Rangers v Burnley 21-07-15 Full Matchday Programme

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RANGERS V BURNLEY TUESDAY 21 JULY 2015 • KO 19.45 PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY

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INSIDE: MARK WARBURTON • NICKY LAW • SEAN DYCHE • CROSSWORD

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RANGERS

FOOTBALL CLUB Ibrox Stadium, 150 Edmiston Drive Glasgow, G51 2XD • tel0871 702 1972

INSIDE

//CONTENTS

today’s matchday programme:

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Chairman DAVE KING Directors JOHN GILLIGAN,

DOUGLAS PARK, JOHN BENNETT, PAUL MURRAY Honorary Life President JOHN GREIG Manager MARK WARBURTON assistant manager

DAVID WEIR

Doctor PAUL JACKSON Physiotherapist STEVE WALKER Goalkeeping Coach JIM STEWART Kit Controller JIMMY BELL Video Analysis STEVE HARVEY Editor NEIL SMITH Design GREG GILFILLAN Photography KIRK O’ROURKE Contributors ALICE HEDWORTH,

NICK THOMSON, ROBERT CARMICHAEL, ANDY CAMERON Print JTCP If you witness any form of unacceptable or offensive behaviour, advise the police or stewards, call 0871 702 1972 or text ‘RFC’ to 66099.

6 SNAPSHOT 4 MARK WARBURTON 6 NICKY LAW 8 SEAN DYCHE 14 SCOTT ARFIELD 18

JOURNO’S VIEW 22 PLAYER PROFILES 26 MATCH FAST FACTS 31 ACTION REPLAY 36 THE TOP 10 38 ANDY CAMERON 42 CRAIG MULHOLLAND 44 ON THIS DAY 48 THE BIG INTERVIEW 50 QUIZ/CROSSWORD 58 JUNIOR GERS 60 TRAINING GALLERY 62 8 14 18 44 FIXTURES 64 The views in this magazine are not necessarily the views of Rangers Football Club. All material is copyrighted THE LAST WORD 65 and may only be reproduced with the written permission of Rangers Football Club. The appearance of an advert within this publication does not necessarily mean that the goods/services advertised are associated SQUADS & OFFICIALS 66 with or endorsed by Rangers Football Club. All facts and information accurate at time of going to press.

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//BURNLEY • FRIENDLY

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//GAZZA

ONE of the links between Rangers and Burnley is Paul Gascoigne who enjoyed a two-month spell with tonight’s visitors at the end of the 2001/02 season when the Clarets were looking to reach the First Division play-offs.

It was Stan Ternent who took Gazza to Turf Moor from Everton and the then 34-year-old made six appearances in total without finding the net.

The midfield genius couldn’t inspire the Lancashire club to promotion success as they missed out on a play-off place to Norwich City on goal difference.

Other post-war players to have played for both Rangers and Burnley are Ted McMinn, Chris Woods, Tom Cowan, Chris Vinnicombe, Trevor Steven, Brian Reid, Steven Thompson, Phil Bardsley and Kyle Lafferty.

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//THE MANAGER

MARK WARBURTON L

ADIES and gents, it really is a privilege and an honour to be able to speak to you as the manager of Rangers Football Club.

Growing up as a young football fan in North London I would avidly follow the progress of the major European teams and Rangers would always be spoken of as one of the biggest and best supported clubs. To now, many years later, be given this opportunity is without doubt very special.

On the day of my introductory press conference I was given a tour around this magnificent stadium and you are immediately made aware of the history, the stature and of course the expectation surrounding Rangers.

Within minutes the challenge facing Davie Weir and myself was very clear, we have to get the club into a position to once again enjoy the big European nights here at Ibrox.

I do not want that statement to come across as being in any way arrogant or over-confident. I do not want to be accused of under-estimating the various challenges that will invariably lie ahead.

It is simply a case of looking at the top class facilities both here and at Murray Park, looking at the many outstanding achievements of the club over so many years and recognising what will represent success.

In short, we all have to work together to get the club in to the Premiership and then set about the task of developing a team that can deliver a consistent level of high quality performance that sees Rangers back in European action.

However, talk is cheap and actions do indeed speak louder than words and we have to look at setting a series of short, medium and longer-term targets that we can strive to achieve.

We have to create an environment at Murray Park that is conducive to learning and hard work.

We have to develop a unity and a passion to succeed that runs throughout the entire football department, one that is recognisable to you, our supporters, each and every time that we play.

Every player can have a ‘bad day at the office’, any player can have a day when things just don’t work out, however no player needs to have a day when they have not given 100 per cent commitment to the cause and if they show such a commitment I am sure our fans will support them all the way.

I mentioned the name of Davie Weir earlier in the notes and it truly is a pleasure to have him working alongside me and to be able to call upon his knowledge and experience of the club.

Whilst at Brentford, never a day would pass when David did not mention Rangers in some capacity.

His passion shone through very brightly and I know he is delighted to be back at the club. I will leave David to tell you about his feelings but suffice to say I could not have a better man to work with on a daily basis.

