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| honours =
| honours =
| current = Rangers F.C. season 2010–11
| current = Rangers F.C. season 2010–11
| website = http://www.rangers.co.uk/
| website = http://www.scotlandsshame.com
}}
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Revision as of 11:00, 28 September 2010

For other uses, see Rangers F.C. (disambiguation).
Rangers
Full nameRangers Football Club
Nickname(s)The Gers, Teddy Bears, Blues
Founded1873[1]
GroundIbrox Stadium
Capacity51,082[2]
OwnerSir David Murray
ChairmanAlastair Johnston
ManagerWalter Smith
LeagueScottish Premier League
2009–10Scottish Premier League, 1st
Websitehttp://www.scotlandsshame.com
Current season

Rangers Football Club are an association football team based in Glasgow, Scotland, who currently play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears (from the rhyming slang for the same) and the Light Blues,[3] and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses.[4] They are sometimes referred to as Glasgow Rangers, although the word Glasgow is not part of the club's official title.[5] The club is incorporated as The Rangers Football Club plc.[6] The club's home is the all-seated 51,082-capacity Ibrox Stadium in south-west Glasgow.

Rangers have won 53 League Championships, more than any other club in the world. They have won the Scottish League Cup 26 times — more than any other Scottish club — and the Scottish Cup 33 times.[7] In 1961 Rangers reached the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup, becoming the first British club to reach the final of a UEFA club competition. They won the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1972, having been the runners-up in 1961 and 1967, and were runners-up in the 2008 UEFA Cup Final.

The club have traditionally been identified with and favoured by the Protestant and Unionist community of Scotland, as well as the Unionist community in Northern Ireland. For most of their history, Rangers have enjoyed a fierce rivalry with their cross-city opponents Celtic,[8] and the two are collectively known as the Old Firm.

History

Main article: History of Rangers F.C.

Formation and early years

The four founders of Rangers – brothers Moses and Peter McNeil, Peter Campbell and William McBeath – met in 1872 and named their team after an English rugby club upon seeing the name in a book.[9] In May of that year the first match was played, a 0–0 draw in a friendly against Callander F.C. on the public pitches of Glasgow Green. The only other match played that year was another friendly against a team called Clyde (not the present-day Clyde) resulting in an 11–0 victory and featuring the debut of the club's blue strip.[10] The official founding of Rangers is recognised as taking place in 1873, when the club held its first annual meeting and staff were elected. The first season's fixtures were all friendlies, as the deadline for joining the Scottish Football Association had been missed, meaning the team did not take part in the inaugural Scottish Cup.[10] By 1876 Rangers had their first internationalist, with Moses McNeil representing Scotland in a match against Wales, and by 1877 Rangers had reached a Scottish Cup final. The first ever Old Firm match took place in 1888, the year of Celtic's establishment. Rangers lost 5–2 in a friendly to a team composed largely of "guest players" from Hibernian.

The 1890–91 season saw the inception of the Scottish Football League, and Rangers were one of ten original members. By this time Rangers were playing at the first Ibrox Stadium. Rangers' first ever league match took place on 16 August 1890 and resulted in a 5–2 victory over Heart of Midlothian. After finishing equal-top with Dumbarton a play-off was held at Cathkin Park to decide the who would be champions. The match finished 2–2 and the title was shared for the only time in its history, the first of Rangers' world record 53 championships.[10] Rangers' first ever Scottish Cup win came in 1894 after a 3–1 victory over rivals Celtic in the final. By the turn of the century Rangers had won two league titles and three Scottish Cups.

The Struth years

The 1919/20 season heralded the dawn of a new era for Rangers as manager William Wilton and number two William Struth initiated a Rangers dominance that was to last until the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. Though winning this season with 31 wins out of 42 games and scoring 106 goals, it was overshadowed by the subsequent death of manager, William Wilton. Taking over the manager's mantle, William Struth guided Rangers to a further 14 titles before the war. This period was also noteworthy for the attendances. On the 2 January 1939 a British league record was broken as 118,567 fans turned out to watch Rangers beat Celtic in the traditional new year holiday Old Firm match.[11]

1970s

The 1971 Ibrox disaster overshadowed what happened on the pitch to a large extent in the early 1970s. On 2 January 1971, in the final minutes of the New Year's Day Old Firm game with the score set at 0–0, Jimmy Johnstone scored for Celtic. Within seconds Colin Stein had equalised for Rangers. As the 80,000 strong crowd was trying to disperse at full time, many fell down the stairway at the Copland Road end of the ground. Their momentum led to large scale crushing and 66 people died. It was initially thought the crush was caused by Rangers fans rushing back up the stairwell after the equaliser;[12] however, a later enquiry said that the crush was likely to have happened ten minutes after the final whistle and to have been triggered by someone falling on the stairs.[12] A benefit match to raise funds for the victims' families took place after the disaster. A joint Rangers and Celtic team took on a Scotland XI at Hampden watched by 81,405 fans.[citation needed]

In 1972, Rangers defeated FC Dynamo Moscow to win the Cup Winner's Cup, their first and only European trophy to date. Captain John Greig received the trophy in a small room within the Nou Camp due to a pitch invasion by Rangers fans.[13]

Nine in a Row

Every year from 1988–89 season until the 1996–97 season, Rangers won the league title. This 9 in a row achievement meant that they equalled Celtic's record. The first three of these seasons the club was managed by Graeme Souness, the later six under the stewardship of Walter Smith.

