1872 Or 1873

[Tiger Shaw 30,445]

FOUR young men shared a dream – to start a football club. They had no money, no kit – not even a ball.

Yet from such humble beginnings emerged the most famous of all Scottish football clubs – Rangers FC.

None of those four men could have foreseen what was to happen when they met in 1872.

They cared only for having their own team, never daring to think that more than a century later their club would have won so many glittering prizes and would be followed by millions throughout the world.

All those championships and cups would never have found their way into the Ibrox Trophy Room but for that encounter between Peter McNeil, his brother Moses, Peter Campbell and William McBeath.

Their first match was an unlikely affair against Callander FC at Flesher’s Haugh on Glasgow Green.

The pitch was open to all-comers, so to claim it for your game you had to make sure you were there first. The home team played in street clothes, with the exception of four “guests” who, as they were members of other clubs, already had their own strips. The ball was second-hand.

The result was 0-0, but that didn’t matter. Rangers had been born.

The name Rangers was adopted from an English rugby club. By their second fixture – the only other they played that first year – they had donned the light blue. It must have done the trick – Rangers beat Clyde 11-0.

Despite this promising start, as every fan knows the official founding of the club did not take place until the following year.

The date of 1873 is recognised because that was the year when the club had their first annual meeting and officers were elected. Rangers were becoming businesslike.

The players had formal training sessions and a fixture list was drawn up.

The fixtures during that first full season were friendlies. Rangers had left it too late to apply for membership of the Scottish Football Association and were not eligible to play in the inaugural Scottish Cup, won by Queen’s Park.

The team was very much a family affair. The McNeils were joined by a third brother, Hugh and there were two more Campbell brothers and two Vallances.

By 1876 Rangers had their first international, Moses McNeil one of the four founders, who made his Scotland debut in a 4-0 victory over Wales.

The following year Rangers made the breakthrough reaching their first Scottish Cup Final. It took three matches to find a winner, and sadly it was their opponents Vale of Leven. After two drawn games, 0-0 and 1-1, Rangers finally succumbed 3-2 in the second replay.

Two years later in 1879 they were back in the Final with a chance of revenge, for they were facing the same opponents. The match ended 1-1, but Rangers were so incensed by a disallowed goal that they refused to turn up for the replay and Vale of Leven were awarded the Cup.

Rangers were to wait a decade before they could celebrate their first senior honours, though they came pretty close to winning the FA Cup – yes, the ENGLISH FA Cup. In 1887 they reached the semi-final of that competition only to lose to eventual Cup winners Aston Villa.

The series of fixtures that were to become known as the Old Firm games began the next year. Rangers met Celtic in a friendly in May 1888 – and lost 5-2.

Season 1890-91 saw the start of the Scottish League Championship. By then Rangers had arrived at Ibrox, via Burnbank and Kinning Park.

What a season it was. Rangers first League game was played on August 16 1890 and resulted in a 5-2 victory over Hearts. By the end of that first season, Rangers had played 18 games, winning 13, drawing three and losing just two. There had been crushing victories (8-2 and 7-3 over St Mirren and 6-2 over Cambuslang).

But one of their defeats had been against Celtic (2-1 away) and the other was at Dumbarton (5-1) with whom they shared top place with 29 points each.

A play-off took place at Cathkin to decide the title. Rangers took a 2-0 lead, but allowed Dumbarton back into the game. It was 2-2 as the final whistle went and the Championship was shared for the only time in its history.

In those early days, Rangers were becoming the nearly men, finishing runners-up in the League in 1892-93, 1895-96 and 1896-97.

But at least they had made it third time lucky in the Scottish Cup Final in 1894. And how sweet a victory it was – a 3-1 defeat of Celtic.

Two more Cup Final triumphs followed, Rangers hammering Dumbarton 5-1 in 1897 and retaining the trophy by beating Kilmarnock 2-0 the next year.

Rangers were on their way to pre-eminence in Scottish football.

From the official site

http://rangers.co.uk/club/history/rangers-history/founding-fathers/

[BridgeIsBlue 66,606]

So are we Rangers 1872,1873 or 2012?

