World Cup wires controversy and Fergus McCann’s lightbulbs | OneFootball

England’s World Cup win over Norway has been overshadowed by complaints about the ball hitting an overhead wire. It’s a controversy nothing new to Celtic…

Believe it or not, this was a problem the Celts faced going back to the 1800s.

In the modern era, cameras on wires sit on top of pitches. This creates the potential that the ball might come into contact with the wire.

In those circumstances, play is supposed to be stopped by the referee. The England controversy was about whether or not the ball did indeed strike the cable.

1959 was the first year that floodlights were installed at Celtic Park. But seven decades before, Celtic had experimented with another lighting system.

In Christmas Day 1893, the Celts welcomed Clyde for a friendly. The main excitement for the day was that this match was to be played under lighting. In this case it was NOT floodlights but instead wires strung high across the field using poles. Lights hung from these wires to try to illuminate the field.

To say the least, it was a limited experience. Players complained that some areas of the pitch were lit whilst others sat in darkness, making it difficult to see. But the biggest complaint related to the ball regularly hitting the wires, impacting the game that was taking place.

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The Christmas Day match ended in a 1-1 draw and on one other occasion these lights were used. This was when Celtic hammered Edinburgh team St Bernard’s 8-1 in the Scottish Cup in January 1894.

The match suffered from the same complaints about the balls hitting the wires. Despite the big win, St Bernard’s protested that the match should be replayed although this was rejected.

For Celtic however, it signalled the end of lighting. There were too many complaints about the impact of the lights so Celtic fans had to wait until the 1950s to again see a home match under lights.

Fergus McCann Celtic director MD with model of new east Stand for Celtic Park

When Fergus McCann built the new Paradise in the mid 1990s there would be no further need for the old floodlights that stood over Celtic Park. According to former Celtic Director Tom Grant, the lightbulbs were destined for the rubbish dump until Fergus heard about it and he subsequently sold them to the Scottish FA for use at Hampden Park!

What a man Fergus!

Matthew Marr

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