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Tomorrow night will be my 17th Youth Cup Final - by a remarkable coincidence Rangers have featured in all those finals. 67 players who featured in those finals have went on to play in Rangers first team - how many can you name ?

This is going to be good ?

So are some of the posters. ?

Most are correct but not McGregor, Beerman and surprisingly Lewis McLeod. Some played in more than one final and I miscounted I think there are 69, David McFarlane, Hugh Burns, Ian Durrant, Robert Fleck, Scott Nisbet, Neil Caldwell, Charlie Miller, Greg Shileds, Craig Moore, Scott Wilson, Brian McGinty, Steven Boyack, Barry Ferguson, Paul McKnight, Maurice Ross, Mark Brown, Bob Malcolm, David Graham, Darren Fitzgerald, Andy Dowie, Stephen Hughes, Daryll Duffy, Alan Hutton, Steven Smith, Chris Burke, Charlie Adam, Tom Brighton, Lee Robinson, Jordan McMillan, Gary McKenzie, Ross McCormack, Bob Davidson, Bajram Fetai, Scott Gallagher, Ross Perry, John Fleck, Andrew Shinnie, Stevie Lennon, Dean Furman, Andy Little, Jamie Ness, Thomas Kind Bendiksen, Kyle Hutton, Darren Cole, Gregg Wylde, Danny Wilson, Kal Naismith, Kane Hemmings, Rhys McCabe, Kyle McAusland, Chris Hegarty, Robbie Crawford, Andy Mitchell, Luca Gasparotto, Danny Stoney, Charlie Telfer, Andy Murdoch, Callum Gallagher, Barrie Mackay, Fraser Aird, Ryan Hardie, Ross McCrorie, Tom Walsh, Jordan Houston, Aidan Wilson, Jamie Barjonas, Serge Atakayi, Liam Burt, Kyle Bradley. And I have probably missed somebody.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-48028660 Did not know he was a Rangers fan. Archibald Leitch: The man who survived disaster to build football By Steven BrocklehurstBBC Scotland News 25 April 2019 Share this with Facebook Share this with Messenger Share this with Twitter Share this with Email Share Image copyrightH. F. DAVIS Image captionTottenham's White Hart Lane was a stadium Archibald Leitch returned to design stands for over three decades When Archibald Leitch died 80 years ago few in football knew his name but his impact on those who watched the game was huge. Between 1899 and his death on 25 April 1939, the Scottish architect built stands for Rangers, Chelsea, Fulham, Spurs, Liverpool, Everton, Manchester United, Arsenal, Aston Villa and many more. Image copyrightPLAYED IN BRITAIN Image captionArchibald Leitch survived disaster to build many football grounds In fact, at his peak in the late 1920s, 16 out of the 22 clubs in the English First Division had hired Leitch's company at one time or another. He also designed a greyhound and speedway stadium in London, where in the early 1930s there was a doomed attempt to establish a Football League club called Thames AFC. Image copyrightGENERAL PHOTOGRAPHIC AGENCY Image captionThe West Ham stadium designed by Leitch is not to be confused with the ground used by West Ham United According to historian Simon Inglis, no other firm of architects before or since has clocked up such a client base in British sport. Mr Inglis, the author of Engineering Archie: Archibald Leitch - Football Ground Designer, says Leitch's career almost ended in disaster as soon as it began but he fought back to dominate British football stadium design for decades. In more recent times, the Leitch-designed stands have quickly disappeared as new modern stadiums have been built but his influence can still be seen across England and Scotland. How did it all begin? Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES Image captionArchibald Leitch's first worked for Rangers in 1899. He returned to build the South Stand in 1928 Leitch was born in Glasgow in 1865 and began his working life as a factory architect. Mr Inglis says the first ground Leitch worked on was Kilmarnock's in 1899. That same year he was commissioned to design a new stadium for Rangers, the club he supported. Rangers had been playing in a "fairly basic" 25,000-capacity timber ground and were keen to expand. They moved to the other side of Ibrox Park and Leitch built a new oval stadium, which by 1902 had a capacity of 80,000. Ibrox stadium tragedy But on the very first occasion the ground was tested by a capacity crowd, disaster struck. Scotland were playing a match against England in April 1902 when a short section of timber terracing behind one of the goals gave way, sending 25 fans to their deaths. Leitch was at the game and witnessed the tragic events. An inquiry was held into the deaths and, according to Mr Inglis, the blame fell on the inferior wood which had been used on the terracing. Image copyrightEVENING STANDARD Image captionFulham's Craven Cottage was designed by Leitch in 1905 The Ibrox terrace was built in a way which was common at the time, with wooden flooring on top of an iron frame. "Today we would call them bleachers," Mr Inglis says. "They were very popular in American baseball stadiums." It transpired that yellow pine was used at Ibrox instead of the superior red pine and this was blamed for the disaster. Timber merchant Alexander MacDougall was the man who carried the can despite the presiding judge feeling he was perhaps a scapegoat. Mr Inglis says: "There was evidence that Leitch had approved the use of yellow pine in order to get the job done but MacDougall was equally to blame because apparently he billed Rangers for the higher quality pine." Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES Image captionCraven Cottage underwent a major redevelopment in 2002 Despite Leitch escaping criminal prosecution, he was still in danger of losing his career. Mr Inglis says the architect wrote a letter to Rangers begging them to re-employ him instead of one of his rivals. He says: "Leitch writes to Rangers and basically says 'if you sack me then you will effectively be saying that I am guilty'." Leitch's letter goes on: "I need hardly say what an unutterable anguish the accident caused me, surely the most unhappy eyewitness of all." Mr Inglis says Leitch was a charismatic man and a good salesman who was determined to clear his name after the disaster. Image copyrightLIVERPOOL FC Image captionThe decorative gable at the centre of the main stand roof at Liverpool's Anfield stadium, designed by Archibald Leitch Leitch, a prominent Protestant church-goer and freemason, eventually persuaded Rangers to give him another chance. Mr Inglis says: "Archie to his credit gets the job back with Rangers to replace the terracing and does what every good engineer will do, he goes back to the drawing board." The result was a patented form of terracing which is formed by solid ground - effectively earth banks - to make them stronger. He also unveiled tubular steel crush barriers which were built into the slope and form a network of steel and concrete that sat on top of the bank. Image copyrightEXPRESS Image captionPortsmouth's Fratton Park was another where Leitch made his mark The first grounds to benefit from this new design were Fulham's Craven Cottage and Chelsea's Stamford Bridge, which were unveiled in 1905. Leitch's reputation for being able to build functional and budget-conscious football grounds grew. Mr Inglis says the people who controlled football clubs were "very conservative" and it was hard for Leitch to convince them to take risks with their design, as they were beginning to do in Europe. But Leitch refined and improved his engineering and design as he moved around England as a "jobbing architect". In 1923 when Wembley Stadium was built, Leitch was not even considered for the job and was hugely critical of the result. Image copyrightFOX PHOTOS Image captionMuch of Everton's Goodison Park was designed by Leitch Mr Inglis says Leitch was not part of "the establishment" and those in charge of football would not have even looked at his designs before awarding the contract to architects who had no experience of building stadiums. Despite being largely overlooked, Leitch's designs dominated British football until the late 1980s when the Taylor Report following the Hillsborough disaster accelerated the replacement of many of his stands. His work can still be seen at a number of grounds including Rangers, where the South Stand, built in 1928-9, is category B listed. Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES Image captionAston Villa's famous Holte End terrace was originally designed by Leitch's firm The concrete core of Leitch's main stand at Liverpool's Anfield stadium, built in 1906, lives on but it is buried deep within the vast new stand. Across Stanley Park, two others Leitch stands survive at Goodison Park: the Bullens Road Stand (1926) and Gwladys Street (1938) but they may not be around for much longer if Everton rebuilds. Fulham, Sheffield Wednesday, Dundee, Aberdeen, Crystal Palace and Portsmouth all have Leitch work that is still standing. Image copyrightTOPICAL PRESS AGENCY Image captionEverton playing at Spurs' White Hart Lane ground in 1912 Image copyrightTOPICAL PRESS AGENCY Image captionAn ambulance worker handing out water at a crowded football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at White Hart Lane in 1913 But Tottenham's White Hart Lane is the latest casualty. Leitch built four stands for Spurs between 1909 and 1934, including the East Stand, but the stadium has now been replaced by a new ground. Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES Image captionA general view of a match in progress at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge in 1919 Image copyrightDAVIS/TOPICAL PRESS AGENCY/GETTY IMAGES Image captionGroundstaff lay 3,000 bales of straw at Tottenham Hotspur's football pitch to protect the ground from frost When Archibald Leitch died in April 1939, two days short of his 74th birthday, there was not a single obituary in any newspaper. Image copyrightFOX PHOTOS Image captionLeitch who had first designed a stand at White Hart Lane in 1909 was brought back for the new East Stand development in 1934 Image copyrightJ. A. HAMPTON Image captionSpurs play Sheffield United at White Hart Lane in 1936 Mr Inglis says: "It is extraordinary that he died almost completely unknown. "In those days football ground architects were just not regarded as establishment figures. There was just not the level of press coverage that there is today."

