THE VERY OLD FIRM
Record collector finds historic commentary in £6 auction box
A RECORD collector has unearthed a rare commentary of an Old Firm match from 115 years ago.
Shane Quentin was stunned to discover the record in a box of discs he bought at an auction for just £6.
The 59-year-old, from Carnoustie, Angus, has now sent the record to experts to clean up and produce a top notch copy.
At present, the sound quality is poor and only a few words can be made out.
The International Zonophone Company recording has comic Jock Whiteford getting excited describing a Rangers vs Celtic derby back in 1907, with crowd noises in the background.
It predates any radio coverage from the time which began later in the century.
Shane said: “After listening through, I found it was a comedian describing an Old Firm derby, with crowd noises and all.
“I have also found out from an
American collector that it is from 1907 and not 1904, as I originally thought.
“It’s still incredibly early and this was before radio commentary on matches, it was even before the radio industry was started in 1913.”
There were three Old Firm matches in 1907, with Rangers winning two, including a Glasgow Charity Cup final at Cathkin Park in May, in front of 35,000 spectators.
It is unclear what match the recording relates to or how much it’s worth today.
Shane – who picked up the record at an auction in Fife – is hoping the match details will become clearer once the recording is tidied up.
He added: “I won it for £6 in a box of old 78s and 7in singles.
“I was actually bidding for the singles but do have quite an eclectic collection of 78s too – spoken word, royalty, blues and jazz – so when I went through the old shellac disc, the football one caught my eye.”
It’s still early and this was before radio commentary on matches SHANE QUENTIN ON THE RECORDING HE DISCOVERED