Fascinating details of the first EVER Rangers match report have been revealed in the updated version of a popular book on the founding of the club.
And that team set an extremely high standard for others to follow after a thumping 7-1 win on their debut.
The report is from the Glasgow News newspaper from September 1873 and features in the latest edition of 'The Gallant Pioneers’.
Fresh research for the acclaimed book, which chronicles the early years' history of the Ibrox club, has uncovered several compelling insights to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the Light Blues.
The edition, first published in 2009 and now in its fourth version, also features the only photograph ever unearthed of William McBeath, who formed the club in early spring 1872 while taking a walk through Kelvingrove Park with friends Moses and Peter McNeil and Peter Campbell.
And in a nod to the popular terrace chant Gordon Bell, who led the latest research, said: "Four lads had a dream - and they really did start the club in 1872 with no money, no kit and even had to borrow a ball to play their early matches on Glasgow Green.
"We were thrilled to discover what we believe to be the first match report featuring the name 'Rangers', from a game against a long forgotten team called 'Clyde' - not the current Bully Wee - which they won 7-1.
"William McBeath scored five goals that day and we're delighted to have finally uncovered a photograph of him to go with Moses and the two Peters.
"Not all the founders of Rangers lived long and happy lives. William, for example, died forgotten in the poorhouse at Lincoln in 1917.
"He was tagged a 'certified imbecile', his latter years were blighted by alcoholism and his second marriage was almost certainly bigamous. He was buried in a pauper's grave.
"However, the role he played with his youthful friends in forming one of the world's greatest football clubs will never be forgotten by Rangers fans.
"Rangers were formed, without a doubt, in 1872 but we are confident in asserting they played some of their earliest games as a team called 'Western' - perhaps as a nod to the childhood roots on the Gare Loch of its founders and many of its earliest players.
"Our research has also thrown up other fascinating insights. The club's first honorary president was the Marquis of Lorne, Queen Victoria's son-in-law. Tom Maley, of that famous Celtic family, even recalled going to watch Rangers play their first Scottish Cup tie in 1874 on the recreation ground at Queen's Park.
"The 'gallant pioneers' could surely never have imagined their idea to form a team, for no other reason than to participate in the new craze of association football, would grow to mean so much to so many.”
The Gallant Pioneers - 150th Anniversary Edition' by Gary Ralston, with Gordon Bell and Iain McColl, is available from Amazon and all good book retailers priced £14.99. Check out www.thegallantpioneers.com
