Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by SeekerAfterTruth (talk | contribs) at 16:26, 27 May 2010 (→Colours and kit: minor grammar fix). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Rangers F.C.

File:Rangers.png
Full name	Rangers Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Gers, Teddy Bears, Light Blues
Founded	1873
Ground	Ibrox Stadium
Capacity	51,082
Owner	David Murray
Chairman	Alastair Johnston
Manager	Walter Smith
League	Scottish Premier League
2009–10	Scottish Premier League, 1st
Home colours Away colours Third colours
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, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses. They are sometimes referred to as Glasgow Rangers, although the word Glasgow is not part of the club's official title. The club is incorporated as The Rangers Football Club plc. The club's home is the all-seated 51,082-capacity Ibrox Stadium in south-west Glasgow.

Rangers have won 53 domestic league titles, more than any other team in the world. They have won the Scottish League Cup 26 times — more than any other Scottish club — and the Scottish Cup 33 times. 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. An estimated 150,000 Rangers fans made the journey to Manchester for the final, most of whom did not have tickets.

Rangers' players and fans today are multi-national and of various religious and political affiliations , although the club have traditionally been identified with and favoured 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, and the two are collectively known as the Old Firm.

History

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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

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; 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. 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.

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.

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.

Under 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. It was announced on 4 January 2007 that Le Guen had left Rangers by mutual consent.

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.

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 are managed by former Rangers manager Dick Advocaat. They lost that match 2–0, amid serious disturbances caused by some supporters. Video evidence was released by the Greater Manchester Police of Rangers fans attacking officers in Manchester city centre following the defeat.

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. Despite a tight title race, on the final day of the league, Rangers managed to claim their 52nd league title. With their title success, Rangers gained automatic entry into next season's Champions League group stage. Rangers won the Homecoming Scottish Cup for the 33rd time after defeating Falkirk 1–0 in the final, clinching a double in the process.

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. 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.

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

Colours and crest

Colours and kit

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 exsistance 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.

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. 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 predominant colours for Rangers alternate strips, though dark and light blue have also featured highly.

In recent years, Rangers have also introduced a third kit. This is usually worn if both the home and away kits clash with their opponents. The colours used in the 3rd kit include combinations of light blue, red and tangerine/orange.

Crest

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

The club has only ever had four main shirt sponsors. The club's 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 giant. 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 ban alcohol advertising the club was sponsored by Center Parcs. In 1999, both Old Firm clubs signed a joint sponsorship deal with telecommunications company NTL. The four-year deal was worth £13 million but ended in the summer of 2003.

Carling 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 Carling deal was the second joint Old Firm sponsorship agreement. 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. As Rangers and Celtic both reaching 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. On 3 February 2010 the Old Firm announced a three-year contract with Tennent's brewery. The deal is worth around £1.5 million a season to each club.

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 giants Adidas followed in 1992 then American company Nike in 1997 and Italian manufacturer Diadora in 2002, before Umbro started a second spell as the club's kit manufacturers in 2005. Umbro's sponsorship is due to expire at the end of the 2009–10 season.

Rivalries

Historically, Rangers' closest rivals have been Celtic, Partick Thistle and Queen's Park. Many Rangers fans also see Aberdeen as a bitter rival.

The Old Firm rivalry as it is today began in 1909, twenty-one years after Celtic was founded. The first match was won by Celtic and there has now 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. 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. The Old Firm rivalry fuels 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 increase 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 and thousands of assaults.

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, into a hatred. Relations between fans were soured beyond repair 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. Resentment continued and in 1998 an article in Rangers pre-match programme branded Aberdeen fans "scum" and then club captain Richard Gough accused Aberdeen of only playing when it was against Rangers. The club later issued an apology to Aberdeen. This further increased the hostility between supporters of both clubs, which continues to this day.

The Queen's Park rivalry dates back to before the turn of the 20th century when Queen's were the dominant side in Scottish football. Nowadays it has mellowed to almost nothing, due to the decline of the Spiders and the rarity that a match is contested between the two sides, the last being on 20 August 1991, almost two decades ago. The rivalry with Partick Thistle is mainly due to both teams hailing from Glasgow.

