subduing his temper and general disposition, and one evening told his
old rival that he would never forget till his dying day--"THE DUEL NEAR
THE FOOTBALL FIELD."
_XI.--THE FINAL TIE FOR THE ASSOCIATION CHALLENGE CUP--1889-90._
_TWO MEMORABLE MATCHES._
A couple of matches had to played before the final tie for the
Association Challenge Cup was decided, and at the earnest request of
numerous friends I have reproduced my articles on both games, which
appeared in the Daily Mail, and trust they will be considered worthy a
place in the volume. The following is the
~First Match.~
This important contest, which had to be postponed the previous Saturday
in consequence of the dense fog which enveloped the city and suburbs in
semi-darkness, came off at Ibrox Park, and resulted in a draw--each side
scoring a goal. Early in the forenoon the weather in every particular
looked like a counterpart of the previous Saturday, and it was not till
well on in the day that the Association Committee finally decided to go
on with the match. Even with this short notice, combined with the fact
that heavy rain came on and continued till well on in the second half,
the attendance of spectators was large, about 11,000, and this is borne
out by the cash lifted at the gate, some £500. Of this the Association
gets a third, and the other two-thirds are equally divided between the
contending teams. The proceeds of the stand, however, went to the
Rangers' funds, as that club gave their ground free of charge to the
Association to play off the tie. Paisley Road and Govan Road presented a
scene to be remembered from two o'clock till well on for 3.30 P.M.,
being thronged with vehicles of every kind, from the carriage and pair,
the hansom and cab, down to the modest van. Pedestrians, too, were
numerous, and on the Govan Road the Vale of Clyde Tramway Company, with
extra cars, reaped a good harvest. On the way down, and in the field
itself, the usual good-natured banter was largely indulged in, and as
football enthusiasts, like the rest of impatient spectators, are only
human, they were in better temper at the start of the contest than was
the case at the finish. The meeting of the Queen's Park and Vale of
Leven, in fact, revived old times among the once brilliant players of
both clubs, many of whom were present on Saturday to "fight their
battles o'er again." "Dae ye ken," said an old man as the game
proceeded, "I wis present at old Hampden Park on the wet Hogmanay
afternoon long ago, when the Vale licked the Queen's by two to one in a
Cup tie, and I wish'd ye'd a' seen the Queen's Park committee men and
their supporters that day when the bare fac' wis kent. I'm thinkin' they
didna craw sae crouse, and maybe they'll get a fricht the noo." When the
Vale scored their goal a wag, primed with a fair-sized pocket pistol, no
doubt containing the best--well, every public-house salesman will tell
you at anyrate, it is the "best," and charge for it, too, as
"special"--began to lilt a verse of the popular pantomime song, "Their
funeral's to-morrow," hinting heavily about the decline and fall of the
Queen's Park. Many saw the point, and laughed; while others gave the
jolly fellow a look that betokened contempt and dismay. "Wait till the
second half," said a quiet supporter of the senior club, "and ye'll see
what they can dae; they're only making some fun." In pressing forward,
leaning against the pailings, were not a few critical rivet boys and
iron-workers, whose running comments were amusing in the extreme. Of
some young fellows who came down from the city dressed up in style, one
of the "black squad" was heard to say, "Don't they look blooming
'swells,' with their gloves and G.O.M. collars, and you wid think that
the whole landed property about is theirs, even to Ibrox Park itself.
