QUEEN'S PARK v. RANGERS
— Bauldie | 28/10/1892 —

It is very remarklable that in the history of these two clubs, which embodies a period of at least twenty years, they should have met so seldom in cup ties. Almost their first and most memorable cup-tie match took place on Hampden Park on March 22, 1879. The event was a Scottish Cup tie, and was played on old Hampden. The day was very windy, as those will remember who, like myself, were on the classic slipes on that famous occasion. No goals were scored in the first half, the Queen's playing with the wind. Tom Vallance, the Rangers' captain, drawing back one of his forwards to strengthen his defence, a course that Charles Campbell also followed when he and his team had to face the wind in the second half, versatile George Ker being brought back from centre to half-back. No goals were scored in the first half by either team, and it seemed, although the Rangers had the best of the play, that the match would end in a draw. Just five minutes from the finish, however, Vallance sent in a high drooping shot, and W. Thomson, who kept goal, thought he had nothing else to do than fist it out. Just as he made the attempt, however, Dunlop, Steel, Hill, and Struthers in a body pounced upon ihim, and had the stalwart "Pongo" through the goal and the ball as well. The Queen's had no time to recover this lost point, and the tie ended in their defeat for the second time then in the competition by one goal to nothing. Some interest attaches to the teams who played then, and to refresh the memories of those who witnessed the match I give them here:

Queen's Park: W. Thomson; W. Neill, C. Thomson; C. Campbell(capt), D. Davidson; J. Richmond, W. Lamberton, W. M'Kinnon, Goerge Ker, T. C. Highet, H. M. M'Neill.

Rangers: George Gillespie; Tom Vallance(capy), A. Vallance; H. M'Intyre, J. Drinnan; P. Campbell, D. Hill, W. Dunlop, W. Struthers, A. Stael, M. M'Neill.

This Rangers' team I regard as the strongest that has ever worn the light-blue. Of these twenty-two players George Gillespie is the sole member still playing. Singular to say he will be seen in the ranks of the Queen's to-morrow against his old clubmates. Early in the eighties the clubs were again fated to meet in a Scottish tie, the match being drawn at Kinning Park, but on the return match at Hampden the Queen's avenged their former defeat by winning easily by 5 goals to 1. Burly John D. Graham was on that occasion induced to keep goal, being asked to step off the stand for that purpose. Another incident which occurred in that match was the fact that W. Struthers got his arm broken, came out with it in a sling, and actually scored the Rangers' solitary goal. Since then the clubs have met frequently in friendly and Cup encounters, the history of which victory, with the exception of the Charity fiasco last year, has invariably rested with the black-and-white stripes. This is their third meeting in the Glasgow Cup since its institution in 1888, and the Rangers have again the opportinitu of wiping out some of the defeats that stand against them in Cup tie matches.

Comparing the teams, there is not much to choose between them behind. The goalkeepers may shake hands. Haddow, the younger and smarter man, possibly having the call in his favour. The superiority of Arnott as right is balanced by the superiority of Gow over Sillars on the left. Had I my will I should play Drummond against Sellar, and leave Gow to fight it out with Waddell and Gulliland, a task his style of tackling and dribbling seems more equal to. I leave the suggestion with the Rangers. Boradly judged, I think the teams almost on an equality at back and goal. At half-back, on the three, I should say the Rangers have it. In experience and smartness M'Creadie, Mitchell, and Marshall are better than Gillespie, Stewart, and Robertson, although as an individual, Robertson holds more than his own. Here again I think the difference is immaterial, and not likely to affect the result. When we come to the forwards, however, a very different story must be told. What I and others who have watched the Light Blue's history all along have noted of the forwards is their weakness at goal.

This is the signal place where this season's team fails, and was a fact that was palpable, and to the Rangers painfully apparent in their last frienfly encounter at Hampden. Compared with the Queen's forwards, all of whom are shots, and deadly shots, too, the Rangers fare badly. Not one of the mis to be considered a pot shot. Kerr and M'Pherson are good, but they dribble too much. Again, I must point out to the Rangers that everyone of the Queen's forwards shoot whenever they get the opportunity. Gulliland, from send in shots powerful and as deadly as ever George Ker did in his palmiest days, and the inside and centre forwards also try their hand with great success. It is this feature of the Queen's forward play ever their opponents that makes me say it will win the game for the Hampden men, and it is this same feature. I wish the Rangers and all other clubs to cultivate.

Nothing is more puzzling to a goalkeeper than these repeated attempts to beat him, especially when they come like the wind from all parts of the compas. True enough, the ball will go past occasionally, and not through, but broadly judging the Queen's superiority forwards, I say there is no comparison between them, and on that account their front rank should win for them this tie. To prevent this calamity Haddow and his backs will play a cool, clever, calculating game, and the half-backs must watch the posts and the men when shooting. If they succeed they will immortalise themselves and redeem their club's past dishonour. The half-backs especially will have to bear the brunt of the work, and for their benefit I give them a top communicated to me by an International English half-backs, who, in playing Millward and Chadwick (acknowledge to be the most difficult and dangerous wing in England to play), said the half-back must watch the inside men and the back the outside, to check the passes being the main duty of a half with such men. Mitchell and his partners have the benefit of this opinion. I only give it with the object of making the game a surprise tussle for Cup honous which, I trust, it will really be, and not a one-horse display.