In addition, we have some excellent people here at the club and their desire and determination to bring success back is so very evident. To be able to call upon the expertise of individuals such as goalkeeping coach Jim Stewart and kit man Jimmy Bell is a fantastic help and I very much look forward to working with them in the months ahead.

Tonight, albeit a pre-season friendly fixture, is of course my first game at the stadium and it gives me a lot of pleasure to welcome a good friend in Sean Dyche who kindly agreed to bring his Burnley team up to Glasgow.

Sean quite rightly won many plaudits for his team’s performances in the Premier League last season and whilst bitterly disappointed to just miss out on preserving their top flight status, I have no doubts that he will very soon be back working at that level. I look forward to sharing a post-game drink with Sean, Ian Woan and the rest of the Burnley staff.

That just leaves me to make one very significant point. I am very aware of the enormous number of supporters that follow this club. I fully appreciate the responsibility that we have as a football department to deliver a style of play that is both enjoyable and of course successful.

I also understand the heavy weight of expectation that comes with this job, but I also sense a strong desire for positive change. To that effect, I hope we can show you enough signs that encourage you to be patient when required, give the team the fantastic support for which you are famous and hopefully together we are at the start of a journey to take this club back to the top level, where it absolutely belongs.

Enjoy the game!

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//NICKY LAW

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‘‘

IT’S OUR JOB OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS TO GET RID OF THAT RUST AND KEEP WORKING ON THE MANAGER’S PHILOSOPHY.

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’’

//NICKY LAW

N

ICKY LAW would be the first to admit he needed a break from football after the rigours of last season and the massive play-off disappointment he felt at Fir Park on the final day.

Having started every competitive game in 2014/15, 54 in total, losing to brother Josh’s Motherwell was gut-wrenching for the playmaker who had put so much energy into the previous 10 months.

Four weeks later, however, and Nicky was more than ready to return to Murray Park for pre-season training and he was excited at the prospect of working with new manager Mark Warburton and his assistant Davie Weir.

Although the rebuilding of the squad continues, the club’s number 7 has been impressed with the work put in on the Auchenhowie pitches and believes it will be of great benefit throughout the new campaign.

He said: “It is new and it has been enjoyable but it has been tough as well, we have all had triple sessions most days.

“But the lads have been enjoying the manager and Davie’s ideas and they have all taken to it.

“It’s been a different type of training; it has been a lot of ball work which probably isn’t what a lot of the lads are used to.

“Most people have been used to mainly running based preseasons then the football comes a bit later but from the first moment it’s been pretty much football based, although we have done our running as well.

“There have been a lot of ideas thrown at us in the last couple of weeks, it has been crammed in but if you were to see the training we have done then the lads have clearly taken to it.

“Now we are trying to put it out into the games we have got coming up. It won’t be instant but

we can see signs of improvement and that will hopefully only get better.

“We have all kept ourselves fairly fit over the summer, as you have to now, expecting the running, so to come in and not be doing as much as we’re used to has been a nice surprise.

“The lads are looking really fit though and some of us got our first 45 minutes at Spurs which was pleasing. The early signs are good and we’ll be looking to improve as we go along.

“I thought the game down in London was good, it was more of a training exercise than a game – we played three 30 minutes with three completely different teams.

“But it was good to get back out there and we tried to implement the things the management team have been asking from us.

“It wasn’t perfect and we were making mistakes but the manager is saying at this time that he isn’t worried about the mistakes. It’s a case of going out there and trying to put the things in place that he has been doing over the last few weeks.

“At times there was some really good stuff and the boys were pleased and the management were pleased with most of the stuff they saw.

“It’s our job over the next couple of weeks to get rid of that rust and keep working on the manager’s philosophy.

“We’re going to need patience because it is a new style of play but it is enjoyable and those mistakes will happen because it is high-risk football by playing out from the back.

“But the lads have taken to it and the mistakes will get less and less and I’m sure the fans will be watching an exciting brand of football this year.”

Mark Warburton’s work ethic and attention to detail is well known and staff at the training ground are getting used to him arriving in the morning at 6am to start his day.

Law, who also got 60 minutes of action under his belt in last week’s 2-0 win over Ayr United at Murray Park, continued: “From day one there were little things the manager changed – we are in earlier now, we have a hydration test in the morning, which the manager is big on, and everybody has to be at a certain hydration level before they train.

“It is all the little things like the food upstairs has changed and it is a bit healthier up there now, which has got a few lads complaining!

“He is putting his stamp on things and he hasn’t done it all at once, it’s been gradual and I’m sure over the next couple of weeks we’ll see a few more things changing.

“But everyone has enjoyed the changes and been working as hard as they can to impress the management team.”

English Championship side Burnley will provide a great test for the Light Blues this evening and the game could give the Ibrox faithful the first opportunity to see recent signings Wes Foderingham, Rob Kiernan, Danny Wilson and Andy Halliday in a blue jersey.

Clarets boss Sean Dyche is a friend of Law’s dad, Nicky Snr, and the Gers star admits it will be nice to see a familiar face in the away dug-out.

He explained: “My dad and Sean played together at Chesterfield for about three or four years so we’re really good family friends with the Dyches and I’m friends with his kids.

