Rangers v Livingston 16-01-16 Programme Preview

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RANGERS V LIVINGSTON SATURDAY 16 JANUARY 2016 • KO 15.00

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RANGERS

FOOTBALL CLUB

Ibrox Stadium, 150 Edmiston Drive Glasgow, G51 2XD • tel0871 702 1972 Chairman DAVE KING

INSIDE

//CONTENTS

today’s matchday programme:

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Directors JOHN BENNETT, JOHN GILLIGAN, DOUGLAS PARK, GRAEME PARK PAUL MURRAY

Honorary Life President JOHN GREIG

Managing Director STEWART ROBERTSON

Director: Finance and Administration ANDREW DICKSON

Manager MARK WARBURTON

Assistant Manager DAVID WEIR

Doctor PAUL JACKSON

Head of Performance and Preparation CRAIG FLANNIGAN

Goalkeeping Coach JIM STEWART

Head of analysis NEIL MCILHARGEY

Head of Recruitment FRANK MCPARLAND

Kit Controller JIMMY BELL

Editor NEIL SMITH

Design GREG JOHN GILFILLAN

Photography KIRK O’ROURKE

Contributors ALICE HEDWORTH, NICK THOMSON, ANDY CAMERON, ROBERT CARMICHAEL Print L&S LITHO

8 SNAPSHOT 4 MARK WARBURTON 6 GEDION ZELALEM 8

18

6

28

46

The views in this magazine are not necessarily the views of Rangers Football Club. All material is copyrighted and may only be reproduced with the written permission of Rangers Football Club. The appearance of an advert within this publication does not necessarily mean that the goods/services advertised are associated with or endorsed by Rangers Football Club. All facts and information accurate at time of going to press.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS 14 FAST FACTS 17 ON THE SPOT 18 NEWSDESK 23 ANDY CAMERON 24 QUIZ/CROSSWORD 26 MID-SEASON REVIEW 28 LEE WALLACE 36 DAVID MASON 38 ON THIS DAY 42 RICHARD GOUGH 46 THE TOP TEN 52 JUNIOR GERS 58 FIXTURES 64 THE LAST WORD 66

//LIVINGSTON • CHAMPIONSHIP

ON this day in 2015 a drop in temperature saw Ibrox covered in a blanket of snow and the club’s Championship match against Hearts was abandoned as a result.

After 25 minutes and with the score goalless, both sets of players were struggling on the precarious surface and referee Bobby Madden halted play with a potential risk of injury.

Today’s snapshot, taken by club photographer Kirk O’Rourke, shows the Jambos’ Alim Ozturk going to ground for a 50/50 challenge with Gers star Kenny Miller.

4

//SNAPSHOT

5

ON THE SPOT //LIVINGSTON • CHAMPIONSHIP

6

//ON THE SPOT

Do you think you have a chance of being picked for the Euros? (@Nath_c1872, Twitter) MW: “To be honest, I don’t have a chance! I think you have to be playing in the Premier League, and you see the standards the boys are setting there – the likes of Jamie Vardy (right), Harry Kane and Wayne Rooney. We’ll see what happens in the future though!”

Best striking partner you’ve played with? (@liam_watson72, Twitter) MW: “This is a tough one! There were a few at Sunderland, but I’d say working with Andy Cole (left).”

What advice do you have for taking a penalty?

(William Reid, Facebook) MW: “Just focus on the one spot and don’t change your mind in the run-up. Be confident and don’t worry about missing.”

What is your karaoke song? (@SirDaviesShorts, Twitter) MW: “I’ve had a few, but I’ll go for Jimmy Nail and Crocodile Shoes! He’s up there and he’s a legend! I’d also say Uncle Kracker’s Follow Me as it’s an easy one to start off with when you’re nervous!”

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M

ARTYN WAGHORN has been in sensational form for Rangers this season and the striker has now netted 25 goals in 27 appearances since his summer move to Ibrox.

Already a fans’ favourite, the South Shields striker has helped the Light Blues stay at the top of the Championship table, and he is just as popular in the dressing room as a key member of Mark Warburton’s squad.

But just how would he cope answering a range of questions – from the serious to the bizarre – from the club’s loyal supporters? Find out on the next few pages.

What kind of music do you listen to, to motivate you?

(Jordan Miller, Facebook) MW: “I’m going to have to say Jimmy Nail’s album! It all started when I was a kid and my dad had a cassette in the car and we listened to it on the way to every game we went to.

“Jimmy Nail – he’s the man!”

