Book Description

Rangers In London is the story of the nine matches between 1960 and 1971 when Britain and the World’s most domestically successful football club with the greatest and most fervent support travelled south from Glasgow to the Capital city. Almost every game seems to have thrown up something amazing or special. From the first European Cup tie played in London to a match described by the legendary and equally reticent Spurs manager, Bill Nicholson as the greatest game on earth. Alex Ferguson’s Rangers debut at Arsenal, QPR’s Rodney Marsh assaulting two players on the pitch and a teenager whisked from work in Glasgow in the morning to play in goal against a team of internationals and a world cup winner in the evening at Tottenham. And we best not forget Rangers appearances at Chelsea for the man they called Chopper either and at Highbury for a gentleman who at his peak was quite possibly the best goalkeeper in Europe. And much more… Unashamedly nostalgic and so many great stories, histories and characters to recall, celebrate and write about. In a more modest way, we try to chart the development of football at Ibrox and in London, on and off the field at a time when football was beginning to become more sophisticated, commercial and international. There’s a bit of sociology too, as we look at the emergence of football hooliganism, skinheadism and wider societal cultures in and around football at that time. Does what go around, come around with a slightly different twist? I’ll let the reader decide. But I hope you’ll enjoy taking in these matches with me, and get the same pleasure as the devoted thousands and perhaps you were one, who ‘followed on’ to London with Rangers. Win, lose or draw.