“Because my dad is involved with football and so is Sean then you don’t see each other as much as you’d like.

“But we’ve known Sean since we were really young and he has done great, everybody knows what a good job he has done, not just at Burnley but at Watford before.

“It will be good to see him and I’m playing against his team for

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the first time so I’m looking forward to it.

“I think my dad will be here to see Sean and take the game in so it will be good because we haven’t seen them for a while.

“The football will take priority at this stage of course but I’m sure after the final whistle we’ll have a catch up.”

In January a move by Neil Lennon to take Nicky to Bolton Wanderers was blocked

by Rangers and that decision was accepted by the player who was determined to help take the club back to the Premiership.

That, unfortunately, never happened but the 27-year-old midfielder now has his sights set on realising this ambition in what will be his third season with the Light Blues.

He said: “The manager has definitely changed my mind, you try and forget that type of thing and put it to the back of your mind.

“It was good to come in after the summer and I had a good meeting with the manager and we had a good chat.

“His message was clear – to give him everything I’ve got from day one and that is what I’ve been doing.

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N IN ICK 20 Y'S 14 G /1 O 5 A

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“I’ve come in and done as much as I can and hopefully he has been impressed by me and what he has seen so far.

“For me it’s about concentrating on being here; I really enjoy being at the club and this year there is a feeling of excitement around the club, probably for the first time since I’ve been here.

“We are really looking forward to the new season and the new lads have come in and we have a really young squad of players at the minute.

“The new philosophy and style of play I feel could compliment me and a lot of the other boys’ styles.

“The manager had one-on-one meetings with a lot of the players and I had one, which was about five or 10 minutes, in which he introduced himself and spoke about things he wanted from his players and the things he expects.

“There was no grey area from day one because everybody knows what he expects and the standards he expects. If you drop below those I don’t think it would be accepted and you would find yourself out of the team or maybe even out of the club, so it is very strict.”

After Rangers’ 3-0 play-off defeat to Motherwell at Fir Park on May 31, Nicky was the best man at his brother Josh’s wedding in New York after he had helped retain the Steelmen’s Premiership status.

Flying out the following day to the Big Apple with his younger sibling was far from an ideal situation but he can smile when reflecting on it now.

He joked: “It was tough because of the circumstances but Josh and I did speak to each other, after a couple of days!

“But it was fine and before the game we knew that both our clubs had had disappointing seasons so there wasn’t going to be gloating from either side, whoever came out on top.

“Unfortunately for us it wasn’t the result we wanted but Josh, of course, was pleased to be staying up.

“It was put to bed but from my point of view it was difficult, as it still is now, because you’re still going over it in in your mind and it still hurts.

“In terms of the wedding it was fine and the wedding went well and they got married so that was the main thing!

“I’d like to have a better feeling this summer and the aim is the same as last year, to win the league, but hopefully we are a lot better equipped going into it than we were last year.

“For the first time since I came to Rangers there is excitement on and off the field and hopefully the fans will have a lot to look forward to this season.”

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Journo’s View

BY ALICE HEDWORTH

Friends Re-united SEAN DYCHE IS RELISHING GOING HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH HIS CLOSE PAL MARK WARBURTON AT IBROX 14

//OPPOSITION FOCUS • MANAGER

T

ONIGHT might have the feeling of an old school reunion for both Sean Dyche and Mark Warburton.

It will be a meeting of old friends for the managers, who worked together at Watford sculpting the youth department.

While Warburton oversaw things as Academy Manager, Dyche was Youth Team Manager and the duo formed a successful partnership at the Hertfordshire club – that includes turning new Ger Rob Kiernan from a midfielder into a defender.

In fact those years spent together between 2006 and 2009 were the springboard to their managerial careers, with Dyche now dubbed ‘The Ginger Mourinho’.

Dyche moved up to the first team to be Malky Mackay’s assistant at Watford and then became manager in 2011.

Warburton, meanwhile, left the Hornets in February 2010 before becoming the first-team coach at Brentford a year later. After a spell as Sporting Director he landed the top job at Griffin Park in December 2013.

Dyche’s connection to the current Rangers team does not stop with his friendship with the current Light Blues boss.

The 44-year-old is a former player and turned out for, most notably, Chesterfield, Millwall and Watford, making over 450 senior appearances in England.

And it was at Chesterfield that he formed a friendship, both on and off the pitch, with Nicky Law Senior.

Since then he has watched the career of his friend’s son closely, including his exploits in the Rangers midfield.

But just because Dyche’s links to the current Rangers set-up have come about of late doesn’t mean he wasn’t already eying up an Ibrox test for his Clarets.

The Burnley manager said: “It was something we’d been looking to do anyway but then with Mark Warburton being appointed it made it a whole lot easier.

“I have a personal relationship with him and he definitely wanted to do that, which we did as well, so it has worked out really well.

“We were only planning it in principle but when Mark got the job I immediately phoned him up.

“First and foremost it was to congratulate him and secondly to say ‘we wondered about this game, could it be done?’ and he was happy for it to go ahead so that worked really well.

