The following is taken from a forthcoming book/ebook about the history of the greatest football fixture on earth. This was the first season that the side winning both OF games lost the championship race.
Oct 26 1912 Celtic 3, Rangers
2
(Brown, Gallacher, Quinn) (Reid 2)
Rangers deployed three players
in this match who were all playing their only Old Firm fixture. That kind of
inexperience has proved telling over the years. There are many examples of
great players making their only appearance or first appearance and producing
very little of substance. To play three debutants could be a serious impediment
to your success. Celtic were so much in the ascendancy in the first 20 minutes
that the Rangers half back line had to contend themselves with defending,
rather than feed their own forwards. Brown opened the scoring on 5 minutes
after a good pass from Jimmy Quinn. Before the interval Rangers adopting a wide
passing game that led to their equaliser by Willie Reid. It was quite some time
before Celtic attacked with any intent but when they did Patsy Gallacher beat
Farrington after the goalkeeper had blocked a Quinn header. Thus Patsy
Gallacher became the first foreign player in an Old Firm match to score.
Gallacher was from Ireland and played for both Eire and Northern Ireland. Two
quick goals followed in succession as first Reid scored with a clever shot that
beat Mulrooney and then Quinn scored the winner for Celtic with a
characteristic drive.
Jan 1 1913 Rangers 0, Celtic
1
(Quinn)
This is the first occasion when
the team that loses both Old Firm fixtures still becomes Champions. Over 60,000
witnessed this match and £1,508 was taken at the gates and £427 taken at the
stands. Rangers were under strength with Hempsey playing only his third match
in goal for Rangers. Bennett, Reid and Alec Smith were all unavailable their
places taken by Goodwin, Parker and Paterson. Parker, an auxiliary centre
forward replacing Reid, might have scored early on. Some indecision between
Hempsey and Campbell allowed Quinn to head home from a corner.
P Pts
Celtic 20 31
Rangers 20 27
This is not quite an
unassailable position for Celtic but having beaten Rangers home and away,
Rangers now require favours from other teams. And three favours in consecutive
matches came their way. Celtic lost to Aberdeen (0-3), Motherwell (0-1) and at
home to Falkirk (1-2). Rangers by contrast were unbeaten to the end of the
season dropping only two points at Tynecastle and Dens Park. Hempsey grew in stature
and had five clean sheets in a row. Parker scored 10 goals in 6 fixtures.
Final Table P Pts
Rangers 34 53
Celtic 34 49
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