Lawrence, Marlborough and Holmes

[ScottBF2 3,540]

Three big names in our history. I've been trying to find out more about the people who essentially made our club the powerhouse it was, and will be again.

I know a bit about Holmes, little about Lawrence Marlborough and even less about John Lawrence. Lawrence took control some time in the sixties, led us to the Cup Winners' cup and died shortly before his grandson, Lawrence Marlborough took over and appointed David Holmes.

Anybody know much else about these guys? Seems strange that Marlborough just relinquished control so easily after everything Lawrence did for the club and how much he loved us. They're all undoubtedly very important figures in our history, yet I don't seem to know much about any of them.

[trueblue68 2,497]

Should explain a fair bit.

THE Lawrence family empire, which started the transformation of Rangers from a sleeping giant to the most successful Scottish football club of the past decade, grew from humble beginnings into one of Scotland's most successful con- struction companies.

Mr John Lawrence, who was born in the Govanhill area of Glasgow and left Calder Street School at 14 because his family needed the money, became an apprentice carpenter at 17. After becoming a tradesman in five years, he emigrated to America during the depression of the mid-1920s, but returned to Scotland within a year, set up a business, and built his first house - sold for #800 in Busby. His enterprise ultimately led to the formation of John Lawrence (Glasgow) Ltd, and his group flourished through the building boom of the 1930s, becoming popularly known through its slogan ''A Home of Your Own by John Lawrence''. During the Second World War, with the labour force depleted, his company built air raid shelters and hospitals, and later reconstructed much of Clydebank following the blitz. By the mid-1960s, his huge company had a payroll of 2000 and had built more homes in Scotland than any of its rivals. Under his chairmanship, the company and its subsidiaries built more than 40,000 private homes and 30,000 council houses throughout Scotland. If his business acumen in the construction industry had raised his profile, Mr Lawrence's name was to become even more well-known when he became chairman of Rangers in 1963, and earned a reputation as a football visionary. So enthusiastic did his interest in the club become, that he was soon the largest shareholder and, during his 10-year reign as chairman until 1973 when he retired due to ill health, he saw some of the finest moments in the club's history, including the winning of the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1972, but also the worst - the Ibrox disaster in 1971. When Mr Lawrence, who was a widower, died in 1977 at the age of 82, control of his company jumped a generation to his grandson Lawrence Marlborough, a quiet, somewhat enigmatic man who chose to settle in America and bought a string of interests there as his company steadily expanded. Mr Marlborough joined the Rangers board in 1973, was unanimously elected vice-chairman at the age of 36 in 1979 succeeding Willie Waddell who resigned, and a surprise #1m shares deal made him the undisputed power behind the club six years later, in 1985, when the club chairman John Paton described him as ''the silent partner''. He quit the Ibrox board in 1983, bringing a temporary end to an already long association between the Lawrence family and Rangers, but two years later the dynasty took outright control of the club when John Lawrence (Glasgow) Ltd increased its shareholding in Rangers to 52%, following a deal with club vice-chairman Jack Gillespie. That allowed Mr Marlborough to have two directors on the Ibrox board, Mr Paton and Mr David Holmes, then chief executive of the John Lawrence Group. The new broom, in the hands of Mr Holmes, swept with the force of a hurricane in April 1986, and brought new hope to thousands of Rangers fans after a period of under-achievement, when Graeme Souness was appointed manager in succession to Jock Wallace, sparking the arrival of several top name English players, including international captain Terry Butcher. Mr Marlborough's firm sold Rangers to current owner David Murray for #6m in November 1988, ending the Lawrence dynasty at Ibrox after it had virtually revolutionised the club on and off the park, and built one of Europe's finest stadiums. Mr Marlborough, who lives in Nevada, said at the time that with his family living there and his business commitments, the 6000-mile distance from Glasgow was too great for his responsibilities to the club. One former club stalwart said at the time that his late grandfather ''who assiduously built up the family connection with Rangers, must be spinning in his grave''. Much of the club's success on the domestic front since then - they are currently seeking their ninth league championship win in a row to equal the world record of rivals Celtic - is due to Mr Murray's ambition and business acumen. But the foundations for that success were undoubtedly laid two decades earlier by John Lawrence, and built on by his grandson.

[ScottBF2 3,540]

Aye I've read that, is that it though? 30 years of history summed up in that article?

[trueblue68 2,497]

Aye I've read that, is that it though? 30 years of history summed up in that article?

