By David Herd
Random events in Rangers history that happened in this corresponding week. Here are some memorable moments that happened between August 22 and August 28.
August 22 1956 – Goalkeeper Billy Ritchie makes for first team debut in a 4-3 win over Celtic at Parkhead in the Glasgow Cup in front of 41,000 fans. Ritchie would go on to become the regular custodian in the iconic side of the early 1960s, making 358 appearances before leaving for Partick Thistle in 1967. He won 3 league titles, 5 Scottish Cups, 4 League Cups, and was in goal when Rangers played in the first European final against Fiorentina in 1961. Ritchie is a member of the club Hall of Fame.
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August 23 2015 – Mark Warburton’s new-look Rangers take on Championship title rivals Hibs in an early crunch game of the new season at Ibrox. A capacity crowd sees Rangers win 1-0 thanks to a magnificent free kick winner in the 66thminute by right back James Tavernier, who sent the ball soaring into the top corner from a seemingly impossible wide position.
August 24 1985 – Jock Wallace’s Rangers defeat Alex MacDonald’s Hearts 3-1 at Ibrox in front of a noisy 35,000 crowd to continue their impressive start to the new season. After falling behind, goals by Hugh Burns and a Bobby Williamson double sent the majority inside the stadium home happy. In a bad-tempered game, Ally McCoist and former teammate Sandy Clark were sent off for fighting.
August 25 1973 – Rangers come back from behind to record an impressive 3-1 win over Celtic at Parkhead in the League Cup. Second half goals from Alex MacDonald, Derek Parlane and Alfie Conn meant Rangers had won away to Celtic for the first time since a Glasgow Cup match in 1969, and would top the group. This would normally have meant Celtic were eliminated, but 1973/74 was the only season when the top two teams in the group qualified. Celtic would go on to beat Rangers in the semi-final later in the campaign.
August 26 2021 – A covid-hit Rangers squad played FC Alashkert in Armenia in the Europa League playoffs, protecting a slender 1-0 lead from the first leg in Glasgow. Without goalkeepers Allan McGregor and Jon McLaughlin, youngster Robbie McCrorie made his competitive first team debut in a team also without skipper James Tavernier. Steven Gerrard’s Scottish champions ground out an uneventful 0-0 draw to progress to the group stage.
August 27 1988 – a day of joy for the Rangers fans inside a bouncing Ibrox, as Graeme Souness’s men thrashed champions Celtic 5-1 in a game that would live long in the memory. After falling behind to a very early Frank McAvennie goal, Rangers simply swept their rivals aside, in a match that was as one-sided as any in recent memory. Ally McCoist thumped in the equaliser, and by half-time Rangers were in front thanks to a stunning volley by Ray Wilkins. Second half goals by McCoist, Kevin Drinkell and Mark Walters completed the rout.
August 28 1954 – in the closing seconds of a routine 2-0 win over Stirling Albion in the League Cup, Rangers centre half Willie Woodburn is sent off for retaliation. This would be his fourth dismissal in a 16-year career, but his third in the last 18 months. The legendary defender, regarded by many as the greatest centre half in club history, would be given a lifetime sine die suspension a few weeks later by the SFA.