Queen’s Park opened their season on Saturday 29 August 1884 with a match against Our Boys at West Craigie in Dundee. Queen's won 8-1 before "a large assemblage of spectators". The goals came from Bill Harrower (3), William Watt (3), Alex Hamilton and Bob Fraser.
On the following Saturday, the Spiders faced Hibernian at Easter Road. Scottish Athletic Journal commented - "The clubs are old friends, and there is no match the premier club engages in with greater pleasure than this one." A crowd of over 5,000 saw Queen’s win a hard-fought match by four goals to two. The scorers were Harry Miller, Willie Anderson, Bob Christie and a Patrick Cavanagh own goal. McGhee and Clark responded for the home side. Hibernian were handicapped by James McGinn suffering a leg injury after only ten minutes which left him struggling for the rest of the match.
A week later, Queen’s opponents were minnows Pollokshields in the first round of the Scottish Cup. (Pollokshields was a different club from Pollokshields Athletic.) Around 250 spectators saw "a not very strong" Queen’s side win the match at Pilgrims' Copeland Park in Govan by four goals to nil. The scorers are not known. On the following Saturday, Partick Thistle were beaten 5-1 in front of a crowd of around 4,500 at Muir Park. William Watt (2) and Bill Harrower scored the first three goals. The scorers of goals four and five are not known. Jerry Suter replied for the home side.
After some uncertainty, Queen's Park had decided to enter the English FA Cup once again and had been drawn at home to Stoke. However, the Potteries side scratched from the competition.
After some uncertainty, Queen's Park had decided to enter the English FA Cup once again and had been drawn at home to Stoke. However, the Potteries side scratched from the competition.
On Saturday 27 September, Queen’s Park made their second visit of the season to Edinburgh. This time they were up against Heart of Midlothian. The sides played out a 0-0 draw before a crowd of 4,000. The match was spoiled to some extent by a strong wind and a pitch that was very soft after rain. The small playing surface did not suit the Spiders' style of play.
Saturday 4 October was Scottish Cup second round day, with Queen’s Park drawn away to Glasgow Thistle. The weather was particularly fine and what was described as “a pretty large crowd” was in attendance at Thistle’s Beechwood Park off Dalmarnock Road in Bridgeton. An understrength Queen’s side had a comfortable 4-1 victory. Bill Harrower scored the second goal and William Watt the fourth. The scorers of the other two goals are not known.
Football professionalism was becoming a hot topic in England. On Monday 6 October, a meeting of the Football Association was held in London to receive the report of a sub-committee appointed to enquire into the prevalence of professionalism in English football. New rules were framed which debarred clubs in membership of the FA from playing games against clubs outwith the FA who employed professional players.
Scottish Umpire reported that Queen's Park played Cameronians at Maryhill Barracks on the afternoon of Wednesday 8 October. The result is not known.
Scottish Umpire reported that Queen's Park played Cameronians at Maryhill Barracks on the afternoon of Wednesday 8 October. The result is not known.
On Saturday 11 October, Glasgow drew 3-3 with Dumbartonshire at Boghead Park in Dumbarton. Charles Campbell and Bob Christie turned out for the Glasgow side. At the same time, a Queen’s Park side minus the two men on representative duty beat an understrength St Mirren 5-0 before a big crowd in Paisley. Bill Harrower scored the opening goal in five minutes but the scorers of the other four goals are not known.
Back in England, a meeting of the principal Lancashire clubs took place in Blackburn on Wednesday 15 October. The clubs agreed unanimously that, if the FA banned professionals, they would form their own association.
Queen’s Park’s new ground, also named Hampden Park, was to be opened on Saturday 18 October 1884. On the previous day, the North British Daily Mail gave some details of what it described as Queen’s Park’s “handsome new ground”. The ground was fully six acres in extent and a short distance from the Govanhill Car Terminus. It was also in the immediate vicinity of the proposed Govanhill Station of the Cathcart District Railway. The railway contractors had been responsible for levelling the pitch, which was a turfed two acres, practically flat and with just sufficient fall to allow natural drainage. The running track was exactly a quarter mile and was 15 feet wide, except on the north side where it was 24 feet wide for a length of 130 yards. The bicycle track would not be completed until the following spring. On the south side of the pitch, on rising ground, was a grand stand that was 80 yards long and had seating for 900. The area in front of the stand was terraced. On the north side of the ground was another grand stand, 100 yards long and seating 1,200. There was a new brick pavilion in the south-west corner of the ground. Scottish Umpire said that, in addition to changing facilities, the pavilion had club and committee rooms, as well as "a fine lavatory with baths" in the basement. Scottish Athletic Journal said that the entrances to the ground were at the north-west corner. There were eight glass pay boxes, then railed passages to the check boxes. The pitch was 115 yards by 75 yards.
Pavilion at Second Hampden Park (following enlargement in 1889)
The new Hampden Park opened on Saturday 18 October as scheduled, with a match between Queen’s Park and Dumbarton. As the oldest member of the Queen’s Park side, Charlie Campbell had the honour of taking the kick-off before a crowd of over 7,000. Queen’s dominated the game but it finished goalless. One newspaper commented that the pitch was almost dead level, showing a remarkable contrast to the old Hampden Park. The Spiders’ line-up on that momentous day was – G Gillespie; J McDougall and J G Wallace; C Campbell and J G Macdonald; R M Christie, D S Allan, W Harrower, W W Watt, W Anderson and N McWhannell.
