1951 Saint Mungo Cup
Tournament details
CountryScotland
Teams16
Final positions
ChampionsCeltic
Runner-upAberdeen

The Saint Mungo Cup was a one-off football tournament held in Glasgow, Scotland, to celebrate the 1951 Festival of Britain.[1] The competition was contested by fourteen 'Scottish Division A' clubs together with Clyde and Queens Park from 'Division B'. Celtic defeated Aberdeen 3–2 in the final in front of a crowd of 81,000 at Hampden Park.[2]

Original format

The original format of the competition was to include the six Glasgow clubs, with the addition of Hibernian, Hearts, Aberdeen and Dundee.[3]

Following protests on the behalf of club's that would excluded from the competition at a Scottish Football Association meeting, the proposed format was abandoned and the tournament format would be reconsidered.[3]

Summary

On their road to the final, Celtic had beaten Heart of Midlothian 2–1, Clyde 4–2 in a replay the day after a 4–4 draw in the quarter-finals, and Raith Rovers 3–1 in the semi-finals.[1][4] In the final, Aberdeen (who had eliminated Rangers, St Mirren and Hibernian)[1] went two goals ahead with goals from Harry Yorston in 14 minutes (Celtic goalkeeper George Hunter was injured in the process, with Bobby Evans taking over between the posts for the next 12 minutes)[2] and Tommy Bogan on 35 minutes after Hunter returned to the field. Charlie Tully changed the game in Celtic's favour in the second half, setting up two Sean Fallon goals and the winner, scored by Jimmy Walsh.[2]

The Glasgow Corporation, who had organised the tournament along with the Glasgow Football Association and provided the cup (named after Glasgow's patron saint) as their donation to the Festival of Britain, were left red-faced when the triumphant players and manager Jimmy McGrory examined the trophy and discovered that it was decorated with ornate life belts and mermaids.[5] It was revealed that the trophy was not in fact new but third-hand, having been made in 1894 as a yachting trophy,[1] then been altered for a football competition in 1912 between Provan Gas Works and a City of Glasgow Police team. Celtic at first demanded a new trophy,[5] but today the St Mungo Cup proudly takes its place in the Celtic Park trophy room.

There was also a tournament for clubs in the lower division, the St Mungo Quaich won by Dumbarton with a win over Ayr United in the final,[1] and a series of friendly matches between Scottish and English clubs, five featuring Ayr United who lost each time.[1]

Final

Aberdeen2–3Celtic
Hampden Park, Glasgow
Attendance: 82,264
Referee: J. Mowat

Teams

Aberdeen:
GKFred Martin
RBDon Emery
LBDavie Shaw
RHTony Harris
CHKen Thomson
LHTommy Lowrie
ORTommy Bogan
IRHarry Yorston
CFGeorge Hamilton
ILArchie Baird
OLJack Hather
Celtic:
GKGeorge Hunter
RBMike Haughney
LBAlex Rollo
RHBobby Evans
CHJim Mallan
LHJoe Baillie
ORBobby Collins
IRJimmy Walsh
CFSean Fallon
ILBertie Peacock
OLCharlie Tully

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Festival of Britain: St Mungo Cup and St Mungo Quaich". Scottish Football Historical Archive. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 "Celtic Again Prove Tradition Is Being Maintained". Evening Times. 2 August 1951. Retrieved 24 September 2018 – via The Celtic Wiki.
  3. 1 2 "Glasgow Clubs Must Play In Festival Cup". The Scotsman. 20 December 1950. Retrieved 10 July 2021 – via BNA.
  4. ↑ "Celtic newcomer's part in St Mungo Cup bid". Glasgow Herald. 30 July 1951. Retrieved 24 September 2018 – via The Celtic Wiki.
  5. 1 2 "Celtic request for new St Mungo Cup". Glasgow Herald. 21 August 1951. Retrieved 12 August 2019 – via The Celtic Wiki.
  6. ↑ Match Report, AFC Heritage Trust
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