wee daft fact

[Steve1872 4]

 

Here is Rangers midfield star Jim Baxter in his rather extravagantly decorated car in 1962. Known to Rangers fans as 'Slim Jim', Baxter was a big favourite during his five years at Ibrox, between 1960 and 1965. He moved south of the border, first to Sunderland and then Nottingham Forest. He ended his career with a brief spell back at Rangers, before retiring from the game in 1970 at the age of 31

[ian1964 10,721]

17th October 1951:

 

Arsenal vs Rangers

 

 

Arsenal’s 2nd ever match under flood lights. Arsenal 3:2 Glasgow Rangers. Friendly match. 62,000 attendance. Arsenal Stadium, Highbury, 17th October 1951. Copyright: Arsenal Football Club

 

http://www.retronaut.com/2013/05/arsenal-vs-rangers/

[Steve1872 4]

 

Baxter with Ball - Old Firm 1963 Rangers - C***** 3 : 0

[Steve1872 4]

[Steve1872 4]

From the Scotsman archives: Rangers all but out, as police save Italian flag

 

 

READ the report of Rangers 1961 European Cup-Winners Cup final first leg here

Rangers 0

 

 

 

Fiorentina 2 (Milan 12, 90)

 

 

 

RANGERS' prospects of winning the European National Cup-winners' tournament were reduced almost to nil last night when they lost the first leg of the final to Fiorentina in a match that more than maintained the tradition of bitterness associated with clashes between Scottish clubs and Continentals.

 

 

 

The game ended amid boos and bottle throwing, with the police rushing to rescue the Italian flag which was being hauled down from a mast above the covered enclosure. At least a dozen arrests were made, and one man was carried, struggling with four policemen, across the full width of the field.

 

 

 

The violence among the 80,000 spectators was out of all proportion to anything seen on the field, but the play itself had nevertheless set a depressing pattern of irresponsibility. Most of the crimes were committed by the Italians, who fouled frequently and vigorously after the Austrian referee, Mr Erik Steiner, who handled Scotland's World Cup game in Czechoslovakia at the weekend, had shown weakness in dealing with a penalty incident in the 17th minute.

 

 

 

But some of the Scots joined freely in the feuding and if Mr Steiner had chosen to be severe, Wilson and Baxter might have been drastically punished for extremely aggressive actions that no amount of provocation could justify.

 

 

 

The referee did, in fact, become firm enough to prevent open warfare, which appeared imminent at one stage, but if he had interpreted the rules strictly he would have done more than take the names of two players â?? Milan, the scorer of both Italian goals, and Castelletti.

 

 

 

No-one would envy the official his job, but he certainly added to his own difficulties by making himself look foolish in dealing with the penalty.

 

 

 

To give a completely unwarranted award, then permit a non-playing Italian to run on to the pitch and make a lengthy, enraged protest and ultimately to allow the Fiorentina goalkeeper to move yards off his line as Caldow was about to take the kick, all that was hardly the way to make friends or influence footballers.

 

 

 

When we had time to notice the football, it was clear that Fiorentina operated to a careful plan and that they had the skills to implement it. Their defence, magnificently organised by Orzan at centre-half and backed by the fine goalkeeping of Albertosi, covered so closely that Rangers' attacks, finding no breathing space for shots, were usually smothered at birth.

 

 

 

That was the main objective of the Italians and they contented themselves with occasional, sudden raids on their opponents' goal. These were invariably led by Hamrin, their Swedish outside-right, who wandered dangerously over most of the field and proved that he is entitled to his reputation as a world-class player.

 

 

 

Hamrin, who scorns shin guards, wears his stockings at ankle length, but he is the last man anyone would tell to pull his socks up. Yet for all his good work, Milan's goals, especially the first, owed less to him than to Davis, who has made a notable contribution to his team's previous successes against foreign opposition, but had much to do with their failure this time.

 

 

 

Basically, of course, Rangers were the victims of superior tactics and technique. The only men who looked like overcoming the Italian defensive system were Baxter and McMillan who had the ball control to create openings.

 

 

 

One or two others, like Paterson and Ritchie, worked competently enough but their efforts meant nothing as long as most of the forwards were being so readily frustrated. They are likely to find life even more difficult when the second leg is played on 27 May.

 

 

 

Before tempers broke, the only thing that was furious was the pace of Rangers' early attacking. Blue and white vertical stripes and blue shorts that barely covered their thighs gave them a streamlined appearance and they played appropriately for more than ten minutes after the kick-off.

 

 

 

Signs of both kinds of trouble for the Glasgow team soon came, however, first when Wilson was provoked by a Castelletti foul and engaged in some pushing and general roughing and then when Hamrin took the ball away from Caldow and raced right in on Ritchie's posts.