You would think this was St Pats TV with the usual bias commentary!

Self Interest is Best. The glue that binds the denizens of the PQ Gang Hut, is hatred of Rangers and Rangers supporters. The more clever ones know that such hatred must be conducted in a more careful manner. Such conclusions are necessary to allow Auntie Beeb's laughable claims reference being 'Editorial Fair'? Indiscipline arrives because of emotion and nothing gets Michael Stewart more emotional than Rangers being the talk o' ra toon after battering the boys in maroon. It seems to me that to sustain claims of Editorial Fairness, every time Michael and indeed, fellow Jambo, Allan Preston open their mouths; viewers/listeners should be reminded both make monthly contributions to the Foundation of Hearts. I think the Foundation of Hearts is a wonderful organisation, it is a means for Jambos to voluntarily support their club in a meaningful way. I believe in the four years it has been going, it has contributed something approaching £2 million to the cause. Saturday afternoon was the opportunity to exercise Editorial Fairness. The BBC Radio Scotland commentary team at Tynecastle was Rob McLean and Michael. Sitting extremely comfortably with an oft' presented preferred prejudice, Michael blamed Hearts woes on Craig Levein, "it's too easy for Rangers". Just after half-time, he lost his discipline at Rangers third goal. Harbouring a well nurtured sense of injustice, he screamed, "that's outrageous, it's just a ball to the back post, what's more outrageous is Rangers benefiting from a corner where Arfield was two yards offside". At this point, PQ's claims of being Editorial Fair would benefit from a disclaimer, 'Michael hates Rangers'. The next day on Sportscene, we saw Arfield was half a yard on side and the resulting corner was wholly legitimate. Michael said nothing, too busy blaming Levein in more detail. Of course, maybe that's what PQ and Editorial Fairness means in reality; give us a day to sort out the emotions and we will ensure Michael's embarrassment is assuaged. Or, twenty-four hours is all we need to sail the good ship,'PQ Gang Hut' into the calmer waters of careful hate. Interestingly, Michael let the cat out of the self interest bag during Sportscene when discussing the Killie/Aberdeen game. Examining Findlay's red card, Michael opined, "our Kilmarnock supporting graphics man has blown this up and slowed it down, done everything to make it look like Findlay got a touch on the ball". There you go, if we can secret a Rangers supporting graphics man into the Gang Hut, life would be more Editorially Fair.

Looks like someone has stolen Tom Boyd's scone?

I came on to ask if someone can phone Craigen and tell him there are 2 teams playing.

As a member of a bowling club I have been to many funerals of fellow members and members of other clubs and all have been as you describe. Also I have lost many family and relatives as well as many good friends again services etc. have been as you describe. As a Rangers fan I have attended memorial games respecting the loss of some of our own,observed respectful silences and expect to do so again as time goes on,as many on here have no doubt done the same and will do again. We had the outpouring of grief with Davie Cooper and Sandy Jardine to name but two and they were also respected by other teams fans so the attention given to the late Billy McNeill is warranted as he was a great servant to football both club and country.

Goodson and Villa Park both have great atmospheres and always remind me of Ibrox.

Our Main Stand and the back of Villa's Holte End are things of wonder. I remember going to see Fulham vs Rangers about 17 years ago and thought it was a great wee stadium and Highbury and Goodison were also very impressive.