On Thursday 23 October, Queen’s Park were in Lancashire for a match with Darwen, before what was described as a moderate attendance. Queen’s had the advantage of a stiff breeze in the first half and led 1-0 at the break through a goal from Bill Harrower in the 30th minute. The Englishmen had the better of the second period and equalised through Nightingale in 75 minutes. That ended the scoring.
Two days later, Queen’s Park suffered one of the most sensational defeats in the long history of Scottish football. The occasion was a Scottish Cup third round tie at Hampden Park. The Spiders’ opponents were near-neighbours Battlefield, who had waived ground advantage. The day was wet and windy and few spectators were present for what was expected to be a one-sided encounter. Falls were frequent on the heavy pitch. Queen’s took the lead in seven minutes through Bill Harrower, the first goal scorer at the new ground. John Sellar, brother of Bill who played for both Queen’s Park and Battlefield, equalised and then Walker put Battlefield ahead with a controversial goal. Bob Christie thought he had drawn Queen’s level but his goal was incorrectly ruled offside. Queen’s did succeed in equalising through an Angus own goal but Battlefield struck again with four minutes to go with a goal many thought offside. The Spiders finally woke up but it was too late and their Scottish Cup campaign was over. The result was met with disbelief across the city. Some Queen's Park players had only arrived back from Darwen on the Saturday morning and there seems little doubt that the challenge Battlefield presented had been underestimated. Queen's Park protested that three of the Battlefield players were not members of the club when registered to play in the match. The protest was considered by the SFA Committee on Tuesday 4 November and dismissed.
The wet weather continued and Queen’s Park’s game with Rangers on Saturday 1 November was postponed. Queen's were anxious to protect the newly-laid turf.
The Spiders were back down south on the following Saturday taking on Aston Villa in a challenge match. At the beginning of the week, Queen's had decided not to travel to Birmingham but Villa said that the Birmingham public were really looking forward to the game and that it had been fully advertised. The match attracted a crowd of over 15,000 to Wellington Road in Perry Barr. As was often the case in those days, the wind was a major factor in the outcome of the match. Despite fielding a much weakened side, Queen’s dominated the first half and led at the interval by a Willie Anderson goal. Arthur Brown equalised for Villa in the second half after a weak clearance by Peter McCallum in the Queen’s goal. The Birmingham side then got a second goal from a corner kick to secure victory by two goals to one. Villa were said to have been "greatly jubilant" at beating the Spiders. The match had been possible because Stoke had scratched from their first round FA Cup tie with Queen’s.
On Saturday 15 November, there was a large crowd at Clune Park in Port Glasgow for a match between Port Glasgow Athletic and Queen’s Park. The outcome was a comfortable 6-1 victory for the visitors before a crowd of around 3,000. Four of the goals came from Bob Christie (3) and William Watt. The scorers of the other two goals are unknown.
The first meeting of the season between Rangers and Queen’s Park took place at Kinning Park on Saturday 22 November before a crowd of around 3,500. The Spiders won 3-2 “after an hour and a half of most gentlemanly play on both sides.” (North British Daily Mail) The weather was good but the pitch was slippery. Queen’s took the lead in 25 minutes when William Watt fired home a Christie cross but James Gossland equalised for the Light Blues before the interval. Soon after the restart, Willie Anderson dribbled past two defenders to score and, a few minutes later, Ninian McWhannell made it 3-1. Due to an injury to half back "Thomson", Queen’s had to play most of the second half with ten men and Gossland scored a second for Rangers near the end. Only an outstanding display by William Chalmers in the Rangers' goal prevented Queen's winning by a larger margin.
Queen's Park's half-yearly meeting was held on Thursday 27 November. It was reported that £700 of the debt for the laying out of the new ground had been paid off. It was expected that the club would be free of debt by the end of the season.
Queen's Park's half-yearly meeting was held on Thursday 27 November. It was reported that £700 of the debt for the laying out of the new ground had been paid off. It was expected that the club would be free of debt by the end of the season.
On Saturday 29 November, Queen’s Park met Dumbarton before a crowd of 3,000 at a cold, frosty Boghead. Both sides were below strength and an even match ended in a 1-1 draw. Robert Brown gave the Sons the lead in 51 minutes and Ninian McWhannell equalised ten minutes from time.
On the following Saturday, Crewe Alexandra visited Hampden Park in the second round of the FA Cup. It was widely believed at the time that Queen's Park would have withdrawn from the English competition if they had still been in the Scottish Cup. The weather on the day was very unpleasant, with high winds and heavy rain, and only around 1,500 fans turned up. (There was, of course, no cover at grounds on those days.) Crewe came with a good reputation and had six Welsh internationals in their side. There was a shock for the Spiders in the opening minutes when Crewe took the lead from a scrimmage. After 30 minutes, Davie Allan equalised with a fine shot and, almost immediately afterwards, Bob Christie ran the length of the field to give Queen’s the lead. No sooner had the second half started than there was a terrible hailstorm, driven by a strong wind, which flooded the pitch. By mutual consent, the two teams headed for the shelter of the pavilion. After a short period, Queen’s Park wanted to resume the match but Crewe refused and the Spiders were awarded the tie. It was said that Crewe were almost as happy as if they had won the game because the score did not look too bad and they could go home with their heads held high.
