1885 Scottish Cup final

April 2019 April 2019 1885 Scottish Cup final 1884–85 Scottish Cup Renton 0 Vale of Leven 0 21 February 1885 Hampden Park Crosshill 3,000 Replay Renton 3 Vale of Leven 1 28 February 1885 Hampden Park Crosshill 5,000 1884 1886 The 1885 Scottish Cup final was the 12th final of the Scottish Cup and the final of the 1884–85 Scottish Cup, the most prestigious knockout football competition in Scotland. For only the second time in the competition's history, the final was contested by two teams from outside Glasgow: Renton, who had never won the cup before, and three-time winners Vale of Leven,https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish-cup-matches/?mid=91675 Scottish Cup Matches Scottish Football Association 8 April 2019 representing neighbouring communities in Dunbartonshire (their home grounds were approximately 1.6 miles apart). The original match - which ended in a 0–0 draw - was played at the second Hampden Park in Crosshill (today part of Glasgow) on 21 February 1885 and was watched by a crowd of 3,000 spectators. The replay took place at the same venue on 28 February 1885 in front of 5,000 spectators. Renton won the competition for the first time after they beat Vale of Leven 3–1.https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish-cup-matches/?mid=91679 Scottish Cup Matches Scottish Football Association 8 April 2019 This was the first Scottish Cup final to be held at the second Hampden Park. Background Vale of Leven had reached the final on four previous occasions, winning the trophy for three consecutive seasons between 1877 and 1879. They had reached the final for the third season in succession however, they never appeared for the previous final in protest after the SFA had refused to postpone the match. Prior to 1885, no team had reached the final for three successive seasons without lifting the trophy at least once. Renton had only previously reached the final once before 10 years earlier when they lost 3–0 to Queen's Park As the earlier rounds of the Scottish Cup were regionalised at the time, Dunbartonshire neighbours Renton and Vale of Leven had previously met three times in the competition with Vale of Leven progressing each time. Route to the final 1884–85 Scottish Cup Renton RoundOppositionScoreFirst roundVale of Leven Wanderers2–1Second roundEast Stirlingshire10–2Third roundNorthern9–2Fourth roundSt Mirren2–1Fifth roundbyeQuarter-finalRangers5–3Semi-finalHibernian3–2 Vale of Leven RoundOppositionScoreFirst roundJamestown1–1First round replayJamestown4–1Second roundCampsie Central14–0Third roundYoker4–1Fourth roundArthurlie2–1Fifth roundbyeQuarter-finalThornliebank4–3Semi-finalCambuslang0–0Semi-final replayCambuslang3–1 Match details Original Report The Vale suffered a blow before the match when captain McPherson was rendered hors de combat, R. Wilson of the 2nd XI taking his place at half-back. The Scottish FA had still not learned that playing the Cup final in winter was not conducive to good football, and, after a series of frosts had rendered Hampden Park hard and rutted, the players also had to contend with a "perfect gale". Vale of Leven won the toss, and, contrary to accepted wisdom, kicked into the wind, and played defensively, showing "that the Vale meant to reserve themselves for the second half". Renton failed to take advantage; the closest it came to scoring was when a M'Coll shot passed over Abraham's foot and struck the right-hand post. The Vale had five corners in the second half, but could not break through a plucky Renton side, which pulled five players into the back division for the half. Vale's centre-forward pairing of Johnstone and Ferguson received particular criticism for their ineffectiveness. Renton's lighter, nimbler forwards were praised for better passing when facing the wind than the more lumpen football of the Vale.Scottish Association Cup Final Tie North British Daily Mail 23 February 1885 3The Game Glasgow Evening Post 21 February 1885 3 After the match, one of the Vale supporters, James McCulloch, aged about 34, fell into an unprotected boiling water tank at Queen Street Station in Glasgow, and died of his injuries the next day.Vale of Leven Lennox Herald 28 February 1885 3 21 February 1885 15:00 Renton 0–0 Vale of Leven Hampden Park, Crosshill 3,000Scottish Association Cup Dundee Courier 23 February 1885 4 J. E. M'Killop (Cartvale)Scottish Challenge Cup - Final Tie Dumbarton Herald and County Advertiser 25 February 1885 2 https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish-cup-matches/?mid=91675 RENTON:GK John LindsayFB Andrew HannahFB Archie McCallHB Bob KelsoHB Donald McKechnieFW Alexander BarbourFW James KellyFW A. McIntyreFW James McCallFW GrantFW ThomsonTeam unchanged for replay.VALE OF LEVEN:GK James WilsonFB Andrew McIntyreFB John ForbesHB J. AbrahamHB R. WilsonRW J. GallowayRW D. McIntyreFW John FergusonFW W. H. JohnstoneLW M. D. GilliesLW D. KennedyFor the replay, McPherson replaced J. Wilson. Replay Report The weather for the replay was much more favourable, and McPherson, fit again, replaced Wilson in the Vale line-up. The crowd, estimated between 5,000 and 7,000, was made up mostly of Dunbartonshire locals, and the bulk of support was behind Renton. Despite the return of the Vale captain, Renton dominated most of the match, Vale reliant on breaks to put any pressure on, only Galloway of the Vale causing any difficulties for Renton, for whom Kelso and McKechnie "played magnificently". The game also had an early instance of gamesmanship, as Abraham placed a ball for a free-kick near the Renton goal, and a Renton forward kicked it into touch to give his side more time to pack the goal area. After a scoreless first-half, Renton took the lead after about 65 minutes, after some clever passing gave McColl a chance before the posts, aided by a slip from Wilson in the Vale goal. A few minutes later Vale had its best change, Ferguson hitting the post, but after 80 minutes a "well-planned attack" from McIntyre, McCall, and Kelly, resulted in McIntyre doubling Renton's lead. With the Vale side throwing men forward, Renton broke away with three minutes to go, and McIntyre added a third, the goal surviving an appeal "not without good grounds" for offside, and the only Vale goal came from a scrimmage almost on the whistle, when some of the Renton supporters had already left the ground.Renton v Vale of Leven Glasgow Herald 2 March 1885 10Scottish Association Challenge Cup Final Tie North British Daily Mail 2 March 1885 6Final Cup-tie - Renton v Vale of Leven Dumbarton Herald and County Advertiser 4 March 1885 2 After the telegraph confirming the victory arrived at Renton Post Office, the joyous villagers lit a huge bonfire on Carman Hill, and assembled at the station, the Renton Brass Band playing "See, The Conquering Hero Comes". The players were taken by waggonette to Cordale House, to be congratulated by club patron Alexander Wylie, and "up to a late hour" fireworks, squibs, rockets, fog-signals, and even a gun were let off.Rejoicings in Renton Dumbarton Herald and County Advertiser 4 March 1885 2 28 February 1885 15:00 Renton 3–1 Vale of Leven *A. McCall 65 A. McIntyre 8087 *"scrimmage" 90 Hampden Park 5-7,000 https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish-cup-matches/?mid=91679 References External links London Hearts Scottish Football Reports 21 February 1885 London Hearts Scottish Football Reports 28 February 1885 Association football Scotland Category:Scottish Cup finals Scottish Cup Final 1885 Scottish Cup Final 1885 Final Category:1880s in Glasgow Category:Govanhill and Crosshill Category:February 1885 in the United Kingdom