Unknown
Match Information
Manager: No Permanent Manager
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: unknown - to be confirmed
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Benefit for Rothesay's Poor
The Football match for the benefit of the Rothesay charities, played at Rothesay by the Rangers and Queen’s Park Football teams was a great success. The Match was arranged by Mr A B Stewart of Ascog Hall. The weather although threatening in the forenoon, cleared up beautifully. The number present was estimated at over 6,000. The teams were brought down from Glasgow by special saloon carriages provided by Mr Stewart. On reaching Wemyss Bay Mr Stewart’s steam yacht Ellie was in waiting and conveyed the company to Rothesay; and before proceeding to the field they were entertained to luncheon in the Bute Hotel. On the two teams appearing in the field they received quite an ovation from the spectators. The Rangers won the toss and kicked off. They had the wind and the sun behind them, but were at a slight disadvantage in having to play partly up hill, as the ground rose towards their opponent’s goal. For a short time after the kick-off play was about equal, but the Rangers commenced to press the Queen’s Park men rather hardly and were only prevented from scoring a goal by the capital play of their opponents goalkeeper Rowan. One or two corner kicks fell to the Rangers, but without success and the game continued without any advantage to either side until half time was called. Some excellent play was shown by both teams, the Queen’s Park occasionally causing the opposition goalkeeper to defend his charge. After changing position the Queen’s Park team had the best of the play and kept the Rangers pretty much within their own territory, the latter however having the sun in their eyes, which was not in their favour. After one or two unsuccessful corner kicks the Queen’s Park scored their first goal, out of a scrimmage Ker sending the ball through. The Rangers now working hard to equalise matters, but although exhibiting some fine play did not succeed in breaking through the Queen’s Park half-backs and backs, who did some good work for their team at this time. The match concluded without any more goals being taken. In the evening the members of the two teams and a number of gentlemen altogether a company of about 70 were entertained to dinner by Mr A B Stewart in the Bute Hotel. Mr Dalrymple MP in reply to the toast of “Both Houses of Parliament” said that the man had yet to be invented who could see anything political in football. (Laughter) Mr Stewart afterwards gave the toast of the evening, ‘The competing teams’. He believed he was right in saying that never in the history of Bute had such a match been played there. Mr Stewart then explained the circumstances that led to the match being played. On the death of the late Mr Whitelaw MP, the office of honorary president of the Rangers Club became vacant and to his surprise they asked his son Mr J S Stewart to accept the office, which he did. The result was that the Rangers volunteered to come down to Rothesay and play a game for the benefit of any charity that might be named and he got the Queen’s Park team to promise to come and play with them. (Applause) The result they had seen. He thought there worthy member was wrong in saying that no political meaning could be got out of football. If he (Mr Stewart) were sitting in Parliament he would be inclined to play football with the heads of the Irish obstructionists. (Great laughter) He said this for their worthy member as it would not be parliamentary for him to say so himself. The O’Gorman might have fallen upon him. (Laughter) Mr Stewart afterwards intimated that considerably over 100 guineas would be handed over to the Magistrates of Rothesay for the benefit of the poor the proceeds of the match just played. He proposed the health of the Rangers and Queen’s Park clubs and the toast was cordially responded to Mr Vallance for the Rangers and Mr Campbell for the Queen’s Park replied. Mr Dunlop of the Rangers then handed over the handsome Glasgow Charity Cup presently held by that club, to their new president Mr J S Stewart, who accepted the charge of it in a few well-chosen remarks. Captain Campbell proposed the health of the Chairman, which was most enthusiastically responded to and suitably replied to by Mr Stewart. The toast of Captain Campbell health completed the programme and after singing ‘Auld Langsyne’ the company dispersed the Glasgow gentlemen leaving by special steamer to Wemyss Bay.