DYCHE WITH MARK WARBURTON AT WATFORD

“I’ve spoken to him a lot, ever since we parted at Watford we have always kept in touch and when he took the main role as manager at Brentford you are speaking on two levels.

“Firstly on a personal level with the usual chit chat asking each other how you’re doing and about the family.

“But then also on that management level of how are you finding it, what are you doing and what are you looking for?

“It has been two fold over the last 18 months, not just personal but the business side of what we do.”

This will be the first time Dyche and Warburton have faced each other as managers, after narrowly missing out on a meeting down south.

Warburton’s Brentford were soaring to League One promotion while Burnley were experiencing the same in the Championship during the 2013/14 campaign.

And then last season as Brentford looked to reach the Premier League, Dyche’s side were struggling in England’s top flight despite impressing with their brave tactics.

Even though they have not been in direct competition for the past few seasons, the Burnley boss has kept a keen eye on his old friend’s career.

Dyche said: “Mark made a good name for himself over a short period in England with Brentford because he took over a club that were nearly there and then got them promoted.

And not only did he get them promoted but he had a good go at trying to get them up again in the next year.

“That isn’t just down to him - it was down to him, his staff and his players and we all understand that.

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@SOVIETFASHION

//OPPOSITION FOCUS • MANAGER

“But knowing what a manager’s life is then it all comes down, at some point, to the manager and what direction he sends the players in.

“He has certainly done that very well in England and it would be great to do that up at Rangers.”

Burnley slipped out of the Premier League last season after winning just seven games but they recorded some notable results along the way.

This included a 1-0 win over Manchester City at Turf Moor and a 1-1 draw with Chelsea at the fortress that has become Stamford Bridge.

The manager is drawing optimism from those experiences and thinks his side have learnt a lot of lessons from their time in the top flight.

Their trip to Glasgow is part of a pre-season designed to test a squad who will be vying to bounce back to the big time within 12 months.

And Dyche is excited, he said: “This will be my first time at Ibrox; I have never been there and have always thought about going there so it will be good for me.

“But also the main thing is for the team and I think it will be good for them, it’s a great ground and it will be a nice trip for our supporters as well - I’m really looking forward to it and it’s such a big historic club.

“We will have another couple of weeks to prepare for the season starting but we will be at a stage of pre-season where we think our players will be competitive.

“They won’t be 100% sharp and fit but they’ll be well on their way to that so we certainly expect a good game for both parties.

“Our boys came back and tested well, which is a good sign that they have looked after themselves over the summer.

“We had a shorter break this year and it is good that they used that time wisely and they have

to rest, but they still had to keep themselves in good shape and they certainly did that.

“There is a balance to the word disappointment when talking about last season because we knew it was going to be a stern challenge and it was.

“I think we have developed and learnt a lot from that, so although there is a disappointment, because we strongly believed we would be in the division again, there is also a balance to that.

“We have spoken to the players about what we can learn from it but of course we have to repackage it and move it forward again this season so we’ll get them ready for the new season in order to do that.

“From the outside looking in at our chances then the bookies have us down as fifth favourites so they’re pitching us as being competitors, which is a word I use a lot, and I’m pretty sure we’ll be that.

“I don’t want to go too overboard with it because I know the challenges of it – I’ve managed in the Premier League, I’ve played in the Championship and I’ve coached in it and it’s a tough division.

“But we feel we will certainly be competitive and we’ll be looking to do that as a minimum and we’ll see where that takes us.”

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//SCOTT ARFIELD • WORDS NICK THOMSON

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LD TRAFFORD, Stamford Bridge and the Emirates are just some of the impressive stadia Burnley’s Scott Arfield visited last season.

The list goes on, and although the Clarets ended up being relegated from the Premier League, they certainly didn’t disgrace themselves as they gave absolutely everything in their battle to beat the drop.

Scotsman Arfield played in all but one of their matches in what is often referred to as the ‘best league in the world’ and the midfielder will be well known to Rangers fans having played 11 times against the Light Blues during his three-season stint in Falkirk’s first team between 2007 and 2010.

Having tasted what the Premier League has to offer, Arfield could perhaps have been forgiven for being a little underwhelmed by a trip north

to face Rangers, but he poured scorn on any suggestion of that, admitting he simply can’t wait to run out at Ibrox once more.

The 26 year-old said: “I’m buzzing for it! My phone has been ringing off the hook since the game was announced as I’ve plenty of mates and people in my family who are Rangers fans.

“It’s the highlight of my preseason and these are the sort of games you want to play in.

“With Mark Warburton being the new manager and this being his first game at Ibrox, I expect there will be a lot of fans turning up to see him and the new squad to see how they perform.

“It’s a great game for us to play for too. I was telling the boys how well Rangers are supported and the sooner they are back at the top of Scottish football the better.

“Playing Rangers will be a good test for us. I’m mates with Danny

Wilson and I’ve been speaking to him about the squad and the manager and it seems Rangers will look to play football.”

All three of Arfield’s seasons at Falkirk came when they plied their trade in the then SPL, before his performances earned him a move south to Huddersfield Town.

