Buchanan (3)
Pringle (2)
Peacock (2)
McKenzie
Unknown (2)
Match Information
Manager: No Permanent Manager
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: unknown - to be confirmed
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
The announcement of the visit to Belfast of a crack team from Glasgow to try conclusions in a friendly game with one of our leading local club naturally aroused much interest among our lovers of Association football, and large numbers were attracted to the Cliftonville ground on Saturday after noon to witness the above match. Glasgow is the home of Scotch, as Belfast is the home of Irish, Association football, and for many years the representative of the city of the Clyde proved their supremacy in this form of athletic exercise not only when opposed by rival teams of their own countrymen but also when meeting the foremost players in England. Latter, perhaps, the superiority of Glasgow in football has been less pronounced than formerly, and her men have had occasionally to succumb to the champions of Lancashire and Yorkshire. Still she can always send out a team hard enough to beat by any combination brought forward against them, and who can be confidently relied upon to give an account of themselves in any company. Our Cliftonville men got a sharp taste of Glasgow mettle on Saturday, suffering a decisive defeat at the hands of their visitors. This however, was a foregone conclusion. It was simply in the interest of the game, and for the purpose of affording gratification to its admirers in Belfast – not with any prospect of victory – that Cliftonville pitted themselves against what they knew to be far more powerful club. They made a gallant fight and though beaten were by no means disgraced. Such encounters should have a most beneficial effect upon our local football, in demonstrating to our players, the points of discipline and tactics in which they are deficient, and thus enabling them to perfect themselves in the science of the game. For as far as the raw material is concerned we are in no way behind our neighbours, Scotch or English. This way amply illustrated during the play on Saturday, where individual prowess among our local players was frequently observable, though the team lacked altogether that perfect combination and reciprocity in action which so eminently characterised their antagonists, and which without doubt was the sole secret of their success. The Cliftonville ground is somewhat unfortunately situated for the purposes of a ‘gate’ match, being entirely commanded by rising ground outside, from which spectators can enjoy almost as good a view of the play as those inside the enclosure. But for this circumstance there would have been a bumping ‘gate’ on Saturday; but the conformation of the exterior portion of the park was taken full advantage of by many hundreds of people, whose admiration of the noble game of football did not go the length of paying the small but, in their opinion, wholly unnecessary fee charged for admission. Notwithstanding this handicap, the ground was well patronised by the less strictly economical admirers of the game. A very acceptable addition to the accommodation of the spectators had been made by the committee, in the erection of a commodious and well-placed stand, from which an exceedingly good view of the play could be obtained and which was well filled with spectators, including a large numbers of ladies. It would be difficult to say whether the game was watched with a more eager interest by the patrons within the ground, the free lances outside, or the more adventurous spirits who secured a bird’s eye view of the proceedings perched in the trees of the park, and who must have numbered some scores. All, in fact, seemed possessed with an equal amount of enthusiasm, indeed as much probably by the semi-international character of the match as by the great reputation as players of the visitors. The latter made their appearance on the ground about half past two o’clock, and received a conidial and hearty welcome. The members of the Cliftonville team, who entered the field immediately afterwards, and received a similar tribute. The Glasgow men wore dark blue jerseys and white knicks; the Cliftonville wore the uniform of their club. The Scotchmen were an active, serviceable-looking lot rather small as are most of the crack Caledonian team, but quick and active looking, and evidently in great condition. Nevertheless as a matter of physique, many people would have preferred the home teams, who seemed far more powerful, and apparently equally fit with their opponents. Play commenced at twelve minutes to three o’clock, the Cliftonville winning the toss and electing to defend the Pavilion goal. Cameron kicked off for the Rangers, and the ball went to Gilmore who returned, and the Cliftonville forwards getting possession, carried the globe down to the Scots goal, which for a minute or two was invested. McIntyre and Hume however, were equal to the occasion, and the position of affairs was quickly changed. McIntyre passed to Peacock who centred neatly in front of goal, and Lawther in endeavouring to save kicked behind, giving a corner kick to the Rangers. This however, proved unproductive, the shot at goal going wide. After the kick off the Rangers penned their opponents and subjected their citadel to a most determined attack, five corner kicks coming in rapid succession, until after ten minutes play a sharp tussle took place in the goal mouth, ending by Buchanan heading the ball through. The ground was soft and treacherous after the heavy rain, and the Rangers seemed to experience far more difficulty than their opponents in keeping their footing. Redmond re-started the ball, and the Scots made another hot attack having several shots at goal within a few minutes. A free kick obtained by Cliftonville, followed by a smart run by Ellerman and Brown on the right, caused a temporary diversion, but the Scotch forwards were not to be denied, and coming down with a rush Peacock scored a second goal for the visitors. Redmond again kicked off and the ball was rushed down by the home forwards, Turner and Redmond being capacious but their attack on the Caledonian goal was unavailing, and the play was speedily transferred to the opposite end of the ground by a combined rush of the Scotch forwards, Heggie finishing a run by a shot which Wylie stopped in good style. Immediately afterwards Buchanan sent the ball through making the Rangers third goal. The game up to this time had been very fast. The splendid passing of the Scots, and their magnificent heading and admirable combined play, drew forth repeated rounds of applause from the spectators, who though they would naturally have preferred to see their own men succeeding better, were as far as the majority of them were concerned too much interested in the game to be ungenerous partisans. Every piece of good play on the part of the Cliftonville likewise received due encouragement and recognitions. Ellerman, Turner and Brown among the forwards, Lawther and McCarthy among the backs, were frequently cheered. Pringle scored a fourth goal and shortly afterwards a fifth for the Rangers, while the Cliftonville score continued at zero. Singularly enough, after each kick off from the centre the home team charged down their opponents temporarily, but the back play of the latter was too good, and their goal seemed altogether impregnable. A dangerous shot by Gilmore was headed out by McIntyre, and at halftime the home goal was still invested the score standing at five goals to nil in favour of the Rangers. On recommencing play, ends being changed, the home forwards at once got on the ball, and from a good run and dribble by Ellerman, Dobbin kicked first goal for the Cliftonville amid enthusiastic applause. The visitors however, played up with renewed vigour, and pressed their opponents hard several shots at goal being well stopped by Wylie; but at last Peacock got the globe past him. The Cliftonville however, were not dismayed and after a capital piece of passing between Brown, Ellerman and Dobbin, the former rushed the ball through making the second goal for the home side. This however, proved their last score. The Scots placed two more goals to their credit during the remainder of the play, and when time was called they were left victorious by eight goals to two. The Cliftonville played up with great spirit during the second half, as the respective scores during that period will show. Turner Ellerman and Brown, among the forwards were most active in breaking away, while Lawther at back played exceedingly well. The Cliftonville goalkeeper during the greater part of the match was perhaps the busiest man on the field, and though the screw shots of Buchanan, Pringle and Peacock sometimes proved too much for him, he succeeded in saving his charge repeatedly when fiercely assailed by the combined strength of the Scotch forwards. Considering the brilliant record of the Glasgow Rangers, and the fact that they defeated last week the London Scottish by twelve goals to two, the defeat of the Cliftonville is by no means exceptionally severe. The club deserve credit for arranging the match, and thus affording a treat to thousands of spectators in an exposition of football by a really first class team. The Rangers goals were taken by the following – Buchanan 3; Pringle 2; Peacock 2; McKenzie 1. The Cliftonville scores were made as stated above by Dobbin and Brown. In the evening the Rangers were entertained to dinner at the Queen’s Hotel by the members of the Cliftonville Club