Old Firm and sectarianism

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.

Until Graeme Souness signed former Celtic player Mo Johnston, in 1989, Rangers were said by him to have had an "unwritten policy" of not signing any player who was Catholic; although Johnston was by no means the first Catholic to sign for the club, he was the first openly Catholic, high-profile player to sign for them since World War I.

In 1999, Rangers' vice-chairman Donald Findlay was forced to resign after he was filmed singing sectarian songs (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.

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." 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.

In 2006 UEFA declared the Rangers fans not guilty of alleged discriminatory chants after a UEFA Champions League tie against Villareal. 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.

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.

In November 2008, a fan was found guilty of a breach of the peace (aggravated by religious and racial prejudice) by singing the Famine Song during a game on 9 November against Kilmarnock. 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.

Both the club and its fans are disparagingly nicknamed Huns by some fans of other teams. The Rangers Supporters Trust, in their statement defending singing of the Famine Song, described the nickname as "sectarian abuse". The anti-sectarian charity Nil By Mouth also considers "Huns" to be a sectarian insult. 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".

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.

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.

In the past there has been racism directed to players on the pitch at Rangers games, from both home and opposition fans. The club, through the Rangers Study Centre, is also involved in the "Ready To Learn" project, along with Glasgow City Council.

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

Stadium and training facility

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 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.

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. 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. 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".

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. 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 FIFA World Cup.

Players

Current squads

First-team squad

As of 21 May 2010

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  SCO Allan McGregor 2 MF  USA Maurice Edu 3 DF  SCO David Weir (captain) 5 DF  BIH Saša Papac 6 MF  SCO Lee McCulloch 7 MF  NIR Steven Davis 8 MF  SCO Kevin Thomson 9 FW  SCO Kris Boyd 14 FW  SCO Steven Naismith 16 DF  SCO Steven Whittaker

No. Pos. Nation Player 18 FW  SCO Kenny Miller 21 DF  SCO Kirk Broadfoot 22 DF  SCO Andy Webster 24 DF  ALG Madjid Bougherra 25 GK  SCO Neil Alexander 27 FW  NIR Kyle Lafferty 29 MF  SCO John Fleck 41 GK  SCO Scott Gallacher 48 FW  NIR Andrew Little 66 DF  SCO Danny Wilson

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  LTU Andrius Velička (on loan to Bristol City until 31 May 2010)

No. Pos. Nation Player 45 FW  SCO Rory Loy (on loan to St. Mirren until 31 May 2010)

Reserve and Youth squad

2010–11 transfers

Notable players

Internationalists

Team managers

Non-playing staff

Board

Management

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)

Most capped player

Frank de Boer, 112 caps for The Netherlands

Highest transfer fee received

Alan Hutton, £9m, Tottenham Hotspur, 2008

Highest transfer fee paid

Tore André Flo, £12.5 m, Chelsea, 2000

Individual

All players are from Scotland unless otherwise stated.

Top goalscorers

Most appearances

Managerial

Name	League	Scottish Cup	League Cup	Europe	Total
William Wilton	8	1	0	0	9
Bill Struth	18	10	2	0	30
Scot Symon	6	5	4	0	15
David White	0	0	0	0	0
William Waddell	0	0	1	1	2
Jock Wallace	3	3	4	0	10
John Greig	0	2	2	0	4
Graeme Souness	3	0	4	0	7
Walter Smith	9	5	5	0	19
Dick Advocaat	2	2	1	0	5
Alex McLeish	2	2	3	0	7
Paul Le Guen	0	0	0	0	0

Honours

League

Scottish League championships (53)

1891, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1911, 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

Superleague Formula

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 F.C. 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.