Dick Advocaat

In 1998 Advocaat accepted the invitation from Rangers chairman David Murray to become the clubs new manager. When Advocaat took charge of Rangers he became the first foreign manager to do so[14] and only the tenth manager in the history of the club.

The previous season was the last of seven under Walter Smith,[14] and the first time the club had finished without a trophy in twelve years.[15] Long term members of the squad that had won nine league championships in a row left,[14] including Ally McCoist, Ian Durrant, Andy Goram and Stuart McCall.[15] With the financial backing from Chairman David Murray Advocaat invested heavily in the team.[14] Big money signings such as Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Arthur Numan and Andrei Kanchelskis were among Advocaats first as Rangers tried to regain the league championship in Scotland.[14]

In Advocaat's first season in charge the club won the domestic treble (League, League Cup and Scottish Cup).[14] The League was won at Celtic Park on 2 May 1999 after two goals from Neil McCann and a penalty from Jorg Albertz.[16] The club also had a short run in the Uefa Cup.[14] The following season the club won the league by an SPL record 21 point margin,[17] and also won the Scottish Cup. Advocaat also guided Rangers into the Champions League having beaten the UEFA Cup winners Parma in the 3rd round qualifier. Rangers went out of the group stage after being drawn alongside Bayern Munich, PSV Eindhoven and Valencia. The club then lost to Borussia Dortmund in a penalty shoot out in the UEFA cup.[18]

Advocaats third season at Rangers was less successful. Despite investment in the team with players such as Tore Andre Flo for a record £12 million,[19] Rangers failed to win any trophies, as Celtic under new manager Martin O’Neill, won the domestic treble.[14] In Europe Rangers qualified for the Champions league for the second consecutive season after two qualifying rounds. They were drawn alongside Sturm Graz, Galatasaray and Monaco. After good results against Sturm Graz[20] and Monaco,[21] the club failed to qualify for the next phase of the competition, finishing third behind Galatasaray on goal difference. Rangers then lost 3-0 to Kaiserslautern of Germany in the Uefa cup.[22]

In his last season at Rangers Dick guided Gers to the last 16 of the UEFA Cup in the 2001/02 season, but with Celtic leading the league championship by 12 points, Advocaat resigned from the manager's position on 12 December 2001.[23] Alex McLeish was appointed as his successor with Advocaat moving to the position of General Manager. Advocaat eventually left Rangers for the Netherlands national team.

In his first season in charge Advocaat was instrumental in the formation of the current Rangers training facility Murray Park.

Alex McLeish

McLeish had become Rangers boss on 11 December 2001 and initially worked in association with Dick Advocaat who became Director of Football.[24] McLeish seemed to encourage performances out of a squad that had under-achieved under Advocaat. McLeish was an instant success at Rangers, winning both the Scottish Cup[25] and Scottish League Cup[26] in his first season, but the big prize of the league title was essentially lost before his arrival. Alex McLeish became the sixth Rangers manager to deliver a Treble when he swept the boards in season 2002/03 - his first full season in charge.[27] The League was won on goal difference in a dramatic final day shoot out, which delivered Rangers 50th title.

Rangers' worsening financial state saw many of the teams top players leave in the summer of 2003. Celtic won the league comfortably in season 2003–04, and Rangers failed to win any trophies.[28]

The high profile Bosman signings of Jean-Alain Boumsong and Dado Pršo in the close season of 2004–05 gave Rangers renewed hope of regaining the title from Celtic's grasp.[29] McLeish's team won the 2005 league title on a dramatic last day, an outcome that had looked highly unlikely after Rangers fell five points behind leaders Celtic with just four games remaining.[30] Celtic losing to Motherwell at Fir Park, coupled with Rangers' win at Easter Road meant that the helicopter changed direction and delivered the SPL trophy to Rangers at the Leith ground.

After this success, McLeish and his Rangers team headed into the 2005–06 SPL campaign as favourites to retain the championship. McLeish made a number of signings, including Julien Rodriguez and Ian Murray, despite having little money to spend. After a reasonable start to the season, including a win over Celtic,[31] Rangers suffered a series of poor results between September and November. This period included a club record of 10 games without a win. However the tenth match of this run, a 1–1 draw with Inter Milan in the Champions League, took Rangers into the last 16 of the Champions League.[32] The club were defeated on the away goals rule by Villarreal.[33] but in reaching this stage of the competition had become the first Scottish team to progress this far in the European Cup since 1993, and the first Scottish team to progress through a European group stage.[32]

On 9 February 2006, it was announced by chairman David Murray that McLeish would be standing down as manager at the end of that season.[34] It was later announced that he would be succeeded by former Olympique Lyonnais manager Paul Le Guen.

Paul Le Guen

Card display at Ibrox to welcome Paul Le Guen

Paul Le Guen replaced Alex McLeish as manager after season 2005–06.

The season started poorly for Rangers, with a number of losses and draws against teams lower in the league, as well as their being knocked out of the League Cup by Division One side St. Johnstone. Rivals Celtic built a lead at the top of the table, while Rangers fought for second place alongside Hearts and Aberdeen. The first Old Firm match of the season resulted in a 2–0 defeat; the second – at Ibrox – was a 1–1 draw.