The 2008/09 season was a particular highlight, where despite being favourites for relegation for much of the campaign, John Hughes’ Bairns recorded a final day 1-0 victory at Inverness Caley Thistle to save themselves and relegate Terry Butcher’s Highlanders in the process.

That campaign also saw Falkirk reach the semi-final of the League Cup, where a Nacho Novo double and one from Kris Boyd saw Walter Smith’s Rangers ease through to the final with a 3-0 success.

GOAL GETTER: ARFIELD SCORED AGAINST CHELSEA LAST SEASON BUT BURNLEY LOST 3-1

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HAMPDEN HEARTACHE: ARFIELD WAS IN THE FALKIRK SIDE WHICH LOST TO RANGERS IN THE 2009 SCOTTISH CUP FINAL

There was to be further cup heartbreak inflicted on Arfield and Falkirk by Novo and Rangers in the final of the Scottish Cup that year as the Spaniard scored a quite wonderful goal to seal a 1-0 win for the Light Blues at Hampden.

“We wanted to win that day so much, but it was a goal of the highest quality from Nacho Novo that beat us,” Arfield recalled.

“If ever there was going to be a winner that day, it was going to have to be something special.

“It was one of those goals where you just need to hold your hands up.”

His move to Huddersfield in 2010 was followed by a switch from Yorkshire to Lancashire in 2013 and he spent one glorious season in the Championship before Burnley were promoted to the Premier League courtesy of a second-place finish.

Under the guidance of manager Sean Dyche, the Clarets won praise for their performances in the top flight and they achieved a number of highly creditable results including a 1-0 home win over Manchester City, a 3-3 draw away to Manuel

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TOUGH YEAR: BURNLEY CAME UP AGAINST THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE WORLD LAST SEASON, INCLUDING EDEN HAZARD

Pellegrini’s side and a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge against champions Chelsea before being eventually relegated.

And while acknowledging the Lancashire club have a tough season ahead of them in the always highly competitive Championship, Arfield insists he and his teammates are simply desperate to sample the big time once again.

He continued: “When you get a taste of that league, you want to get back to it as soon as possible. It was an amazing year and although we didn’t get over the final hurdle it was a great experience.

“It was brilliant going to all the big grounds and playing against world-class players. It never happened for us last year but we want to get back there – it’s the best league in the world.”

In the end though, Burnley’s considerable efforts proved to be futile and they were

relegated with two games to spare in spite of an excellent away performance and victory at fellow basement dwellers Hull City on May 9.

Their 38 games in the top flight yielded just 28 goals and 11 of them came from top scorer Danny Ings – a man whose performances have earned him a move to Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool.

That total proved not to be enough – something Arfield is fully aware of, however he reckons the plaudits his side received for their approach and performances through the season were fully justified.

“We went a number of games without scoring,” he conceded.

“Putting the ball in the back of the net is the hardest thing to do in football, and it’s particularly hard to do it in that league where the margin for error is so small.

“We didn’t give many goals away, but we didn’t put the ball in

the back of the net often enough.

It was always going to be tough, but we won praise from neutral fans. We didn’t sit back, we took the game to teams and tried to play our football.

“We were never outplayed in any game we played.”

There is little doubt the highlight for Arfield came away back on the opening game of last season, where, despite being eventually defeated 3-1 by an excellent Chelsea side, the midfielder broke the resistance of Thibaut Courtois, John Terry and Gary Cahill among others to hand his side a shock lead.

“It was live on TV and it was the first game I ever played in the Premier League,” explained Arfield.

“I had my family down too for the game, and it was some moment and it’s something I’ll always cherish.”

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JOURNO’S VIEW Journo’s View

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//OPPOSITION FOCUS • JOURNO’S VIEW

Suzanne Geldard, as a reporter for the Lancashire Telegraph, knows more than most about Burnley Football Club. Tonight she gives the lowdown on Sean Dyche’s squad for the Rangers matchday programme.

How much of an impact will the departure of Danny Ings to Liverpool have on Burnley this season?

SG: “There is no doubt that he will be a big miss, having been so instrumental in the promotion season and scoring 11 goals in his debut Premier League campaign. But Burnley only need to go back a couple of seasons to see how well they coped with the sale of previous top scorer Charlie Austin to QPR on the eve of the 2013/14 campaign. Less than nine months later, they won promotion to the Premier League. There are existing strikers who will be looking to fill the void with Sam Vokes fully recovered from the cruciate knee ligament injury which ruled him out for a big chunk of last season. Lukas Jutkiewicz and Marvin Sordell, who were signed last summer, have yet to make their mark so could get their opportunity with Ashley Barnes sidelined by the cruciate knee ligament injury he suffered on the final day of last season. But they will face stiff competition from new signing Jelle Vossen.

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TRIPPIER

As well as his goalscoring exploits, Danny worked hard off the ball too, but that was mirrored throughout the squad and is something that will be drilled into, and demanded of, any new faces.”

The club has also lost Kieran Trippier to Spurs, how much of a loss will his talent be?

