The Moonlighter

Our full range of merchandise is available to purchase here on our website. https://www.thefounderstrail.co.uk/shop All items are posted out within 24 hours.

This morning the Restoration of Rangers Graves Project received a donation of £200 from the Lanzarote Rangers Supporters Club. We’d like to sincerely thank them for this overwhelming generosity which ensures that our work will continue over the coming months. If you’d like to donate to the Restoration Project please use the link here on our website. https://www.thefounderstrail.co.uk/blank-17

We're delighted to report that we've been contacted today by John's niece who is now in Australia where the family are located. They were more than happy to give us the go ahead to start the restoration work on the plot.

Our Founders Trail hats are now available to purchase. They are only £10.00 (+£2.00 P&P) and can be purchased here on our website. https://www.thefounderstrail.co.uk/shop All orders are posted out within 24 hours.

John Crawford didn’t return home from Ibrox on the 2nd January 1971. He was only 23 years old. John rests in Lambhill Cemetery Glasgow. Today we’re putting out this appeal in attempt to locate family or relatives of John Crawford with a view to restoring the headstone at his final resting place. From a file I’ve been given I believe John may have come from Springburn. If you can provide any information please call us on 0790 2855536 or send an email to thefounderstrail@gmail.com

Last Saturday night we presented the Founders Story at the Harthill 30 Social Club. At the end of the evening our Restoration donations bucket was passed around the hall and the wonderful amount of £142.01 was raised. We'd like to thank everyone who attended for their overwhelming generosity. Thank you.

Would all who are booked on tomorrow's Tour please note that there will be a Founders Trail welcome desk available within the Ibrox Megastore from 11.15am prior to our 12pm departure directly across from the Megastore This will give us an opportunity to greet you, check you from our loading chart and distribute our travel packs. Parking is available throughout the day around Ibrox Stadium. If you have any questions before the tour please don't hesitate in contacting us on 0790 2855536.

Join us on Saturday night and hear the greatest story never told..........until now.

One of the first questions i asked his Great Grandson was where the nickname ''Kitey'' came from? He said as a child he was so good with the ball in the school playground that he would bob and weave like a kite around his friends. The name was to stick.

As our work on the Rangers Graves Restoration Project continues we were delighted to be contacted recently by the Great Grandson of Rangers player John McPherson. He informed us that Mr McPherson is buried in Craigton Cemetery Glasgow. His name is now added to the ever growing list of Rangers Legends laid to rest there. After some research and information received from the family we managed locate the final resting place of Rangers ‘’ first superstar’’John McPherson. The plot currently is sadly unmarked. John McPherson’s funeral cortege. John McPherson’s plot will now be added to the Rangers Grave Restoration Project. A new stone will be put in place and the plot will be brought back to it’s original glory. John McPherson deserves nothing less. John McPherson. THERE have been some hugely talented players who have pulled on the Light Blue over the decades and it is fair to say that John “Kitey” McPherson was the club’s first superstar. The recruitment of the Ayrshireman coincided with the formation of the Scottish Football League in 1890 and he became a huge figure in what was a highly successful era for Rangers. Indeed, he made the kind of start that dreams are made of. He scored on his Rangers debut – a 5-2 win over Hearts – scored four times in his second game, a 6-2 thumping of Renton, and then hit five goals in the 8-2 demolition of St Mirren. It was an unbelievable start, but it was no flash in the pan. McPherson was a pivotal player in 12 years on the field and subsequently a skilled administrator of the Club. He actually played in every position for Rangers, including goalkeeper, but it was as an inside forward that he shone brightest scoring goals as well as setting them up with tremendous regularity. He was part of the first Championship-winning team when Rangers and Dumbarton shared the inaugural Scottish League title. The two sides had finished level on points and the authorities ordered a play-off which finished 2-2 so a share was a declared. McPherson was captain by the time Rangers achieved one of their main ambitions, to win the Scottish Cup. They had not been in the final for 15 years when they faced Celtic at Hampden in front of 17,000 in 1894 and, fittingly, McPherson scored the third goal in a 3-1 victory over the team that was fast becoming their main rivals. Jock had scored in every round on route to the Final as Rangers finally claimed the prize seen as the Blue Riband of the Scottish game. # McPherson was on the score-sheet again when Rangers won the trophy for a second time in 1897 when Dumbarton were thrashed 5-1 and a year later the old trophy was retained when Kilmarnock were beaten 2-0. Season 1898/99 was astonishing to say the least and McPherson was a key man in a league campaign that has never been equalled anywhere in the world. Rangers won all of their 18 league matches scoring 79 goals and conceding just 18. It was the perfect league championship win and McPherson played in 15 of the games, scoring seven times. It was the start of a wonderful stranglehold of the Scottish title and the team that did it is undoubtedly on a par with the great sides that dominated the 1920s and 30s, the late 1940s, the early 1960s and the 1990s. With McPherson at the hub of it all, Rangers retained the title in 1899/1900 by seven points from Celtic. He only missed two matches the following season and scored seven times as the title remained at Ibrox for a third successive year, And then Rangers made it four in a row in 1901/02, McPherson’s final season in the first team. Incredibly, his final league appearance was as goalkeeper in the 3-2 win over St Mirren on January 18 1902 – a match Rangers had to win to hold off Celtic for the title – as regular keeper Mathew Dickie was injured. It’s a bit like Brian Laudrup replacing Andy Goram . McPherson had been a massive player in a fantastic era for Rangers. In 1907 he became a director of the club and served until his death in 1926. He collapsed and died while watching the Clyde Sports at Shawfield and one contemporary described him as “the finest player in the first 50 years of the club’s history”. Born: June 19, 1868, Kilmarnock. Appearances: 218. Goals: 121. Honours: League title – 1890/91, 1898/99, 1899/1900, 1900/01, 1901/02 (5) Scottish Cup – 1893/94, 1896/97, 1897/98 (3) Caps: 9, Scotland (5 with Rangers)

