TheMoonlighter

We've had numerous e-mails from people wanting to give a seat on the Founders Trail as a Christmas gift, so we're delighted to offer this little bundle to put under the tree. A seat reserved on The Founders Trail 2011. A tour of Ibrox Stadium A Founders Trail Christmas Card and Voucher. Details in here folks. http://blog.thegallantpioneers.co.uk/wp/

Aye it was a game played by men in those days, today's pampered ''stars'' just wouldn't have survived.

Including Rangers v Thornliebank at Kinning Park. http://www.thegallantpioneers.co.uk/1883.html

Our final Tour for this year leaves on Saturday 23rd October from the John Greig Statue at 12pm. We have seats available, come along and join us on our journey of discovery, all details are in here. http://www.thegallantpioneers.co.uk/The-Founders-Trail-2010.-Dates,-Booking-Information-and-Travel-Details.html Iain.

Our unique story continues to spread far and wide.

The Independent will be doing a feature on the Founders Trail in the travel and tourism section in this sunday's edition. We'll be out working on the Tour, so if someone could post a copy it would be much appreciated.

A year ago this week saw the Founders Painting unveiled by our Founder Peter McNeil's Grand-Daughters Heather Lang and Doreen Holland at a Dinner we held within Ibrox Stadium. The Painting was then accepted on behalf of the Club by our captain David Weir. The inspiration for the painting came from the moving words of team-mate William 'Daddy' Dunlop who described the scene at Fleshers Haugh. He wrote. '' Genial Peter McNeil with characteristic self-denail and zeal for the best interests of the Club would on a saturday at lunch-time travel to the most desirable part of the Green set up the standards and stand guard until the classic hour came in the afternoon''. This link provides more pictures and background. http://www.thegallantpioneers.co.uk/The-Founders-Painting-at-Ibrox.html

We matched the faces with other pics that we've gathered over the years mate. The 1877 team pic also helped.

First row seated far left , gentleman with hat and cane. Moses McNeil. Same row far right hat and tache . his brother and founder Peter McNeil Centre of the row, foot on the ball . Tom Vallance In front of Tom Vallance is his brother Alec. The guy to the left of Tom with the cap is Sam Ricketts. Second along from Tom Vallance on his left guy with tache and neck-tie is William 'Daddy Dunlop. Sitting on the ground far left in front of Moses. George Gillespie. Back row tall guy with bowler is William Wilton, who was to become our first manager. An incredible picture.

If it hasn't been dispatched cancel it mate. Or keep it in the packaging and i'll exchange it for you for a signed copy.

Christmas is just around the corner folks and we have a special offer for you. In here. http://blog.thegallantpioneers.co.uk/wp/

Yep, that's exactly where it stood. The SFA Offices stood next door.

Here's the Athole Arms Hotel where our meeting was held. 1877 saw the Rangers compete in their first ever Scottish Cup Final, they were only a boys club but incredibly took Vale of Leven to 3 games, before the tie was decided at 1st Hampden with Vale winning 3-2. After the first game at the West of Scotland Cricket Ground in Partick both teams retired to The Athole Arms Hotel where ''much debating, drinking and laughter was enjoyed''. Rangers also held many of their early meetings here. This establishment was situated where the Vale Pub now stands in Dundas Street, next door to Sammy Dows and stretched to include the ground where the side entrance to Buchanan Street Underground now sits. Thousands of Rangers supporters will walk through it's front doors when taking the Tube to Ibrox. The Athole Arms we believe was owned by one of the Vale of Leven players, so no coincedence the today we have the VALE BAR.

Next week sees the Rangers AGM for 2010. Here's a clip from one of our earlier meetings held in the Athole Arms in Glasgow. The 'Genial Peter' mentioned is our Founder Peter McNeil

Fleshers Haugh Burnbank Kinning Park 1st Ibrox Ibrox Stadium

The last two Tours for 2010 folks.

Last chance to secure you seat for tomorrow's Tour folks.

As the feature says , Moses was the first Ranger to be capped by Scotland in a 4-0 victory over Wales at Hamilton Crescent in Partick in 1876. Here he is with his Scotland team-mates in 1880.

It's said we've had two Moses since time began. One is sat in heaven at God's right hand. The other parted the Red sea.

Rangers closed their Kinning Park ground on 26th February 1887 with a game between the Moderns and Ancients. Here's Moses sat far left first row with his bowler hat and cane looking proud as punch.

Here's a report on that Dinner. http://www.thegallantpioneers.co.uk/The-Rangers-50th-Year-dinner.html Ferguson and Forresters is now the Karen Millen shop next door to the entrance to the Princes Square shopping centre on Buchanan Street.

Here's the house in Clynder where our Founder spent his final years. Here's Moses at rest in the tiny Churchyard in Rosneath.

The most famous of the kids who founded The Rangers Football Club. Moses is credited with giving our Club it's name. Moses along with Tom Vallance lived long enough to see the Club that they had formed on Fleshers Haugh in 1872 grow to playing in front of crowds in excess of 100,000. Moses we salute you. http://www.thegallantpioneers.co.uk/Moses-McNeil.html

Looking forward to welcoming you and your members on the 17th October mate.

Still a few seats available for this wednesday folks. It's shaping up to be another 'True Blue' day out. http://www.thegallantpioneers.co.uk/index.html