All in all, a very satisfactory outcome.

Its 3 2 for us 71 minutes

Nobody gets banned for having an opinion on here as long as they are respectful to others with a different opinion.

What you lot on about , every Rangers strips a belter .

Zaliukas.

Just for the avoidance of doubt, I don't have a problem with Paul Murray per se. I have a problem with Paul Murray choosing to effectively grease the palms of people (who actively seek to do us harm) in the name of mutual benefit. Free advertising at a cost?

Spivs. Harks back to a really depressing period of our recent history. It was hard to know who made you most sick, those accused of spivvery or those hysterically labelling anything that moved as a spiv. There were certainly some fans who rose to prominence on the back of it. ?

Listened to the podcast of Monday night Sportsound and PQ solved the problem of a convincing Rangers win at Tynecastle by simply not mentioning it. They concentrated on the managers involved in the game with no football, Kilmarnock v Aberdeen and the match with no goals, Hibs v Celtic. When talking about Lennon, Michael Stewart was defending him saying that he did well to get the last minute win at Tynecastle because it is a difficult venue for away teams. Unfortunately, he didn't get the chance to ring our praises for such a good win at such a difficult venue

Why have we picked an Aberdeen strip as second choice? Bring back the old vertical light blue stripes reserve team tops as second strip. I won't be buying a top but certainly wouldn't buy the Aberdeen look alike top

I'm looking forward to tonight's Youth Cup Final. For anyone unaware, it's on the new BBC (?) Scotland channel at 7.05pm.

Said a while ago that we might be interested but the fee will be too rich for us, or at least won't represent value. I doubt he'll go 5M but I reckon they'll get in the region of 2.75 plus add-ons from an English Championship team.

What's more interesting is why Murray decided to air his opinions with the Rhecord. Did he wake up the other day and decide to pick up the phone to do Keech a favour? Has Dave asked him on the qt to chip in for a player and he's politely declined and then thought it best to appraise the fans that no big spend will be happening any time soon? Does he just want everyone to remember that he's still about? Granted, honourable tabloids are thin on the ground but to go to the Rhecord, home of 'courageous journalism' don't forget, once again??? Deary me...

In one sir. I read the basic gist of this elsewhere today but the source was unattributed. I thought to myself, 'he's bound to have spoken to the Rhecord' and lo and behold, that's exactly what he has done. Regardless of how measured his comments are, the fact that PM chooses that rag as his conduit to the support beggars belief and shows how out of step he is with the mainstream support. This isn't fifteen or twenty years ago Paul ffs! Why not release a statement via Club1872? Missed opportunity if you ask me.

The Rhebel was also more than happy to do Jack Irvine’s bidding during that time, and there were far more negative, false or misleading stories than correct ones. Even if if that were true of back then, the commercial agreement between CFC and the Rhebel signed since, coupled with the editorial policy of Rangers - bad, tims - good, should mean that particular publication, ran by and for tims, should NEVER be used by our players, officials, Directors or even ex-directors.

That's interesting. It was more around doing more to discourage the 'hangers-on' at these events and then the creation of organisations like "Scottish Protestants Against Discrimination" which is hyperbolic and viewed as such by a good number of people who might otherwise have some sympathy towards organisations like the OO. Holding rallies and demonstrations tends to inflame and annoy, rather than get the 'not bothered' onside.

I have all mine from the 90s NIAR in a cupboard, been there for years.

Two managers at Rugby Park yesterday (Kilmarnock v Aberdeen). Both have recently publicly commented on sectarian chants aimed in their personal direction If you measured BBC Scotland column inches, broadcast minutes or even descriptive language used by media/pundits..... Would it be editorially fair ?