SG “The right back was noted for his attacking play, weighing in with his fair share of assists over the last few seasons to earn consecutive places in the Championship team of the year in the two years before Burnley’s Premier League campaign.

Trippier loved to get forward, but under Sean Dyche there were marked improvements in the defensive side of his game too.

He never looked out of place in the top flight, so it was inevitable that relegation would lead to his departure. Burnley were braced for it and in Matt Lowton have a player in a similar mould, while young full back Cameron Dummigan will be looking to push on after working his way through the club’s youth ranks.”

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Has the manager strengthened his squad over the summer?

“Matt Lowton was brought in from Aston Villa almost immediately after Kieran Trippier’s departure to soften the blow. With similar playing styles it should make for a smooth transition.

The right back is ready to reignite his career and increase his gametime with the Clarets after a frustrating end to his time with Villa. Belgian striker Jelle Vossen has also been signed from Genk for a fee of around £2.5million. The 26-year-old spent last season on loan in the Championship with Middlesbrough, scoring nine goals.”

Are the team looking in good shape to mount a promotion challenge in the Championship?

“They have come down strong. The departures of Ings and Trippier were anticipated and the club moved quickly to bring in replacements for both.

They were adamant in the aftermath of those exits that there would be no further departures. That being the case, Burnley are well capable of a top six finish.

As well as the new signings there have been additional boosts with goalkeeper Tom Heaton and experienced defender Michael Duff signing new contracts.”

INTERVIEW by Alice Hedworth

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The team struggled in front of goal last season, is that set to continue or will they possess more of a goal threat this season?

•sean dychE• Sean Dyche is linked to every vacant managerial role; can fans be confident he’ll be seeing them through next season?

“You can never say never, of course, particularly with his ever-enhancing reputation within the game. But he has stated that he is fully focused on the job at Burnley and is building for the future. There had been speculation linking him with the Leicester City job after Nigel Pearson’s sacking the day before the players reported back for pre-season training. His response was: ‘As I said at the end of last season, my position hasn’t changed, I’m focused on what we do here and what we’re trying to achieve, what we need to do.

It’s just the same.’”

“It is harsh to compare statistics from last season with the season before.

The opposition was of a significantly higher standard in the Premier League and, although Burnley were guilty of missing some clear chances on occasions, having top quality defenders and goalkeepers trying to stop them has to be taken into consideration. Burnley were free-scoring in their last Championship campaign and, despite the loss of Danny Ings, they still possess an attacking threat with a fully fit Sam Vokes likely to be leading the line.”

Vokes only netted once last season after scoring 22 in the Championship in the previous year. Can he recapture this form?

“Sam missed half the season through injury and had a different level of football to adjust to on his return. Most of his appearances came from the bench. With a full pre-season under his belt I’d expect him to be back in the starting line-up and back among the goals.”

•sam vokes•

//OPPOSITION FOCUS • JOURNO’S VIEW

The squad was riddled with injuries to key players last season and Ashley Barnes was the latest to suffer a cruciate injury in the final game of the season. How much did those injuries have an impact on the campaign and could it carry through to this season too?

“Ashley, Dean Marney and Kevin Long – the three current cruciate knee ligament casualties - will be missing for the start of the season but

by Christmas both Marney and Long should be back in the squad and will, as the saying goes, be like new signings. Marney’s absence was especially significant last season as the team missed him in the midfield engine room.

Burnley have worked hard to avoid soft tissue injuries, this catalogue of cruciates is a terrible dose of bad luck.”

Last season was disappointing for the Clarets but how enjoyable was the 1-0 win over Manchester City at Turf Moor?

How crushing was a second relegation in five years to the town?

“There was undoubtedly disappointment but also realism at the size of the task.

Burnley won a lot of friends for the manner in which they approached the Premier League – consistently playing 4-4-2 and not ‘parking the bus’. There was a lot of pride in their performances.

The Burnley players have returned for pre-season in good, positive spirits and that can be transferred to the stands when the campaign kicks off. They have bounced back once, it can be done again.”

Gilks is a very good keeper but Tom Heaton has been an ever-present in the league since arriving at Turf Moor two summers ago, and a first England call-up at the end of last season tells you that a relegation battle in no way made his form suffer. It has not dipped, so there has just been no way through for Matt.”

Goalkeeper Matt Gilks has worked with Rangers goalkeeping coach Jim Stewart with Scotland but it is Tom Heaton who has been impressing in goal isn’t it?

“That’s the problem for goalkeepers – there is only one shirt to play for and unfortunately someone is going to be disappointed. Matt

•tom heaton•

“It is fair to say Turf Moor was rocking and match-winner George Boyd provided one of the highlights of the season.

There are other notable results too, such as the 1-1 draw with eventual champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and the goalless draw at home to Manchester United.

While Burnley lost the return fixture at Old Trafford, Sean Dyche put that down as the performance of the season from his side.”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> •george boyd scores burnley’s winner against man city• 25

//BURNLEY • FRIENDLY

GK

GK

Tom Heaton

Alex Cisak

Matt Gilks

Sean Dyche’s first signing as Burnley manager, the former England under-21 international was everpresent in the Premier League last season and recently signed a new deal with the Clarets which will see him remain at Turf Moor until at least June 2018.