Could you bench press Ryan Hardie? (@StuPollock1 , Twitter) MW: “Easily! I could bench press about five of him – he’s like a twig so no problem!”

How much do you bench? (dale_speedie, Instagram) MW: “Five Ryan Hardies! I bench about 120kg to 130kg quite comfortably which is not too bad.”

Which player did you admire most as a kid and why?

(Barry.19, Instagram) MW: “Probably Ronaldo, the real one, or somebody like Robbie Fowler, I enjoyed watching him growing up.

Michael Owen and Andy Cole were natural finishers as well but I would have to say Ronaldo.

The way he moved and played the game, he always enjoyed it.”

ON S JA

T L HO

//NEWSDESK

GERS WELCOME FOUNDER’S RELATIVES

T

HE story of Rangers’ four founders is well known, but what of the others that played in the club’s first ever match back in 1872?

Well, one of those men was Harry McNeil, the older brother of Moses McNeil, and today Rangers will welcome his greatgrandchildren Ann Law and Archie Stewart to Ibrox Stadium as guests of the club.

Accompanying them will be Iain McColl and Gordon Bell from the Rangers’ Founders Trail, and the duo are also involved with the Rangers’ Graves Restoration Project which is how they came to meet both Ann and Archie.

Iain takes up the story now, and he explains: “A number of years ago we started researching the story of the founders, and we were very lucky through Gary Ralston, the author of the ‘Gallant Pioneers’ book, to locate current family members.

“We made contact with Ann and Archie back in 2009, and they contributed initially to the book, and off the back of that, we started the Rangers’ Graves Restoration Project where we managed to find the resting places of not only our founders, but a lot of the people associated with Rangers in their early days and years.

“One of those was Harry McNeil, and we knew him to be the great grandfather of Ann and Archie.

“We found him in an unmarked grave in a cemetery in Rutherglen, and myself and my colleague Gordon Bell thought it would be a good idea to make contact with Ann and Archie to see if it would be suitable to undertake the restoration of his grave as part of the project.

“So we went and met them last summer, and they were thrilled with the project and also the Founders Trail, which they joined

MCNEIL’S GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN ARCHIE STEWART AND ANN LAW

us on too.

“We then met with Stewart Robertson [Rangers’ Managing HARRY MCNEIL Director] in November to discuss the whole Founders project and the restoration project was discussed at length, and I explained the story about Ann and Archie to him, and suggested it may be good to invite them along to a game as guests of the club.

“Harry had the distinction of playing in Rangers’ first ever game against Callendar on Flesher’s Haugh, and Stewart agreed it would be a great idea to invite them along, and from there, the club offered to cover the cost of the restoration of Harry’s grave, and that’s currently under construction and it will hopefully be in place by the end of this month or by early February.

“Harry was there on day one, and he was still visiting Ibrox with his grandchildren in the 1920s, so he had the benefit of seeing the seed planted at Flesher’s Haugh and going on to play at Ibrox in front of huge crowds, which must have been incredible for him to see.

“Both Ann and Archie now are thrilled to bits to be coming to the game. They are a big Rangers family, and we are very much looking forward to welcoming them today.”

You can find out more about the Founders Trail and the Graves Restoration Project at www.thegallantpioneers.co.uk.

NEXT HOME game

//LATEST TICKET INFORMATION

TICKET CENTRE AND HOTLINE OPENING HOURS RANGERS V FALKIRK THE LADBROKES CHAMPIONSHIP Saturday 30 January 2016 • Kick Off 3pm Tickets are now on sale and are priced from £18 adult, £13 concession and £5 juniors*

BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!

CONTINUOUS CREDIT CARD SCHEME THE LADBROKES CHAMPIONSHIP GREENOCK MORTON V RANGERS Cappielow Park Monday 25 January • Kick Off 7.45pm Tickets have been posted.

THE LADBROKES CHAMPIONSHIP RAITH ROVERS V RANGERS Stark’s Park Tuesday 2 February • Kick Off 7.45pm Tickets have been posted.

To purchase match tickets please call the Rangers Tickets Hotline on 0871 702 1972 (option 1). Calls cost 13p per minute plus network extras. For supporter enquires relating to existing purchases only, please call 0371 702 1972.

Rangers Ticket Hotline is open Monday to Sunday from 9am-9pm. Rangers Ticket Centre is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9am until 5pm, Thursday 9am until 6pm, Saturday 10am until 2pm and closed Sunday. *Please note prices quoted opposite are for the Family section where terms & conditions apply.