In the UEFA Cup Rangers became the first Scottish side to qualify for the last 32 of the competition in its current format.

There had been rumours during the season of disharmony at Rangers, between Scottish and foreign units, with players including captain Barry Ferguson disapproving of Le Guen's strict disciplinarian stance.[35] It was announced on 4 January 2007 that Le Guen had left Rangers by mutual consent.[36]

Walter Smith's return

On 10 January 2007, it was announced that former manager Walter Smith was the new manager of Rangers, with Ally McCoist as assistant manager and Kenny McDowall as first-team coach.[37]

The following season Rangers embarked on a UEFA Cup adventure after dropping into the competition from the Champions League. The club progressed to the final, defeating Panathinaikos, Werder Bremen, Sporting Lisbon and Fiorentina along the way. The final was against Zenit St. Petersburg who were managed by former Rangers manager Dick Advocaat. They lost the match 2–0, amid serious disturbances caused by some supporters. Video evidence was released by the Greater Manchester Police of Rangers fans attacking officers and officers attacking the fans with batons and dogs, in Manchester city centre following the defeat.[38]

The 2008–09 season saw Rangers make a below-par start to their UEFA Champions League campaign, losing out in the knock-out stage to FC Kaunas of Lithuania. The financial consequences of the failures to qualify for the Champions League were revealed when the club posted a loss of £3.9m for the six months to December 2008, and in March decided to offer staff the option of voluntary redundancy as a way of cutting costs.[39] Despite a tight title race, on the final day of the league, Rangers managed to claim their 52nd league title.[40] With their title success, Rangers gained automatic entry into the following season's Champions League group stage. Rangers won the Scottish Cup for the 33rd time after defeating Falkirk 1–0 in the final, clinching a double in the process.[41]

At the beginning of the 2009–10 season Rangers had to reduce their squad size by several players due to costs while not being able to sign anyone. After a disappointing European campaign where they only picked up two points they made a £13 million profit at the turn of the year.[42] Rangers reached their fifth consecutive domestic cup final where they played St. Mirren in the Scottish League Cup. After having two players sent off in the second half Rangers won the final 1–0 through a goal by Kenny Miller.[43]

On 25 April 2010, Rangers retained their league title with three matches remaining by defeating Hibernian 1–0 with a Kyle Lafferty goal. This was their 53rd Scottish League title. With this success, they again sealed their automatic entry into the 2010–11 Champions League.[44]

During the close season Walter Smith announced the upcoming new season would be his last as Manager of Rangers and that the intention was to replace him with Ally McCoist and assistant Kenny McDowall. Smith stated: "I am wholly committed to managing the club next season and when it comes to the end of next season I firmly believe that Ally and Kenny would do a great job and I am glad everybody at the club shares that view."[45]

On August 13th Rangers signed former England striker James Beattie on a two-year contract with the option of a further 12 months from Stoke for an undisclosed fee becoming the Scottish champions' first signing in two years.[46] Slovakia international forward Vladimir Weiss subsequently followed on a year-long loan from Manchester City[47] with Croatian international, 24-year-old striker, Nikica Jelavic signing from Rapid Vienna for £4million after protracted negotiations.[48] Rangers were drawn against Bursaspor, Valencia C.F. and Manchester United in the group stages of the 2010–2011 Champions League.[49]

Colours and crest

Colours and kit

The light blue hoops, worn 1879–1883

The club colours of Rangers F.C. are royal blue, white and red. However, for the majortiy of the first forty-eight years of Rangers existence the club played in a plain light blue home shirt. The only deviation from this was a four season period from 1879 when the side wore a light blue hooped shirt.[50]

The team's home strip invariably features a royal blue shirt (often with white and/or red trim). Traditionally this is accompanied by white shorts (often with royal blue and/or red trim) and black socks with red turn-downs.[51] Black socks were first included in 1883 for five seasons before disappearing for eight years but became a permanent fixture from 1896 onwards. When the red turn-downs were added to the socks in 1904, the strip began to look more like the modern day Rangers home kit. Occasionally the home kit will be altered by the shorts and socks, sometimes replacing the black socks with white ones; or replacing the white shorts and black socks combination with royal blue shorts and socks.

The basic design of Rangers away strips has changed far more than the traditional home strip. White and red have been the most common colours for Rangers alternate strips, though dark and light blue have also featured highly.[52]

In recent years, Rangers have also introduced a third kit.[53] This is usually worn if both the home and away kits clash with their opponents. The colours used in the third kits have included combinations of light blue, red, orange and purple.

Crest

File:Glasgow-Rangers-badge.png
Scroll crest worn from 1990–1994

Rangers currently have two different club crests. The scroll crest is worn on Rangers kits and has been used since the clubs formation. The circular crest was the official club crest and is used on merchandise and by the media.

