson had considered for a moment he would have seen that it was impossible that a person standing on one leg with the other held fast could possibly have been guilty of kicking. in a third letter from Craig, it was stated that he had neither been kicked nor stamped on by Quinn.
Mr Roonie moved that further consideration of the case be delayed till the next meeting of the Association on the 11th April, and that Craig, Quinn, and the referee be cited, but an amendment that the case be proceeded with forthwith was carried by 9 votes against 8.
Mr Hutton moved that Quinn be suspended for a month. Mr Ward seconded. Mr Steven moved that he be suspended till the end of the season, and this was seconded by Mr Danks. Mr Roonie move that he be severely censured. Mr McLachlan seconded. Ultimately the motion for a month's suspension was carried by a majority.
Also, a motion to close Parkhead for a period was defeated as the committee were persuaded that the pitch invaders were a small minority and that the club had responded quickly to condemn them and not seek a replay.
Rangers lost the final to Third Lanark in a replay. But they did win their last 2 league games, forcing a playoff to decide the title. By the time the match was played on May 6th, Quinn had "served" his 1 month suspension, a month in which Celtic played NO competitive games. Celtic took the title with a 2-1 win, and although he didn't score, the newspapers reported Quinn to be the best forward on the field.
I'm sure Colin Stein in 1969 must have wished SFA justice worked like that for him.
The Rangers team for the semi final who won 2-0 then were attacked on the pitch:
Sinclair, Fraser, Craig, Henderson, Stark, May, Donnochie, Speedie, Robertson, Kyle, Smith.