Ciask spent the end of last season on loan at Leyton Orient. He has represented Australia at under-20 level and has also had spells with Oldham, Accrington Stanley and Portsmouth.

The Scots keeper had to bide his time on the bench for the entirety of Burnley’s 2014/15 Premier League season, making just one start in a 1-0 Capital One Cup defeat to Sheffield United.

DEF

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GK

DEF

DEF

DEF

Matthew Lowton Danny Lafferty

Michael Duff

Jason Shackell

Dyche’s first signing of this summer arrived from Aston Villa on a three-year deal. The 26-year-old full back played 86 times in three years at Villa.

The Ulsterman is a cult hero among the Burnley support. Twice promoted to the Premier League, he has achieved the rare feat of playing in England’s top six divisions in ascending order.

Burnley’s captain joined from Derby County in 2012.

He made the Championship ‘Team of the Year’ in 2013/14 and last year started all 38 of Burnley’s matches in the Premier League.

Former Celtic youth had a spell on loan at Ayr United in 2010, where he played 12 matches. Signed from Derry City, Lafferty spent the final few months of last season on loan at Rotherham United.

//OPPOSITION FOCUS • PLAYER PROFILES

DEF

DEF

DEF

DEF

Ben Mee

Stephen Ward

Michael Keane

Tom Anderson

Initially signed on loan from Manchester City, Mee made his stay at Burnley permanent in January 2012. He played 33 Premier League games for the Clarets last year at full-back.

Republic of Ireland international signed for Burnley last summer on a three-year deal. Ward made a total of 10 starts for the Lancashire club and has 29 caps for Ireland.

The former Manchester United youth was part of the England side that played in this summer’s Euro under-21 Championships in the Czech Republic.

Anderson is yet to make a firstteam appearance for Burnley.

The 21-year-old spent part of last season on-loan at Carlisle United and will be looking to force himself into Sean Dyche’s plans for this campaign.

DEF

DEF

MID

KEVIN LONG

LUKE O’NEILL

Dean Marney

2013 was the breakthrough year at Turf Moor for Long, who joined the Clarets from Cork City in January 2010. The 24-year-old centre-back cost Burnley a six-figure fee as they beat off stiff competition for the former Republic of Ireland under-21 international.

Young defender O’Neill became the Clarets’ first summer signing of 2012 when he arrived from Mansfield Town. The highly-rated right-back, who is 23, has recently had loan spells with York, Southend, Scunthorpe and Leyton Orient.

Another to be capped at under-21 level

by England, Marney was a youth player with Tottenham and made eleven first team appearances while at White Hart Lane. He joined Burnley in 2010 and has been one of their most consistent performers since.

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//BURNLEY • FRIENDLY

MID

MID

Matthew Taylor

Fredrik Ulvestad

Scott Arfield

Taylor joined Burnley last year after three seasons at West Ham United. His career began at Luton Town before he went on to feature for Premier League sides Portsmouth and Bolton.

Young Norwegian Ulvestad arrived at Turf Moor from Aalesund on a four-year deal last summer. He made only two appearances in Claret last year, but he is already a full Norway internationalist and certainly appears to be one for the future.

Arfield began his career at hometown club Falkirk, making 108 appearances, and was on the losing side as Rangers defeated the Bairns in the 2009 Scottish Cup Final.

He moved on to Huddersfield and then Burnley, and scored against Chelsea on the opening day of last season.

MID

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MID

MID

MID

Michael Kightley

David Jones

STEVEN HEWITT

After loan spells with Sean Dyche at both Watford and then Burnley, Kightley joined the Clarets on a permanent basis from Stoke City in the summer of 2014.

He previously played under-21 football for England and made 17 appearances last season, scoring one goal.

Jones signed a three-year deal after being released

by Wigan Athletic in 2013.

The 30-year-old played all but two of the Turf Moor side’s league games last year.

HEWITT, 21, signed a pro contract at Turf Moor in October 2011 after impressing in the youth set-up. Formerly on the books at Stockport County and Blackburn Rovers, he joined Burnley’s Centre of Excellence initially and has had loan spells at Alfreton Town and Southport.

//OPPOSITION FOCUS • PLAYER PROFILES

FOR

FOR

FOR

Sam Vokes

Marvin Sordell

Lukas Jutkiewicz

Welsh internationalist grabbed 20 goals as Burnley earned promotion to the Premier League in 2013/14. A cruciate knee injury halted his progress last season but he will be looking to hit the ground running this year.

Yet another former England under-21 international, Sordell also played for Great Britain at the 2012 Olympic Games. Coming through the Watford Academy under the supervision of a certain Mark Warburton, he moved on to Bolton before a loan spell at Charlton preceded his move to Burnley.

Famed for his stunning goal which sealed a 6-6 draw for Motherwell against Hibs in 2010, Jutkiewicz joined Burnley last summer from Middlesbrough on a threeyear deal.