Sponsors and manufacturers

Tennent's are currently the main shirt sponsors of Rangers, and as part of the sponsorship deal, their logo is displayed on the front of the club's shirts and a number of other merchandise. The club has only ever had four main shirt sponsors. The first shirt sponsor was Scottish double glazing firm CR Smith. In 1984, Rangers signed a three-year deal with CR Smith, who also had a similar deal with Celtic. At the end of the contract both Old Firm clubs were offered terms by brewers Scottish & Newcastle to become their new sponsor. The deal would have seen Rangers bear the McEwan's Lager and Celtic sport the Harp Lager logo on their shirts. The latter club rejected the deal but Rangers accepted and in 1987 began what would become a twelve-year association with the drinks company.[54] The club wore the McEwan's Lager logo on the front its shirts for all but two matches during the Nine in a row era. When Rangers played French sides AJ Auxerre and RC Strasbourg in the 1996–97 UEFA Champions League and the 1996–97 UEFA Cup respectively, due to a French ban on alcohol advertising the team wore the logo of Center Parcs.[55] In 1999, both Old Firm clubs signed a joint sponsorship deal with telecommunications company NTL.[56] The four-year deal was worth £13 million but ended in the summer of 2003.[57]

Rangers then signed a contract with Carling. The deal was the second joint Old Firm sponsorship agreement.[58][59] It was announced on 3 January 2003 and began at the start of the 2003–04 season, initially for three-years and worth a total of £12 million pounds. On 21 July 2005 the contract was extended. The new deal was five-years in length and worth a basic £18 million but with substantial bonuses should either club meet performance targets.[60] As Rangers and Celtic both reached the last 16 of the Champions League during this period, plus the Ibrox club's 2008 UEFA Cup Final appearance, the deal proved to be lucrative.[61] On 3 February 2010, Rangers and Celtic announced a three-year contract with Tennent's brewery. The deal is worth around £1.5 million per season to each club.[62]

Similarly, the club has only had five independent kit manufacturers, the first being English sportswear company Umbro, which became the first company to place their logo on a Rangers shirt in 1978. Admiral took over in 1990, but only manufactured one strip. German company Adidas followed in 1992 then American company Nike in 1997 and Italian manufacturer Diadora in 2002, before Umbro began a second spell as the club's kit manufacturers in 2005.[63] Umbro's sponsorship is due to expire at the end of the 2010–11 season.

Year Kit manufacturer[64] Shirt Sponsor
1978–1984 Umbro None
1984–1987 CR Smith
1987–1990 McEwan's Lager
1990–1992 Admiral
1992–1997 Adidas
1997–1999 Nike
1999–2002 NTL
2002–2003 Diadora
2003–2005 Carling
2005–2010 Umbro
2010–2013 Tennent's

Old Firm and sectarianism

Rangers' fans demonstrating their support by waving a Union Flag.
See also: Sectarianism in Glasgow

The club's most distinct rivalry is with Celtic F.C, the other major football club based in Glasgow; the two clubs are collectively known as the Old Firm. Rangers' traditional support has largely come from the Protestant Unionist community. During the late 19th century, many immigrants came to Glasgow from Ireland. This was around the same time that both Old Firm clubs were founded (Rangers in 1873 and Celtic in 1888). Rangers came to be identified with the Scottish Protestant community.

The Old Firm rivalry as it is today began in 1909, twenty-one years after Celtic was founded.[65] The first match was won by Celtic and there have been nearly four hundred matches played to date. The rivalry between the two clubs is so great that only five post-war players have moved between clubs.[citation needed] In 1980, fans fought an on-pitch battle in the aftermath of Celtic's 1–0 victory in the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden. This remains the worst invasion onto a football pitch ever reported.[66] The Old Firm rivalry has fueled many assaults and many deaths on Old Firm Derby days; an activist group that monitors sectarian activity in Glasgow has reported that on Old Firm weekends, admissions to hospital emergency rooms have increased ninefold over normal levels, and journalist Franklin Foer noted that in the period from 1996 to 2003, eight deaths in Glasgow were directly linked to Old Firm matches, and hundreds of assaults.[67]

Until Graeme Souness signed former Celtic player Mo Johnston, in 1989, Rangers were said by him to have had an "unwritten policy"[68] of not signing any player who was Catholic.[69][70] Although Johnston was not the first Catholic to sign for the club,[71] he was the first openly Catholic, high-profile player to sign for them since World War I.[72]

In 1999, Rangers' vice-chairman Donald Findlay was forced to resign after he was filmed singing sectarian songs[73] (The Billy Boys) at an event organised by a Rangers Supporters Club. In his resignation letter, Findlay described the incident as "a serious misjudgment". He said his conduct "was not acceptable" and he regretted any harm done to the club's reputation.[73]

In 2002 the club dropped their controversial orange away strip after a "furious debate over whether Rangers were profiting from their sectarian overtones," though the club said their decision was "a commercial decision, not based on politics. We change the shirt every season with new designs to try to make it new and fresh."[74] Anti-sectarianism campaigners and politicians had criticised the club's decision to market an orange shirt, as the colour is associated with the Orange Institution.[74][75][76][77]

In 2006 UEFA declared the Rangers fans not guilty of alleged discriminatory chants after a UEFA Champions League tie against Villareal.[78] UEFA challenged the ruling, and their Appeals Body partially upheld it, fining the Ibrox club £13,500 and warning them as to their responsibility for any future misconduct.[79]

Rangers were fined again (12,000 euros) in 2007 after some Rangers fans were filmed making sectarian chants at a UEFA Cup match against Osasuna.[80][81]