[Gaffbear 4,096]

I grew up thinking 1873

[FSM 20,892]

I'm going for 1872 on the basis that I prefer even numbers, plus it then seems conveniently fitting that exactly 100 years later we won a European trophy.

[Guest]

It used to say 1873 on official merch. But i think documents were discovered that showed we were registered as a Club in 1872, dont think our first game was till 73 though. Its been a long time since I read this article that told me this though so I might be talking nonsense.

[NixonRFC 1,329]

Shifty eyes are definitely not merited here for the OP...as has been proven by the countless answers there is many Bears who also can agree, for me it was always 1873, that was on most of the merchandise through the 80s and 90s and I'm also pretty sure "1873" was on a stand at Ibrox too.

[bluenosebrad 452]

Its 1872, that was when Rangers where born this 1873 is wrong, its abit like saying we formed an amateur team a year ago played a number of friendless and then just joined a league so we can play completive matches. Its it mean we only became a team when we joined the league or where we a team before we joined the league?

[eskbankloyal 19,446]

It's 1872. The commonly held view up until a few years ago was 1873 - hence the centenary game in 1973. Recent research by guys at the Founders Trail etc found evidence showing the club was formed in 1872 and the first game was in May 1872 at Fleshers Haugh.

[NixonRFC 1,329]

People may say 1873 is wrong but if thats what you were brought up believing then its a fwir assumption many will hold that view

[centenarystand 2,227]

From the archives: Rangers v Arsenal 1973

1973 report

THE night was heavy with nostalgia at Ibrox stadium last night. Rangers held their 100th birthday party and a goodly crowd of 60,000 were there to pay the 1s entrance fee of last century to take part in the festivities. They had a ball.

First there was the display of trophies, taken for the first time from that magnificent room in which only the select have viewed them. They were set out on tables in the centre circle, silver and crystal and porcelain and other choice places from the very ends of the earth. And resplendent among them, the Scottish Cup.

There was the parade of the old players - 230 of them gathered together for the night and led by the oldest of them all, Alex Newbigging, 97 years old and signed as a goalkeeper in 1906. He was a fine old man, a proud old man; and the others followed and stood in orderly ranks to be acclaimed.

The band played ‘Happy Birthday’.

Thats what i was always brought up to believe but seems different on here.

[simon 1,743]

Go on the founders trail.

[Bluejim55 24]

I was at the Scottish cup final when we beat the jungles 3-2 jaws scoring the winner and it was called our centenary cup final...

[Guest]

It doesnt matter a fuck what you were brought up to believe! Recent information has proven it was 1872.

[Dubaijim 44]

I grew up thinking 1873

Me too and think the Centenary Stand came about in 1973.

[.Williamson. 82,126]

How can anyone actually still be in doubt about this?

[Bluejim55 24]

I don't know what age you are Williamson but for us older fans it was always 1873..

[Moody Blue Legend 61,443]

2012

You're still beelin, int ye?

[RFC55 108,798]

You're still beelin, int ye?

Zombie bastards

[Guest]

I don't know what age you are Williamson but for us older fans it was always 1873..

no one is denying that. I've got merch that says 1873 but it recently came to light that it was in fact 1872. Thats a fact and someones age doesnt make a difference

[Bobby Russell 16]

I had a Centenary Scarf stating 1873-1973.

That will do for me.

If others say 1872.that's fine also.

Each to their own.

[centenarystand 2,227]

Glad that's cleared up. For those of us who attended games in the early 70s , the days of Willie Waddell and Jock Wallace, the days of the Centenary Final 1973 it is. For the internet army its 1972.

[Guest]

Each to their own fuck all. Its a proven fact its 1872, what if someone was brought up to believe it was 1874? Is that alright?

From Wikipedia

The four founders of Rangers brothers Moses and Peter McNeil, Peter Campbell and William McBeath met in March 1872 at West End Park, (now known as Kelvingrove Park). Rangers' first match, in May that year, was a goalless friendly draw with Callander on Glasgow Green. David Hill was also a founder member.[4] In 1873, the club held its first annual meeting and staff were elected

And from the OFFICIAL Rangers site

Founding Fathers

FOUR young men shared a dream to start a football club. They had no money, no kit not even a ball.

