Chapter 14

The destiny of the Challenge Cup has at length been decided for the season, and the Queen's Park are the conquerors after one of the finest games ever seen on Ibrox Park--the victory being the narrow one of two goals to one. The game, it may be remembered, was drawn on the previous Saturday, when each side had scored a goal, and, strange as it may seem, the Queen's Park only saved themselves then, as they have done now, towards the close of the contest, and converted what looked like a defeat into a victory. Between 12,000 and 13,000 spectators were present, and as the weather was fine the match was a most enjoyable one. The cash drawn at the gate amounted to fully L600, and, as on the previous meeting, will be equally apportioned among the two clubs and the Association. The city cabbies made a day of it, and pocketed a good round sum. They handled the ribbons with a dexterity which in some cases was really alarming, and threatened the lieges with accident. "Drive us to Ibrox Park, mind, in ten minutes, or we'll be late for the kick-off," and the promise of an extra sixpence did the business, although Jehu's old friend and brother must be passed on the road. In some cases this was overdone, and a horseless machine with only one wheel might have been seen near Bellahouston Academy, awaiting "alterations and repairs," and on the same road some "spills" also occurred. The remarks round the pavilion, stand, and approaches were, as usual, both instructive and amusing, and let the impartial spectator know how the land lay, and the kind of company he was for the moment keeping. All sorts and conditions of men and boys were there to see the match. A hasty glance, in fact, revealed the astonishing fact that nearly all classes in the country were represented--city magnates, iron-masters, shipbuilders, ministers of religion, doctors, schoolmasters, clerks, mechanics of all kinds, and a much larger contingent of ladies than we have seen on any previous occasion. From the cheers and counter cheers which greeted the goal-scoring by the senior club it was apparent that their followers were in the majority, but when the young Vale of Leven got the first point, the cheers which followed showed that they had also a large number of partisans, who honestly believed in the club's ability to win the cup. In the first round, indeed, the Vale players showed much better combination all over than the Q.P., and reminded many of the Vale of yore. The second half, however, revealed the senior club at their best, and from the manner in which they acted together and kept up their staying powers, they really deserved to win. As we have already said, the gossip among the spectators was both bright and original. A demonstrative supporter of the senior club was rather personal with his remarks, and was asked by a lover of the game, but not a partisan of either club, to keep quiet "and not let everybody know he was a born fool." "Oh! yes; it's all very fine, but the band at Alexandria 'ill no play at the station yet: the Vale canna' win noo," said he, as the Queen's team put the ball through a second time. A well dressed young fellow on the stand near the press table was very funny, and if ever a man enjoyed the game it was he. In the exuberance of his joy at the Q.P. scoring, he danced on the little spot allotted to him on the stand, and in doing so nearly overbalanced himself. "Ye'll be the better o' a half yin after that narrow escape," said one of his friends, handing him a bottle. After he had swallowed a fair amount of the liquor he stole a hasty glance at the bottle, and found to his disgust he had been drinking "The Vale of Leven blend." "It's a' richt," said his country friend, "ye'll maybe need it a' yet; the Vale are not beaten the noo; the Queen's man tak' anither goal before that occurs," and so they did. "Oh! a' say," remarked a born East-Ender, for whom we are perfectly certain the Clyde and Thistle, according to his self-importance at any rate, had played their best on Barrowfield and Beechwood, "look at that; it's no' fair to gie the Vale a free kick for that; it's the auld way; gie't ta the yin that mak's the maist noise." "Yes," said another, who looked every inch a dyer from the celebrated football county of Dumbarton, and maybe the Vale of Leven district itself, "did ever ye see the likes o' that, and frae sic a swell club, tae?" as Robertson bowled over Bruce on the grass, and cleared the ball away. Wilson, the Vale of Leven goalkeeper, came in for a fair share of praise; and so did Arnott, Smellie, Sellar, Gulliland, and Gillespie for their brilliant play, but many were in ecstacy about young Wilson. "His mither 'ill be a proud woman the day when she kens how well he kept goal for the Vale; there's nae doubt about it, Wilson's the coming man between the sticks for the International on Hampden Park on 5th April next," said a red-faced man, wearing a glengarry. Old and respected members of both clubs were again present to cheer on their successors to victory, and we observed several original members of the once-famous Clydesdale, including two who took part in the first final tie for the cup on old Hampden Park. Several old Rangers were present, too, who remembered well the series of exciting matches played by them against the Vale of Leven, when no fewer than three hard battles had to be fought before the destiny of the cup was settled for the year. The sad news, too, was announced in the papers of the sudden death of another famous forward (Mr. J. R. Wilson), who took part in the first final tie between the Queen's Park and Clydesdale on behalf of the latter club. Many of the "Old Brigade" viewed the contest with mixed feelings. "You seem excited, Bob," said a friend to an old Q.P., and no wonder; time is fleeting fast; the game will be done in a quarter of an hour, and, dear me, the Queen's have not even scored. "Not at all, not at all," said the Q.P. old player, tearing at his moustache in a manner that threatened that hirsute appendage with instant annihilation, "I think they will, at anyrate, make it a draw, for see how they press the Vale now. Oh! they've done it; see that," as Hamilton sent the ball between the posts. "The extra half-hour is sure to be played now," said another, as the Vale of Leven men brought down the ball to mid-field, and kicked off. There was, indeed, great excitement, and as the Queen's Park again and again pressed their opponents, and finally scored a second goal, it was a dozen times intensified, and the subsequent play made the Q.P. men more bold