In August 2007, supporters of Rangers FC were reported to the SPL after it was noted by Rangers stewards that sections of the support had engaged in sectarian chanting at an away fixture against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

In 2008, Rangers fans' singing of the Famine song, containing the lyrics "The famine's over now / Why don't you go home", caused controversy. The football club urged fans to stop singing the song, and warned they could be arrested for it.[82] Rangers' chief executive Martin Bain also warned fans they could be arrested for singing the song, but would not condemn the chanting.[83][84][85] He also said "Clearly some supporters feel aggrieved that a song they believe to be no more than a tit-for-tat 'wind up' of Celtic supporters should be singled out in this way and merit the attention of police, governments and anti-racist organisations".[86] The song was condemned as racist by anti-racism group Show Racism the Red Card[87] and described as "vile, vicious and racist" by Celtic chairman John Reid[88] and complaints prompted Irish diplomats to contact the Scottish government.[89] The Rangers Supporters Trust (RST), however rejected claims that the song was racist, saying : "Racism is not a wind-up, however distasteful, aimed at Scottish Celtic fans".[90]

In November 2008, a Rangers fan was found guilty of a breach of the peace (aggravated by religious and racial prejudice) by singing the Famine Song during a game against Kilmarnock.[91] In February 2009, sectarian chanting by some Rangers fans during an Old Firm match at Celtic Park was reported to the SPL by the match delegate, again relating to the chanting of the Famine Song.[92][93]

Both the club and its fans are disparagingly nicknamed Huns by some fans of other teams.[94][95][96][97][98][99][100] The Rangers Supporters Trust, in their statement defending singing of the Famine Song, described the nickname as "sectarian abuse".[90] The anti-sectarian charity Nil By Mouth also considers "Huns" to be a sectarian insult.[101] In 2008, a Celtic fan was convicted of a religiously aggravated breach of the peace for wearing a t-shirt with the slogan "dirty horrible huns".[102]

Rangers' efforts to eliminate sectarianism

In recent times, both Rangers and Celtic have taken measures to combat sectarianism. Working alongside the Scottish Parliament, church groups, pressure groups such as Nil by Mouth, schools and community organisations, the Old Firm have endeavoured to clamp down on sectarian songs, inflammatory flag-waving, and troublesome supporters, using increased levels of policing and surveillance.[103]

In August 2003 Rangers launched its 'Pride Over Prejudice' campaign to promote social inclusion, which has urged fans to wear only traditional Rangers colours and avoid offensive songs, banners and salutes. This involved publishing the 'Blue Guide', known as the "Wee Blue Book", which contained a list of acceptable songs and was issued to 50,000 supporters in August 2007.

In 2005, Rangers Football in the Community partnered with Celtic to form the 'Old Firm Alliance', an initiative aimed at educating children from across Glasgow about issues like healthy eating and fitness, as well as awareness of anti-social behaviour, sectarianism and racism.

The club's 'Follow With Pride' campaign was launched in 2007 to improve the club's image and build on previous anti-racist, anti-sectarian campaigns.[104][105][106] The club, through the Rangers Study Centre, is also involved in the "Ready To Learn" project, along with Glasgow City Council.[citation needed]

In 2006 William Gallard, UEFA's Director Of Communications, commended the SFA and Scottish clubs, including Rangers, for their actions in fighting discrimination.[107] In September 2007, UEFA praised Rangers for the measures the club had taken against sectarianism.[108]

Rivalry with Aberdeen

Many Rangers fans also see Aberdeen as a bitter rival. The Rangers-Aberdeen rivalry began in the late 1970s when the two clubs were among the strongest in Scotland. This competitive rivalry soon intensived through a series of incidents over the years. Relations between fans were soured during a league match on 8 October 1988 at Pittodrie Stadium, when Aberdeen player Neil Simpson's tackle on Rangers' Ian Durrant resulted in the latter being injured for two years.[109] Resentment continued and in 1998 an article in Rangers pre-match programme branded Aberdeen fans "scum". Rangers made it clear in a statement that they had "issued a full and unreserved apology" to Aberdeen chairman Stewart Milne, the club and its supporters - and this was accepted by Aberdeen. In another incident then club captain Richard Gough accused Aberdeen of only playing when it was against Rangers.[110] This further increased the hostility between supporters of both clubs, which continues to this day.[111]

Stadium and training facility

Main articles: Ibrox Stadium and Murray Park
The facade of the Bill Struth Main Stand

The club used a variety of grounds in Glasgow as a venue for home matches in the years between 1872 and 1899. The first was Flesher's Haugh, situated on Glasgow Green, followed by Burnbank in the Kelvinbridge area of the city, and then Kinning Park for ten years from the mid-1870s to the mid-1880s. From February of the 1886–87 season, Cathkin Park was used until the first Ibrox Park, in the Ibrox area of south-west Glasgow, was inaugurated for the following season. Ibrox Stadium in its current incarnation was originally designed by the architect Archibald Leitch, a Rangers fan[112] who also played a part in the design of, among others, Old Trafford in Manchester and Highbury in London. The stadium was inaugurated on 30 December 1899, and Rangers defeated Hearts 3–1 in the first match held there.

