If you know your history – 22nd December
130 years ago… 1891/92 season continues apace. On this day ( Wednesday) Celts are finally preparing to play in the league championship when St Mirren make the short journey from Paisley to Celtic Park.
Despite the team missing both Dowds and Maley at kick-off, then Captain Kelly missing most of the game through injury ( down to ten men) .. the Bhoys are right up against it minus their entire regular half-back line.
Match stats are not available, but The Scotsman produced a good match report indicating that the 2,000 fans were fully entertained by both teams. Campbell taking lead for Celtic and Saints equalising by halftime. In the Second half Celtic had the ball in the net but it was chopped off for an infringement.
Finally the 10 men managed to press on and Brady scored the winner.
1891-12-26: Celtic 2-1 St Mirren, League
Celts have now won every game played since losing at Tynecastle in the opening League tie of the Season.
End of 1891 the team are really setting up nicely for the second half of the season. With The Glasgow Cup already secured (retained), into the Third Round of The Scottish Cup and only one league defeat the signs are very, very promising.
90 years ago…… on this day in 1931 (Tuesday ) The Celtic players are resting having summarily disposed of Leith Athletic by Six (6) goals to nil in front of 3,000 at Paradise ( The Scotsman reported 5,000 but I’d go with the Celticwiki every time)
Jimmy McGrory bagged four and Berti Thompson and Napier grabbed one-apiece. Napier in particular was absolutely tearing through Athletic’ defence causing the home support to break into cheers of laughter at his antics.
The sounds of mirth would soon be completely overshadowed as we learn that this would be the last game played by another huge favourite Peter Scarff. After the game he complained of feeling unwell and was coughing up blood.
Imagine the horror on the faces of his teammates …
Knowing what we know of his condition, it defies belief that this young man could complete 90 gruelling minutes in a top flight game in December, suffering from a deadly lung disease – contrast this with our modern day players and … ach nevermind … ye get the drift!
In the game Peter Scarff formed the left wing with Charlie ‘dancing feet’ Napier, and in my head I can see them interchanging and Peter laying on at least one of Jimmy McGrory’s four that day.
This is very emotional topic for me and at this point I’d stopped writing … it’s taken the thick end of four days to complete today’s piece.
However, I was sent a photograph* on Sunday evening that made my spirits absolutely soar. It’s simply amazing what life throws at ye…
Peter was part of my extended family and growing up his name was mentioned regularly – he was never forgotten by the folk he grew up with. He never kicked a ball again and had even tossed his boots into the Black Cart river in the throes of his dark despair – a very close friend retrieved them for him and persuaded him to keep them. Sadly, Peter would never wear them again.
Peter Scarff had reached the ripe old age of 22 when he slipped his final pass to McGrory.
In his short career he played 128 games for his beloved Celts and scored 63 goals.
1931-12-19: Celtic 6-0 Leith Athletic, League Division 1
Teams
CELTIC:
Kennaway, Morrison, McGonagle, Wilson, McStay, Scarff, R. Thomson, A. Thomson, McGrory, Napier, Solis.
Scorers:
R. Thomson, McGrory, (4); Napier.
LEITH ATHLETIC:
Todd, Allan, Forrest, McNeil, Bruce, Crawford, Laidlaw, Marshall, Nicol, Johnston, McWilliams.
Scorers:
Referee: H. Morrison (Falkirk).
Attendance: 3,000
Match programme Celtic v Leith Athletic
In other news
*that photo?
Sunday 19th of December
Another Celtic legend on the Peter Scarff CSC bus, celebrating yet another fine Celtic trophy win.
90 years to the very day that Peter played his last game – there are still young …and not so young… Bhoys remembering his name… keeping his memory, his legacy, alive.
Now that my friends … is immortality!!