Yeah, it's brief but there ain't much else about them.

[ScottBF2 3,540]

Aye I've read that, is that it though? 30 years of history summed up in that article?

[gmcf 34,695]

Should explain a fair bit.

THE Lawrence family empire, which started the transformation of Rangers from a sleeping giant to the most successful Scottish football club of the past decade, grew from humble beginnings into one of Scotland's most successful con- struction companies.

Mr John Lawrence, who was born in the Govanhill area of Glasgow and left Calder Street School at 14 because his family needed the money, became an apprentice carpenter at 17. After becoming a tradesman in five years, he emigrated to America during the depression of the mid-1920s, but returned to Scotland within a year, set up a business, and built his first house - sold for #800 in Busby. His enterprise ultimately led to the formation of John Lawrence (Glasgow) Ltd, and his group flourished through the building boom of the 1930s, becoming popularly known through its slogan ''A Home of Your Own by John Lawrence''. During the Second World War, with the labour force depleted, his company built air raid shelters and hospitals, and later reconstructed much of Clydebank following the blitz. By the mid-1960s, his huge company had a payroll of 2000 and had built more homes in Scotland than any of its rivals. Under his chairmanship, the company and its subsidiaries built more than 40,000 private homes and 30,000 council houses throughout Scotland. If his business acumen in the construction industry had raised his profile, Mr Lawrence's name was to become even more well-known when he became chairman of Rangers in 1963, and earned a reputation as a football visionary. So enthusiastic did his interest in the club become, that he was soon the largest shareholder and, during his 10-year reign as chairman until 1973 when he retired due to ill health, he saw some of the finest moments in the club's history, including the winning of the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1972, but also the worst - the Ibrox disaster in 1971. When Mr Lawrence, who was a widower, died in 1977 at the age of 82, control of his company jumped a generation to his grandson Lawrence Marlborough, a quiet, somewhat enigmatic man who chose to settle in America and bought a string of interests there as his company steadily expanded. Mr Marlborough joined the Rangers board in 1973, was unanimously elected vice-chairman at the age of 36 in 1979 succeeding Willie Waddell who resigned, and a surprise #1m shares deal made him the undisputed power behind the club six years later, in 1985, when the club chairman John Paton described him as ''the silent partner''. He quit the Ibrox board in 1983, bringing a temporary end to an already long association between the Lawrence family and Rangers, but two years later the dynasty took outright control of the club when John Lawrence (Glasgow) Ltd increased its shareholding in Rangers to 52%, following a deal with club vice-chairman Jack Gillespie. That allowed Mr Marlborough to have two directors on the Ibrox board, Mr Paton and Mr David Holmes, then chief executive of the John Lawrence Group. The new broom, in the hands of Mr Holmes, swept with the force of a hurricane in April 1986, and brought new hope to thousands of Rangers fans after a period of under-achievement, when Graeme Souness was appointed manager in succession to Jock Wallace, sparking the arrival of several top name English players, including international captain Terry Butcher. Mr Marlborough's firm sold Rangers to current owner David Murray for #6m in November 1988, ending the Lawrence dynasty at Ibrox after it had virtually revolutionised the club on and off the park, and built one of Europe's finest stadiums. Mr Marlborough, who lives in Nevada, said at the time that with his family living there and his business commitments, the 6000-mile distance from Glasgow was too great for his responsibilities to the club. One former club stalwart said at the time that his late grandfather ''who assiduously built up the family connection with Rangers, must be spinning in his grave''. Much of the club's success on the domestic front since then - they are currently seeking their ninth league championship win in a row to equal the world record of rivals Celtic - is due to Mr Murray's ambition and business acumen. But the foundations for that success were undoubtedly laid two decades earlier by John Lawrence, and built on by his grandson.

An interesting read .

In all honesty back then you really didn't pay too much about the owners ( possibly due to my age and ignorance ) . I do remember , however , sitting in the works canteen at Tennents Brewery and one of the older guys , upon David Holmes taking charge saying there will be a change of manager from Jock Wallace. Asking why ( again in ignorance ) he explained how , on taking charge , they would want their own man in charge.

Months later , Souness arrived ,and , having followed Rangers since leaving school during the Greig and Wallace years , this was to be a Rangers that was never to be the same again .

[Johnny Hubbard 280]

builders

Lawrence flats at the corner of Dumbreck RD. and St. Andrews drive

[Bobby Hume 13,499]

Back then, as it is today, the only people that mattered really, were the players. They were what the supporters wanted to see,and paid their money to watch the team.

