Glasgow Charity Cup Final Tie of 1888
The Renton Eleven are to-day in the proud position of winning the Glasgow Charity Cup four times in succession—from 1886 down to season 1888-89, and even now the holders of that handsome trophy. In these finals they polished off the Vale of Leven in 1886 by three to one; next season the same club by one to none; in 1888 (the year which I have singled out for review) vanquished the Cambuslang by four to none: and last spring overcame the Queen’s Park by three goals to one. In 1888 the Renton men held both cups, and what was of more account, won them by long odds against precisely the same opponents, viz., Cambuslang. In the final for the Association Challenge Cup the victory was one of six goals to one, and in the Glasgow Charity Cup four to none. This was, indeed, the largest score made in the former, and was equal in the latter to that made in 1877 (the first year of the competition) by the Queen’s Park, when they defeated the Rangers. Cambuslang, however, were at this time a power in the land, and had previously carried off the Glasgow Challenge trophy in its first season. In addition to this, they are also credited with the record of fast scoring—having taken four goals from the Queen’s Park in the last ten minutes of the fifth round of the Scottish Challenge Cup in 1886, but as the Queen’s Park had five points on previously, they saved the game by one goal. The event of which I have presently to deal came off on Hampden Park on the 12th May, 1888, and ended in favour of the Renton, as has already been indicated, by four to none. The Cambuslang men played well at the start, and a close match was expected. Through some cause or other, however, they fell away considerably as the game advanced, and J. Campbell scored the first goal for Renton, and this was soon followed by a second from the foot of J. M’Call, the record at half-time being two goals to none in favour of the crack Dumbartonshire club. The second round, strange to say, was also well contested at the outset, but the grand forward combination of the Renton told the tale of defeat to the Cambuslang men, and other two goals were added. As none of the Cambuslang team have previously come under my pen, I give them first, and will include three of Renton who have not been noticed.