Richard Gough Testimonial

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RANGERS celebrate the twenty year anniversary of winning Nine In A Row during the 1996/97 season and throughout this year we’ll be remembering key points.

 

Previously we have remembered the capture of Swedish defender Joachim Bjorklund and today we remember Richard Gough’s testimonial match against Arsenal.

 

If there was one man who epitomised the effort, drive and skill which led Rangers to nine successive championships during the 80s and 90s it is Richard Gough.

 

Captain and great leader of men, Gough was one of only three players to appear in all nine campaigns – Ally McCoist and Ian Ferguson were the others – and he alone received winners’ medals for all nine Championships.

 

The distinction marks him out as unique, but he was that sort of leader. An accomplished player, he was an excellent timer of a tackle. He also had a fine touch, which made him a careful distributor of the ball once possession was won, and he was commanding in the air.

 

But it was his calm authority under pressure, a refusal to panic, that transmitted confidence to those around him that made him not only a hugely successful captain but also one of the greatest.

 

Gough’s testimonial was against Bruce Rioch’s Gunners at Ibrox on August 4 1996 in front of over 40,000 appreciative Gers fans.

 

Below you can read the story of the match, including Walter Smith and John Greig talking about Gough in the run up to the game and also a match report from the day from the Rangers News archives.

 

Full article here: http://rangers.co.uk/news/features/9iar20-richard-gough-testimonial/