Since 1899, two major disasters have taken place at the stadium. The first occurred in 1902 during a Scotland vs England international match, when a section of terracing collapsed, leading to the deaths of 26 people and over 500 injuries. The second disaster took place in 1971, during the traditional New Year's Day Old Firm match. As the crowd were leaving the match, barriers on the stairway to the rear of passageway 13 at the Copland End collapsed, causing a crush and resulting in the deaths of 66 people, with over 200 injuries. This led to a major redevelopment of Ibrox, overseen by the general manager Willie Waddell, including its conversion to an all-seater stadium. Ibrox was awarded UEFA five-star stadium status, now obsolete.[113]

Rangers' under-19 team warming up at Murray Park before a game

The stands in Ibrox are: The Bill Struth Main Stand (south; three tiers; the top one known as the Club Deck), Govan Stand (north; two tiers), and the Copland (east) and Broomloan (west) Stands (both two tiers), which are behind the goals. In addition to these, there are also the East and West Enclosures (in the lower tier of the Main Stand), and the two corners adjacent to the Govan Stand are filled in. As a result of work completed in the summer of 2006 to make the Bar 72 area situated in the Govan Stand, the total capacity of Ibrox is 51,082.[2] On 22 August 2006, Rangers announced that the Main Stand would be renamed The Bill Struth Main Stand in September 2006 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of their former manager, who served Rangers for 34 years.[114] There are currently plans underway for a redevelopment of Ibrox stadium which could result in Ibrox being rebuilt as a 70,000 seated stadium – which would make it the second largest club football stadium in Britain after Old Trafford. The official Rangers Website was quoted as saying: "We are analysing three strategies which would enhance the development of the existing outline planning proposals for the Hinshelwood area to the south of the stadium. One of the strategies includes the total rebuilding of Ibrox Stadium while retaining the brick facade, the tradition and the integrity of the Bill Struth Main Stand".[115]

Rangers training facility is located in Auchenhowie, near Milngavie in Glasgow. The facility is known as Murray Park after chairman Sir David Murray. It was proposed by then-manager Dick Advocaat upon his arrival at the club in 1998. It was completed in 2001 at a cost of £14 million. Murray Park is the first purpose-built facility of its kind in Scotland, and incorporates features including nine football pitches, a state of the art gym, a hydrotherapy pool, and a video-editing suite. Rangers' youth teams are also accommodated at Murray Park, with around 140 players between under-10 and under-19 age groups using the training centre.[116] Various first-team players have come through the ranks at Murray Park, including Alan Hutton, Chris Burke, Stevie Smith, John Fleck and Charlie Adam. International club teams playing in Scotland, as well as national sides, have previously used Murray Park for training, and Advocaat's South Korea team used it for training prior to the 2006 World Cup.

Players

Current squads

As of 20 August 2010[117]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Scotland SCO Allan McGregor
3 DF Scotland SCO David Weir (captain)
4 DF Scotland SCO Kirk Broadfoot
5 DF Bosnia and Herzegovina BIH Saša Papac
6 MF Scotland SCO Lee McCulloch
7 MF United States USA Maurice Edu
8 MF Northern Ireland NIR Steven Davis
9 FW Scotland SCO Kenny Miller
10 MF Scotland SCO John Fleck
11 FW Northern Ireland NIR Kyle Lafferty
12 DF Scotland SCO Ricky Foster (on loan from Aberdeen)
14 FW Scotland SCO Steven Naismith
16 DF Scotland SCO Steven Whittaker
18 FW Croatia CRO Nikica Jelavić
19 FW England ENG James Beattie
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 MF Slovakia SVK Vladimír Weiss (on loan from Manchester City)
22 DF Scotland SCO Andy Webster
23 DF Scotland SCO Jordan McMillan
24 DF Algeria ALG Madjid Bougherra
25 GK Scotland SCO Neil Alexander
29 FW Northern Ireland NIR Andrew Little
31 GK Scotland SCO Grant Adam
32 MF Norway NOR Thomas Kind Bendiksen
34 FW Scotland SCO Rory Loy
36 DF Scotland SCO Ross Perry
37 MF Scotland SCO Andrew Shinnie
38 MF Scotland SCO Stephen Stirling
39 DF Scotland SCO Gregg Wylde
40 MF Scotland SCO Jamie Ness
41 MF Scotland SCO Kyle Hutton

Players out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
17 FW Lithuania LTU Andrius Velička (on loan at Aberdeen)
No. Pos. Nation Player
30 GK Scotland SCO Scott Gallacher (on loan at Forfar Athletic)

Reserve and Youth squad

For Rangers' reserve and youth squads, see Rangers F.C. Reserve and Youth squads.

2010–11 transfers

For a list of Rangers' 2010–11 transfers, see Rangers F.C. season 2010–11 § Transfers.

Notable players

Main article: List of Rangers F.C. players

International Players

For a list of Rangers' past and present international players, see List of Rangers F.C. international footballers.

