The Moonlighter

A photograph of George that Barbara and Emile gave us yesterday.

Earlier today we met with George Gillespie’s Granddaughter Barbara and her husband Emile. We took them around Glasgow visiting various locations linked not only with George’s Rangers career but also his life. We visited his house on Radnor Street , his Pub in Finnieston, and our grounds at Burnbank, Kinning Park and First Ibrox. After paying their respects at George Gillespie’s final resting place at Lambhill Cemetery we took them on a Tour of Ibrox Stadium and finished of our day with lunch in the Argyle House restaurant. It was a privilege to spend the day with Barbara and Emile and to give them an insight into George’s life and the early years of our Club. We also managed to help each other, through our research, place more pieces into the wonderful tapestry that is Rangers Football Club. They are now honorary members of our worldwide Rangers Family, brought back into the fold, and head off home to Canada with copies of our Gallant Pioneers book and of course Founders Trail scarves as reminder of their visit to Glasgow and their bond with the Rangers. Haste Ye Back.

Plymouth True Blues confirmed for the 15th/16th June 2018. We also have enquiries and bookings for Founders Presentation events in: Campbeltown Fraserburgh Bathgate Greenock Vale of Leven Drumchapel Kincardine A busy few months coming right up.

After the success of our last match-day Tour of Craigton Cemetery we’re offering another Tour on Saturday 9th September before the match v Dundee. Over the last three years while working on the Rangers Graves Project we’ve restored, among many others,eight plots at Craigton Cemetery. Manager Mr.Struth Founder Peter McNeil Trainer James Wilson Player James ‘’Tuck’’McIntyre Players from the 1877 Team: Sam Ricketts James Watt Sandy Marshall. Supporter George Nelson who lost his life in the 1961 accident at Ibrox Stadium. Craigton Cemetery is 5 minutes from Ibrox Stadium and we’d like to offer this guided Tour of the final resting places to any supporters who find themselves in the area before the Dundee game on Saturday 9th September,it will take no longer than one hour. Many supporters clubs from Northern Ireland arrive at Ibrox around 12pm, would this Tour appeal to any of your members? There is no fee for the Tour although donations to The Restoration of Rangers Graves Project will be received with thanks. If you’d like to join us on the day, get an insight into the Restoration Project and pay your respects to those men who formed and built our Club then please send an email to thefounderstrail@gmail.com or call 0790 2855536.

Last night we had the pleasure of presenting the Founders Story at the Segton Bar Coatbridge. This was an event that was sold out weeks in advance. We'd like to sincerely thank Derek Scott and the many others who made this a very memorable night.

Over the last few years the Founders Trail Roadshow has taken us all around the country and beyond to some wonderful places but this email we received this week has taken things to a whole new level! ''Hullo, I am the secretary for the Melbourne City Loyal Rangers Supporters Club here in Australia. I received an email from the Club about the Founders Trail Roadshow and would like to know if this is something that you could bring to Australia one day soon''? We’re on our way sport!

Emotions would have been running high,they continue to do so. I recently met a family bereaved who have never forgiven the Club.

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. The Restoration of Rangers Graves has expanded into assisting where we can those bereaved by the 1961 accident and the 1971 Ibrox Disaster. 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

lol. It's a prop that we use while telling the story of our early years at Fleshers Haugh.

Davie Wilson on the Founders Trail today at Fleshers Haugh where it all began. Dressed immaculately, a true Ranger.

The opening of First Ibrox 20th August 1887. Rangers Football Club was formed on Fleshers Haugh in 1872. In 1875 we moved to the West End of Glasgow and Burnbank where we leased the ground from the Glasgow Accies Rugby Club for one season. 1876 and we were on the move again to the Southside and Kinning Park where we remained for 11 years. By 1887 the City of Glasgow was growing and Industrialisation had spread south of the river. The ground at Kinning Park was being squeezed by companies such as the Clutha Ironworks and the tenement buildings which were springing up. On the same weekend that Rangers booked their place in the Semi-Final of the FA Cup against Aston Villa the Rangers committee after much deliberation settled on a 6 acre piece of land at the Copland Road end of Paisley Road. The new Stadium which would cost £750 would include a Pavilion, a 1,200 capacity stand, an enclosure and a four lane running track. Ibrox in 1887 was actually out in the country, and it was said at the time that the people of Glasgow were shocked that Rangers were moving so far out of town! In fact a correspondent in one of the Glasgow newspapers suggested that Rangers should consider installing drinking fountains at their new home at Ibrox as it was that far away from the nearest pub! But the Rangers Committee had predicted the growth of Glasgow further west and how right they were. The Club had in fact first looked at a ground in the Strathbungo/Pollokshields area of Glasgow. But the Rangers back in 1887 were attracting a rather unruly and boisterous crowd from the docks and Kinning Park area and when the Strathbungo residents heard of Rangers intentions they protested furiously. The Wednesday before the ground was officially opened Tom Vallance held a cake and wine party within the pavilion shown to show off our new stadium. On 20th August 1887 Rangers played Preston North End to mark the opening of first Ibrox. This wonderful photograph shows both teams and Club offocials. It was said it was not un-common to find Club President Tom Vallance working the turnstiles at first Ibrox on match-day. On the evening of the opening match v Preston Founder Peter McNeil read a rousing speech in Ancell’s Restaurant which was part of what is today’s Trades House on Glassford Street he said ‘’ I have been a member of the Rangers since it was first ushered into the world and I cannot recollect an event which will bear comparison with today’’. Rangers, after leading a very much nomadic early existence in Glasgow, had found somewhere we could now call home. We would remain at First Ibrox for 12 years before moving to our current location. The move, a few yards to the west was down to the Hinshelwood Trust requiring the land that First Ibrox occupied for redevelopment.