General Stuff:
0000 The Wee Donkey gets new horseshoes
1688 Pro-James II, Earl of Danby occupies York
1715 English pretender to the throne James III lands at Peterhead
1877 Thomas Edison’s Phonograph is announced by Scientific American
1989 After 23 years of dictatorial rule, Romania ousts Communist dictator Nicola Ceausescu
1990 Lech Walesa sworn in as Poland’s 1st popularly elected president
2010 Repeal of the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy”, a 17-year-old policy banning homosexuals serving openly in the US military, signed into law by President Obama
Have wonderful Christmas folks!
Note: The excellent Celtic Wiki site is the font of all knowledge on things Celtic. Most of the Celtic stuff above is from that site. The guys who set it up and painstakingly keep it updated, deserve no end of credit, praise and thanks. A treasure trove for Celtic fans young and old – and new- and free to view.
Respect Bhoys!
http://www.thecelticwiki.com/m/
Guest article by Saltires en Sevilla.
Change the record by sending an article to sentinelcelts@gmail.com
SES
Fascinating article, I assume Peter Scarff was suffering from TB and playing top flight football, remarkable.
SeS
Another great insight into our glorious history – thank you. Peter Scarff YNWA.
HH
Great article as always SeS.
I had heard of the Peter Scarff supporters club.
But I’m ashamed to say , I knew nothing about him.
SALTIRES
Another terrific read,mate. And here’s one from a good friend of yours,Iain Reynolds.
https://sentinelcelts.com/2020/05/14/the-peter-scarff-story-i-wonder-if-the-crowds-ever-miss-me/
Good morning, friends and thanks SES for another educating article.
Morning all,
Well done SeS on another enjoyable read 👏👏👏
Stay safe and enjoy your day.
Anybody in the Rutherglen area might spot me trying to prop up a certain BRRB this afternoon.
Might need a hand if anyone else is in the vicinity 😜😜😜
HH 🍀🍀🍀
Saltires en sevilla
Great read again 👏 👍
Leggy will you be wearing this jacket 🤣🤮🤮
https://mobile.twitter.com/paolodilamio/status/1473536730661801984
Craig76,
The jacket. Not for me !!!!!!!
Throw a trixie on the outside and, now your talking 😉😉😉
Leggy
Who ever thought that jacket was a good idea has not got a feckin clue.
Enjoy your session the day 🍻🍻🥃
Where’s the fake Union man Wishart? He should be all over this to protect his members……..no doubt a call from Robertson has been made…..
Motherwell Chief Exec said Sky have no say in decision to bring Winter Break forward.
Saltires en Sevilla, great read and an emotional story about Peter Scarff, immortality indeed.
Morning all! Great again, SES. I was aware of Peter Scarff only through Iain Reynolds’ article posted here a while back. I had obviously forgotten the details but what a scoring legend for one so young. The fact you were brought up with tales of him and we are still discussing him so long after his death is testament to his undoubted ability. A truly sad finish to what should have been an incredible career! Cheers for the read!
…and thanks for the repost of Iain Reynolds’ piece, I’ll catch that later Bobby. 👍
Jason Leitch struggles to justify the 500 capacity at games admitting its a figure that “There isn’t a particular public health route that takes you to 500 people…Let’s remember the overall advice here, forget the numbers. The overall advice is to reduce your contact with other people as much as you can because that will reduce your risk of catching this disease until we get through this wave of this virus…”It’s very difficult to choose a number, you can either choose zero, 10,000 or somewhere in between…It’s a judgement, it’s of course based on trying to keep the risk as low as you possibly can but the alternative is just to close them down completely.” He goes on to say the Scottish Government has prioritised Health/Education and Life Events over anything.
One resourceful Celtic supporter has already agreed to take one for the team and get married in Celtic Park on the 2nd January with an open invitation to ALL his fellow Season Ticket Holders!! 💑👏👏👏🤣🤣🤣
Dundee and Hearts go public on wanting the WB brought forward ,decision is be blackmailed by the Gang,or protect revenue streams.
