For only the second time in the competition's history, the final was contested by two teams from outside Glasgow: Renton, who had never won the cup before, and three-time winners Vale of Leven,[1] representing neighbouring communities in Dunbartonshire (their home grounds were approximately 1.6 miles (2.6 km) apart).
The Scottish FA had still not learned that playing the Cup final in winter was not conducive to good football, and, after a series of frosts had rendered Hampden Park hard and rutted, the players also had to contend with a "perfect gale".
[3][4] After the match, one of the Vale supporters, James McCulloch, aged about 34, fell into an unprotected boiling water tank at Queen Street Station in Glasgow, and died of his injuries the next day.
After a scoreless first-half, Renton took the lead after about 65 minutes, after some clever passing gave McColl a chance before the posts, aided by a slip from Wilson in the Vale goal.
The players were taken by waggonette to Cordale House, to be congratulated by club patron Alexander Wylie, and "up to a late hour" fireworks, squibs, rockets, fog-signals, and even a gun were let off.