Treat the Bluenose in your life to a Founders Trail and Ibrox Stadium Tour Gift Voucher. The Gift Vouchers are without limit of time and reserve a seat on any Founders Trail and Ibrox Stadium Tour of your choice(allowing for availability). Adults £25 Senior Bluenoses and Wee Bears ( under 16) £18 +£1 P+P per order Gift Vouchers, which can be purchased here on our website, are posted out on the same day of purchase. https://www.thefounderstrail.co.uk/shop

Our first batch of Tours for 2018 are filling up fast! To avoid disappointment please reserve your seats here on our website. https://www.thefounderstrail.co.uk/book-online

The Founders Trail first took to the streets of Glasgow in 2009. Our core objective is to give people an understanding of what Rangers Football Club is and why it means so much to so many people around the world. We literally have a story like no other. During the course of the Trail we highlight how those wonderful traits that we associate with our Club, hard work, discipline, honesty, integrity and fair play were the very foundation stones that our Club was built upon ,these were put in place by our Founders on Fleshers Haugh in 1872. We show how our Club is woven into the very fabric of our city Glasgow. Just recently we were invited to a meeting with the Club where they informed us that they are very keen to get the Founders Trail involved with the Rangers Overseas Development Project. This wonderful initiative regularly brings groups from all over the world into Glasgow where kids, parents and grandparents get to sample the unique Rangers experience. The kids train at Auchenhowie, take in a match when possible, and visit local attractions. We’re delighted to say that on Tuesday 21st November we’ll be taking our first group from North America around Glasgow to tell of how a group of kids came into the town from the Scottish countryside and formed on a spare bit of ground what was to become the world’s most successful football club. This is a hugely important and positive step not only for the Founders Trail but Rangers Football Club and we’re delighted to be involved. Our wonderful Founders story is going global!

All scarves ordered are posted out with 24 hours.

Tickets still available for what will be our next Presentation Event. Yvonne Ferrie on 07767 159573

It will be an honour for us to present the Founders Story to the Campbeltown Loyal Rangers Supporters Club at the Argyle Bowling Club on Saturday 2nd December at 7.30pm. The Club is at Millknowe Road, Campbeltown, PA28 6NJ Tickets are £5 and can be purchased from Callum Semple at semple.buchan@btconnect.com We hope to see a few of you there!

Last Friday evening we presented the Founders Story to the Cross Keys Rangers Supporters Club in Stevenston. After the event our Restoration bucket was sent around the hall and raised an incredible £258! We’d like to sincerely thank all who attended for not only a cracking evening but this wonderful act of generosity. Thank you. If you’d like to donate to the Restoration of Rangers Graves Project please use the link here on our website. https://www.thefounderstrail.co.uk/the-restoration-of-rangers-graves

Robert Grant didn’t return home from Ibrox on the 2nd January 1971. He was only 21. Earlier this year we were contacted by a Robert Lindsay of the Bishopton RSC who informed us that he had visited Robert’s grave and asked if we could restore the plot and re-letter the inscription. Robert managed to get a contact number for Robert Grant’s sister whom I spoke to and explained the on-going work with the Restoration of Rangers Graves Project. She agreed to restoration of her brother’s stone . We’re delighted to say that this work was completed yesterday. How can you help The Restoration of Rangers Graves Project? We of course won’t carry out any restoration work without first consulting with the relatives of those affected by the disasters and gaining their consent. Do you know of any relative that we can approach and offer assistance? If you can help please send an email to the founderstrail@gmail.com or call 0790 2855536. Donations can be made here on our website or in person before any future match at Ibrox. https://www.thefounderstrail.co.uk/the-restoration-of-rangers-graves

The NEW Heart and Hand Extra - The Founders Trail is now available to stream/dl on Acast! https://www.acast.com/heartandhands/heartandhandextra-thefounderstrail?autoplay

Would all who are booked on Saturday's Tour please note that there will be a Founders Trail welcome desk available within the Ibrox Megastore from 11.15am prior to our 12pm departure directly across from the Megastore This will give us an opportunity to greet you, check you from our loading chart and distribute our travel packs. Parking is available throughout the day around Ibrox Stadium. If you have any questions before the tour please don't hesitate in contacting us on 0790 2855536.