Team managers

Main article: List of Rangers F.C. managers

Non-playing staff

Board

Position[118] Name
Chairman Alastair Johnston
Chief Executive Martin Bain
Finance Director Donald McIntyre
Non-Executive Director John Greig
Non-Executive Director John McClelland
Non-Executive Director Dave King
Non-Executive Director Mike McGill
Non-Executive Director Donald Muir
Non-Executive Director Paul Murray

Management

Position[119] Name
Manager Walter Smith
Assistant Manager Ally McCoist
First Team Coach Kenny McDowall
Coach Ian Durrant
Goalkeeping Coach Jim Stewart
Head of Football Administration Andrew Dickson
Head of Sports Science Adam Owen
Chief Scout Vacant
Club Doctor Paul Jackson
Physiotherapist Pip Yeates

Records

Main article: Rangers F.C. records

Club

Record home attendance

118,567 vs Celtic, January 1939

Record victory

13–0 vs Possilpark, Scottish Cup, 6 October 1877

Record league victory

10–0 vs Hibernian, 24 December 1898

Record defeat

2–10 vs Airdrieonians, 6 February 1886

Record league defeat

0–6 vs Dumbarton, 4 May 1892

Record appearances

John Greig, 755, 1960–1978

Record league appearances

Sandy Archibald, 513, 1917–1934

Record Scottish Cup appearances

Alec Smith, 74

Record Scottish League Cup appearances

John Greig, 121

Record European competition appearances

Barry Ferguson, 82

Record goalscorer

Ally McCoist, 355 goals, 1983–1998

Most goals in one season

Jim Forrest, 57 goals, 1964–65

Most league goals in one season

Sam English, 44 goals, 1931–32

Most league goals

Ally McCoist, 251 goals

Most Scottish Cup goals

Jimmy Fleming, 44 goals

Most League Cup goals

Ally McCoist, 54 goals

Most European goals

Ally McCoist, 21 goals

Shutout record

Chris Woods, 1196 minutes, 1986–87 (British record)[120]

Most capped player

Frank de Boer, 112 caps for The Netherlands

Highest transfer fee received

Alan Hutton, £9m, Tottenham Hotspur, 2008[121]

Highest transfer fee paid

Tore André Flo, £12m, Chelsea, 2000[122]

Individual

All players are from Scotland unless otherwise stated.

Top goalscorers
# Name Career Apps Goals Average
1 Ally McCoist 1983–1998 581 355 0.61
2 Bob McPhail 1927–1940 408 261 0.64
3 Jimmy Smith 1930–1946 259 249 0.96
4 Jimmy Fleming 1925–1934 268 223 0.83
5 Derek Johnstone 1970–1982
1985–1986 		546 210 0.38
6 Ralph Brand 1954–1965 317 206 0.65
7 Willie Reid 1909–1920 230 195 0.84
8 Willie Thornton 1936–1954 308 194 0.63
9 RC Hamilton 1897–1908 209 184 0.88
10 Andy Cunningham 1914–1929 389 182 0.47


Most appearances
# Name Career Apps Goals
1 John Greig 1961–1978 755 120
2 Sandy Jardine 1964–1982 674 77
3 Ally McCoist 1983–1998 581 355
4 Sandy Archibald 1917–1934 580 148
5 Davie Meiklejohn 1919–1936 563 46
6 Dougie Gray 1925–1947 555 2
7 Derek Johnstone 1970–1982
1985–1986 		546 210
8 Davie Cooper 1977–1989 540 75
9 Peter McCloy 1970–1986 535 0
10 Ian McColl 1945–1960 526 14

Managerial

Name League Scottish Cup League Cup Europe Total
Scotland William Wilton 8 1 0 0 9
Scotland Bill Struth 18 10 2 0 30
Scotland Scot Symon 6 5 4 0 15
Scotland David White 0 0 0 0 0
Scotland William Waddell 0 0 1 1 2
Scotland Jock Wallace 3 3 4 0 10
Scotland John Greig 0 2 2 0 4
Scotland Graeme Souness 3 0 4 0 7
Scotland Walter Smith 6 3 3 0 12
Netherlands Dick Advocaat 2 2 1 0 5
Scotland Alex McLeish 2 2 3 0 7
France Paul Le Guen 0 0 0 0 0
Scotland Walter Smith 2 2 2 0 6

Honours

Main article: List of Rangers F.C. statistics and records § Honours

League

Scottish League championships (53)
1891, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1911[123], 1912, 1913, 1918, 1920, 1921, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010

Cups

Cup Winners' Cup winners (1)
1972
Scottish Cup winners (33)
1894, 1897, 1898, 1903, 1928, 1930, 1932, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1953, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009
League Cup winners (26)
1947, 1949, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2010

Europe

Main article: Rangers F.C. in Europe

Superleague Formula

Main article: Rangers F.C. (Superleague Formula team)
The Rangers F.C. showcar is displayed outside for the fans at Donington Park, 2008

Rangers Football Club has a team in the Superleague Formula race car series. The Rangers F.C. team has been operated by Alan Docking Racing. In 2008 Ryan Dalziel drove for Rangers F.C. in the teams maiden sason. James Walker also drove for the team in one round of the 2008 season and posted their best result, a fourth place finish.

For the 2009 season, the team were much more successful with Australian driver John Martin posting 3 podium places including one win at Donington Park.