The Moral Compass. The nation's Jiminey Cricket, Michael Stewart waded into Alex McLeish's sacking last night on BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound. He was speaking on behalf of his constituency, the Tartan Army. Of course, Michael's hoped for constituency was Edinburgh West, he lost the prospective parliamentary candidate race for the SNP, to Michelle Thomson. Since we are getting all moral compass, let's hope Michael did not purchase a property from Michelle? Anyways, on behalf of the Tartan Army, Michael stated a main objection to McLeish was, "he is a recipient of an EBT". The only other two I have heard utilising this reasoning on the same means, are DrStu' and Jum Spence. We have to admire the moral fortitude of the PQ Triumvirate, having to share both studios and broadcast air time with both Billy Dodds and Stephen Thompson. Both are recipients of EBTs. Particularly, Michael sharing that Sportscene studio twice a week with Thommo; we should pray for Michael. Let's hope Thommo's immorality never runs interference with all that exposure Michael is receiving? Talking of DrStu', he failed to trap for yesterday's BBC Radio Scotland's Media Review. His appearance was not necessary, the other regular contributor, Dr Eamonn O'Neill quoted DrStu' twice during the elongated discussion on the Kezia Dugdale/Rev' Stuart Campbell defamation case. DrStu's oft' repeated objection to McLeish's appointment, was his refusal to, "give up his big house in Fulham". DrStu' was consistent, in that he objected to Gordon Strachan refusing to give up his big house in Hampshire. He demanded the national coach lives in Scotland. Both good Doctors were anxious to broadcast their view that the Rev' Stuart Campbell did NOT loose the defamation case, or that Wings Over Scotland was not the loser. Dr Eamonn quoted DrStu', "you must remember, there is Wings Over Scotland and there is the Reverend Stuart Campbell, Stuart can be a bit spikey". We can only assume DrStu' has failed to factor in the Grid Magnetic Angle whilst setting his moral compass, the Rev' Stuart has a big house in Bath. Obviously, residents of Somerset are exempt, you need to live here to manage Scotland, but you can pontificate constantly on every aspect of the nation's administration from the Georgian town these last thirty years. Staying on the moral course and paraphrasing Dr Eamonn, 'there's Trainspotting and there's Irvine Welsh'. DrStu' loves dearest Irvine, continually lionises his literary works. I agree, Trainspotting is a literary triumph. We must state right from the off, Irvine has at least two big houses, one in Chicago and the other in Dublin. Like the Rev', he has been away from Scottish shores for over a quarter of a century. Irvine touched base this week, a fellow Hibee was shot dead outside his home in Chester Street, Edinburgh. Bradley Welsh appears to be a much rehabilitated character, from football casual to boxing gym proprietor to actor? Although, today's press are claiming inability to look after £130,000 of drugs was the reasoning for the shooting. Irvine Welsh issued a heartfelt tribute, indeed he claimed his heart was broken at the news. This is not an attempt to intrude upon private grief, it is an on going query on Irvine Welsh's punk rock band of 1976, 'Stairway 13'? Will DrStu' reveal Irvine's inspiration/stimulation for the name? I would ask Irvine again, but he is unreliable in his claims eg he claims to be sixty years of age, but police records have evidence of another birth certificate stating a 1951 date of birth. I hope Stairway 13 did not play Markinch, that really would be heartbreaking. Finally, Angela Haggerty claimed on BBC Radio Scotland's Shereen Nanjiani show recently, "the IRA are a defunct organisation". I wonder if Angela would care to tell that to the family of fellow Journalist, Lyra McKee? She was shot dead last night in the Creggan area of Londonderry by the IRA. Go on Angela, set your moral compass and, 'Call it Out'.