 

 

 

The great Swedish winger hid his eyes as he saw his low, inviting cross go unaccepted. But when the ball was eventually returned to him he swung round to crack in a shot that the Rangers' goalkeeper did well to knock out to his defenders.

 

 

 

Ritchie received poor thanks in the twelfth minute when Davis tried to pass the ball to him and left it short.

 

 

 

Petris was nicely placed to draw the goalkeeper and slide the ball square to Milan, who needed only the side of a foot to finish the job of scoring.

 

 

 

Five minutes later, the angry scenes arrived. McMillan, who had just had a fine shot saved, went into a wonderful run that took him past four defenders, but he allowed the ball to go too far ahead and was straining for it when he stumbled in the last tackle and fell. The referee immediately awarded a penalty.

 

 

 

It was a farcical decision, and it had farcical repercussions. A member of the Italian party, wearing a raincoat, ran from behind the goal and launched into an aggressive protest to Mr Steiner, who was already being ruthlessly badgered by the Fiorentina players.

 

 

 

Then Wilson, who was in the centre of a group of Italians telling them to get on with the game, was jostled out of the way. For a time it looked as if the police would have to be called on the field â?? as they were in the recent Hibernian-Barcelona match â?? before the penalty could be taken.

 

 

 

That proved unnecessary, but the referee should certainly have taken action on his own when the ball finally was kicked, for Albertosi was practically on his six-yard line by the time Caldow touched the ball.

 

The goalkeeper's manoeuvres had the desired effect, for the Rangers captain sent his kick well outside the post.

 

 

 

After being foiled again by Castelletti, Wilson ran threateningly at the left-back, to be dragged away by a team-mate and more forcefully restrained by an opponent's push which landed him on his back. Soon afterwards, Shearer was injured and then Robotti was warned by the referee for flattening Hume.

 

 

 

Some of his actions were vague to the point of being ineffectual, but even in this lenient mood he definitely took the names of two Fiorentina men â?? Milan, the scorer of both Italian goals, and Castelletti. He spoke sharply to quite a few others, but just how he was dealing with them was not entirely clear. Perhaps if it had been, the trouble would have been curtailed.

 

 

 

There were flashes of football between the misdemeanours and two excellent passes from McMillan and Brand gave Scott an opportunity that he ruined by shooting too soon.

 

 

 

At last Mr Steiner began to use his authority by brusquely waving away Orzan, the Fiorentina captain when he complained about a decision and then taking Milan's name for a foul on McMillan.

 

 

 

Hamrin continued to provide most of the quality shown by the Italians.

 

 

 

Just before the interval he made a good chance, which was missed by Da Costa and four minutes after it he hit the ball against the crossbar and had the ill-luck to see it rebound straight into Ritchie's hand.

 

 

 

The acrimony flared again when Micheli held on to Baxter, and the left-half swung an arm angrily at him. Micheli was given a warning, and Orzan received another of many rebukes for questioning decisions.

 

 

 

Beer cans were thrown on to the pitch soon afterwards when Shearer was sent spinning, and later the bitterness was further increased as Castelletti had his name taken.

 

 

 

Seconds from the end, the Italians concentrated on attacking the goal for a change, and took a slightly fortunate â?? but very vital â?? score. Milan forced his way through two tackles before edging the ball off Ritchie's body into the net.

 

 

 

As the ball rolled away from the goalkeeper, he must have realised that his hopes of a Continental Cup medal were receding with it.

 

 

 

Rangers: Ritchie; Shearer and Caldow; Davis, Paterson and Baxter; Wilson, McMillan, Scott, Brand and Hume.

 

 

 

Fiorentina: Albertosi; Robotti and Castelletti; Gonfiantini, Orzan and

 

Rimbaldo; Hamrin, Micheli, Da Costa, Milan and Petris.

 

Referee: E Steiner, Austria

[onevision 1,568]

 

 

good to see Slim Jim looking after Wee Willie Henderson's boots....

[Steve1872 4]

Rab Boyle‏@RFC_Rab1m.@BocaBoca3 says thanks & goodbye to Rangers and the #RangersFamily in his 1872nd tweet. #CaptainAmerica pic.twitter.com/WzsraZAA2B

Edited July 8, 2013 by Steve1872

[foggy dewhurst 0]

good to see Slim Jim looking after Wee Willie Henderson's boots....

 

 

looks like a mini the big mans driving

[54andcounting 0]

Today it's football tops, trackies and trainers for the fitba' fan...

 

...in the 60's a trench coat was all the rage.

 

These queuing away fans are only there to see The Rangers.

 

[Steve1872 4]

 

RangersFACTSRangersFACTS1hThe 1988/89 Tennent's Sixes Winners