This summer, Scotland will go to the World Cup for the first time in almost three decades. Taking place in the USA, this year also marks 95 years since Celtic’s first ever trip across the Atlantic…
This five-part series will tell the story of that tour. It describes what happened as the Bhoys made their way to the United States and Canada for a six-week tour in May and June 1931. This was an experience that included some very memorable moments in Celtic history, and even led to the signing of a new player under tragic circumstances.
Season 1930-31 had been one of mixed success for the Celts. They lost out to Rangers in the Glasgow Cup and Charity Cup, the latter because of having had fewer corner kicks following a two-each draw.
The League had also provided much frustration. Celtic eventually finished two points behind the Ibrox team at the top of the table. The final ten matches had transformed the season; the Bhoys had led but lost one and drew four of these fixtures, whilst Rangers enjoyed nine wins and a draw to take the title.
The Scottish Cup proved to be a different story altogether. In April 1931, Celtic faced Motherwell in the final at Hampden Park. The ‘Well led by two goals with eight minutes remaining but a stunning fightback gave the Bhoys another chance in a replay. Celtic won this second game 4-2 to claim their 13th Scottish Cup.
This achievement buoyed the club as they prepared for the trip of a lifetime. In the club’s opening years, Celtic games had been limited to Scotland, England and Ireland. In 1904, their first trip outwith these locations took place as they went to Austria and Bohemia. In the subsequent years, France, Germany and Scandinavia were added to the travel list.
At various times, there had been suggestions that Celtic would go even further than this. The journey across the Atlantic was one that numerous Irish and Scots had previously made, not least in the 1800s when fleeing famine and poverty. Now Celtic would follow in these footsteps.
They were not on the only ones needing passports, other Scottish clubs made their own foreign trips at this time, including Motherwell who sought to forget their cup final loss by going to South Africa and Partick Thistle who headed for Denmark.
On 13 May 1931, the Celtic party – including players such as Jimmy McGrory, Jimmy McStay and John Thomson – went to Yorkhill Quay in Glasgow’s west end. They were joined by thousands of fans who had come to wave off their heroes. Various club officials travelled too, and Celtic manager Willie Maley’s brother Tom was later invited to join them.
There was another very special guest that went to the USA – the Scottish Cup. Celtic took with them the prize that they had claimed the previous month to display as they journeyed around the continent.
The ship that carried the Celts over the water was the Anchor Line’s SS Caledonia. Built at Linthouse on the Clyde, she had been launched in April 1925, days after the so-called ‘Patsy Gallacher Final’ when Celtic beat Dundee to claim that season’s Scottish Cup.
During World War Two, the Caledonia was requisitioned as an armed merchant cruiser and renamed HMS Scotstoun, before being sunk by a German U-boat in June 1940.
The noise of pipers, sirens and even cannons echoed not simply around Yorkhill Quay but at various locations down the Clyde. At different points on the river, more supporters watched and cheered as the ship made its way for the Americas, following a stop in Ireland.
Four decades beforehand, the first attempt to lure Celtic across the broad Atlantic had failed due to fears that there was limited interest in football. By the 1930s, it was believed that this had changed, despite the ongoing economic strife of the Great Depression.
To make it worthwhile, the Celts were going to be busy. Across five weeks, 14 games were scheduled although one of these would be cancelled. The Celtic party would become well acquainted with the American train system as they travelled to numerous locations to play.
To learn more about the tour, read the second part of the story tomorrow.
Matthew Marr
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