1914 is a year forever etched in the Glentoran history books. The Vienna Cup triumph at the end of the 1913-14 season was one of the most memorable tournaments in Glentoran's history. Still today our fans like to remind the rest of the island that we are 'the only team in Ireland with a European Cup' but despite that success it wasn't the only piece of Glentoran history made that season. 1914 was the first time Glentoran won the showpiece of Irish football, the Irish Cup.
1914 may have been over 100 years ago but it was still 32 years in Glentoran's history without success at the highest level. By that season, Glentoran already had won 13 major honours including 5 Irish league titles. The Glens weren't short of trying either with the Irish Cup, three times we were defeated in the final, firstly by Distillery in 1896 then Linfield twice beat us in 1899 and 1913. Finally 1914 saw the hoo-do ended as Willie Lindsay wrote his name in the Glentoran record books.
Willie Lindsay signed for Glentoran in the summer of 1913 joining his older brother Jimmy Lindsay in the squad. Willie played on the right side of midfield. Back in 1914 victory in the First Round of the Irish Cup would send a team through to the Semi-Finals meaning only three wins would see a side win the competition. Incredibly Glentoran ended up playing TEN games en route to victory.
It took The Glens five games to overcome Distillery in the first round before Jack Boyd and Sam Napier secured victory in a 2-1 win. Just the four games against Shelbourne in the semi-finals; a 2-0 victory at Celtic Park in the third replay secured Glentoran back-to-back Irish Cup Final places for the first time in our history.
Glentoran were due to play a Gold Cup tie on the Monday prior to the final but the Board of Directors, their hearts set on winning the Irish Cup, scratched from the competition and took the team to Newcastle (Co Down) for a week of relaxation and preparation. A crowd of over 20,000 packed Grosvenor Park for the final. Despite the Glens making the early running it was Linfield who took the lead through McEwan. Jimmy Lindsay brought us level before the interval and then in the second half Glentoran turned on the style. Paddy McCann’s free-kick was spilled by the Linfield keeper and Willie Lindsay was on hand to make it 2-1. Willie scored again and finally, after 32 seasons of trying Glentoran won the Irish Cup sending East Belfast into wild celebrations.
Willie Lindsay's brace in the Cup Final will forever be remembered as the goals to start Glentoran's romantic history with the Irish Cup. Glentoran have so far gone on to win the competition on 20 other occasions but arguably none are more important than the first. Congratulations Willie, that's enough to earn you a spot as a Glentoran Cup Final Hero.
Irish Cup Winners 1914: Murphy; McCann, Annesley, Ferritt, Scraggs, Emerson, Lyner, J. Lindsay, Napier, Boyd & W. LINDSAY
Stay tuned tomorrow for another Glentoran Cup Final Hero to be unveiled. Remember you can have your say on Glentoran facebook and twitter pages with anyone who you feel is worthy of a mention.