On the following Saturday, Queen’s Park and the 3rd Lanark Rifle Volunteers, now increasingly known simply as Third Lanark, met at Cathkin Park. Only around 500 spectators were present, probably due to Thirds' recent poor form. The weather was miserable but it was a good game given the state of the pitch. Queen’s won 2-1 with goals from either Bill Harrower or William Watt and Willie Anderson. John Marshall replied for the Warriors.
There was a representative match at Hampden Park on Saturday 20 December when Glasgow hosted London. The 5,000 spectators saw a 6-2 victory for the home side in a very one-sided game. Six Queen’s Park players were in the Glasgow eleven – David Allan, William Anderson, Charles Campbell, Robert Christie, William Harrower and W M MacDonald. The team also included two men with Queen’s Park connections – William Sellar (Battlefield) and Walter Arnott (Pollokshields Athletic). Anderson, Campbell and Harrower were on the scoresheet, as was William Sellar.
On Saturday 27 December, Dumbarton visited Hampden Park. Despite the ground being slippery, the two sides produced a fine match. Robert Brown shot Dumbarton into a half-time lead but second half goals from Bill Harrower and Alex Hamilton gave Queen’s the victory.
On New Year’s Day, Queen’s Park played a return match with Aston Villa at Hampden Park. Special trains were run from Birmingham for the game. A thaw had left the turf slippery but the 6,000 spectators were treated to one of the best games of the season to date. Queen’s half back John Macdonald was carried off with a severely sprained ankle after about half an hour and the Spiders had to play the remainder of the game with ten men. Queen’s Park took the lead through Willie Anderson before any Villa player had touched the ball and Bob Christie made it two in seven minutes. Olly Whateley pulled a goal back but Willie Anderson restored the Spiders’ lead before half-time. An Anderson header put Queen’s 4-1 ahead early in the second half but two Albert Brown strikes set up an exciting finish. However, the ten men held on for a 4-3 victory. While the respective first elevens were fighting it out at Hampden Park, Queen’s Park won the battle of the second elevens with a 3-0 victory before a crowd of 2,000 at Perry Barr. Miller (2) and Armstrong got the Spiders’ goals. On the following day, Queen's Park's third team, the Hampden Eleven, beat Ulster 5-1 in Belfast.
The games were coming thick and fast. On Saturday 3 January, a seriously understrength Queen’s Park side was in Staffordshire competing against Leek in the third round of the FA Cup. Huge bills, with the words "Welcome, Queen's Park", were posted throughout the town. A crowd of more than 5,000 enjoyed a game that was evenly contested throughout. The ground was very hard and this affected the quality of play. Bob Christie put Queen’s ahead and the lead was doubled from a scrimmage. Allen pulled a goal back for Leek with a shot from distance but Willie Anderson restored the Spiders’ two goal lead from a Christie pass. Allen struck again for Leek but Queen’s Park won 3-2 to progress to the next round of the competition. Apparently, one of Leek's goals was over the bar but the referee was too far away to see it.
Queen’s Park were back at Hampden Park on the following Saturday when Vale of Leven were the visitors. This was the first meeting of the two sides in Glasgow in two years but only a few fans were present. The weather was terrible and much of the pitch was covered in water. Vale, playing with the wind, were two ahead at the break but second half goals from Davie Allan, William Watt and Bob Christie gave Queen’s the win.
It was FA Cup time again on Saturday 17 January 1885. Queen’s Park’s opponents in the fourth round tie were Old Wykehamists from Hampshire. The visitors had beaten some strong English sides and came to Glasgow with a great reputation. However, they were blown away by a Queen’s Park side in top form. Following a thaw on the Friday afternoon, the Hampden pitch was not in the best of condition. On the Saturday morning, workmen laid down small, well-sifted ashes on the bad patches of the playing surface. Fortunately, no one suffered any serious scratches. Queen’s, with the wind at their backs, were 6-0 ahead at the break. According to the Glasgow Herald, the scorers were Anderson, Allan, Watt, Anderson, Christie and Watt. The North British Daily Mail, on the other hand, opted for Anderson, Allan, Hamilton, Anderson, Christie or Watt and Harrower. The 3,000 spectators saw only a single goal in the second half. It came near the end when Bob Christie took advantage of clever play by Willie Anderson. The match ended, therefore, in a resounding 7-0 victory for Queen’s Park. The Spiders team was – G Gillespie; W Arnott and J Harvie; C Campbell and J Wallace; R M Christie, D S Allan, W Harrower, W W Watt, W Anderson and A Hamilton.
George Gillespie
On Monday 19 January, the latest in a series of meetings about professionalism in football took place in the Freemasons’ Tavern in London. Over two hundred delegates of Association clubs were present. The FA Secretary, Charles Alcock, moved a resolution passed by the FA General Committee which proposed “that it is expedient to legalise professionalism under stringent conditions.” An opposing amendment was supported by Queen’s Park. 113 delegates voted for the motion, with 108 against. Although a majority were in favour, a two thirds’ majority was required for the resolution to be passed.