The Rangers team did not compete in the 2010 Superleague Formula season as it was not named in the provisional entry list, which included which race teams might operate each car.[124]

References

  1. ^ The club was formed in 1872 but was not officially founded until a year later
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  3. ^ "Are You Ready?" (PDF). Rangers Soccer Schools. Rangers FC. 2005.
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  5. ^ "Glasgow Green". Glasgow City Council. 11 March 2009. Archived from the original on 18 March 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
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  7. ^ "Total Number of Championships". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 23 November 2006.
  8. ^ "A rivalry tied up in religion". BBC News. 26 August 2006.
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  14. ^ a b c d e f g h "Advocaat's Rangers legacy". BBC. May 13, 2008. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
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  17. ^ "When Rangers can win the league". The Scotsman. March 29, 2010. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
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  33. ^ "Villarreal 1–1 Rangers (agg 3–3)". BBC Sport. 7 March 2006. Retrieved 16 October 2007.
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  40. ^ Forsyth, Roddy (24 May, 2009). "Rejuvenated Rangers take SPL title in style with victory at Dundee United". London: The Telegraph. Retrieved 20 August 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  41. ^ Forsyth, Roddy (30 May, 2009). "Rangers 1 Falkirk 0: Match report". London: The Telegraph. Retrieved 20 August 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  42. ^ "Rangers reveal big jump in profits". The BBC. 17 February, 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  43. ^ Murray, Ewan (21 March, 2010). "Kenny Miller sees nine-man Rangers through to victory". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 20 August 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  44. ^ Campbell, Andy (25 April 2010). "Hibernian 0 – 1 Rangers". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  45. ^ "I'm staying! Walter Smith agrees to one more year at Rangers... but then it's over to Ally McCoist". London: The Daily Mail. 26 May, 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  46. ^ "Rangers sign striker James Beattie from Stoke". The BBC. 13 August, 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  47. ^ "Man City's Weiss joins Gers as Jelavic deal nears end". BBC Sport. 19 August 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2010.
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  50. ^ "Rangers Kit". Rangers FC. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
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  55. ^ "An alternative to alcohol" True Colours, 3 July 2009
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  57. ^ "Yorkston counters TV claims" BBC Sport, 8 July 2002
  58. ^ "Old Firm sign new sponsorship deal". London: The Guardian. 3 January 2003. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
  59. ^ "Old firm reveal sponsors". London: Telegraph. 3 January 2003. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
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  61. ^ "The last drop! Sponsors Carling ready to pull plug on Old Firm deal". London: Daily Mail. 28 January 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
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  63. ^ "Umbro nets Rangers sponsorship deal". This is Money. 3 March 2005. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
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  65. ^ "The Rangers-Celtic Old Firm". Rangers FC. 2007. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
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  67. ^ Foer, pp. 36–37
  68. ^ "For years Rangers have been pilloried for what the majority of people saw as discrimination against one section of the population. Now we have shown that this unwritten policy at Ibrox is over. It's finished. Done with." (Graeme Souness: A Manager's Diary, Mainstream, 1989); p17
  69. ^ "Graeme souness prayed I would be the first Catholic to join Rangers". Daily Record. 3 September 2005.
  70. ^ Darryl Broadfoot Rangers try to avert title ‘nightmare’, The Herald, 27 July 2007
  71. ^ Catholics who signed for Rangers before Johnston include, before the end of World War I: Pat Lafferty (1886), Tom Dunbar (1891–1892), J Tutty (1899–1900), Archie Kyle (1904–1908), Willie Kivlichan (1906–1907), Colin Mainds (1906–1907), Tom Murray (1907–1908), William Brown (1912), Joe Donnachie (circa.1914–1918) and John Jackson (1917). Thereafter, Catholic players prior to Mo Johnston's signing include: Laurie Blyth (1951–1952), Don Kitchenbrand (1955–1956), Hugh O'Neill (1976), John Spencer (1985–1992) (Bill Murray, The Old Firm – Sectarianism, Sport and Society in Scotland (John Donald Publishers, 1984) pp 64–5
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  105. ^ In the past there has been racism directed to players on the pitch at Rangers games, from both home and opposition fans. Some Rangers fans racially abused former Celtic player Bobo Balde,and former Rangers player Mark Walters was racially abused by some Celtic, Hearts and Rangers fans.
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  119. ^ This record was arguably beaten by Manchester United's Edwin van der Sar after 75 minutes of their game against West Bromwich Albion on 27 January 2009. However Van der Sar conceded three goals against Gamba Osaka, in the 2008 Club World Cup in Yokohama, Japan, on 18 December 2008. Unless this competition is discounted, Woods' record stands, since Van der Sar next conceded on 4 March, in a Premier League game at Newcastle United, to Peter Løvenkrands, ending his record at either 1088 or 1490 minutes. Additionally, United had played other games in which goals had been conceded, but where Van der Sar did not play.
  120. ^ "'Selfish' McGeady jibes are off the mark". The Herald. August 15, 2010. Retrieved September 9, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  121. ^ "Rangers sign £12m Flo". The Independent. November 23, 2000. Retrieved September 9, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  122. ^ Shared with Dumbarton F.C. after both clubs ended the season on 29 points. A play-off game at Cathkin Park on 21 May 1891 and finished 2–2, so the clubs were declared joint champions
  123. ^ "Superleague Formula by Sonangol selects nine racing teams for 2010". Superleague Formula. 26 February 2010. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
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