BADABINGBADABOOM!…the next 24 hours will tell us if the tail’s wagging the dug!!
We should never underestimate the amount of
animosity the huns have created with the other members of the top league. They have consistently been pissing on the league for over a year, even putting the sponsorship at risk.
Which makes me wonder what Ross County are up to?
Fag Packet Arithmetic…
Celtic Park Capacity 62000
No of rows of seats 62
Capacity per Row 1000
1 metre spacing Capacity per Row 300
2 Rows Empty between Rows
Socially Distanced Capacity 300 x 30 equals 9000 Capacity
Rudimentary I accept but 500 FFS!!
Cheers Bhoys – a subject close to my heart.
ASWGL – meant to say, some absolutely fantastic backgrounds to the pages here. Quality buddy!!
You lads out in R’glen enjoy and hope to join you all one day/afternoon in the New Year.
HH
Stole from twitter…
Rangers: ‘How To Lose Friends And Ostracise People’
They are like Dick Dastardly in the Wacky Races; everyone else just wants to race and they’re always fking about causing grief & doing mad shit.
Celtic B Team unique angle footage of last nights goals
https://mobile.twitter.com/CelticFCB/status/1473625616842993666
Prestonpans Bhoys
Yeah it was TB – the curse of so many at the time, and a few Celtic players of yesteryear succumbed to that disease.
Peter Douds (aka Dowds) of our first Scottish Cup and League Championship winning teams. Although he had been away to Villa to join our first regular ‘keeper Dunning (aka Dinning) a previous teammate at both Celtic and Johnstone Harp (in 1887/88 season)
I’m sure both won the Championship at Villa in 1894??
Dowds came back to Celtic briefly in 1894 but was very ill and died of consumption ( TB) age 24
If it really is a 10/2 split – as appears to be the case – then surely it must come to pass?
On tonight’s game, while I have every sympathy with St Mirren, we were shown NONE post Dubai and had to play two games, which we drew, that virtually ended our quest for the Ten. So, for me, let’s get it played. Its the one break we’ve had from the SPFL all season. If all games involving us and Sevco had been refereed correctly we would be comfortably top of the league currently!
The rags saying tonight’s game is on
Flying visit to say Up The Hoops! & God Bless Peter Scarff !!!
AFTERNOON ALL and JIM, saltires superb reading once again, remember my father and grandfather talking about peter scarff when i was only a nipper, for goodness sake my favourite player back then was duncan mckay, that shows you how old i am👍😎 but my dad would tell me stories about jimmy quinn, well both jimmy and my dad also called jimmy, both came from croy, another true story,😎
Mick and Johnny, Vogue Bar. https://linksharing.samsungcloud.com/jIlkJM3It4wQ
Packy, never heard of Peter Scarff I’m afraid! I didn’t meet my grandfathers as they were deceased before I was born and my uncles were all younger than my dad. So unless I heard of the old timers in Celtic songs my knowledge was limited. Jimmy McGory I had of obviously. He was my grannie’s cousin, as I’m sure I’ve told you many times! 🙂
BRRB, You’se are still looking in good nick! LOL 🙂
And again. https://linksharing.samsungcloud.com/7NxrcA4R5mdx
BRRB, who is the handsome dude on the right😎
BRRB, a blue shirt on! 🙂
JIM, as i said only heard of peter scarff from my father and grandfather,,well jimmy mcgrory, how lucky are you to be related,but are you as good in the air as he was😎
Packy I couldn’t play football to save myself. That’s why I say next to nothing about the technical stuff!
Old BRRB. 😂. https://linksharing.samsungcloud.com/ap9FP3aumGG2
JIM im heading up tp parkhead for the game, im at southwaite services on theM6, will be in the springfield vaults about 6 if you fancy a swally 😎
Sorry Packy can’t rely on the trains at the moment!
btw, the game’s in Paisley. 🙂
Craig Whyte appears at court for failing to provide key passwords for seized devices
In a prosecution brought by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Craig Whyte has been charged with failing to provide passwords for various laptops and phones.