Few matches took place on Saturday 24 January due to protracted frost and Queen’s Park were not in action. A week later, normal service was resumed and Queen’s met 3rdLanark Rifle Volunteers at Cathkin Park before a small crowd of around 1,000. The Spiders won 5-0 with goals from Bill Harrower (3), Bob Christie and Alex Hamilton. The score was a fair reflection of the play.
On Monday 7 February, Queen’s Park beat Renton by four goals to one. The match was played at Cathkin Park to keep the troublesome pitch at Hampden in good order for the upcoming Glasgow v Sheffield game. The day was very wet and the players had difficulty keeping their feet. Willie Anderson got Queen’s opening goal and Bob Christie numbers two and three. Opinions differed as to whether Anderson or Christie scored the fourth.
On the following Saturday, the 12th meeting of Glasgow and Sheffield took place at Hampden Park. There were several thousand spectators in attendance to see Glasgow record a resounding 9-1 victory. Six Queen’s Park players featured in the Glasgow side – David Allan, Walter Arnott, Charles Campbell, Robert Christie, Alex Hamilton and William Harrower. Several of the Queen’s players scored in the match but the reports of the identity of the goal scorers varied enormously. On the same day as the Sheffield game, what was described as a “scratch” Queen’s Park side drew 3-3 with Pollokshaws at Broom Park in Cowglen. Few players with first team experience featured in the Spiders’ eleven.
On Saturday 21 February, Renton and Vale of Leven drew 0-0 in the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park. However, the big game for Queen’s Park was a FA Cup sixth round tie with Notts County at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. (Queen’s had received a bye in the fifth round.) Special trains were run from Sheffield, Birmingham, Leicester, Derby, Newark, Lincoln and Grimsby. Extra stands had been erected at the ground but such was the size of the crowd (almost 20,000) that encroachment by spectators presented a great problem. The game had to be stopped on 12 occasions. With the benefit of the wind and sun, Queen’s Park pushed County back in the first half and took the lead through Bob Christie just before the interval. Christie was not fully fit and had not wanted to play in the game but his teammates insisted. The outcome was that his leg gave way the first time he tried to run with the ball.
At half-time in the match, the crowd broke into the field of play and it was twenty minutes before the pitch could be cleared. Queen’s Park claimed the game and played on under protest. Facing the elements and with Bob Christie limping heavily, Queen’s were up against it in the second period. In 65 minutes, Billy Gunn hit an equaliser, which resulted in further crowd encroachment, and then Arthur Cursham put County into the lead. Queen’s Park fought back, however, and Bill Sellar forced the ball past Coulby in the Notts goal to bring the scores level. There was no further scoring and, two hours and ten minutes after the game had kicked off, the match ended 2-2. The referee, Mr Pierce-Dix, ordered the clubs to play an extra half hour but Queen’s Park refused on account of spectators being on or over the line of play. Notts County formally kicked another goal and claimed the match. The FA gave consideration to the matter on the following Monday and ordered a replay at a neutral ground.
At half-time in the match, the crowd broke into the field of play and it was twenty minutes before the pitch could be cleared. Queen’s Park claimed the game and played on under protest. Facing the elements and with Bob Christie limping heavily, Queen’s were up against it in the second period. In 65 minutes, Billy Gunn hit an equaliser, which resulted in further crowd encroachment, and then Arthur Cursham put County into the lead. Queen’s Park fought back, however, and Bill Sellar forced the ball past Coulby in the Notts goal to bring the scores level. There was no further scoring and, two hours and ten minutes after the game had kicked off, the match ended 2-2. The referee, Mr Pierce-Dix, ordered the clubs to play an extra half hour but Queen’s Park refused on account of spectators being on or over the line of play. Notts County formally kicked another goal and claimed the match. The FA gave consideration to the matter on the following Monday and ordered a replay at a neutral ground.
The FA decided that the cup replay would take place at Derby on the following Saturday. Queen’s Park had to cancel a planned challenge match with Blackburn Rovers. Given that replays were normally held at the ground of the club that was away in the first game and that Derby was only 16 miles from Nottingham, it would be true to say that Queen’s Park were none too pleased with the choice of venue. The match at the Derby Cricket Ground attracted a crowd of almost 18,000, mostly supporting Notts County. The Midland Railway Company took 8,000 fans from Nottingham in four special trains and many others travelled by ordinary service trains and by road. Following the problems at Trent Bridge on the previous Saturday, the posts round the pitch had been sunk deeper and a new wire rope was expected to have the strength to defy the weight of the greatest crowd.
