The story of Celtic’s early visits to Ibrox

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The Celtic Star

·2 de enero de 2025

The story of Celtic’s early visits to Ibrox

Happy New Year! The Celts today head to Ibrox with a chance to extend our lead to 17 points. Season 2024-25 marks 125 years since the opening of the second Ibrox, and Celtic’s first trip there…

Ibrox Stadium, theRangers fans arrive outside the stadium before a Scottish Premiership match on Sunday October 27, 2024. Photo Jane Barlow

The Bhoys have some unique claims to fame for this venue, concerning trophies and penalty kicks. And in fact the first Celtic visit ended in a penalty controversy, something which would never happen nowadays…

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Like Celtic Park, the current Ibrox is not the first location to bear this name. Rangers moved to the first Ibrox in 1887, the same year Celtic were formed. Then in 1899, the Light Blues moved a short distance to the current site.

The need to compete with Celtic Park

The reason for this shift was simple; it was the need to compete with Celtic Park, a far bigger and more modern arena. In the days before fixed venues for internationals and cup finals, Rangers hoped this new ground would help them attract these games, and so bring in greater revenue.

Season 1899-1900 was the last time that Celtic went to the original Ibrox. This league match took place in September 1899 and ended 3-3. However, later that season, Celtic were drawn to play Rangers in the Scottish Cup.

That match would happen at the new Ibrox, which had opened at the end of 1899. In the first game, Rangers beat Hearts 3-1 in an Inter-City League match. The home team’s Jack Wilkie became the first man to score and also get a hat-trick at the new venue.

The early days of the new Ibrox show some modern day contrasts in terms of crowds. In January 1900, Rangers strolled into the next round of the Scottish Cup, by beating Maybole 12-0. 3000 came out to watch this match.

Yet at the same time, Partick Thistle attracted double this when they hosted Edinburgh team St Bernards at Meadowside; this ground is only around a mile away from Ibrox as the crow flies. Even many Rangers directors chose to attend the Thistle match instead of their own!

“A splendid house-warming”

On 24 February 1900, Celtic travelled to Glasgow’s southside for the Scottish Cup semi-final tie. A large crowd of 30,000+ fans were attracted to the fixture, which proved to be an enthralling encounter; as one post-match report said, it was a “splendid house-warming” for the second Ibrox.

The first half saw numerous chances with Rangers having the better of the game. McArthur in Celtic’s goal was especially praised for his role in keeping out the home team, although poor shooting from the Light Blues forwards was also blamed. As half-time arrived, neither side had managed to break the deadlock.

When the second half began, both teams pressed to gain an advantage. However it was the home crowd that first cheered as Alex Smith knocked the ball in to give them the advantage. This brought hopes of getting to the Scottish Cup final in what was already a very successful season for the Ibrox team.

And in the Bhoys’ first Ibrox trip, they got a penalty!

Celtic said had other ideas though and soon fought back. And in the Bhoys’ first Ibrox trip, they got a penalty! As a small piece of history, and based on reports from Rangers other games at the new ground, this seems to be the first penalty awarded at the new venue.

Rangers’ Jock Drummond was penalised for handball as he tried to clear the ball with an overheard kick. This triggered a series of complaints and articles in various Scottish newspapers. The Scottish Referee in particular protested that they did not think it had been deliberate and so should not have been penalised.

Johnny Campbell scored Celtic’s first penalty at Ibrox. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Despite the grumbles about this award, Johnny Campbell converted to make it 1-1. And then with ten minutes remaining, things got even better for the Bhoys in green. A corner into the box fell to Jack Bell and his shot gave Celtic the lead, which seemed likely to seal victory as the minutes ran down.

However, the match was not over. With only seconds remaining, Rangers had one last attack. Despite good saves from Dan McArthur in Celtic’s goal, John McPherson eventually smashed the ball home, to make it 2-2. This meant that the Celts’ first Ibrox trip ended in a draw.

Rangers routed – Photo The Celtic Wiki

This tied fixture forced a replay, which took place two weeks later at Celtic Park. 35,000 spectators were present to watch a game with no doubt about the winner. One headline noted “Rangers routed” as Celtic smashed their rivals 4-0!

The Celts were so comfortable they could even afford to have two goals chopped off. Thanks to strikes from Hodge, McMahon (2) and Bell, the green-and-white stripes were into the Scottish Cup Final.

This Cup Final – played on 14 April 1900 – was an exciting affair, and it took Celtic back to Ibrox, the scene of their first semi-final game. Celtic’s opponents were Queen’s Park, and they were each involved in an absorbing game.

Scottish Cup Final 1900. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Celtic raced into a 3-1 half-time lead, but the Hampden men soon fought back but by the end it finished 4-3 to the Bhoys. Goals from Jock Bell, two from John Divers and another from Sandy McMahon helped Celtic retain the trophy, which was then their third victory in that competition.

Sandy McMahon scored. Image by Celtic Curio

John Divers scored twice. Photo The Celtic Wiki

In fact, as another piece of history, this was the first final played at the new Ibrox – making Celtic the first team to win a trophy there!

The final was also notable as the last time that Queen’s Park played in the Scottish Cup Final. The Spiders’ early dominance in the competition is shown in the fact that they remain the third most successful team in Scottish Cup history.

However, this Scottish Cup Final was not Celtic’s first victory at the new Ibrox stadium. The Bhoys had already played Rangers in an Inter-City League tie in March 1900, coming from behind to win 2-1. And, once more, Celtic got a penalty, with the offence again being for a handball!

This victory made the Celts the second team to win a competitive game at the second Ibrox, following Queen’s Park’s Inter-City League victory earlier in March 1900. Interestingly, the Hampden men were the first Scottish team to beat Rangers at both Ibrox grounds.

Although as Queen’s Park were then famously an amateur team, this also makes Celtic the first professional team to beat Rangers in a competitive game at Ibrox. The actual first team to beat Rangers was Everton, who visited for a friendly in the early days of 1900.

Since those first Ibrox visits in 1900

Since those first Ibrox visits in 1900, Celtic have played at that pitch multiple times, including winning three more Scottish Cups, and also the 1997 League Cup. The Bhoys have faced numerous opponents at the ground – including both versions of Rangers!

Kyogo Furuhashi scores the winning goal during the Scottish Premiership match between theRangers and Celtic at Ibrox on September 03, 2023.(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Celtic have not won at Ibrox since September 2023, a 1-0 victory thanks to Kyogo. The Bhoys only played once at Ibrox in 2024, ‘losing’ the match 3-3…

Matt O’Riley of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammates during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between theRangers FC and Celtic FC at Ibrox Stadium on April 07, 202. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Hopefully it’s another good day for the Hoops today. C’mon Celts!

Matthew Marr

Follow Matthew on Twitter @hailhailhistory

Click on cover to order a hardback copy

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Matthew Marr with his debut Celtic book, Glory to their name, which tells the story of Celtic’s first ever title win. Photo The Celtic Star

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