1939-08-23 — Page 25

THE CHINA MAIL, AUGUST 23; 1939

Scottish Soccer Prospects

WILL THIS BE CELTIC'S SEASON? QUEEN'S PARK HOPES

Glasgow, August 6.

THE SCOTTISH "SOCCER” season opens next Satur- day-a date eagerly anticipated by the thousands of "soc- cer" enthusiasts in this country, writes a Correspondent.

As always at the start of a new season in Scotland, the big question is: Will the Glasgow "Old Firm" (Rangers- Celtic) monopoly be broken this year?

For longer than most people care to ferent policy in team-building than remember, either Rangers or Celtic | Rangers-they believer in moulding a have won the Scottish League cham-player to their own pattern while the pionship, Motherwell's victory in Rangers usually rely on buying men 1931-32 being the only break in the brought out by other clubs. sequence since 1821-22. Rangers were the winners last year--their 13th little since the War. The remarkable thing about it was that their success was unexpected, yet it was one of their biggest ever, 11 points separating them from Celtic, the runners-up.

The idea at the start of last season was that the Ibrox team was carrying too many old-timers, men who could not possibly stay the course of an exhausting season let alone maintain a bid for the championship. How wrong the critice were was proved weeks before the end of the season, when the Rangers already had the championship in their pocket, and were the only team with an unde- feated home record.

RANGERS MAKE CHANGES The champions have parted with several of their older players, but with the notable exceptions of W. A. Cheyne, full back, and R. F. Main, outside-right, they can start off with the same men who helped them to

The Parkhead moguls have been as busy as usual in the junior ranks dur- ing the close season, and there will be several new faces at Parkhead when the season opens. With the best of last season's lot again available. Celtic are in a position to make another big bid for the honours, despite the handi- cap of starting off without Delaney.

Indeed, it may well prove to be "Celtic's Year," While people were forecasting a lean time, for Rangers at the start of last season they were saying the reverse about Celtic. The prophets may prove to have been a year too soon with those reckonings.

HIBERNIAN PROMISING Looking for the clubs most likely to break through the Rangers-Celtic monopoly, I cannot overlook Hiber- nian and Clyde. It is a case of youth at the helm at Easter Road, Edin- burgh-and highly talented they are. They start with the nucleus youths

of last season's One team-young fel-

Scottish League football at such a ten-

although their average age cannot be much över twenty-two. There are many more lads desperately keen to make the top grade in Mr. William M'Cartney's reserve strength, which is the finest in the country.

SWINDIN, the Arsenal goalkeeper makes a vain attempt to prevent

the first goal of the season at the Arsenal Stadium in a friendly game between the Arsenal White and Reds last week. seagon starts on Saturday.

LAWN TENNIS

IRELAND

The English soccer

BEAT SCOTLAND

FOR FIRST TIME IN 25 YEARS

D. MacPhail was the most impres-, were easy victors in the second, but in sive Scot. He easily accounted for R.ja grim, decisive third set, went ́un- F. Egan in his singles match, and der by 4-6. partnered by R. W. Welsh he won his doubles match against H. C. Ryan and C. A. Kemp. These were the only two matches won by Scotland.

MATCH RESULTS

SINGLES

R. Brown (Ireland) beat V. A. Hawks (Scotland). 6-1, 6-2.

Wood

C. A. Kemp (Ireland) bent R. W. Welsh

(Ireland), 6-1, 6-9. (Scotland), 64, 61

D. M'Phail (Scotland) beat R. F. Egan

EDINBURGH, AUGUST 10.-Scotland were defeated lows all, when were introduced to in their tennis international match in Dublin yesterday for their championship success last year.der age that they are now experienced the first time since 1914. Ireland won by 4 matches to 2.

Remembering the lesson of 1938-39, | campaigners of two or three seasons, few people will commit themselves to saying that the Rangers are badly in need of new blood, but it stands to reason that men like Gray, Simpson, Brown and M'Phail, who are veterans in terms of service if nothing else, can last for ever. Will Rangers pay for their policy of standing by seasoned men, in 1939-40? Time alone can tell, but I think it is an indication that Rangers are themselves aware of the dangerous ground they have been treading that they have signed two ex- It is now being reached that the last perienced forwards during the close time the latter trophy was won by an season. They are Chris M'Nee, Hamil- Easter Road side, the senior team won ton Academicals diminutive outside-the Scottish Cup the next season. left, and Tommy, Gilmour, the inside- Hibernian are hoping that history will forward who played a conspicuous part repeat itself, and there is no reason in Raith Rovers' promotion-winning why it should not. march in 1937-38, but who could not hold a regular place in the troubled Fife team last season.

The Hibernian policy of relying on youth against ripe experience paid a rich dividend last season, when the first team reached the semi-final of the Scottish Cup, and the reserve side won the Second XI Cup.

CLEVER CLYDE

ly in his singles match against Kemp, R. W. Welsh showed up prominent-

but the Irish player lasted out the pace better, and won in straight sets. The veteran Scot, V. A. Wood Hawks was no match for the agile R. Brown, Ireland, as A. E. Fannin who was an eleventh hour choice for

play. Brown played and, keeping a perfect length,

easily.

