TheMoonlighter

What i'm saying is the iconic 1877 white strip , there is no record of this ever being worn by Rangers in a competitive match. I'm not sure what you think should be changed on our site . The article you're referring to was written by William Dunlop in 1880. Here's William's profile from our website, bear in mind he had our Founders as his reference point when he wrote the article. http://www.thegallantpioneers.co.uk/The-Rangers-F.C.-by-True-Blue.html

That article written by William '' Daddy'' Dunlop is simply stunning.

There is no record of the Rangers ever wearing the 1877 white strip /blue star in a competitive match. Match reports state that we wore a blue top in the 1877 Scottish Cup Final , Vale of Leven top was dark blue almost black. Why we wore that strip for the photograph is a mystery that we're still trying to get to the bottom of.

Still time to order your Founders Trail and Ibrox Stadium Tour Gift Vouchers folks. We'll have them posted out 1st Class the very next day. Just drop us an email to : thegallantpioneers@googlemail.com

Update. I rang Mrs.Pirie last night. In her own words. '' I had a wonderful day. We arrived at the Stadium and were taken up this very grand staircase to the Blue Room where i had a lovely lunch and even some Champagne. I spoke with that chap Walter Smith and the fellow Greig who were very nice. Two people even asked for my autograph so i signed their programmes. The Stadium is huge and very noisy, it was wonderful that we won. I think i will be back. I can't thank everyone enough for their kindness''.

Welcome to the Rangers family Mrs. Pirie. Have a wonderful day.

Take a bow lads.

She knew of Moses being a Founder of the Club but didn't think anyone was really bothered about it.

As covered in the opening post. Mrs.Pirie's Grandfather James McNeil was employed by Stewart and Mcdonald of Glasgow. It was John McDonald who owned Belmore House which is now part of the Faslane Naval base. He employed the father of the family John as a master gardener. It was John McDonald who gifted young William McNeil a football. Mrs.Pirie said '' My mother spoke often and fondly about visiting Belmore House . In fact when we moved to Prestwick my Aunt named her house ' Belmore'. Here's our visit to Belmore House last year. http://blog.thegalla...co.uk/wp/?p=318

Moses died aged 83 in 1938. He outlived all of them. He must have taken a great deal of satisfaction watching what he gave birth to rise to become a global sporting institution.

Peter McNeils Grand-Daughters are now both living in London. They unfortunately can't be with us on Saturday but i do believe that there may be a message from them in the Match-Day Programme.

....To celebrate our 140th year. Over the last few years the research into the lives of the kids who formed our Club ,and the many others who played a vital role in establishing the Rangers, has left us at times with a sense of astonishment. What follows is such a tale. John and Jean McNeil had nine children. Four boys who all played for the Rangers: Moses Peter William Harry They had a further three sons who careers lay in other fields John James Alexander And two daughters Elizabeth and Isabella. I was contacted recently by Rangers Historian David Mason who told me that he believed that there may be a lady who had a connection of sorts with Moses McNeil. David had worked with her son a number of years ago. I got her contact details, and very nervously rang her. Incredibly within a couple of days we found ourselves sitting in her Glasgow home for what was a jaw-dropping experience. In Mrs. Pirie's own words. '' I can vividly recall travelling from our home in Prestwick with my mother and aunt to visit Uncle Moses in Clynder. We would take the train to Helensburgh and then a small boat across the Loch to Clynder and walk from there along the coast to his home where we'd spend many a weekend.He was a happy, kind man who would often take me for walks around the Village and down to the local shops''. Research has established that Moses brother James McNeil listed above is Mrs Pirie's Grandfather and Moses Brother. James was very successful in the Drapery and Lace trade . He worked for Stewart and McDonald who's premises is now Frasers of Buchanan Street. He's buried at Craigton Cemetery alongside his parents, and brothers Peter, William and Alexander which Mrs.Pire didn't know about. Yesterday afternoon myself and my colleague Gordon took Mrs. Pirie around the Founders Trail by car where we visited many locations including four homes where her Grandfather lived. She visited Craigton and paid her respects at her Grandfathers and Great Uncle's final resting place. She has received her formal invitation from the Club to join the celebrations at Ibrox on Saturday , she'll take her place with her son and daughter in the Directors Box.

Please note that Founders Trail and Ibrox Stadium Tour Gift Vouchers are valid for any future Tour of you choice.

Images from The Founders Trail.

An update to the book is currently being worked on, when it'll be released hasn't been determined yet. The book does pop up on ebay now and again.

All proceeds to Rangers Youth Development. Recently we managed to get our hands on a copy of the much sought after Gallant Pioneers book ,a must read for all Rangers Supporters. If you would like to place a bid for the book send us an email to pioneersauction2012@gmail.com with ‘Bid’ in subject of the email along with your name, contact phone number and your bid. The closing bid will be at 11.00 am on Monday the 17th December. The current highest bidder will be found here – http://www.thegallan....eers-Book.html The book has been signed by: Ally McCoist Sandy Jardine Ian McMillan Willie Henderson Willie Johnston Davie Wilson Alex McDonald Derek Johnstone Alex Rae Robbie Crawford More details here. http://blog.thegalla...neers.co.uk/wp/ Good luck !

Once again thanks to all who have purchased the Tour Gift Vouchers, i'll be posting out another batch today.

All aboard !

As we continue to celebrate Rangers 140th year The Founders Trail, over the next few weeks, will be the subject of a documentary on Rangers TV. Here’s Part One. http://rangerstv.tv/view.php?it=10691&act=view&c=News

No it's ourselves who run the Founders Trail which is supported by the Club. Rangers get the cost of the Stadium Tour part of our day.

£18 Adult £13 Senior Citizens and Children. Gift Vouchers are valid for any Founders Trail and Ibrox Stadium Tour of your choice. Just send us an email to thegallantpioneers@googlemail.com and we'll send you a Gift Voucher the very next day via 1st Class mail. Payment is via Paypal or a posted cheque. All Tour dates for 2013 will be published here on our website very soon. http://www.thegallantpioneers.co.uk/

Thanks to all who took the journey with us today. It was a bit fresh but it stayed dry. We'll be back on the road in 2013 with new locations and an expansion on our wonderful and unique story.

We will remember them.

http://blog.thegalla...neers.co.uk/wp/ As we approach Remembrance Sunday we remember the sons of our Founders who made the ultimate sacrifice. Tom Vallance's son Harold. Harold Vallance joined the 7th Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry and died in September 1918 just six weeks before Armistice Day. His name is on the Memorial at the High School of Glasgow and the Arlington Baths Glasgow. William McNeil’s sons. Louden Bain McNeil and Charles McGregor McNeil who both died in 1916 on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Both of their names are on the War Memorial at Pollokshaws Burgh Hall. Peter McNeil’s son. John Fraser McNeil joined the Royal Field Artillery Regiment he died in France on 9th September 1918 aged 31. His name is on the Memorial Plaque at both the Arlington Baths Glasgow and at the Ranfurly Castle Golf Club in Bridge of Weir. We Will Remember Them.

More background to the Tom Vallance Painting. http://blog.thegallantpioneers.co.uk/wp/?p=520