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Half-back Hugh Howie tackles Milburn
(photo: Sunday Dispatch, 17/5/53)
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Report from the same paper
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On the attack in the Final
(photo: Edinburgh Evening News, 21/5/53)
Report from the same paper
This competition was held to mark the coronation, and involved four teams each from the Scottish and English leagues. In the first round, Hibs beat Spurs 2-1 in a replay, after a 1-1 draw. A Celtic side featuring Jock Stein at centre half put out Man United 2-1 in the semis, and the Hibees routed a Newcastle side which included Ronnie Simpson and Jackie Milburn, 4-0 at Ibrox. In the final, in front of a crowd of 107,000 at Hampden, the Famous Five were denied by an inspired display from Celtic's keeper Bonnar, and Celtic scored twice to deny Hibs the trophy.
Some 46 years later, when I lifted the old carpets and lino in my new house, I found some old newspapers which gave me an excuse to use my favourite word: The Sunday Dispatch had reports on the semi-finals of Saturday May 16th. The final was played on Wednesday 20th, and the Evening News of the next day carried a report. It's worth reading, even just to see phrases like "tip-top high speed football" and "reduced to desultory scampers". Bring back that kind of writing, I say!
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Half-back Hugh Howie tackles Milburn (photo: Sunday Dispatch, 17/5/53) |
Report from the same paper |
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On the attack in the Final (photo: Edinburgh Evening News, 21/5/53) |
Report from the same paper |