The Moonlighter

The closing of Kinning Park 26th February 1887. Sam Ricketts is on the first row that is seated wearing a cap. To his left is Tom Vallance. At the left end of the row with bowler hat and cane is Moses McNeil, at the other end of the row is his brother Peter McNeil.

We’re delighted to announce that a new stone was placed yesterday on the final resting place of Sam Ricketts at Craigton Cemetery. Sam’s plot was located a few months ago , it had no stone and was strewn with rubble. An appeal went out to the Bears and Sam’s plot was cleared on the 4th June of this year. Sam Ricketts. Sam first appeared in the records book as a Rangers player on 7th December 1875 against Caledonian in a 4-0 win at Burnbank. He was also a member of the 1877 Scottish Cup Final team. He played up until season 1881-82 then again during season 1884-85 when he made one appearance ,which was his last, on 17th January 1885 in a 4-2 win against Thistle. Sam became honorary secretary of the Rangers and was a much respected individual who helped steer the Club through the turbulent 1880’s. On our website we have details of a letter Sam Ricketts wrote to the press in 1884.It’s a fascinating read. http://www.thegallantpioneers.co.uk/Sam-Ricketts-Letter.html Sam Ricketts helped build our Club into what we have today and deserves something more fitting than a paupers grave. The Rangers support have today given him back some dignity and respect.

We're looking forward to taking the Founders Trail up into the north east of the country. Tickets are £10 and can be purchased by emailing RSEANE@rocketmail.com

Seats still available for our next Founders Trail and Ibrox Stadium Tour.

We currently have 10 seats available for next Saturday's Founders Trail and Ibrox Stadium Tour. Adults : £22 Children (under 16) and Senior Citizens £16. To reserve your seat just send an email to : thegallantpioneers@googlemail.com For further information phone : 0790 2855536.

Recently we posted that the Founders Trail had been nominated for a Travel Guide Award. We're absolutely delighted to announce today that we've won! Congratulations Founders Trail ! As you may be aware the casefiles for the shortlisted nominees were submitted to the judging panel last week and they have now made their initial decisions. I am pleased to announce that you have won Tour Operator of the Year for Glasgow, United Kingdom in the 2017 Holiday & Tour Specialist Awards! The awards program selects winners based on their achievements and strengths in the travel industry. We received an overwhelming number of superb nominations this year and the judging panel had the unenviable task of selecting those firms, teams and individuals within each category most worthy of an award. Award winners that have demonstrated success and innovation will gain a place in our soon-to-be published award winners’ guide, which will be printed & distributed to over half a million subscribers alongside our printed distribution which will see over 250,000 hard copies sent to luxury hotels, cruise ships and airport lounges across the world. All winners of the 2017 Holiday & Tour Specialist Awards are subject to the same rigorous assessment criteria, carried out by our experienced in-house professionals as well as a number of celebrity guest judges. This ensures that only the most deserving teams, businesses and individuals walk away with one of these prestigious accolades. All Luxury Travel Guide Award programs represent the pinnacle of achievement, championing the best in their respective fields, therefore to come out as a clear winner is an achievement to be proud of.

Seats available on today's Founders Trail and Ibrox Stadium Tour. 0790 2855536 Our welcome desk is within Bar 72 West from 11.15 prior to the coach departing at 12pm. Adults : £22 Children (under 16) and Senior Citizens £16.

On 20th August 1887 Rangers opened First Ibrox with a game against Preston North End. The Rangers left Kinning Park where they’d been since 1876 and moved along Paisley Road to the Copland Road area of Ibrox which was even further out in the country, 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 dailies in 1887 suggested that Rangers should consider installing drinking fountains at their new home at Ibrox as it was that far away from the nearest pub! However, the Rangers Committee had predicted the growth of Glasgow further west and how right they were. They 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. 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 it was deemed would be the best stadium bar none in the country. 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. The pavilion also provides the back drop to this wonderful photograph which was taken on the day that First Ibrox opened with the match against Preston North End. In 1887 the Waterloo Rooms on Wellington Street Glasgow hosted two concerts which were held in the March and December. Rangers required funds to help with the move to First Ibrox from Kinning Park so Tom Vallance organised these concerts and the shows were a complete sell-out. This was fund-raising for the Rangers by the boys who’d formed the Club 1887 style working hard at making their dream become a reality, working hard at establishing their Rangers as the country’s premier football club. Rangers would remain at First Ibrox for 12 years before moving into our current home in 1899.

Seats still available. Would all who are booked on Sunday's Tour please note that there will be a Founders Trail welcome desk available within Bar 72 West at Ibrox Stadium from 11.15am prior to our 12pm departure from outside of the Ibrox Megastore Access to Bar 72 is via the main entrance to Argyle House .Gordon will be in the area to give directions . This will give us an opportunity to greet you and check you from our loading chart and to 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.