and determined. The Vale of Leven, as on the previous occasion, appeared in the field of play first, and had a punt about with the ball for a few minutes, when their opponents emerged from the pavilion and had some practice round the upper goal, while the umpires and the referee were arranging the preliminaries. The visitors won the toss, and played with what little wind there was in their favour. Hamilton kicked off, and Berry followed his forward companion, but Murray turned the ball, and M'Millan and Bruce had a nice run, and caused the ball to get near the Queen's Park goal, but Smellie caught it on the rise and sent it down the field. It was taken up on the left side, and Sellar ended a brilliant run by passing the leather fairly across the goal to Gulliland, and that player made a rare shot at goal, but Wilson was on the alert, and caught the ball very smartly, and sent it out. Here a close scrimmage was followed by another shot on the part of Allan, but the ball went over the lines. After the kick-out, the Vale of Leven men made a fine run up on the Queen's Park goal, and M'Lachlan had a long shy that caused Gillespie to throw away the ball in a hurry. The strangers played well together, and had by far the best of it, and made the Q.P. backs work about as they had never done before. Paton had another shy, and then the left outside forward had one that came so close on the bar that Gillespie had again to chuck out in double quick time. After this, Gulliland had a fast run down the field, and ended the run with a parting shot that went past on the right post. Some even play then occurred, but the Leven forwards manoeuvred together better than those of the Queen's Park, and a fine piece of passing by Sharp, Osborne, and Bruce ended by the latter making a shy that touched the tips of Gillespie's fingers and went through the goal, close to the post. The point was so smartly made that it fairly took away the breath from the Queen's Park friends, and caused the faces of the supporters of the country club to beam with delight, while the cheering for the then successful team was long and loud. The players then faced up in mid-field and renewed the battle, and not very long thereafter the Queen's Park gained their first corner-flag kick, but it was a poor one for Sellar, and the ball was soon cleared away by the Vale of Leven backs. The Queen's team, however, kept well in front of their opponents' goal, and another corner-flag kick was succeeded by an exciting scrimmage, and then a shy by Gulliland was cleverly cleared away by Wilson. When half-time came, however, the Leven men were swarming round the Q.P. posts. The contest was then renewed in terrible earnest, and the Queen's Park, with one goal against them, had the wind in their favour now. The Vale of Leven, however, had the kick-off, but the ball was at once returned by M'Ara, and the Queen's Park found themselves right in front of the Leven goal, where one of the backs fouled the ball close on the right post. The shy was taken by Allan, and the ball hit the bar, but after an exciting scrimmage it was cleared by the Vale backs. The Queen's Park, however, were soon on it again, and the next five minutes' play was nearly disastrous to the Leven team, as no fewer than five corner-flag kicks were given to the Queen's Park, in consequence of kicking behind on the part of Leven men. The defence, however, was excellent, and by slow degrees the ball was worked clear, and M'Lachlan had a run down on the Glasgow club's goal, where the whistle of the referee told the spectators that the dashing forward was off-side. He did not seem to hear the whistle a bit, but coolly went up to the Queen's Park posts and kicked the ball through without the least opposition. The kick-out in front was followed by a fine run on the part of Gulliland and Berry, but Whitelaw managed to tackle the Q.P. young forward, and the ball was soon sent back. It did not go far, however, for the Q.P. forwards kept it among them for a time. The Leven men had now a good run on the left by Sharp, and Stewart sent the ball behind his own goal. Rankin took the corner-flag kick, but Arnott got on the leather in an instant, and sent it spinning up the field by one of his famous returns. From this point till the call of time the Queen's Park were fairly in it, and played, perhaps, as they had never done before. Defeat stared them in the face, and the game was fast drawing to a close. Barely a quarter of an hour and the destiny of the cup would be settled. As on the previous Saturday, however, the Queen's men played worthy of a great occasion, and won the trophy. Pressing their opponents up on the goal, they kept them there for a time, and although the ball was seen to go out and in among the shoal of busy feet a few yards from the posts, Wilson and the backs cleared brilliantly. At length, however, Allan had a corner-flag kick, which was managed so neatly that Hamilton got the ball in a good position and headed it through. This gave new life to the senior club and their supporters, and the cheering was again renewed when a few minutes after the next kick-off the Queen's Park drove the Vale team before them, and again had hot work near Wilson. The Queen's half-backs, who had hitherto not acted so well together in the earlier stages of the game, metaphorically speaking, "came out of their shells," and, along with the forwards, took an active part in the siege. Shots were aimed thick and fast at the goalkeeper, and at length Stewart, with a shooter, sent the ball spinning through, making the second goal for the Queen's Park. The teams then faced up in the centre, and the tremendous cheering which greeted the scoring of the second goal had scarcely died away when the Vale team made one last but brilliant effort to equalise, but they were driven on by Smellie and Arnott, and at length the whistle sounded, leaving the Queen's Park the winners of a match in every way worthy of the final tie for the Challenge Cup by two goals to one. Although the strain now and again was pretty heavy on the players when at close quarters, the contest all through was conducted in the most friendly way, and showed a marked contrast to some final ties played a few years ago. It may also be mentioned that the premier club have not held the trophy since 1885-86, when they defeated Renton by three goals to one; but of the seventeen matches played in the final the Queen's Park have carried off no fewer than nine, while the Vale come next with three.

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