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.

Tomorrow at 12pm folks. If you're around the Ibrox area and would like to join us then head for the entrance gate to Craigton Cemetery that faces Paisley Road West. A warm welcome awaits.

This Sunday we’ll be honoured to welcome aboard the Founders Trail Rangers Legend Davie Wilson and family. To top it all off it was Davie and his wife who rang to reserve the seats! The conversation went like this: Mrs Wilson’’ Hello we’d like to do the Founders Trail on Sunday 20th August’’ Me’’ I’m really sorry but the Tour on Sunday has been fully booked for a number of weeks’’ Mrs Wilson’’ My husband would like to speak to you’’ Husband’’ Hello Iain, this is Davie Wilson of the Rangers , we’d like to take the Founders Trail on Sunday’’ Me ‘’ No problem Davie, how many seats would you like?’’ Davie Wilson was our guest at the Founders Dinner at Ibrox in 2009. It will be a joy to have a Rangers great with us this Sunday on the Founders Trail.

George was at Number 7, he died after a bout of pneumonia.

The closing of Kinning Park 1887. George is sat on the ground far left.

With the amount of calls and emails that we've had Saturday's Tour of Craigton is going to be very well supported. Thank you. If you’d like to join us on the day, get an insight into the Restoration Project and pay your respects to those men who formed and built our Club then please send an email to thefounderstrail@gmail.com or call 0790 2855536.

Last week we were absolutely thrilled to receive an email from the Granddaughter of Rangers player George Gillespie. George joined Rangers in 1875. The family were researching his story and found themselves on our website. They’re coming from British Columbia in Canada to visit Glasgow at the end of this month and we’ve arranged to meet and take them around town telling George’s wonderful story. We’ll visit Burnbank, Kinning Park, West of Scotland Cricket Ground, George’s house on Radnor Street, his Pub in Finnieston which today is the Tap House, his final resting place in Lambhill Cemetery and take them on a Tour of Ibrox Stadium. It’s these events which makes working on the Founders Project a real joy. George Gillespie. George was a member of the legendary 1877 Scottish Cup Final team and gave great service to the Rangers. He started his career as an outfield player but is remembered more for his goalkeeping skills. He appeared for Scotland 7 times during his playing career, never on the losing side. He was a very successful business man in the license trade. George lived at Radnor Street facing Kelvingrove Park and sadly passed there in 1900.

https://rangers.co.uk/news/club/craigton-cemetery-visit/

Over the last three years while working on the Rangers Graves Project we’ve restored, among many others,eight plots at Craigton Cemetery. Manager Mr.Struth Founder Peter McNeil Trainer James Wilson Player James ‘’Tuck’’McIntyre Players from the 1877 Team: Sam Ricketts James Watt Sandy Marshall. Supporter George Nelson who lost his life in the 1961 accident at Ibrox Stadium. Craigton Cemetery is 5 minutes from Ibrox Stadium and we’d like to offer this guided Tour of the final resting places to any supporters who find themselves in the area before the Hearts game this coming Saturday 19th August,it will take no longer than one hour. Many supporters clubs from Northern Ireland arrive at Ibrox around 12pm, would this Tour appeal to any of your members? There is no fee for the Tour although donations to The Restoration of Rangers Graves Project will be received with thanks. To allow you to plan in advance, and If the demand is there, we will also look at another Tour on: Saturday 9th September v Dundee If you’d like to join us on the day, get an insight into the Restoration Project and pay your respects to those men who formed and built our Club then please send an email to thefounderstrail@gmail.com or call 0790 2855536.

The Evening Times have always been good with us. They rang and asked if it was ok to lift the story from our website.

Many thanks to those who have donated this morning, it really is much appreciated. If you'd like to assist the Project please use the link here on our website. https://www.thefounderstrail.co.uk/t...rangers-graves

The memorial plaque was unveiled on the 22nd July,only three weeks ago. To the scumbag who went out of his way, in a quiet corner of Wales, and attempted to erase the name of our Founder Peter Campbell and that of Rangers Football Club from the inscription. Did you even for a second consider that this memorial is a dedication not only to Peter Campbell but to every soul who perished when the St.Columba went down? No, your brain capacity obviously couldn’t stretch there. Let me assure you now that your pathetic efforts were futile. Our restoration work will continue with greater pace than ever before. We will continue to place these memorials , re-erect and repair those fallen and forever celebrate the names of those who made our club the world’s most successful. These men will stand tall long after you and your like are gone. One thing in life that we do share and that’s the fact that it’s it’s all about the Rangers. Note: The plaque is made of Welsh slate, we will be seeking advice today on how to repair the damage done. Russell Calderwood of the Cardiff RSC will report the vandalism to Penarth Police today and will talk to Penarth Council about having a perspex cover fitted.

Glad that you enjoyed your day. We're presenting the Founders Story to a Masonic Lodge in Largs on Friday 17th November. Details will be posted on here.