References

1. The club was formed in 1872 but was not officially founded until a year later
2. ^ "A Look at Ibrox's Rich History". Rangers official website. Cite error: The named reference "Ibrox capacity" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
3. "Are You Ready?" (PDF).
4. Agnew, Ross (28 December 2008). "Rangers fan Ross Agnew reports on Old Firm clash". The Sunday Mail. Scotland, UK: Scottish Daily Record and Sunday Mail Ltd. Archived from the original on 17 March 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2009. Bluenose Ross Agnew got up close and personal with his Rangers heroes...
5. "Glasgow Green". Glasgow City Council. Glasgow City Council. 11 March 2009. Archived from the original on 18 March 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
6. Annual Report 2008
7. "Total Number of Championships". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 23 November 2006.
8. "A rivalry tied up in religion". BBC Website. 26 August 2006.
9. "Hall of Fame – Moses McNeil". Rangers official website.
10. ^ "1872–1898 – The Birth Of The Blues". Rangers official website.
11. "1919–1939 A Glorious Double". Rangers website. 5 August 2008.
12. ^ "Thousands pay tribute to victims of Ibrox disaster" – Daily Telegraph, 19 June 2001
13. English, Tom. "Scotland on Sunday". Scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
14. "Clash of cultures". BBC Sport website. 5 January 2007.
15. "Le Guen and Rangers part company". BBC Sport website. 4 January 2007.
16. "Smith installed as Rangers boss". BBC Sport website. 10 January 2007.
17. "CCTV shows fans chasing police". BBC News. 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
18. Rangers offer redundancy packages BBC News, 7 March 2009
19. Campbell, Andy (2010-04-25). "Hibernian 0 – 1 Rangers". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 2010-04-26.
20. "Rangers Kit". Rangers.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
21. "Current Rangers Home shirt". Rangers.co.uk. 2009-07-26. Retrieved 2009-07-26.
22. "Current Rangers Away shirt". Jjbsports.com. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
23. "Current Rangers Third shirt". Jjbsports.com. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
24. "Lager tops". Mad.co.uk. 1 May 2003. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
25. "An alternative to alcohol" True Colours. 3 July 2009.
26. "Old Firm rivals in shirt link". BBC News. 24 February 1999. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
27. "Yorkston counters TV claims" BBC Sport. 8 July 2002.
28. "Old Firm sign new sponsorship deal". London: Guardian. 3 January 2003. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
29. "Old firm reveal sponsors". London: Telegraph. 3 January 2003. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
30. "Old Firm sign new £18m shirt deal" BBC Sport. 21 July 2005.
31. "The last drop! Sponsors Carling ready to pull plug on Old Firm deal". Daily Mail. 28 January 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
32. "Celtic & Rangers sign sponsorship deal with Tennent's". BBC Sport. 3 February 2010.
33. "Umbro nets Rangers sponsorship deal". This Money. 3 March 2005. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
34. "Shirt sponsors and manufacturers". Historicalkits.co.uk. 1939-01-02. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
35. "The Rangers-Celtic Old Firm". premiumtv.com. 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-19.
36. McCarra, Kevin (18 May 2009). "Firm enemies – Rangers and Celtic, 1909–2009". London: Guardian. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
37. Foer, pp. 36–37.
38. "Sportsmail's guide to illogical footballing rivalries". Daily Mail. 13 March 2009.
39. "Rangers apologise to Aberdeen". London: Independent. 18 November 1998. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
40. "A history of bad blood". BBC Sport. 19 January 2002. Retrieved 2010-01-28.
41. "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
42. "Graeme souness prayed i would be the first catholic to join rangers". Daily Record.; Darryl Broadfoot, Rangers try to avert title ‘nightmare’, The Herald, 27 July 2007.
43. 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
44. Kuper, Simon (1996). Football Against the Enemy Orion, 2006. ISBN 0-7528-4877-1
45. "Findlay songs inquiry launched" BBC News, 9 June 1999.
46. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/scottish_premier/357392.stm
47. "Rangers to drop orange strip after sectarian outcry". Sunday Herald. 6 October 2002.
