Saint Mungo Cup

The Saint Mungo Cup was a one-off football tournament held in Glasgow, Scotland, to celebrate the 1951 Festival of Britain. The competition was contested by 14 Scottish Division A clubs together with Clyde and Queens Park from Division B. Celtic defeated Aberdeen 3–2 in the final in front of a crowd of 81,000 at Hampden Park.

Aberdeen went two goals ahead with goals from Harry Yorston in 14 minutes and Tommy Bogan after 35 minutes. Charlie Tully changed the game in Celtic's favour setting up two Sean Fallon goals in the second half and then scored the winner himself. On their road to the final Celtic had beaten Heart of Midlothian 2–1, Clyde 4–2 in a replay the day after a 4–4 draw in the quarter finals and Raith Rovers 3–1 in the semi-finals.

In the semi-final against Raith Rovers (played at Hampden), the Celtic goalkeeper George Hunter suffered a head injury. In those days, no substitutes were permitted. However, when a goalkeeper was injured and had to leave the pitch, an outfield player was permitted to don the goalkeeper's jersey and play in goal for the rest of the game or until the injured 'keeper came back on after treatment. When Hunter was injured, Bobby Evans acted as goalkeeper for about ten minutes, until Hunter returned to the field.(See the match report in the "Glasgow Herald" of the day following the match.)

The Corporation of Glasgow who had organised the tournament and provided the cup named after Glasgow's patron saint as their donation to the Festival of Britain were left red faced when the triumphant players and manager Jimmy McGrory discovered, on closer examination, that the cup was decorated with ornate life belts and mermaids. It was revealed that the trophy was not in fact new but third hand. The cup had been made in 1894 as a yachting trophy. In 1912 it had been altered for a football competition between Provan Gasworks and a City of Glasgow Police team.

Celtic at first demanded a new trophy, but today the St. Mungo Cup proudly takes its place in the Celtic Park trophy room.


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