Yet from such humble beginnings emerged the most famous of all Scottish football clubs Rangers FC.

None of those four men could have foreseen what was to happen when they met in 1872.

They cared only for having their own team, never daring to think that more than a century later their club would have won so many glittering prizes and would be followed by millions throughout the world.

All those championships and cups would never have found their way into the Ibrox Trophy Room but for that encounter between Peter McNeil, his brother Moses, Peter Campbell and William McBeath.

Their first match was an unlikely affair against Callander FC at Fleshers Haugh on Glasgow Green.

The pitch was open to all-comers, so to claim it for your game you had to make sure you were there first. The home team played in street clothes, with the exception of four guests who, as they were members of other clubs, already had their own strips. The ball was second-hand.

The result was 0-0, but that didnt matter. Rangers had been born.

The name Rangers was adopted from an English rugby club. By their second fixture the only other they played that first year they had donned the light blue. It must have done the trick Rangers beat Clyde 11-0.

Despite this promising start, as every fan knows the official founding of the club did not take place until the following year.

The date of 1873 is recognised because that was the year when the club had their first annual meeting and officers were elected. Rangers were becoming businesslike.

The players had formal training sessions and a fixture list was drawn up.

The fixtures during that first full season were friendlies. Rangers had left it too late to apply for membership of the Scottish Football Association and were not eligible to play in the inaugural Scottish Cup, won by Queens Park.

The team was very much a family affair. The McNeils were joined by a third brother, Hugh and there were two more Campbell brothers and two Vallances.

By 1876 Rangers had their first international, Moses McNeil one of the four founders, who made his Scotland debut in a 4-0 victory over Wales.

The following year Rangers made the breakthrough reaching their first Scottish Cup Final. It took three matches to find a winner, and sadly it was their opponents Vale of Leven. After two drawn games, 0-0 and 1-1, Rangers finally succumbed 3-2 in the second replay.

Two years later in 1879 they were back in the Final with a chance of revenge, for they were facing the same opponents. The match ended 1-1, but Rangers were so incensed by a disallowed goal that they refused to turn up for the replay and Vale of Leven were awarded the Cup.

Rangers were to wait a decade before they could celebrate their first senior honours, though they came pretty close to winning the FA Cup yes, the ENGLISH FA Cup. In 1887 they reached the semi-final of that competition only to lose to eventual Cup winners Aston Villa.

The series of fixtures that were to become known as the Old Firm games began the next year. Rangers met Celtic in a friendly in May 1888 and lost 5-2.

Season 1890-91 saw the start of the Scottish League Championship. By then Rangers had arrived at Ibrox, via Burnbank and Kinning Park.

What a season it was. Rangers first League game was played on August 16 1890 and resulted in a 5-2 victory over Hearts. By the end of that first season, Rangers had played 18 games, winning 13, drawing three and losing just two. There had been crushing victories (8-2 and 7-3 over St Mirren and 6-2 over Cambuslang).

But one of their defeats had been against Celtic (2-1 away) and the other was at Dumbarton (5-1) with whom they shared top place with 29 points each.

A play-off took place at Cathkin to decide the title. Rangers took a 2-0 lead, but allowed Dumbarton back into the game. It was 2-2 as the final whistle went and the Championship was shared for the only time in its history.

In those early days, Rangers were becoming the nearly men, finishing runners-up in the League in 1892-93, 1895-96 and 1896-97.

But at least they had made it third time lucky in the Scottish Cup Final in 1894. And how sweet a victory it was a 3-1 defeat of Celtic.

Two more Cup Final triumphs followed, Rangers hammering Dumbarton 5-1 in 1897 and retaining the trophy by beating Kilmarnock 2-0 the next year.

Rangers were on their way to pre-eminence in Scottish football.

[Guest]

And the Club celebrated 140 years....in 2012

[KingKirk 25,631]

72

[bomber 177]

rangers won the Scottish cup final against ra celic (big tams rocket)in 1973,the 100th anniversary of the sfa.if this is so, in which league did rangers play in before then!!!