48. Sunday Herald
49. Daily Record
50. Orangeism in Scotland: unionism, politics, identity, and football: Journal of Irish Studies
51. DesignFootball.com
52. "Rangers handed fine". UEFA Website. 12 April 2006.
53. "Rangers appeal upheld". UEFA Website. 24 May 2006.
54. "UEFA fine Rangers for unruly fans". Theherald.co.uk. 2007-05-04. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
55. "Uefa fine for Rangers and Osasuna". BBC News. 2007-05-03. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
56. "Rangers fan guilty over singing Famine Song at Rugby Park". Kilmarnock Standard. Scottish & Universal Newspapers. 2008-11-26. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
57. Rangers may face SPL chant probe BBC News, 17 February 2009
58. "Court Rules Famine Song is Racist". stv. 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-04. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
59. Hietsch, O., Blank, C. & Kirschner, T.J. (1992). Language and Civilization: A Concerted Profusion of Essays and Studies in Honour of Otto Hietsch. P. Lang. p.73 “Rangers are … not so affectionately referred to by the opposing fans as the Bluenoses or Huns”
60. Jarvie, G. & Walker, G. (1994). Scottish Sport in the Making of the Nation: Ninety Minute Patriots? Leicester University Press. p.185 “Rangers, club and fans, are almost always referred to as 'the Huns' (a Glasgow colloquialism)”
61. Jones, C. (2002). The English Language in Scotland: An Introduction to Scots. Tuckwell. p.33
62. Macleod, I. & Cairns, P. (2004). The Essential Scots Dictionary: Scots-English, English-Scots. Edinburgh University Press. p.88
63. Murray, B. (2003). Bhoys, Bears and Bigotry: the Old Firm in the new age. 2nd edition. Mainstream Publishing Press.
64. NFO Social Research. (2003). Sectarianism in Glasgow: final report.
65. O’Loan, S., Alan Poulter, A. & McMenemy, D. (2005). The Extent of Sectarianism Online. University of Strathclyde
66. "POSITION STATEMENT ON 'THE FAMINE SONG'".
67. "History —". Nilbymouth.org. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
68. "Celtic Fan In Court Over Tshirt Jibe (from The Herald )". Theherald.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
69. "Who's getting cuffed today?". Sunday Herald. 24 April 2005.
70. Rumsby, Ben. "SPL Remains tight-lipped over report on Parkhead chanting". News.scotsman.com. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
71. "Follow with Pride". Rangers.premiumtv.co.uk. 2008-08-15. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
72. "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.
73. Wright, Angus. "SFA praised for stance on bigotry". Thescotsman.scotsman.com. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
74. Spiers, Graham (21 September 2007). "Uefa praises Rangers for action on bigotry | Scotland – Times Online". London: Times Online<!. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
75. "Scottish football". June 2006.
76. "Rangers | Club | Ibrox | A Look at Ibrox' s Rich History". Rangers.premiumtv.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-03-09.
77. "Gers to unveil The Bill Struth Stand on 9 September". Follow Follow fansite. 22 August 2006.
78. "Rangers chairman developing a £700m blueprint to rebuild Ibrox". TheHerald. 7 January 2008.
79. "New kids on the ball". Evening Times. 30 January 2007.
80. "Player profiles". Rangers FC. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
81. "Chairman & Board". Rangers.premiumtv.co.uk. 2009-09-01. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
82. "Coaching and Backroom staff". Rangers.premiumtv.co.uk. 2009-09-01. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
83. 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.
84. Shared with Dumbarton F.C. after both clubs ended the season on 29 points. A play-off game at Cathkin Park on May 21, 1891 and finished 2–2, so the clubs were declared joint champions
85. "Superleague Formula by Sonangol selects nine racing teams for 2010". superleagueformula.com. Superleague Formula. 2010-02-26. Retrieved 2010-02-26.

External links

• Club home page
• Rangers on BBC Sport: Club news – Recent results and fixtures
• Rangers History Project
• Rangers Media

Template:Champions League 2008-09

Template:Link FA

• Rangers F.C.
• Scottish football clubs
• Association football clubs established in 1873
• Sport in Glasgow
• Govan
• Publicly traded sports companies
• Superleague Formula clubs
• Culture in Glasgow
• Scottish Premier League teams