Rangers FC On This Day

Paul Smith

Description

Rangers On This Day recounts, in diary form, major events and magic moments in the history of the Ibrox Park club. With individual entries for each day of the year, and multiple entries for busier times, this book covers their ups and downs, domestic and European cup runs, boardroom battles, and sensational signings.

Sujets

• Histoire

Informations

• Publié par: Pitch Publishing
• Date de parution: 18 décembre 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781909178359
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
INTRODUCTION
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
RANGERS
On This Day
History, Facts & Figures from Every Day of the Year
All statistics, facts and figures are correct as of 31st July 2012
© Paul Smith
Paul Smith has asserted his rights in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
Published By: Pitch Publishing (Brighton) Ltd A2 Yeoman Gate Yeoman Way Durrington BN13 3QZ
Email: [e-mail] Web: www.pitchpublishing.co.uk
First published 2012
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the Publisher.
eISBN 978-1-909178-35-9 (Printed edition: 978-1-9080513-3-2)
Ebook Conversion by www.ebookpartnership.com
To Coral, Finlay, Mia and Zara
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Sometimes the best things come in surprise packages and Rangers On This Day is one of those from an author’s point of view. It was a joy to work on and a voyage of discovery, so my thanks first and foremost must go to Jane and Paul at Pitch Publishing for the opportunity to tackle an intriguing project. Gareth Davis, in editing the manuscript, and Colin MacLeod and Phil Kelly, by proof reading, also made valuable contributions. Last, but far from least, the biggest thanks of all go to Coral, Finlay, Mia and Zara for their incredible love and support.
INTRODUCTION
The recent history of Rangers Football Club has been punctuated by votes, meetings and deadlines.
Whilst each has been important in its own right, the dates that count are not necessarily those that have shaped the modern make-up of a sporting institution but rather those spanning so many pulsating decades.
The championship glory, cup victories, Old Firm triumphs, individual heroics and European memories have all gone down in history to be revered and remembered.
Rangers On This Day recounts all of the major milestones, noting occasions sure to give every loyal supporter goose-bumps. The celebrations, the goals and the reasons to be cheerful as well as offering the chance to pause and reflect on darker days which have impacted upon the Ibrox family.
But the pages that follow are about far more than simply noting the big events. Delve deep into the history of Rangers and you find some incredible quirks and intriguing pieces of trivia that sit side by side with the incredible achievements of the players who have graced the Ibrox turf through the decades.
From the opening of the social club, and its various guises in the years which followed, to the revamp of the subway station and the hoax kidnapping of a Gers favourite – there’s something to stir the memories of fans young and old.
The foundations upon which the club was built are recalled, and the many characters who have had a significant impact on the life and times of Rangers. Dates, in the main, that are to be savoured, to be debated and to be enjoyed.
Paul Smith ( @PaulSmithBooks )
TUESDAY 1st JANUARY 1901
William Wilton and his team rang in the New Year in the best possible fashion as they defeated Celtic at home to put the 1900/01 championship out of reach of their Old Firm rivals. Goals from Finlay Speedie and John McPherson gave them the two points that allowed them to celebrate withthree games still to play.
MONDAY 1st JANUARY 2007
A statement was issued confirming skipper Barry Ferguson had been dropped from the team by manager Paul Le Guen and that Gavin Rae would take over as captain for the following day’s match at Motherwell. The relationship had begun to show cracks when the Frenchman suggested the captain’s role was not as important as many might think. The decision to dump Ferguson proved to be the beginning of the end for le Guen.
SATURDAY 2nd JANUARY 1971
This was the blackest day in the long history of Rangers football club. When 66 supporters died following the collapse of barriers on Stairway 13 at Ibrox, following a 1-1 Old Firm draw in which Colin Stein had scored a dramatic late equaliser, a nation united in grief. The horror of that day resonated far beyond Glasgow, as the full extent of the disaster began to sink in. The Rangers players did what they could to console the injured during hospital visits and the families of the victims, attending every funeral, but the impact of this day would be felt forever by everyone connected withthe club.
TUESDAY 2nd JANUARY 2001
The memorial to the victims of the Ibrox disaster was unveiled outside the ground on this day by club owner David Murray. The bronze statue of John Greig, listing the names of the 66 victims who died in 1971 and the 25 killed in the 1902 tragedy, was the focal point of the 30thanniversary of the tragic events. The unveiling was accompanied by a memorial service attended by around 470 relatives as well as members of the emergency services and club representatives. More than 5,000 also watched the service on big screens within the ground.