Mr Whyte appeared today at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court, having been arrested at Manchester Airport yesterday at the request of the FCA by officers from Greater Manchester Police.
The arrest is in relation to non-disclosure of key passwords for various laptops and phones, which were seized from him by a warrant issued under s176 Financial Services & Markets Act 2000 on the 18 April 2018.
Mr Whyte was charged with failing to comply with a Statutory Notice issued under Section 49 Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA 2000). This is the first prosecution by the FCA in relation to this offence.
Mr Whyte has indicated a plea of not guilty and elected for trial in the Crown Court. Mr Whyte was granted conditional bail.
WHAT, paisley, well im turnin roon noo, that mike in toronto is from paisley, nuff said😎😎
JIM was waiting for you to come on yesterday, where were you????
BRRB…are you two sharing one pint between two? 🤣🤣🤣
A busy day.
Saltires
Another stunning read, my good man. I had heard all about Peter Scarff-R.I.P- from an early age, courtesy of the old man. I remember tales of Charlie Napier too, and I remember being tickled pink by his nickname…Happy Feet.
I too am absolutely perplexed that the winter break matter has been referred to the SFA. WTF has this got to do with those Bluenose bastards? Is this even legal? A solid 10-2 vote speaks for itself. This should be the end of the matter. Do any Huns on the SFA board, cough, cough, have to recuse themselves? The 10 clubs should be kicking up f**k about this blatant piece of gerrymandering. If the vote had been 10-2 in favour of the status quo, does anyone seriously think that this matter would have been kicked upstairs? Nah, me neither.
The huns want to play games behind closed doors, can anyone work this out?? They should be asked why…..
JIM, same here😎
BADABING
The two matches which would be affected are both away,to Aberdeen and then us. I think that might have something to do with it!
JtT
you raise an interesting point …. would be interesting to know the highest level posters played at and/or coached at …. not that it would really change anything … still banter amongst friends on here …
and some of the best players were not very good at coaching or commentating/analysis, perhaps, because it just came so easily to them, that they didn’t have to think about it …and of course, some are just thick (Kris Boyd, for example) or just biased (I’m being polite since it is the holidays… but, again Kris Boyd.. but you can substitute various names here ) ….
Some notable managers never had very good playing careers (Brendan Rogers and Nagelsman both had promising careers cut short early due to injuries), while some others, like Andre Villa Boras (who got into football when he was 16 by chatting with his then neighbor Bobby Robson, who was impressed by the youngster and brought him into the game) or Sarri, who never even played professional football, and was working as a banker, when he took on a job managing a team inthe 8th tier of Itlaian football, and worked his way up to winning Seria A with Juventus.
For me, I played local stuff when I was a kid (here, we called it the local stuff house league, and the next level up (regional stuff ) was called select or rep. Stopped playing organized football when I started playing tennis at age 11, and didn’t play organized football again until college. I played for the college team, but the then Canadian national team striker played for the university (varsity) team, so no way I was getting a game over him. By that time, I had quit tennis and picked up squash, so played college and varsity squash, when my studies allowed.
I’m a bit older (56) than Sarri was when he starting managing (30), but never too late to start ….
bada bing1
Simple answer mate. The Huns are terrified of their own fans. The added bonus is of course, that the refs can get away with even more ‘honest mistakes’ than they do at present. If there’s no bugger there to see it, then these honest mistakes can immediately be erased from history, courtesy of BBC Scotland, Sky etc.
George Orwell eat your heart out.
One thing the Huns have not factored into their thinking, is this. By playing games BCD the Huns will loose all match day revenue. Will they even be able to meet the monthly wage bill come the end of January?
Hail Hail.
MAGUA shaw mcnair and dodds were known as ???