Bobby Brown

[BridgeIsBlue 66,606]

EVERYONE at Rangers FC is in mourning today after learning that club legend and former Scotland goalkeeper and manager Bobby Brown has sadly passed away at the age of 96.

Mr Brown, from Dunipace, joined Bill Struth’s Light Blues from Queen’s Park in 1946 and in his decade long spell at Ibrox he made 296 appearances, keeping 109 clean sheets.

For six years – between 10 August 1946 and 16 April 1952 – he never missed a league game, playing in an astonishing run of 179 matches. Prior to that, in January 1946, he was handed the first of his five Scotland caps, making his debut in a 2-2 draw against Belgium at Hampden Park.

Tall, blond and agile, Mr Brown was the last line in a famous Rangers defence which became known as the Iron Curtain and also featured George Young, Jock Shaw, Ian McColl, Willie Woodburn and Sammy Cox.

He played as a part-timer throughout his Gers career, combining football with life as a schoolmaster. He also had what was then the unusual habit of making sure he turned out with a new pair of white laces in his boots for every game he played in.

After succeeding Jerry Dawson between the posts, one of Rangers’ finest goalkeepers who had been at the club since 1929, Mr Brown was to win three League Championships (1946/47, 1948/49 and 1949/50), three Scottish Cups (1948, 1949 and 1950) and two League Cups (1946/47 and 1948/49). Indeed, he was an ever-present during the historic 1948/49 season when Rangers became the first team to win the treble.

In May 1956, Mr Brown was transferred to Falkirk for £2,200 but within a year he had retired from playing and later became manager of St Johnstone, guiding them into the top division.

In February 1967 he was appointed manager of Scotland, a position he held until July 1971. Although the national team failed to qualify for the 1970 World Cup, Mr Brown had the satisfaction of a famous 3-2 victory over reigning world champions England in a European Championship qualifier at Wembley.

He was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2015 having previously been inducted into the Rangers Hall of Fame in 2002.

Mr Brown, who lived in Helensburgh, was a regular guest at Rangers games in recent years and everyone at the club sends their condolences to his family at this difficult time.

Rangers Chairman Dave King said: “All of us connected with Rangers are deeply saddened to hear that Mr Brown, a genuine Rangers and Scotland legend, has passed away. Our thoughts are with Mr. Brown’s family at this time.

“He was a wonderful servant of our club and we will remember him with great fondness. He was a gentleman of the game and set standards which typify what Rangers is about.”

[Inigo 32,526]

Ah fuck.

RIP, squire. Some innings. Racked up the years the way he racked up clean sheets. 

[Courtyard Bear 41,357]

RIP Bobby. 

[sRcFoCt 7,661]

RIP Bobby Brown

[Ayrshire Blue 2,053]

Very sad news at his passing. A true Ranger. 🇬🇧

[theweebluenose 4,332]

Rest in Peace Mr Brown, a great ambassador for our Club to the end.

[eskbankloyal 19,446]

Really sad news 😔

[RFC55 108,801]

Ffs some. Going that. 

Rip

[Clemdog 39,389]

Sleep easy.

Clearly a legend in every sense of the word.

[murzo 7,446]

Some record for never missing a game. RIP

[ForeverAndEver 71,457]

Rest easy, legend.

[Negri's lovechild 13,985]

Sad news, RIP Bobby.

179 consecutive games is incredible, especially at the time he was playing. 

A gent and a true Ranger.

[Jelavic191 4,415]

RIP

[soulboy 2,518]

RIP a true Rangers legend

[hammer93 15,057]

RIP Bobby, 96 so a good innings but sad just the same

[Bobby Hume 13,022]

Sad news indeed ..... but what a very worthwhile life he has led ..... glad he had a long life .... and very proud that he played for us.

Sincere condolences to his family and friends.

🇬🇧 

[Tiger Shaw 30,453]

Legend 

[Moody Blue Legend 61,446]

One of my dads names from the past.  Rest easy, Sir.

[The Dude 20,026]

An absolute gentleman. Thoughts are with his family.

[MisterC 12,269]

The word legend is an overused phrase but in Bobby Browns case it is accurate. A true Rangers legend and a total gent. RIP Mr Brown

[mearns loyal 2,713]

[AlCapone 7,678]

RIP sir 

[MrMckee 3,420]

RIP to a true legend 

[MisterC 12,269]

He was the oldest living ex player as well. 96, what an innings 

[tannerall 25,935]

For me he was the last of the old timers. A typical sportsman and gentleman in what now seems a long gone age.  Indeed he was the last amateur to be capped by Scotland.

Gave great service to our club and to education and I suspect he took equal  pride in both.

And he was was part and parcel of a defence that was one of  the greatest British club defences ever. I go on about how good the Arsenal team was then, but we could more than match it, and no other European teams were close to being as good in the late 40s and early 50s.  (Such a shame we didn't have regular European football then.)

And just look at those names again he played with: George Young, Jock Shaw, Ian McColl, Willie Woodburn and Sammy Cox.  

As a Scotland manager he came across as thoughtful and honest, naive even,  but the game had moved on a lot by then, His first game as manager was the memorable "Baxter" game at Wembley, but  the world of football was now far removed from the simpler, yet tougher, post years, and team football became more important than national football at that time, so was not the most memorable of times for our national team. 

Sad to see another legend go, especially from that golden era where we had so many but now too few. 

Rest In Peace Mr Brown, not only were you a great and safe custodian of our country's educational needs, but also a great and safe custodian of our great clubs penalty area and reputation, and now will be seen as another  great and safe custodian of the rocks and the history our club has been built on.