Queen’s Park were without two of the previous Saturday’s side because they were unable to get away from work. Also, star forward Bob Christie had not properly recovered from the leg injury that hampered his performance at Trent Bridge. Notts County had the benefit of the wind in the first half and the “chocolate and blue” side took the lead in ten minutes through a fine Harry Jackson shot. Queen’s equalised with a brilliant goal from Bill Sellar, who evaded three defenders before sending the ball between the posts. From then on, there were numerous chances at both ends. Notts County hit the bar in the second half but there was only one further goal in the game and it was Queen’s Park who got it. The scorer was right back Walter Arnott with a thunderous 30-yard effort. It was his first goal for the club and took the Spiders into the semi-final of the competition. The reporter for the Nottinghamshire Guardian wrote “I believe that the best team won, and that Notts were beaten on their merits.” Despite their disappointment with the result, the crowd was very appreciative of Queen’s Park’s performance and most of the Spiders’ players were carried shoulder high to their changing room. The Queen’s Park team that won the day was – Gillespie; Arnott and MacLeod; Campbell and Gow; Anderson, Hamilton, Harrower, Watt, Sellar and Allan. (The Evening Times had reported two days previously that Peter McCallum would be in goal as George Gillespie was unavailable but the match reports listed Gillespie as having been in goal. The Nottingham Evening Post said, "Contrary to expectation, Gillespie was with them for the purpose of keeping goal.")
William Sellar
While Queen’s Park were battling away in Derby, the Scottish Cup Final replay was taking place at Hampden Park. Renton took the honours with a 3-1 win over their county neighbours Vale of Leven.
On Saturday 7 March, five Queen’s Park players – Anderson, Arnott, Campbell, Alex Hamilton and Harrower – were in the Glasgow side that beat Scotch Counties either 3-0 or 3-1 (reports varied) before a 4,000 crowd at Hampden Park. John Holm, Bill Sellar and Woody Gray also took part but were listed as Pollokshields Athletic players. Anderson and Hamilton scored two of Glasgow’s three goals.
A week later, Queen’s Park were back in Derby taking on another team from Nottingham. This time it was Nottingham Forest in the semi-final of the FA Cup. Queen’s were without Bill Harrower, who joined Bob Christie on the injury list, as well as John Gow and William Watt who could not get away from business. However, Dr John Smith was available and he was partnered by 16-year-old Johnny Lambie of Queen’s Park’s third team, the Hampden Eleven. Forest were without Unwin who was injured. The 15,000 spectators at the Derby Cricket Ground saw Forest take a deserved first half lead through Tom Danks. However, Queen’s Park stepped up their performance in the second half and Willie Anderson hit an equaliser. The match finished one goal apiece. At that point, the North British Daily Mail reported, “Both teams left the field, as the Association had made no arrangements for playing an extra half hour.”
Queen's Park asked the Football Association to pick a ground in Edinburgh for the replay. On the following Monday, a Committee meeting of the FA decided that the semi-final replay would take place in Edinburgh on 28 March 1885. This was the date originally set aside for the FA Cup Final. Notts Forest petitioned the FA to play the tie nearer Nottingham but the request was refused.
Six Queen’s Park players were in the Scotland side that drew 1-1 with England at London’s Kennington Oval on Saturday 21 March. They were David Allan, William Anderson, Walter Arnott, Charles Campbell, John Gow and Alex Hamilton. William Sellar also played but as a Battlefield Player. Two days later, the Scots overwhelmed Wales by eight goals to one in Wrexham. Anderson, Allan, Arnott and A Hamilton played. The goal scorers in the match are unclear. The Scotsman said that William Anderson scored twice and David Allan three times. Other reports credited Anderson with either two or three goals and Allan with only one. The SFA website says that Anderson scored two and Allan one and it has to be assumed that this is correct.
Queen’s Park’s FA Cup semi-final replay with Nottingham Forest took place on Saturday 28 March 1885 as scheduled. The only football ground in Edinburgh capable of staging such a match was the St Bernard’s ground at Powderhall but the pitch was too narrow to meet the FA’s criteria. Raeburn Place was not available as it was being prepared for the cricket season. However, Arthur Geake and Archie Rowan travelled through to the capital to speak to the headmaster of Merchiston Castle School and he granted the use of his school’s cricket ground for the match. The quality of the turf was said to have been ideal for football. The match attracted a crowd of up to 15,000 inside and around the ground – the largest attendance ever for a sporting event in Edinburgh. A grand stand had been specially constructed to help accommodate the spectators. People travelled to the match from all over Scotland, with five special trains leaving Glasgow for the capital. Four special trains also brought fans from Nottingham. The Lord Provost of Glasgow and the Mayor of Nottingham were among the spectators.
Queen’s Park were without Willie Anderson, Bob Christie, John Gow and John Smith for the match. All were injured. Nottingham Forest were unchanged. The weather on the day was dull and windy and Queen’s played into the breeze in the opening half. Despite this handicap, the Spiders took the initiative and were two goals to the good at the interval. The opening goal came in 24 minutes when a Forest player, either Hancock or Widdowson, deflected a William Watt header through his own goal. The second was scored by Bill Sellar from an Alex Hamilton cross. Queen’s Park were well on top in the second period and scored a third goal when the Forest goalkeeper could only parry a shot and Sellar followed up to knock the ball between the posts. The Queen’s Park side that achieved a memorable win was – G Gillespie; W Arnott and W MacLeod; C Campbell (captain) and J MacDonald; N McWhannell and A Hamilton; W Harrower and W W Watt; W Sellar and D S Allan.
