NEXT MATCH:
TBC.
Rangers F.C. - A Brief History.
In March 1872 four young men by the names of Peter & Moses McNeil, Peter Campbell & William McBeath met at West End Park to form a football team - Rangers were born. In May that year Rangers played their first match against Callander at Glasgow Green with the match ending goalless. Over 150 years on Rangers FC are not only one of the biggest names in British football but also one of the most successful club in the world with 118 major honours - 55 League Championships, 34 Scottish Cups, 27 League Cups & a European Cup Winners Cup - with a number of other trophies also won, including the Scottish Championship, League One, Division Three & the Challenge Cup, meaning Rangers are the only club to win every domestic trophy going.
See below for a few highlights from Rangers 152 year history.
SCOTTISH CUP FINAL
17th March 1877
Vale of Leven beat Ayr Utd 9-0 to face Rangers in the Scottish Cup final, after Rangers recieved a bye due to three teams qualifing for the semi-finals. This final was also significant as the first final to require two replays to determine a winner after two 1-1 draws (other being on 7th April 1877). Vale of Leven would go on to win the Scottish Cup after a 3-2 victory (13th April 1877).
SCOTTISH CUP WINNERS
17th February 1894
Rangers made it third time lucky with a 3-1 win over Celtic to win the Scottish Cup having being second best in the 1877 & 1879 (Rangers refused to play the replay after the referee disallowed a goal in original final) finals. Three second half goals from Hugh McCreadie, John Barker & John McPherson were enough to secure Rangers second cup of the season having already won the Glasgow Cup two months earlier.
CUP HOODOO ENDED
14th April 1928
The league champions went into this match hoping to win the Scottish Cup for the first time since 1903. Rangers dominated the game but it took a second half penalty by Davie Meiklejohn to break the deadlock with Celtic. Further goals from Bob McPhail & a Sandy Archibald double made sure the cup would be back at Ibrox after 25 years.
TREBLE WINNERS
23rd April 1949
Bill Struth's side aimed to make history by becoming the first Scottish team to win the treble. Having already won the League Cup with a 2-0 win over Raith Rovers & winning the league by one point, they would have to overcome Clyde in the Scottish Cup final. A George Young double & goals from Bobby Williamson & Jimmy Duncanson gave Rangers a 4-1 win to secure the treble & to make history.
EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS CUP
24th May 1972
Barcelona was the destination & Dynamo Moscow were the opponents as Willie Waddell's Rangers made it third time lucky in a European final with defeats in the 1961 & 1967 Cup Winners Cup finals. Willie Johnston scored two & Colin Stein got the other as a determined Rangers won 3-2 to bring a European Cup back to Glasgow.
STOPPING THE TEN
29th March 1975
Rangers travelled to second placed Hibs needing a point to win the league for the first time in ten years with Celtic dominance of Scottish football coming to an end. A 1-1 draw, courtesy of a Colin Stein goal, was enough to win the Division One title with four games to spare.
SOUNESS REVOLUTION BEGINS
2nd May 1986
Rangers hadn't won the league since 1978 so Rangers chairman David Holmes decided a fresh approach was needed. In his first full season Graeme Souness rejouvenated the team bringing in England internationals Terry Butcher, Chris Woods & Graham Roberts. The title was won after a 1-1 draw against Aberdeen at Pittodrie meaning they'd be presented with the Scottish Premier Division trophy at Ibrox the following week.
BATTLE OF BRITAIN
4th November 1992
Scottish champions Rangers faced English champions Leeds Utd in a bid to reach the all new UEFA Champions League. Having won 2-1 at Ibrox, Rangers went to Ellend Road as underdogs with many expecting the English giants to overturn the tie. Goals from Mark Hateley & Ally McCoist endured Rangers would go on to win 4-2 on aggregate to become the first British club to reach the group stages.
NINE IN A ROW
7th May 1997
Rangers won their ninth championship in a row with a 1-0 victory over Dundee Utd at Tannadice. A Brian Laudrup goal was enough to give Walter Smith's Rangers the three points equalling Bill Struth's achievements during the 1940s - although the war time league titles aren't officially recognised as major honours due to the suspension of the league due to WWII.
50 LEAGUE TITLES
25th May 2003
Rangers & Celtic were tied at the top of the SPL table with Rangers having a one goal advantage. Alex McLeish lead his team into their last game of the season against Dunfermline knowing thats not only did they have to win but they had to win in style. Rangers won 6-1 but had to wait a nerve-wracking 60 seconds before Celtic's 4-0 win at Kilmarnock ended, confirming Rangers as champions for a world record 50th time.
HELICOPTER SUNDAY
22nd May 2005
Rangers went to Easter Road two points behind leaders Celtic on the last day of the season. Celtic were winning 1-0 at Motherwell, despite Novo giving Rangers the lead, the SPL trophy was heading to Fir Park until Scott McDonald scored two goals in two minutes to give Motherwell a 2-1 win. All Rangers had to do was not to concede a goal as the 'HELICOPTER CHANGED DIRECTION' to Edinburgh with the SPL trophy.
GOING FOR 55
7th March 2021
Rangers were confirmed champions without even kicking a ball. Rangers 3-0 win over St Mirren the previous day followed by Dundee Utd holding Celtic to a 0-0 draw meaning Rangers were champions for the 55th time. It was Rangers first league win since 2011 after being demoted to the Third Division in 2012 meaning this was also a first for a young generation of Rangers fans witnessing a title triumph.