H. J. Ryan (Ireland) beat W. C. Tait (Scotland), 6-1, 6-3.

DOUBLES

beat H. C. Ryan and C. A. Kemp (Ireland), D. M'Phail and R. W. Welsh (Scotland)

6-2, 7-5, could not R. J. Egan and R. Brown (Ireland) beat W. C. Tait and V. A. Wood Hawks (Scot- very steadily, land), 6-3, 24, 64.

on

won

each

SPORTS PARADE (Continued from Page 24). er (Hibernian to Albion Rovers), J. (Celtic to Alloa), and no fewer than Tulips (Falkirk to Alloa), J. Harvey

six players to the newly promoted club, Cowdenbeath-W. Clark (from Johnstone), J. Littlejohn (St. Johnstone), R. McLellan (Third Lan-

W. C. Tait was also outplayed in his My selection of Clyde as another of too clever for him, but the match be- singles match, H. J. Ryan proving far the teams to be watched is based on tween the leading players their brilliant finish to last season, side saw the Scottish champion Mac- when they won the Scottish Cup. They Phail in great form. He forced his have a team which blends youth and experience in excellent proportion, and opponent to make numerous errors,

St. less their new-found confidence should be and his work at the net was almost

faultless. In his doubles match valuable to them. Since Mr. Paddy

When it is considered, however, that the Rangers had to make good the loss of Main and Harrison, who have re- turned to Hamilton Academicals, it can be realised that the signing of M'Nee and Gilmour more or leaves the club where they were, ex- cept in this important respect-that MNee and Gilmour will help to pro- vide the new blood that so many peo- ple think the Ibrox team requires.

The answer to that will be that the new blood is not being infused into the right place the defence. But no And what of the Hearts, the enigma matter how many potential weak- of Scottish football? They have been nesses the Rangers may have. I think so often fancied in the past, and have they will hold their place at the top so often disappointed their faithful during the coming season. Like the followers that one hesitates to predict other members of the "Old Firm," big things for them. This season there Celtic, they have a penchant for over-

seems to be less reason to do so than riding difficulties and for upsettin' there has been on previous occasions, public opinion.

They have not been sitting on their thumbs dɩng nothing during the close season, and, like the Rangers, are in need. of more new players than they have signed.

DELANEY MISSING The fact that their brilliant young international outside right. Delaney, will not be fit to take his place in the team during the first months of the season is not at all encouraging to Celtic's chances of getting off to a fly ing start. Yet they even more so than Rangers, have the knack of finding the right man at the moment he is most needed, and Delaney's absence may provide one of their young re- cruits with the opportunity of proving

himself.

الحرمي ار

Celtic have always followed a dif-

he

was a Tait and

Devlin (Arbroath) and, P. Playfair (from Heart of Midlothian).

The others are: R. McCurdy. (Hearts

Rangers to Hamilton to Falkirk), R. Harrison · · (Glasgow

Academicals), D. Wallace (St, Mirren to Hamilton Academicals).

*

Travers took over the reins of manage- was the dominating force, and repeat-ark), G. Wilson (Third Lanark), I ment at Shawfield Park, the club's edly scored with deadly smashes, fortunes have undergone a notable The other doubles match change, and the effects of his influence | keenly contested affair. should again be seen during the com- Wood Hawks, after losing the first set. ing season.

are always there or thereabouts in the two major competitions-the Scottish' League and Scottish Cup-and they should be again next season. Falkirk

ANY administrators of the Rugby look better endowed than the other

game in Wales, particularly two for a sustained change, although club executives, are prepared to go a Motherwell's expensive recruiting may great deal further than the represen- bring good results.

tatives of Australia and New Zealand at the conference to be held in Lon- don on proposed changes in the laws of Rugby,

M

New Zealand is anxious to enforce

Then there is Queen of the South, who believe in deeds not words, and who have upset calculations before this. They finished well forward in the Scottish League table last season. the 2-3-2 scrummage formation. In It has been obvious; to Tynecastle What of the two promoted clubs, Wales there is developing an entire- supporters for the last two seasons Cowdenbeath--whose presence in the ly revolutionary spirit in regard to that the Hearts were badly in need First Division will compensate Fife the winter sport. It is urged that of young players, to be ready to step for the relegation of Raith Rovers-wing forwards should be completely. into the shoes of veterans like An- and Alloa, the "babes" of the Scottish eliminated, and there are many whe drew Anderson, George Robson and League? The "Fifers" are well pre- advocate a reduction of the number Fred Warren, but they are still; with-pared for their

new experience of of players from fifteen to thirteen. out these deputies, unless some of football in the top class, but the same. In the Ruzby Teaguje. In the North- their recruits prove to be real cap- cannot be said of Alloa, who won pro- of England ther

motion with a team who cost only alreduce the number to twe Falkirk, Aberdeen and Motherwell few pounds,

tures.

movement “te

aving.