The FA Cup Final between Queen’s Park and Blackburn Rovers took place at the Kennington Oval only a week later. The Oval was not a good ground for football, with only one small permanent stand and a few unimpressive little temporary stands dotted here and there, but it was the preferred choice of the Football Association. Three special trains, each well patronised, left Glasgow on the Friday evening carrying fans to London but the bulk of the crowd of around 15,000 favoured the English side. The Rovers' players had spent a couple of days at Richmond in the build-up to the final, while the majority of the Queen's Park players only arrived in London on the morning of the match. The Sportsman commented - "On paper, perhaps, Queen's Park had a trifling advantage, but this was greatly discounted by their narrow escapes in the earlier contests, their long railway journey, and the absence, through incidents of Christie, Watt and Harrower." Blackburn Rovers were at full strength.
The match itself was exciting and full of incident. The Manchester Times reported “A finer all-round game has scarcely ever been witnessed and never surpassed.” An understrength Queen’s Park side played with great spirit but failed to reach their best form and Rovers had the edge throughout. The Spiders were unlucky with the weather. They had to face a bright sun and a strong cold wind in the first half but the wind then turned in Blackburn’s favour in the second period. They were also unfortunate to have to take the field without several key players, the latest absentee being Bill Harrower. Rovers took the lead through Jimmy Forrest in 18 minutes and, with around 20 minutes to go, James Brown made it two with a powerful shot. Queen’s battled to the end but to no avail.
The Cup Final teams were: -
Queen’s Park– George Gillespie; Walter Arnott and William MacLeod; Charles Campbell (captain) and Ninian McWhannell; Alex Hamilton and John Macdonald; William Anderson and William Sellar; David Allan and Woody Gray.
Blackburn Rovers– Herby Arthur; Richard Turner and Fergus Suter; Hugh McIntyre, George Haworth and Jimmy Forrest; Joe Lofthouse and Jimmy Douglas; Joe Sourbutts; Howard Fecitt and James Brown.
On Monday 6 April, the Corinthians embarked on a short and very intensive tour of England. David Allan, Charles Campbell and Alex Hamilton formed part of the touring party. On the Monday, the Corinthians beat Preston North End 1-0; on the Tuesday, they drew 3-3 with Derby County; on the Wednesday, they beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 (a measure of revenge for the Queen’s Park men?); and, on the Thursday, they beat Blackpool 2-1.
On Thursday 9 April, Queen’s Park drew 2-2 with Dunfermline at Lady’s Mill Park in Dunfermline. The Spiders' side comprised a mixture of players from the first and minor elevens. The scorers of the Queen's goals are not known.
The Glasgow Merchants’ Charity Cup Committee had decided that Queen’s Park, Rangers, Dumbarton and Renton would compete in that season’s competition – a decision that did not please Battlefield and Partick Thistle. The first of the two “semi-finals” between Rangers and Dumbarton took place on Saturday 11 April. Queen’s Park were not in action on that day but five Spiders’ players were in the Glasgow side that drew 0-0 with Edinburgh at the Powderhall Grounds. Glasgow had to play almost the entire match with ten men. The Queen’s Park men involved were David Allan, Walter Arnott, Charles Campbell, George Gillespie and Alex Hamilton. Woody Gray, William MacLeod and William Sellar also played but as representatives of their parent clubs – Pollokshields Athletic, Cowlairs and Battlefield.
A week later, Queen’s Park played a friendly match with Northern at Hyde Park in Springburn. Queen’s won the match easily but the score is anyone’s guess. The Evening Times went for 5-1, the Glasgow Herald 4-0 and the North British Daily Mail 5-0.
On Saturday 25 April, Queen’s Park beat Renton at Hampden Park in the second Charity Cup “semi-final”. A crowd of around 4,000 saw Queen’s progress to the final with a 3-2 victory. The goals came from Bill Harrower (2) and William Watt. The Renton scorers are not known. The match marked the return of Andrew "Andy" Watson and he received a hearty welcome from the crowd.
A scratch Queen's Park side defeated Pilgrims 5-0 at Copeland Park in Govan on Wednesday 29 April.
On Saturday 2 May, Queen's Park beat Vale of Leven 2-0 in Alexandria. The scorers are not known. Then, on the following Wednesday, Queen's were 2-1 winners against Abercorn in a match for the benefit of the family of the late president of the Paisley club. Once again, the scorers are not known.
A scratch Queen's Park side defeated Pilgrims 5-0 at Copeland Park in Govan on Wednesday 29 April.
On Saturday 2 May, Queen's Park beat Vale of Leven 2-0 in Alexandria. The scorers are not known. Then, on the following Wednesday, Queen's were 2-1 winners against Abercorn in a match for the benefit of the family of the late president of the Paisley club. Once again, the scorers are not known.
The Glasgow Merchants’ Charity Cup Final between Queen’s Park and Dumbarton took place at Hampden Park on Saturday 9 May 1885. Having lost out in the Scottish Cup and the English FA Cup, Queen’s were particularly keen to lift the trophy and fielded the strongest side they could muster. A doubling of the admission price and unpleasant weather restricted the attendance to somewhere between 4,000 and 5,000. In an entertaining first half, both sides had spells of dominance but Queen’s Park got the only goal of the period. William Watt was the scorer after a brilliant run. Queen’s were well on top in the second half but the closest they came to adding to their lead was when Bob Christie hit the post. The match ended in a 1-0 win for Queen’s Park. The Spiders side that won the Charity Cup for the seventh time was – George Gillespie; Andrew Watson and John Harvie; Charles Campbell and John Gow; Alex Hamilton and William Watt; Ninian McWhannell and William Harrower; David Allan and Robert Christie.
