Chapter 13

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 L500. 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.~