We have 5 seats up for grabs for Sunday's Founders Trail and Ibrox Stadium Tour.

We're delighted to announce this morning that the target amount of £600 for the memorial plate has been reached. A fantastic effort Bears and thank you. Details of a dedication service at Craigton Cemetery will be posted next week.

To keep the Restoration project moving forward the lettering on Mr Struth's stone was re-done today.

We have a few seats available for this Sunday's Founders Trail and Ibrox Stadium Tour. Our welcome desk is within Bar 72 West from 11.15 prior to the coach departing at 12pm. Adults : £22 Children (under 16) and Senior Citizens £16. Group discounts are available upon request. To reserve your seat just send an email to : thegallantpioneers@googlemail.com For further information phone : 0790 2855536 An insight into our research can be found here on our website. http://www.thegallantpioneers.co.uk/

Donations now at £400 towards the £600 required. A fantastic effort Bears. If you can, please donate using the link below. Every penny counts. PAYPAL LINK. - https://www.paypal.com/sendmoney ***Follow the link and add following email address along with donation – sonsofstruth@aol.co.uk

£120 has been donated today towards our target of £600. Thank you. The memorial granite plate will be a thank you to Mr Struth from the worldwide Rangers support. This will be reflected in the inscription. PAYPAL LINK. - https://www.paypal.com/sendmoney ***Follow the link and add following email address along with donation – sonsofstruth@aol.co.uk

The final resting place of our greatest ever manager Mr William Struth is at Craigton Cemetery . Fittingly it overlooks the front door of Ibrox Stadium. Two years ago the stone on Mr Struth’s plot was restored but we at the Rangers Graves Restoration Project feel that as we approach the 60th anniversary of his passing on 21st September that his incredible achievements at the club should be highlighted by way of a granite plate on his final resting place. Details of a dedication service at Craigton Cemetery will also be published soon. We of course sought and gained the permission from the Struth family for the plate to be placed and now appeal to you the Rangers support to help make this a reality. The total cost of the black granite plate is £600. The Restoration of Rangers Graves project currently has funds in place but this is required for the on-going work at Craigton Cemetery and other sites. If you can, please donate using the link below. Every penny counts. PAYPAL LINK. - https://www.paypal.com/sendmoney ***Follow the link and add following email address along with donation – sonsofstruth@aol.co.uk

Treat the bluenose in your life to the ultimate Rangers experience, a Gift Voucher for The Founders Trail and Ibrox Stadium Tour. They are priced at £22 for an Adult and £16 Concessions plus (£1 P+P) and are posted out the very same day. The Gift Vouchers are valid for all future Founders Trail and Ibrox Stadium Tours. Saturday 3rd September Sunday 18th September Sunday 30th October Sunday 20th November To order your Gift Voucher please send an email to thegallantpioneers@googlemail.com

Please note that we do have seats available for this Tour. To reserve yours send an email to thegallantpioneers@googlemail.com

We're delighted today to provide a further update on the project work being carried out at Craigton Cemetery Glasgow to restore the final resting places of those men who built our Club. James Wilson. Late last year our research, gleamed from the records at the Mitchell Library, confirmed that a James Wilson who was trainer at Rangers from 1897 , and a respected individual who also worked tirelessly with the building process of our great Club, had died suddenly due to a bout of double pneumonia in 1914 at 21 Princes Street in Govan aged 52 and was buried at Craigton Cemetery. Mr Struth who was trainer at Clyde at this time was offered Mr Wilson’s job at Rangers but refused to take another man’s place at our Club. That changed upon the sudden passing of Mr Wilson. The Club had actually organised a benefit match for Mr Wilson against Everton at Ibrox only a week before he passed. We recently discovered Mr Wilson's stone at Craigton and were incredibly fortunate that although sadly it was off it's base it was lying on the grass inscription side up. A real chill went through us as we cleared the earth and moss from James Wilson’s stone and the words ‘'Trainer of Rangers’' emerged. Craigton Cemetery had given up another gem. Yesterday afternoon Mr. Wilson's stone was re-erected and cleaned and will have the lettering re-done over the coming weeks. James Watt. Late last year we also we located the final resting place of Rangers player James Watt. Sadly his gravestone was also lying on the grass at Craigton cemetery. James Watt was a member of the legendary 1877 Scottish Cup Final team. He was a good club man. Goalkeeper in the 1877 Scottish Cup Final side , he was a fine last line of defence. He lost his position to the hugely talented George Gillespie when Gillespie decided playing outfield was a wee bit on the rough side for him ! In the 1879/80 SFA annual James was described as “a goalkeeper of considerable promise”. A year later he was in the list of those “now retired”! On at least two occasions he had played outfield. President in 1876 – 1877, he also served the Club as Honorary Treasurer in 1878 – 1879 and 1879 – 1880. It was in this capacity he joined club captain Tom Vallance in leading Rangers’ protest to the SFA after the 1879 Scottish Cup Final. (In the drawn match with Vale of Leven, a Willie Struthers goal was disallowed by the referee. Rangers argued it should have stood.) James was a machinery merchant, a partner in Dimmack and Watt, iron and steel merchants. Sadly, like three of his colleagues, Peter Campbell, Sandy Marshall and William Dunlop, he did not live to be present at the 1877 Cup Final anniversary dinner of 1898. James had died a few weeks earlier on 22 March. He had suffered from heart disease. Yesterday afternoon James Watt's Stone, which is in a fragile condition was re-erected and cleaned. These men gave us everything that we enjoy today and it's a pleasure to give them back a bit of dignity and respect .