I suspect Sunday afternoon/evening last, might be viewed as a series of defining moments in PQ's attempt to provide definition on Strict Liability? The live broadcast of BBC Radio Scotland's coverage of the Scottish Cup semi-final between Aberdeen and ra Sellik put together with an early evening Sportscene highlights the shimmering mess they have got themselves into. PQ demand answers to questions they don't even dare to ask themselves, because those questions are too uncomfortable. A Dandy Dons/Yahoo fixture is what they live for, it's perfect harmony. You have Big Dick presenting, Liam McLeod commentating, Tom English, Pat Bonner, and Wullie Miller adding colour. The vox-pops are provided by Tyrone Smith; it's all safe, contained to only supporters of both clubs, no awkward or inconvenient comments guaranteed. Mutual masturbation is actively encouraged. It has been established, Rangers under Gerrard have not improved, the oligopoly of the last several seasons remains preserved. We have a monthly period where pyrotechnics have been lobbed on to playing areas at Paisley by Yahoos, the same supporters aim sectarian chanting at both Steven Gerrard and Jimmy Bell. Motherwell fans throw a lighter, a pie, and a few coins at Rangers skipper, James Tavernier, Jambos and Hibees add to the pyro party, and add a touch of creativity by shying a coconut. A Hibby is jailed for 100 days for attempting to attack James Tavernier. All this in the immediate wake of Aberdeen supporters subjecting Gerrard to sectarian chanting and offering a few ditties about the Ibrox Disaster. Just before that, Rangers supporters sectarianly abused Killie boss, Steve Clarke; days before this, Sellik supporters did the same to Killie striker, Kris Boyd and pelted him with coins. I hope you can pick the needle out of the above haystack? Beeb Scotland went BIG with 'Strict Liability' on one issue in that morass. We had demands from Michael Stewart, DrStu', and Tom English for strict liability now. We had pleas from presenters on both radio and TV, after the obligatory phone-in/studio discussion had concluded that the Scottish Government must step in and deal with the issue. The national broadcaster is the biggest megaphone in the land and the volume was turned up to eleven. Steve Clarke had defined the issue, "it was something from the dark ages". As far as the rest of, the overwhelming mass of the haystack; PQ treated that as a whiter shade of pale. Calls for strict liability diminished, then disappeared. In fact the current standing from the politically motivated Michael Stewart stands thus, "we need to get a collective approach to try and tackle this and stamp it out". His lame and limp offering from Sunday night's Sportscene. Michael's political muse, Scottish Justice Minister, Humza Yousaf began the week threatening Scottish football clubs. He demanded the clubs tell him of their plans to deal with this vague and unquantified issue? Last weekend, BBC Scotland's Chief Sports Correspondent, Chris McLaughlin added to the debate by visiting Holland. The Dutch had implemented strict liability and Chris was anxious to present the benefits to both game and society. A several minute film, a few reinforcing chats with shows' hosts, and a piece on the Beeb website told us .............. nothing. A day after broadcast, Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final between Ajax and Juventus saw 146 arrests. An exercise in Double Dutch from Chris, who would have thought? PQ have told us pesky license fee paying Rangers supporters, "we are Editorially fair". I have watched this last month how they exercise editorial fairness. Each incident is reported, thus they can make the statement. It is reported on Ceefax or inserted into their website as seventh item, eg McInnes claiming his red card at Hampden was a direct result of gesturing after being subject to sectarian abuse from the self proclaimed GFITW. This appeared on both Ceefax and the website and disappeared after four hours. There are no discussions, phone-ins, studio guests, ........... etc. The megaphone is severely muted. So, where does this leave us? Will the usual suspects at PQ answer these awkward questions? 1. Can we agree, Steve Clarke's outrage at being sectarianly targeted by Rangers supporters would have carried far more substantial weight, if he had condemned those Celtic supporters doing the very same to his club's captain, Kris Boyd, just three days previously? 2. Similarly, Derek McInnes and his being sent to the stand. Again, would his claims carry more purchase if he had commented/condemned Aberdeen fans for singing the very same song at Steven Gerrard? Further, his gesture to the Celtic support is the very same gesture utilised by Scott Brown to the Rangers supporters at Celtic Park. Brown has not been punished, why was McInnes sanctioned? 3. Long term PQ employee, Derek Ferguson utilised the available megaphone to claim Rangers keeper, Alan McGregor had deliberately set out to do his son, Aberdeen midfielder, Lewis Ferguson. McGregor was cited by the Compliance Officer and suspended for two matches. Does Derek intend to pick up the megaphone again and claim his son set out to do Rogic? 4. Will Chris McLaughlin interview Humza Yousaf? It could be conducted in the comfy green leather seats in the north stand after a Sellik game, just saying. 5. Do Michael Stewart, DrStu', and Tom English expect strict liability to be extended to clubs, other than Rangers? 6, What's the point of Jonathon Sutherland? It's as well we remind ourselves of PQ's claim of being editorial fair, because I suspect it is the hook they hang themselves upon. We should record the evidence because if Humza Yousaf gets involved, that evidence will be lost, or deliberately disappeared.