Queen's Park - Season 1884/85
Back row (from left) - N McWhannell, R M Christie, W McLeod, A Watson, W Sellar,
P McCallum, W W Watt, J J Gow and J McAra.
Middle row - C Campbell, J Harvie, Walter Arnott, W Harrower, D S Allan and J A Lambie.
Front row - J Morton and A Hamilton.
Queen’s Park went down 1-0 to Rangers at Hampden Park on Wednesday 13 May. The Light Blues took an early lead with an Alexander McKenzie header from a corner kick. In the latter stages of the match, Queen's went close on a number of occasions but the equalising goal simply would not come.
On Thursday 14 May, the Evening Times reported that it was understood that the result of consultation by a special committee of the Football Association would result in the legalisation of professionalism in England.
Queen's Park visited Arbroath on Thursday 21 May and defeated the local side 8-3 before an "immense assemblage". The Spiders were said to have received a brilliant welcome. Bill Sellar scored Queen's first two goals and Bob Christie got number five. The scorers of the other five goals are not known. Marshall, Petrie and Munro were on target for the Red Lichties. Two days later, Queen's Park were in Dumfries taking on Queen of the South Wanderers at Vale Park, Milldamhead in aid of the building fund of the Dumfries and Maxwelltown Industrial School. The Spiders won the battle of the Queen's 4-0. James McMillan put through his own goal to give Queen's the lead and Bill Sellar added a second. The scorers of the third and fourth goals are not known.
The Queen's Park AGM took place in the Marie Stuart Hall in Crosshill on Friday 29 May. Arthur Geake was elected president for the coming year.
Queen's Park visited Arbroath on Thursday 21 May and defeated the local side 8-3 before an "immense assemblage". The Spiders were said to have received a brilliant welcome. Bill Sellar scored Queen's first two goals and Bob Christie got number five. The scorers of the other five goals are not known. Marshall, Petrie and Munro were on target for the Red Lichties. Two days later, Queen's Park were in Dumfries taking on Queen of the South Wanderers at Vale Park, Milldamhead in aid of the building fund of the Dumfries and Maxwelltown Industrial School. The Spiders won the battle of the Queen's 4-0. James McMillan put through his own goal to give Queen's the lead and Bill Sellar added a second. The scorers of the third and fourth goals are not known.
The Queen's Park AGM took place in the Marie Stuart Hall in Crosshill on Friday 29 May. Arthur Geake was elected president for the coming year.
The season ended on Saturday 30 May 1885 with a four team 11-a-side tournament at Cathkin Park organised by the 3rdLanark Rifle Volunteers in aid of their drill hall. The games were 20 minutes each way. The event attracted a crowd of 5,000 and was by all accounts a great success. In the first match, 3rd Lanark beat Rangers by a goal to nil. Queen’s Park then beat Pollokshields Athletic 3-0. The final between 3rdLanark and Queen’s Park ended goalless. The outcome was decided on the number of corner kicks awarded and Queen’s were the winners by one corner to none. The winning players received gold badges (medals).
In Glasgow Council Chamber on Wednesday 3 June, the Charity Cup was handed over to Queen's Park by Lord Provost McOnie.
In Glasgow Council Chamber on Wednesday 3 June, the Charity Cup was handed over to Queen's Park by Lord Provost McOnie.
Results 1884/85
First Team
29/08/1884 Our Boys 1 Queen's Park 8
06/09/1884 Hibernian 2 Queen’s Park 4
06/09/1884 Hibernian 2 Queen’s Park 4
13/09/1884 Pollokshields 0 Queen’s Park 4 - Scottish Cup
20/09/1884 Partick Thistle 1 Queen’s Park 5
27/09/1884 Heart of Midlothian 0 Queen’s Park 0
04/10/1884 Thistle (Glasgow) 1 Queen’s Park 4 - Scottish Cup
11/10/1884 St Mirren 0 Queen’s Park 5
18/10/1884 Queen’s Park 0 Dumbarton 0
23/10/1884 Darwen 1 Queen’s Park 1
25/10/1884 Queen’s Park 2 Battlefield 3 - Scottish Cup
08/11/1884 Aston Villa 2 Queen’s Park 1