MONDAY 3rd JANUARY 1983
Motherwell 3 Rangers 0. It was a significant result in more ways than one as John Greig’s struggling side was picked apart by Jock Wallace’s aggressive outfit at Fir Park, hot on the heels of a New Year’s Day defeat against Celtic. Described as the poorest display of the season to that point, the comprehensive defeat against the struggling Lanarkshire side was another blow to Greig’s hopes of surviving in the position and also gave the Rangers directors a reminder of the fighting qualities Wallace could instil in a team. He may not have been the first choice to replace Greig, but the former Ibrox boss did enough to win a second shot at the top job.
THURSDAY 4th JANUARY 2007
David Murray announced that the club had parted company withboss Paul Le Guen by mutual consent. It left the departing manager withthe dubious honour of being the shortest serving ever to grace Ibrox, lasting just seven months and taking charge of 31 games. Murray, the owner, said it had become clear replacing the manager was in the best interests of the club after a disappointing period under his guidance, punctuated by the rift withcaptain Barry Ferguson and unrest among supporters. The Frenchman went on to rebuild his career withParis Saint Germain before sampling international football withCameroon and then the Oman national team as his globetrotting adventures continued.
THURSDAY 5th JANUARY 2012
This was the controversial date set by the SFA to hear Rangers’ appeal against the red card meted out to Lee McCulloch for allegedly throwing an elbow at St Mirren’s Graham Carey. The appeal itself was run of the mill, but the fact the evidence would not be considered until 5thJanuary was – because it ensured McCulloch was free to face Celtic in the Old Firm game falling before the hearing, avoiding the automatic suspension that should have followed his red card. Manager Ally McCoist was accused of playing the system, but insisted he believed his player was innocent and had every right to appeal. McCulloch eventually lost his appeal and Rangers, withthe veteran in the team, lost the derby 1-0.
SATURDAY 6th JANUARY 1968
Recently appointed manager Davie White launched a broadside at the game’s governing bodies, proving to be ahead of his time withan argument that too much was expected of football players in the 1960s game. White watched his side defeat Falkirk 2-0 on this day, just four days after a 2-2 draw at Celtic, but claimed the demands of the festive programme were likely to cause injury as recovery time was cut short and strength-sapping winter pitches took hold. The Scottish Football League dismissed his call for the New Year programme to be slimmed down from three games to two, withCeltic manager Jock Stein also voicing his disapproval of the idea.
SATURDAY 7th JANUARY 1899
This date was truly magical for the Rangers Football Club – it marked the end of the perfect league season, one never seen before or since. William Wilton’s side of emerging stars played 18 matches in the First Division in the 1898/99 campaign and won every single one of them, blowing the competition clean out of the water in some style. Hearts put up a gallant fight, but still trailed by ten points by the time the term was complete. The final match of that 100 per cent run was away to Glasgow rivals Clyde and it ended 3-0 to the champions thanks to goals from Alex Smith, Miller and Robert Neil’s penalty.
THURSDAY 8th JANUARY 1970
The Scottish Rugby Union held an emergency meeting to discuss a request from Rangers to use the Murrayfield pitch – two hours before the Scotland rugby team took to the field to face France. Ibrox manager Willie Waddell had asked permission to play a friendly against Hearts at 1pm on Saturday 10thJanuary, withthe rugby international scheduled to be played at 3pm. It came as the Rangers boss struggled to keep his side fit as the country was gripped by snow and ice. Murrayfield’s pitch, protected by an electric blanket was seen as an alternative. The SRU were still considering the unusual proposition when Waddell withdrew his request, learning that his side would have the prospect of competitive action against Dundee United at Tannadice instead.
MONDAY 9th JANUARY 1967
Little did the Argentine midwives know in Henderson, Buenos Aires, that the baby boy they welcomed into the world would one day end up in the less sunny climes of Govan. Little Claudio Caniggia went on to be a World Cup winner withhis countr