The Moonlighter 3,624 Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 ‘’Thus ended their first match played at the latter end of May 1872 some two months after the inauguration of the club’’. The words of Rangers player William Dunlop from his article The Rangers FC which he wrote so eloquently for the SFA Annual in 1881 using the pen name ‘True Blue’. Rangers Football Club played our first ever match 144 years ago this week. Our Club was formed on a spare bit of ground at Fleshers Haugh by a few kids who’d come to Glasgow seeking employment. Their Club ,which was formed for no other reason than the love of football and the pursuit of sporting excellence, would go on to become the world’s most successful. That first ever match was against Callander and ended 0-0, Willie continued, “Their first game was a terrible spectacle with the ball suffering an incredible amount of abuse” William McBeath was given man of the match and then spent a week in bed recovering due to his exertions’’ Founder William McBeath was from Callander and we believe it would have been Willie who approached ex-pats from the town who had settled in Glasgow and that probably helped organize the opposition for our first match. Willie’s Rangers team-mate Sam Ricketts wrote in 1884 about the boys playing in their civvies during their first few games and journalist John Allan wrote about them having to change behind a bush as there were no facilities. William Dunlop described how genial Peter McNeil would travel on a Saturday morning to a desirable part of the Glasgow Green, set up the noted standards and stand guard until the classic hour came when he would be joined by his friends. We felt this was a very dramatic and moving image and commissioned a painting to be done depicting this scene. We presented the painting by artist Helen Runciman to the Club in 2009 and it now hangs on the marble staircase at Ibrox. The Rangers would remain at Fleshers Haugh for three years . They then began their journey around Glasgow to Burnbank and Kinning Park before finally settling in the Ibrox area in 1887. The Rangers FC by William Dunlop. https://www.thefounderstrail.co.uk/the-rangers-f-c-by-true-blue Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
quabba 440 Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 Great read mate Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courtyard Bear 41,357 Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 Here's to another 145 successful years. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
With Heart and Hand 8,949 Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 Great read, we have have a truly fantastic history as a Club Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davie Mr Magic Cooper 515 Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 I thoroughly enjoyed reading that seeing the pics/painting. The old pics are always magic. There's been a lot of 'doom and gloom' on here, so it's nice to get away from that for five minutes. Without hopefully sounding like a wimp, you can't help but feel proud of who we are when you hear of our history and it's a real emotional ride on The Founders Trail. I wish all staff and players would go on it until they get it and I mean, REALLY get it so they can understand what we're all about. We have a wonderful history, but some of the players through the years (especially recent years) haven't been worthy of the shirt which is disappointing. You and all involved do a grand job in presenting The Trail and for the amount of time and effort you all put into it. You all have my utmost respect. Thank you! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
harlands plater 16,933 Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 I can't get enough of reading about how our club was started. Not about money, not about religion, all about football. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Moonlighter 3,624 Posted May 26, 2017 Author Share Posted May 26, 2017 In 2008 250,000 people follow followed that boys Club born on a spare bit of ground on Fleshers Haugh in 1872 to Manchester for the UEFA Cup Final. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom0411 1,226 Posted May 26, 2017 Share Posted May 26, 2017 A wee bit of dirt got into my eye reading & looking at the above two pictures. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shuggy 1,308 Posted May 26, 2017 Share Posted May 26, 2017 Note to interlopers, the club existed before the limited company. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
standup 829 Posted May 26, 2017 Share Posted May 26, 2017 Rangers, formed on a football pitch. Celtic, formed in a church. What one is about religion not football? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRITNEY IS NOT FEELING IT 8,293 Posted May 26, 2017 Share Posted May 26, 2017 Enjoyed reading that .thanks for posting Really liked these parts Their first game was a terrible spectacle with the ball suffering an incredible amount of abuse” William McBeath was given man of the match and then spent a week in bed recovering due to his exertions’’ Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoopsLaud 4,184 Posted May 26, 2017 Share Posted May 26, 2017 Cracking post op Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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