Crush up, Bob. We've paid our money as well as the lot, and must get
share of the view. Crush up." "Man, jock, they've got a new ile for
training and rubbin' up the fitballers noo. It's whit they ca'
herbuline, and it keeps out the cauld and warms ye unca' much; but the
smell's sae strong that it nearly blin's ye." No doubt some kind of
specific was required on such a trying day as Saturday, for it was
indeed a clear case of illustrating the old adage, when exclusively
applied to man, about the survival of the fittest. There is this about
Ibrox Park, however, which certainly recommends it to the impartial
spectator--fine even turf, without a flaw, and no advantage even to the
home club itself when playing matches. It is well sheltered, and the
arrangements for the big crowd were ample, and well carried out by the
Rangers' committee and the Scottish Football Association, for whom Mr
John M'Dowall, the secretary, acted with much credit. The Govan
policemen (at least most of them) love a good game at football as dearly
as the old Highland landlady lo'ed a lord, and what is more, their
respected chief shows them a good example, as he is generally to be
found at Ibrox Park, in company with other burgh officials, when there
is a good thing on. The early editions of the evening papers were
largely in request, not by any means for the purpose of reading, as all
attention was directed to the game, and in the anxiety to see the
players before the contest began, but for the sole purpose of being "sat
on." The supply was soon exhausted, and one speculative newsboy, taking
in the situation at a glance, disappeared for a short time, but came up
smiling towards the grand stand ten minutes afterwards with a bundle of
brown paper wrappers, which he disposed of like penny pies at twopence
per sheet. The judges of the game had very difficult duties to perform,
and to their credit be it said they did the work without fear or favour,
and we are quite certain gave general satisfaction to the players. The
spectators, however, treated the unfavourable conditions of the
atmosphere with indifference, and even contempt, and long before the
time announced for the kick-off they crowded around the pailing and
surroundings to get a good view of the game. In consequence of the wet
weather very few ladies were present compared with what has turned out
at previous finals. The Vale of Leven emerged from the pavilion first,
and were well received. A few minutes afterwards came the Queen's Park,
who were also loudly cheered with cries of "Good old Q.P." The toss
between the two captains was watched with much earnestness, and when the
Leven team ranged themselves in front of the ball from the gate end, it
became apparent that they had won. The Queen's Park, by Hamilton, kicked
off against the wind, and a short run by Berry was successful in sending
the ball so near the Vale of Leven goal that one of the strangers put it
behind, and gave the Queen's Park a corner-flag kick. This was followed
by a close scrimmage, in which the ball came near Whitelaw, who sent it
down the field. A "foul," however, by Paton gave the Queen's Park a
lift, and in a second scrimmage the ball was again put behind the lines.
Another corner-flag kick was the consequence, and it took the Queen's
Park well in on goal, where the tackling was very severe. The ball again
bobbed about the posts, but the Vale men showed splendid back play on
the slippery ground, and sent it clear. After this Bruce and M'Millan
had a good run on the left for the Vale of Leven, and the former had a
shy that went past the left post. The kick out by Gillespie was followed
up by a steady run on the part of Allan, Berry, and Gulliland, and the
former shied wide past the right post. After the kick out, the Queen's
Park kept up the pressure, and it was some time before the ball emerged
from Vale of Leven territory, which it did from the foot of Rankin. Some
even play ensued, and then the Vale had a run by the right forwards,
and, in kicking clear, Arnott slipped a bit, and the ball, getting the
upper of his boot, rolled over the lines and gave the Vale of Leven a
corner-flag kick. It was taken by M'Lachlan, but he cut the distance too
fine, and the ball rolled harmlessly over the bar. In turn, Gillespie's
kick-out was followed by a run on the part of Sellar and Hamilton, and a
"hand" by one of the Vale of Leven backs gave Smellie a chance of doing
something with a free kick. It was very hard work, however, for both,
and the opinion began to gain ground that the team who could keep up
their stamina longest would be the winners. The ground, in fact, was a
bit treacherous, and in some cases when the ball landed, after a long
kick, it bounded clean over the heads of the backs, and some mis-kicks
now and again occurred. Seven minutes from half-time, the Vale men made
a smart spurt, and, after some clever passing, the ball was taken
possession of by M'Lachlan, who jumped in and headed it between the
posts--just a few inches from the right side--amid cheers and counter
cheers. The teams then faced up in the centre, and, from a good start,
the Queen's Park got up to their opponents' lines, and Berry just missed
the goal by a foot. After this the Vale of Leven had a good run down on
the Queen's Park lines, and a fast shy by Osborne was caught up and
punted out by Gillespie, and another immediately afterwards, from the
foot of Bruce, was cleared by Smellie. The half-time signal, however,
was given, leaving the Vale of Leven one goal ahead. The strangers had
now the kick-off, and made considerable use of it, for the forwards
backed up well, and a slip by one of the half-backs of the Queen's Park
gave the Vale of Leven a corner-flag kick. The ball was fairly managed,
but Bruce, who had it at his toe, was tackled by Smellie, and sent down
the field. The Queen's Park had now a brilliant turn at the Leven goal,
and several hard shies at the posts were cleverly returned by the backs.
