Popular Post The Moonlighter 3,624 Posted March 17, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted March 17, 2018 On the 17th March 1877 Rangers contested our first ever Scottish Cup Final against Vale of Leven. Our Scottish cup campaign of 1877 saw the young Rangers, after trips in earlier rounds to places such as Mauchline in Ayrshire, incredibly reach the Scottish Cup Final where the mighty Vale of Leven lay in wait. Vale had caused a sensation of their own in an earlier round by handing Queens Park their first ever defeat on Scottish soil. The final was to be played on 17th March 1877 at Hamilton Crescent in Partick and our lads got to work to make sure that they were prepared. Moses fondly recalled tuck-ins of ham, eggs and steaks every morning after a 6am rise, then a 10 mile training walk and a 90 minute session with the football. This was all in an attempt to make themselves bigger and stronger. The lads would train for the Final at their Kinning Park ground often late into the night and because of this the local residents daubed the Rangers ‘The Moonlighters’ a name which would stick with us for a few years. To say that the final of 1877 caught the imagination of the Glasgow public is a massive understatement as thousands made their way to Hamilton Crescent. The match first played on the 17th March ended in a 1-1 draw with the Rangers goal coming via a Vale own goal. A crowd of over 8,000 attended that day to see this team of youngsters take on the mighty Vale. The draw actually saw the young Rangers team carried off shoulder high by the crowd. The replay took place on 17th April William Dunlop scored in normal time ,that game also ended 1-1.We then went into extra time William Dunlop scored again but the goal controversially was disallowed. Glasgow Professor of Surgery George B McLeod was standing behind the goal and was prepared to take an oath and vow that the ball had actually went through the goal and struck him on the head then landed back in the goal-keepers arms! The match umpires were consulted. One umpire gave the goal one umpire said no goal and the third who was on the field of play said he was too far away and couldn’t say for certain. The goal never stood. This led to supporters of both sides invading the playing field, bedlam ensued and the match was duly abandoned. Of course the moral of this particular story is that The Rangers were being cheated by referees 10 years before celtic were even formed! The Scottish Cup of 1877 was eventually decided at first Hampden, with Vale winning 3-2. This series of games saw the transformation of the Rangers from what was essentially a boys club into a respected football club one which caught the imagination and admiration of the Glasgow working class. The Rangers were never to look back. LaudrupsPatrickBoots, frommetoyou, Courtyard Bear and 10 others 13 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bordersbear 1,105 Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 Good post Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courtyard Bear 41,357 Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 That’s Refs for you. Love these stories. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevemac 5,000 Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 Willie collum the ref that day? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
35 Yard Dangerman 3,475 Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 Imagine Rangers playing in the bold Mauchline. Brilliant. Love these stories. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
big blue Fin 3,724 Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 Pity it was before cameras, I'd loved to have seen some photos with the article Other than that an interesting look back into our history, proving that since the earliest days of football there has been a need for VAR. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tannerall 25,935 Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 37 minutes ago, big blue Fin said: Pity it was before cameras, I'd loved to have seen some photos with the article Other than that an interesting look back into our history, proving that since the earliest days of football there has been a need for VAR. http://www.valeofleven.org.uk/football04.html Picture of Vale Of Leven, cup winners1877, 78 and 79. http://www.valeofleven.org.uk/images/Sport/ValeCupwinners1877_s.jpg Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRITNEY IS NOT FEELING IT 8,293 Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 Great read , imagine asking someone standing behind the goals these days,if they were prepared to take an oath ,regarding if the ball was in or not Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tannerall 25,935 Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 6 minutes ago, BRITNEY IS NOT FEELING IT said: Great read , imagine asking someone standing behind the goals these days,if they were prepared to take an oath ,regarding if the ball was in or not Nowadays, most Scottish referees take an oath with the SFA regarding if it's cellic the ball was in, if it's the Gers it wasn't. BRITNEY IS NOT FEELING IT and big blue Fin 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Nosed Babe 20,583 Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 And they did not exist and neither did sectarianism in football. big blue Fin 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
big blue Fin 3,724 Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 1 hour ago, Blue Nosed Babe said: And they did not exist and neither did sectarianism in football. Curious that isn't it. 1 hour ago, tannerall said: http://www.valeofleven.org.uk/football04.html Picture of Vale Of Leven, cup winners1877, 78 and 79. http://www.valeofleven.org.uk/images/Sport/ValeCupwinners1877_s.jpg You wouldn't want kicked by those boots. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tannerall 25,935 Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 6 minutes ago, big blue Fin said: Curious that isn't it. You wouldn't want kicked by those boots. My first pair of football boots, in the 60s, went right up past the ankles and were made of pig skin, so had to be soaked in warm water overnight to make then supple enough to wear. Similar but not as good or stylish as George Best's first pair in the link below. Were about 3 times the weight of today's boots, more like mountaineering boots, really protected the ankles though. http://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/collections_detail/george-bests-first-pair-of-football-boots-circa-1960 Football boots (and strips) started to change massively in the late sixties, and became more slim line and lighter. By the late 80s I was treating myself to Italian boots for today,s equivalent price of around £200 that fitted like a glove, and were more lightweight, comfortable and more flexible than slippers (and miles ahead of Adidas and my preferred Puma boots of the time.). Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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