This gem of an article that we recently discovered details our 1879 Annual Meeting held in Dewar’s Temperance Hotel at number 11 Bridge Street which today is Cumbrae House. It’s an important location on the Founders Trail. Six years earlier the Scottish Football Association was formed in Dewar’s Hotel, but unfortunately the young Rangers didn’t receive an invitation to join as they weren’t being taken seriously at this stage by senior clubs such as Queens Park. It’s fascinating that so many committee positions are being filled by players from our first seven years, a few of whom are pictured here. Across the road from Dewars at Number 14 stood Bridge Street Train Station . Tom Vallance left from this station for India to work on a tea-plantation in February 1882. Newspaper reports at the time stated that “a large crowd of well-wishers gathered on the platform to see Mr. Vallance off and his friends at the Rangers Club presented him with 50 sovereigns as a thank you for his years of service”. That presentation was held in Maitland’s Hotel which stood to the right of the stations entrance. That grand building was sadly demolished when Central Station was expanded in 1901. Tom Vallance would return to Glasgow and his Club within a year after becoming seriously ill in India which was to sadly curtail his playing career. The return of Tom Vallance was in fact a god-send and he was to quickly take control of the Club being voted in as President at the 1883 Annual Meeting.

Due to incredible demand we’re delighted to launch our first batch of Founders Trail and Ibrox Stadium Tour dates for 2018. This will be our ninth year and the popularity of the Trail continues to soar! Since we first took to the streets of Glasgow in 2009 we’ve taken over 8,000 people on the Trail of our Founders and through the doors of Ibrox Stadium ,many for the first time. Through the education process of the Founders Trail our objective is to safeguard our unique and wonderful history for future generations. So let us Follow Follow in the Footsteps of our Founders. The Founders Trail and Ibrox Stadium Tour dates are as follows: Saturday 13th January Sunday 28th January Sunday 4th February Sunday 18th February Sunday 18th March Sunday 1st April Sunday 8th April ***Tour dates may be subject to change due to football fixtures*** Our day begins at 11.15 at the Founders Trail welcome desk which is located within the Ibrox Megastore where will greet you and distribute our Tour guide books prior to our 12pm departure from outside of the store. Our journey takes us to the area of Fleshers Haugh where The Rangers played their first ever match, we also visit Glassford Street, Union Street, Berkeley Street, Burnbank, Kinning Park, Craigton Cemetery and many other places of interest before finishing off our day with a tour of our magnificent Ibrox Stadium. At Craigton Cemetery we give an insight into the Restoration of Rangers Graves Project. During our journey we have a 30 minute break at the Partick Bowling Club which is in the shadow of the historic West of Scotland Cricket Ground which was the scene of the Rangers first ever Scottish Cup Final in 1877. This gives everyone a chance to unwind, grab a beer or soft drink and a bite to eat at a beautiful and historical setting. To avoid disappointment please reserve your seat early as the Founders Trail does sell out very quickly. Prices are as follows. Adults £25 Children (under 16) and Senior Citizens £18 Group discounts are available upon request. Reserve your seat here https://www.thefounderstrail.co.uk/book-online'>https://www.thefounderstrail.co.uk/book-online For further information phone : 0790 2855536. An insight into our research can be found here on our website https://www.thefounderstrail.co.uk/

Once again due to overwhelming demand we're delighted to add yet another date to this year’s Founders Trail programme. Saturday 25th November. This will be the final Tour of 2017. All other Tour dates are sold out and we once again thank you for your continued support. Adults : £25 Children (under 16) and Senior Citizens £18. Group discounts are available upon request. Reserve your seat here: https://www.thefounderstrail.co.uk/book-online For further information please call 0790 2855536.

Once again due to overwhelming demand our remaining Tours for 2017 are now completely sold out. We are hopeful of slotting in another Tour on Saturday 25th November details of which will be posted on our website. https://www.thefounderstrail.co.uk/book-online The first batch of Tour dates for 2018 will be available to book from next week. We'd like to sincerely thank everyone for the continued support which is growing faster than we can supply dates.

We have a new batch of our Founders Trail and Ibrox Stadium Tour leaflet ready to distribute. If you'd like your Supporters Club,Pub or organisation to be included on our distribution list then please send an email to thefounderstrail@gmail.com and we’ll either visit you or post them out.