The Queen's men, however, kept pressing on, and had a corner-flag kick,
which was taken by Sellar, and splendidly sent out by Wilson. The play
after this was straggling a bit, and falls were frequent in Vale of
Leven territory, but the Queen's men were very unlucky at goal, and
could not get the ball through--Gulliland, with a hard shy, only missing
by a shave. The ball eventually passed the Leven lines in a scrimmage
not long afterwards, and as it was put over by one of the defenders,
another corner-flag kick was the consequence. Time was now wearing on,
and do all they could, with hemming in their opponents and making
innumerable shies at goal, the Queen's Park could not score, and a
corner-flag kick did not mend matters. After this the Vale team improved
very much in their forward play, and M'Lachlan and Bruce again had a
fine run up the field, and as Arnott, in tackling, let the ball go over
the lines, the Leven team had a corner-flag kick. The shot from the
pavilion end was very well taken by one of the half-backs (M'Nicol), and
the Queen's Park goal had a narrow shave, as the ball was caught by
Robertson in the nick of time and cleared. The Queen's Park were soon at
it again, however, and not only drove their powerful opponents off, but
completely invaded their stronghold. Crowding round Allan, Berry,
Gulliland, Sellar, Hamilton, and even the Queen's half-backs had shies
at the Leven goal, but Wilson saved brilliantly. When time was drawing
to a close the excitement became very intense, and while the friends of
the Vale of Leven were jubilant and hopeful about the issue, the
partisans of the senior club, who came to see their favourites conquer,
were proportionately sad and crest-fallen. "They cannot do it now," said
a chorus of voices well up on the stand, "but see this, boys," remarked
an old football follower, as Arnott rolled up the sleeves of his jersey
with a determination which gave new life to the game; and as it has been
said frequently before that the Queen's Park can rise to a great
occasion, assuredly they did on Ibrox Park on Saturday. One minute or so
more and all would be over. Pressing their opponents very hard with
shots at goal, corner-flag kicks, scrimmages almost under the
goalkeeper's feet, they were again and again repulsed by grand work on
the part of Wilson, and as the ball emerged out of the pack after a free
kick it was sent a bit down the field towards the Queen's Park
half-backs. Here Bruce, the most prominent forward of the country club,
got possession, and was about to beat Stewart, when Arnott and Smellie
came to the rescue, and the ball was immediately sent back to the Vale
goal, where, after a terrible scrimmage, from a "free kick," it was put
between the posts by Smellie. The vision of a glorious victory for the
Q.P. had by that time faded away like a dream, and a crowd of the senior
club's followers had actually left Ibrox Park in disgust, when a
tremendous cheer burst forth from the ground signalling a point for the
Queen's Park, who had "turned" the doubtful day again. The scene which
followed was truly exciting. The Q.P. followers gave vent to their
strained feelings with an outburst of cheering which must have been
heard in some of the neighbouring police burghs, including Partick on
the other side of the river, while those of the Vale kept quiet in
disappointment. The teams then began the struggle anew, and from the
kick off the Vale of Leven men made a grand run up on the Queen's Park
goal, and had a couple of corner-flag kicks in succession, but the
Queen's Park backs sent the ball clear, and a few seconds afterwards the
whistle sounded, leaving one of the most remarkable games ever played in
the final tie for the Association Challenge Cup drawn, with one goal
all. The following are the teams that played in both games:--Queen's
Park--Goal, Gillespie; backs, Arnott and Smellie; half-backs, M'Ara,
Stewart, and Robertson; forwards, Gulliland, Berry, J. Hamilton, Allan,
and Sellar. Vale of Leven--Goal, Wilson; backs, Whitelaw and Murray;
half-backs, Osborne, M'Nicol, and Sharp; forwards, M'Lachlan, Rankin,
James Patton, Bruce, and M'Millan.
~Second Match.~