New stock of Founders Trail scarves just in! Just send an email to thegallantpioneers@googlemail.com to order. £12 (plus £2.86 P&P)

This has come as a surprise but we're absolutely delighted. Over the past 12 months the Luxury Travel Guide have been inviting subscribers, hotel guests, travel agencies and industry experts to vote on individuals & companies they feel are deserving of recognition. We are pleased to announce The Founders Trail - Tour has been nominated as a potential winner in the 2017 Holiday & Tour Specialist Awards. Celebrating & rewarding excellence, these awards recognise all holiday & tour options from large operators to small, independent guides. During the judging process our panel consider areas such as; Service Excellence Local Knowledge Online Visibility Use of Technology Marketing & Branding Employee Satisfaction Cultural Understanding Diversity Communication Skills Disability Provisions

Since the Founders Trail first took to the streets of Glasgow in 2009 telling the astonishing story of the kids who formed our Club, the most encouraging aspect of the project for us has been the positive feedback that we’ve had regarding the education, understanding and awareness that the Founders project brings. People of all ages and from all walks of life who have joined us and followed in the foot-steps of our Founders have shared their surprise on many aspects that we cover including the young age of our Founders when they formed the Club in 1872 and the spirit and determination they showed to ensure that the Rangers secured a lasting foot-hold in the new and fast growing sport of association football. We at the Founders Trail are of course aware that due to time constrain, distance and cost many supporters can’t make the journey to Glasgow to join us on the Trail so we’ve decided to take our incredible story out to you. In June 2013 we launched the Founders Trail Roadshow. We present the Founders story , by way of a digital slideshow , which takes you on a journey with the Gallant Pioneers from the shores of the Gareloch , to their arrival in Glasgow and on to Ibrox Stadium which was their dream and beyond. All the equipment that we use for the presentation has been purchased due to the success of the Founders project. We profile each of our Founders and the subsequent growth of our Club and also give an insight into the Rangers Graves Restoration Project and other aspects of our work. The education process behind the presentations is vital as it gives everyone an understanding of the very foundations upon which those kids built our Club. Over the last three years we’ve taken the roadshow to among many other places, Newtownards, Belfast, Kirkintilloch, Broxburn ,Wishaw, Blackpool,Shotts and Thringstone and will present in Peterhead in October. If you would like us to bring the Founders Roadshow to your supporters club or organisation our contact details are as follows: thegallantpioneers@googlemail.com or call us for a chat on 0790 2855536

Due to a cycling event in Glasgow city centre which will close off the Founders Trail route we've unfortunately had to move the Founders Trail and Ibrox Stadium Tour to Saturday 3rd September. All passengers booked have been informed. Seats are still available for the following tour dates and can be reserved by sending an email to thegallantpioneers@googlemail.com Saturday 3rd September Sunday 18th September Sunday 30th October Sunday 20th November.

The winning bid for the signed jersey was a wonderful £475, every penny of which will go to the Rangers Graves Restoration Project. The winner has been notified. Please donate to the restoration project via the link : Every penny donated counts. PAYPAL LINK. - https://www.paypal.com/sendmoney ***Follow the link and add following email address along with donation – sonsofstruth@aol.co.uk

In light of the recent goings on with Ashley, fans may be looking for an alternative to buying the new strip. Sports Direct will charge £48 for the new top with a fraction of that money going to Rangers. But you can still show off your colours by buying merchandise from the Founders Trail. By buying from The Founders Trail you not only help us to continue telling the story of the early years of Rangers, you also give us the opportunity to reinvest in the club. Through a variety of channels, we are happy to redirect your cash back where it's needed. For less than the money you'd spend on the new top, you can buy a seat on the Founders Trail and one of our polo shirts. Polo shirts cost £15 (plus £2.86 P&P) and are available in red, white and blue. There's still seats available for the Founders Trail & Ibrox Stadium Tour on the following dates: Sunday 4th September Sunday 18th September Sunday 30th October Sunday 20th November Adults - £22 Senior citizens & children under 16 - £16 To book a seat or to purchase a polo shirt just send an email to thegallantpioneers@googlemail.com