15/11/1884 Port Glasgow Athletic 1 Queen’s Park 6
22/11/1884 Rangers 2 Queen’s Park 3
29/11/1884 Dumbarton 1 Queen’s Park 1
06/12/1884 Queen’s Park 2 Crewe Alexandra 1 - FA Cup
13/12/1884 3rdLanark Rifle Volunteers 1 Queen’s Park 2
27/12/1884 Queen’s Park 2 Dumbarton 1
01/01/1885 Queen’s Park 4 Aston Villa 3
03/01/1885 Leek 2 Queen’s Park 3 - FA Cup
10/01/1885 Queen’s Park 3 Vale of Leven 2
17/01/1885 Queen’s Park 7 Old Wykehamists 0 - FA Cup
31/01/1885 3rd Lanark Rifle Volunteers 0 Queen’s Park 5
07/02/1885 Queen’s Park 4 Renton 1
21/02/1885 Notts County 2 Queen’s Park 2 - FA Cup
28/02/1885 Notts County 1 Queen’s Park 2 - FA Cup
14/03/1885 Nottingham Forest 1 Queen’s Park 1 - FA Cup
28/03/1885 Queen’s Park 3 Nottingham Forest 0 - FA Cup
04/04/1885 Blackburn Rovers 2 Queen’s Park 0 - FA Cup Final
18/04/1885 Northern 0 Queen’s Park 5 (or 5-1 or 4-0)
25/04/1885 Queen’s Park 3 Renton 2 - Glasgow Charity Cup
02/05/1885 Vale of Leven 0 Queen’s Park 2
09/05/1885 Queen’s Park 1 Dumbarton 0 - Glasgow Charity Cup Final
13/05/1885 Queen’s Park 0 Rangers 1
21/05/1885 Arbroath 3 Queen's Park 8
23/05/1885 Queen of the South Wanderers 0 Queen's Park 4
21/05/1885 Arbroath 3 Queen's Park 8
23/05/1885 Queen of the South Wanderers 0 Queen's Park 4
30/05/1885 Queen’s Park 3 Pollokshields Athletic 0
30/05/1885 3rd Lanark Rifle Volunteers 0 Queen’s Park 0
Second Team
06/09/1884 Wishaw Swifts 7 Second QP 1
13/09/1884 Airdrieonians 5 Second QP 3
20/09/1884 Airdrieonians 5 Second QP 3
27/09/1884 2nd Dunblane 1 Second QP 2
04/10/1884 Johnstone Rovers 2 Second QP 2
11/10/1884 Hamilton Academical 5 Second QP 1
11/10/1884 Hamilton Academical 5 Second QP 1
25/10/1884 Dumbarton Rangers 3 Second QP 2 - Scottish Second XI Cup
01/11/1884 Rangers Swifts 1 Second QP 1
01/11/1884 Rangers Swifts 1 Second QP 1
29/11/1884 Queen’s Park 0 Dumbarton Rangers 0
06/12/1884 Shettleston 2 Second QP 1 (abandoned at half-time)
13/12/1884 Kilbirnie 3 Second QP 0
27/12/1884 Shettleston 1 Second QP 3
01/01/1885 2nd Aston Villa 0 Second QP 3
10/01/1885 2nd Vale of Leven 4 Second QP 0
31/01/1885 Irvine Academicals 2 Second QP 3
07/02/1885 Falkirk 5 Second QP 3
07/02/1885 Falkirk 5 Second QP 3
21/02/1885 2nd 3rdLanark Rifle Volunteers 0 Second QP 1
14/03/1885 Southern (Greenock) 3 Second QP 6
21/03/1885 Second QP 6 Falkirk 0
04/04/1885 Neilston 3 Second QP 3
25/04/1885 Alpha (Motherwell) 0 Second QP 3
02/05/1885 Alloa Athletic 2 Second QP 1
Hampden Eleven
13/09/1884 2nd Abercorn 6 Hampden Eleven 0
20/09/1884 Alpha (Motherwell) 7 Hampden Eleven 3
04/10/1884 Vale of Leven Wanderers 1 Hampden Eleven 1
20/09/1884 Alpha (Motherwell) 7 Hampden Eleven 3
04/10/1884 Vale of Leven Wanderers 1 Hampden Eleven 1
22/11/1884 3rd LRV Cathkin XI 1 Hampden Eleven 4
29/11/1884 Partick Inchview XI 1 Hampden Eleven 2
13/12/1884 Rangers Shields XI 7 Hampden Eleven 0
02/01/1885 Ulster 1 Hampden Eleven 5
31/01/1885 Tayavalla (Camelon) 0 Hampden Eleven 3
02/01/1885 Ulster 1 Hampden Eleven 5
31/01/1885 Tayavalla (Camelon) 0 Hampden Eleven 3
07/02/1885 Dalry 1 Hampden Eleven 5
14/02/1885 Whitehill (Dennistoun) 3 Hampden Eleven 9
14/02/1885 Whitehill (Dennistoun) 3 Hampden Eleven 9
28/02/1885 King’s Park (Stirling) 2 Hampden Eleven 3
07/03/1885 Rangers Shields XI 1 Hampden Eleven 1
Other Matches
06/09/1884 King's Park (Stirling) 5 Queen's Park XI 1
07/03/1885 Rangers Shields XI 1 Hampden Eleven 1
Other Matches
06/09/1884 King's Park (Stirling) 5 Queen's Park XI 1
14/02/1885 Pollokshaws 3 Queen's Park (scratch) 3
09/04/1885 Dunfermline 2 Queen’s Park (scratch) 2
29/04/1885 Pilgrims 0 Queen's Park (scratch) 5
09/04/1885 Dunfermline 2 Queen’s Park (scratch) 2
29/04/1885 Pilgrims 0 Queen's Park (scratch) 5
Representative Matches
11/10/1884 Dumbartonshire 3 Glasgow 3
20/12/1884 Glasgow 6 London 2
14/02/1885 Glasgow 9 Sheffield 1
07/03/1885 Glasgow 3 Scotch Counties 1 (or 3-0)
21/03/1885 England 1 Scotland 1
23/03/1885 Wales 1 Scotland 8
11/04/1885 Edinburgh 0 Glasgow 0
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