scottyc06 6,915 Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 Rangers 8 Celtic 1, Jan 1, 1943 Once upon a time, before Rangers fell upon troubled times and before the authorities decided that the behavioural excesses of some rival fans could no longer be tolerated, the New Year edition of the Old Firm derby was as much a Scottish tradition as Hogmanay itself. Great New Year's Day victories illuminate the annals of both clubs. Five of Celtic's most resounding Old Firm wins and six of their heaviest defeats have taken place on Jan 1, although the one that manyRangers supporters feel should take pride of place does not appear. Officially, the largest margin of victory in matches between the Glasgow clubs was achieved on October 19, 1957, in the final of the Scottish League Cup, when Celtic shocked the reigning Scottish League champions and short-odds favourites by producing an irresistible display of attacking football at Hampden Park that resulted in a 7-1 win. Yet on Jan 1, 1943, Rangers had gone one better than that, trouncing their rivals from across town 8-1. The Rangers team featured some famous names from the club's history, including Scott Symons, who would lead Rangers as manager to six League titles and five Scottish Cups, Willie Waddell, who would serve the club with distinction as player, manager and director over a 50-year career, and Dougie Gray, the club's longest serving player. The reason for its absence from the record books? The clue is in the date: it took place in wartime, when football continued to provide entertainment for the masses and a distraction from the anxiety and austerity of daily life, yet for various reasons, not least because teams often had to use 'guest' players to make up the numbers, was deemed to have no official status. Unofficial it might have been, uncompetitive it was not. As Glasgow stirred the morning after that particular Hogmanay, having ushered in a new year of uncertain fate, the lure of the Old Firm was strong enough to attract a crowd of 30,000 to Ibrox - restrictions were in place on the size of public gatherings - and the intensity of feeling on the field was such that two Celtic players were sent off. As is noted in the Official Biography of Rangers, written by Ronnie Esplin and Graham Walker: "The game featured the usual controversies. Indiscipline and harassment of the referee resulted in Celtic having two players sent off following George Young's spectacular 50-yard free kick that gave Rangers a 4-1 lead in the second half." Newspaper reports suggested that Celtic's Malky McDonald was convinced that a Rangers player was offside at the moment Young unleashed his shot. The official in charge took exception to the tone of McDonald's argument and sent him off. Appearing later before the Scottish FA, McDonald was fined £10 and suspended for the remainder of the season. Matt Lynch, having continued to protest, was also sent off, fined £5 and banned until March. In front by 4-1 and with Celtic obliged to play for most of the second half with nine men, Rangers took full advantage. Torry Gillick finished with a hat-trick, with Waddell bagging two and Young adding a penalty to his long-range effort. Jimmy Duncanson, who had given Rangers an early lead, was the other name on the scoresheet, along with Celtic's Davie Duncan. The final margin may have been unusual but the notion that the result was a freak, skewed by the circumstances of wartime, does not really stand close scrutiny, according to Robert McElroy, author of several books on Rangers history. "Celtic had won the Scottish title in 1938 but that team had grown old together and they were in a bit of a slump," he said. "But that continued following the peace in 1945, after which it was six years before they won another trophy, nine years before they would regain the championship. "They refused to use guest players - they even turned down an offer from Matt Busby to play for them - but though Rangers did field guest players, the only one in the 1943 line-up was Torry Gillick, who had left Ibrox to join Everton in 1939 but rejoined Rangers after the war." David Mason, the official Rangers historian, believes the game should be afforded the same status as any in the history of the Old Firm. "In wartime football the leagues had to be reorganised and some players were unavailable," he said. "However, it was a competitive league and should have been recognised as ‘official’ for that simple reason. "The match was of huge interest and the competitiveness of the fixture is clear by Celtic losing two men through brushes with the referee. There is no question that both teams wanted to win that match and there is no suggestion that either was weakened. "Certainly, the Glasgow Herald proclaimed it to be a 'record' scoreline and, while I can imagine that some would like to airbrush it from history, that is how it is regarded, certainly at Ibrox." Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bad Robot 21,149 Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 Good article ? Wheres it from? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottyc06 6,915 Posted September 7, 2016 Author Share Posted September 7, 2016 2 minutes ago, Bad Robot said: Good article ? Wheres it from? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/scottish-football/10545384/Flashback-Rangers-trounce-Celtic-in-New-Years-Day-Old-Firm-in-wartime-fixture-that-time-forgot.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
left winger 14,158 Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 Three and five month bans for dissent for two of them. Similar will do on Saturday. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courtyard Bear 41,357 Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 Well as those mhanky bastards count the one goal they fluked that day but have no shame in not counting our 8, then it should be in the record books. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NamibianBear 1,851 Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 Never happened, nothing to see here, move along now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coplandbear11 1,087 Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 18 minutes ago, Courtyard Bear said: Well as those mhanky bastards count the one goal they fluked that day but have no shame in not counting our 8, then it should be in the record books. Is this true ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courtyard Bear 41,357 Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 3 minutes ago, Coplandbear11 said: Is this true ? Aye mate, they count that goal on their all time goal record, but don't count our 8 on their goals against. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coplandbear11 1,087 Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 31 minutes ago, Courtyard Bear said: Aye mate, they count that goal on their all time goal record, but don't count our 8 on their goals against. That is fucking incredible man ? Does sum those fuckers up but. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
giffnockger 4,840 Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 10/10 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inigo 32,526 Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BridgeIsBlue 66,606 Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
North Rd 2,860 Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 I'm sure they twats counted all their goals during the War period in their records Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bossorange 696 Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 7 hours ago, Courtyard Bear said: Well as those mhanky bastards count the one goal they fluked that day but have no shame in not counting our 8, then it should be in the record books. How do you know they count it? Got a link or anything mate? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
standup 829 Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 They're goal was definitely offside, by a mile. Cheats. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courtyard Bear 41,357 Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 19 minutes ago, Bossorange said: How do you know they count it? Got a link or anything mate? No mate not to that shower, there was a thread years ago on another Rangers forum discussing if we should count in our War Years league titles. Some for some against, anyway somebody else posted something that showed all their games and results and it claimed they had counted their war years goals for but not against. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedarvelmarvel 796 Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 like the history banner. title winners 1938 1954 1965/66 ,28 year wow. and new years day record is even worse.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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