It was much simpler back then and you did'nt know (apart from the owner and manager) or pay too much attention to "The Board".

The team was all that mattered. Also most of the big business men , like today, tended to keep a low profile and never wanted to be seen as "Flash", as that was not the done thing, quite rightly so.Decorum was the order of the day then.

I also tend to believe, that back then, most sports reporters stuck to the task in hand, and did what their editor asked of them, and duly went out and correctly "reported" on the match, for the benefit of the fans', and had no other agenda to ply.

So basically, The Lawrence years, were not of that great an interest to anyone outside Rangers' interests', simple as that.

Also the family were probably(just a guess) low key and averse to public scrutiny.

Again, back in those days, it was a case of what you did, was your job, you got on with it, no big deal really, you were'nt looking for recognition, you just did it. As I said, simpler times, simpler values, more class.

[tollboy-noey 50]

Thats the way it should be today,the team leading from the front,the board in the background.

Running the club in the proper and correct manner.

[BLUEDIGNITY 33,723]

Mostof Scotland is built by John Lawrence, them and Mactaggart and Mickel !

[Courtyard Bear 41,357]

A club run with quiet dignity, oh for those days again.

[WadeWilson 4,670]

David Holmes was a relatively quiet and thoughtful chairman. David Murray was a lot more outspoken and bombastic due to his ego.

Unfortunately, that ego would also prove to be his Achilles' Heel.

[tollboy-noey 50]

I dont mind quiet and dignity,but when the club is attacked,the board should attack back strongly.

[Thermopylae 15,287]

To me it's obscene that murray is still honoured by having the training complex named after him while these 3 are forgotten

[Alec87 331]

To me it's obscene that murray is still honoured by having the training complex named after him while these 3 are forgotten

Agree 100%. Met Mr Holmes once. after the Falkirk away game when Souness binned Roberts. He was an absolute gentleman, taking time to speak with all the fans.

[rangersfc77 170]

I thought Holmes was the last of his era (sadly) in fact to be honest Murray was insightful and moved Rangers in the direction football in general was heading. I do not agree with all the changes but it is the way the modern game went

[elephants stoned 2,994]

Nice read that trueblue some very influencial figures in our history and i cant be too harsh on Marlborough as at the time and for the 10 years or so that followed David Murray looked every bit a good owner of Rangers. Only now do we know the true story.

[iang2911 423]

Three big names in our history. I've been trying to find out more about the people who essentially made our club the powerhouse it was, and will be again.

I know a bit about Holmes, little about Lawrence Marlborough and even less about John Lawrence. Lawrence took control some time in the sixties, led us to the Cup Winners' cup and died shortly before his grandson, Lawrence Marlborough took over and appointed David Holmes.

Anybody know much else about these guys? Seems strange that Marlborough just relinquished control so easily after everything Lawrence did for the club and how much he loved us. They're all undoubtedly very important figures in our history, yet I don't seem to know much about any of them.

Go and speak to the Lawrence family, they sit in the Bar72 seats in Govan Rear

[thedarvelmarvel 796]

not the john lawrence i worked for in tthe 60,s not a well liked man at ibrox.his influence at ibrox was not good for the side and his treatment of one of our greatest managers was disgraceful.

[ScottBF2 3,540]

not the john lawrence i worked for in tthe 60,s not a well liked man at ibrox.his influence at ibrox was not good for the side and his treatment of one of our greatest managers was disgraceful.

Elaborate, please.

[ScottBF2 3,540]

Go and speak to the Lawrence family, they sit in the Bar72 seats in Govan Rear

Really?

[californiadreamin52 339]

To my recollection Malborough was an absentee landlord who prefered to stay on the other side of the Atlantic,

[Tumshie 205]

What I would give for David Holmes to be back running this club again.

[docspiderman 1,262]

not the john lawrence i worked for in tthe 60,s not a well liked man at ibrox.his influence at ibrox was not good for the side and his treatment of one of our greatest managers was disgraceful.

Correct, in business he was ruthless and vindictive and the short term spite left us playing a European Final with no strikers .

[docspiderman 1,262]

To my recollection Malborough was an absentee landlord who prefered to stay on the other side of the Atlantic,

As I remember he had so little interest in the club he authorised millions to David Holmes to build the club up to make it a saleable proposition.