CAR PARKING Car parking spaces are available in the Albion Car Park, directly opposite the Stadium. Spaces are priced at £7 and can be paid upon entry. Alternatively, if you wish to pre-book a car park space visit Matchday Car Parking online via the Rangers website www.rangers.co.uk.

Families with a juvenile in their party can also book a space in the Family Car Park (previously the Away Car Park) priced at £5. Spaces will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

SUPPORTERS CLUBS THE LADBROKES CHAMPIONSHIP RANGERS V FALKIRK • Ibrox Stadium • Saturday 30 January • Kick Off 3pm Payment was taken on Wednesday 13 January.

Tickets are now available for collection.

THE LADBROKES CHAMPIONSHIP RANGERS V GREENOCK MORTON • Cappielow Park • Monday 25 January • Kick Off 7.45pm Tickets are available for collection.

THE LADBROKES CHAMPIONSHIP RAITH ROVERS V RANGERS • Stark’s Park • Tuesday 2 February • Kick Off 7.45pm Tickets are available for collection.

//LIVINGSTON • CHAMPIONSHIP

THE INTERVIEW

ON RangersTV supporters can watch in-depth one-to-ones with a number of the club’s greatest stars, as they discuss their football careers and years at Ibrox.

In this season’s matchday programme we’ve picked a player and published a few answers from their must-watch interview.

Today, one of Rangers’ greatest captains – and a former manager of today’s opponents Livingston – remembers his remarkable years with the Light Blues and the historic nine-in-a-row campaign of 1996/97.

Name

Richard Gough DOB

05-04-1962 Position

centre-BACK Rangers career

apps 427 (1987-97 & 97-98) • Goals 34 honours won

LEAGUE (9) – 1988/89, 1989/90, 1990/91, 1991/92, 1992/93, 1993/94, 1994/95, 1995/96, 1996/97 SCOTTISH CUPS (3) – 1991/92, 1992/93, 1995/96 LEAGUE CUPS (6) – 1987/88, 1988/89, 1990/91, 1992/93, 1993/94, 1996/97 International

Scotland 61 apps

//LIVINGSTON • CHAMPIONSHIP

Throughout the 2015/16 season, we’ll take a look at some great top ten features relating to Rangers. This week, NICK THOMSON from the club’s media department picks out what he believes are the best team goals scored by the men in Light Blue.

TEAM

GOALs

Have we ranked these goals correctly or are there any famous strikes you would have included in the list? Tweet us @RangersFC.

10. JAMES TAVERNIER v Morton 27 September 2015 THIS season has seen Rangers supporters entertained by some of the best football in years, and this sweeping move encapsulated it all.

Using his head to control a cross into

the area, James Tavernier nodded on to Gedion Zelalem in midfield as the full-back bombed forward.

Zelalem then found Martyn Waghorn and he inturn spread the play out to the left and Barrie McKay before he then found Zelalem again on the edge of the box.

As it reached the American, Tavernier went beyond him into the area, and after receiving the ball, he fired it beyond Derek Gaston to score the third goal in a tremendous 4-0 success.

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GOALKEEPERS 1 Cammy Bell 25 Wes Foderingham 30 Maciej Gostomski DEFENDERS 2 James Tavernier 4 Rob Kiernan 5 Lee Wallace 6 Dominic Ball 20 Fraser Aird 27 Danny Wilson MIDFIELDERS 7 Nicky Law 8 Gedion Zelalem 10 Nathan Oduwa 15 Harry Forrester 16 Andy Halliday 22 Dean Shiels 23 Jason Holt 45 Jordan Thompson FORWARDS 9 Kenny Miller 11 David Templeton 14 Nicky Clark 19 Barrie McKay 33 Martyn Waghorn 42 Ryan Hardie 48 Tom Walsh

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GOALKEEPERS 1 Darren Jamieson 26 Marc McCallum DEFENDERS 3 Jackson Longridge 4 Darren Cole 5 Craig Sives 6 Ben Gordon 12 Craig Halkett 14 Declan Gallagher 15 Morgyn Neill MIDFIELDERS 7 Scott Pittman 8 Mark Fotheringham 16 Kieran Gibbons 17 Spas Georgiev 20 Ryan Currie 21 Moses Duckrell 23 Sam Stanton 31 Gary Glen 34 Matthew Knox FORWARDS 9 Jordan White 10 Danny Mullen 11 Myles Hippolyte 18 Jordyn Sheerin 19 Liam Buchanan

REFEREE: CRAIG THOMSON • AR1: GAVIN HARRIS • AR2: THOMAS CLARK