FOR

FOR

FOR

George Boyd

Ashley Barnes

Jelle Vossen

The Scotland internationalist joined from Hull last summer for ÂŁ3million. He went on to net five goals in 35 league appearances, including the winner against Manchester City in March.

Barnes joined Burnley from Brighton in January 2014. A youth international for Austria, he played 37 games for Burnley last year and scored five goals in the process.

Burnley finalised a deal to sign striker Vossen from Genk for an undisclosed fee on July 7. The Belgium international, who scored nine goals in a loan spell at Middlesbrough last season, signed a three-year contract. Despite interest from Celtic the 26-year-old decided to move to Turf Moor and will become the first Belgian to play in a competitive game for the Clarets.

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//BURNLEY • FRIENDLY

Rangers FC Development Fund Re-Launched

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legally ring-fenced to go directly to the youth programme to help find future stars.

A number of past and current youth players like Danny Wilson, Charlie Adam, Alan Hutton and Chris Burke have directly benefitted from RDF support and new manager Mark Warburton – a firm believer in youth development – is delighted to support the work of the Rangers Youth Development Company.

He said: “Youth development is a crucial part of any football club’s operation and I fully endorse and support the work of the Rangers Youth Development Company.

“I have only been at the club a short time but I already recognise the passion and pride supporters have for Rangers and they clearly have backed the Rangers Youth Development Company for over 50 years.

“I have no doubt Rangers fans will continue to support the youth programme by taking part in a range of revenue generators like Rangers Lotto, Rising Stars and Scratchcards.

I wish Colin Stewart and his team every success in the season ahead and beyond.”

Colin Stewart, the Rangers Youth Development Company Director of Operations, added: “We are delighted to rebrand

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R

ANGERS manager Mark Warburton joined Head of Academy Craig Mulholland and first-team star Andy Murdoch at Murray Park on Friday to promote the rebranding of the Rangers Development Fund.

Originally established as the Rangers Development Fund (RDF) in 1964 with the sole purpose of providing funds for the club, the organisation – which has raised over £120 million to date – will now be formally known as the Rangers Youth Development Company.

In the past, RDF revenues have provided substantial funds towards the reconstruction of the Copland, Broomloan and Govan Stands, the Ibrox PA system and the purchase of the land Murray Park is built on.

However, since 2002 all RDF profits have been directed to the club’s youth programme and the independent company – now officially registered as the Rangers Youth Development Company – has provided more than £5.5 million to the youth department in the last decade.

The main Rangers Youth Development Company revenue generators are Rangers Lotto, Stadium Bricks, Rising Stars (halftime draw) and Scratchcards.

All profits raised from these products are not available for general club purposes and are

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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as the Rangers Youth Development Company and we are passionate about supporting the club’s youth programme in any way we can.

“We have provided £5.5 million in the last decade and with the support of the Rangers fans we will continue to provide funds for the development of players like Danny Wilson, Alan Hutton, Charlie Adam, Andy Murdoch, Ryan Hardie and Tom Walsh.

“I thank Mark, Craig and the players for taking the time to support our re-launch and I look forward to working closely with them in the weeks, months and years ahead.

“The Rangers Youth Development Company, like the club, is an institution and I would also like to thank the Rangers fans for their incredible backing.

“They have supported us in huge numbers for decades and I am sure we can continue to grow and help the club’s youth department for decades to come.”

Fans can support the Rangers Youth Development Company in a variety of ways – full details on Rangers Lotto, Rising Stars, Scratchcards, Stadium Bricks and other initiatives can be found at www. rangerslotto. co.uk.

1922

//FAST FACTS

Rangers’ only previous meetings with Burnley both came in September 1922. The first, at Turf Moor, in aid of the Victoria Hospital, saw the home side run out 3-0 winners although Rangers redressed the balance somewhat seven days later with a 2-0 victory at Ibrox in Sandy Archibald’s Benefit match.

Of the players who turned out for both Rangers and Burnley, Chris Woods is the one who made most league appearances for Rangers, with 173, with Trevor Steven next on 136. Chris Vinnicombe is the exRanger who has played most for Burnley, making 95 league appearances. Steven Thompson and Kyle Lafferty are equal second on 83.

LANCASHIRE LINKS Despite only playing Burnley twice to date, Rangers have been fairly regular opponents to the other teams in Lancashire over the years, having played 45 fixtures so far. Blackburn have been the most regular opposition, with 22 meetings, with Preston second after 11 fixtures. Gers have also faced Bolton on seven occasions and Accrington and Blackpool once each.

INFO: ROBERT CARMICHAEL

Kyle Lafferty is the player who, having played for both sides, has scored most goals for Rangers, with 31, just edging out Paul Gascoigne by one. Steven Thompson’s 13 for Burnley is the most by an ex-Ranger, with Trevor Steven second with eleven.

The majority of the fixtures against Lancashire sides came before the turn of the twentieth century, with 31 games played between the first meeting with Blackburn in 1879 and a Christmas Day meeting with Preston in 1899.

The Christmas and New Year period in Lancashire was a regular feature for Rangers in the club’s early years. The 1880s regularly saw Ne’er day fixtures against the Lancashire sides while games on Christmas Day were played in 1899, 1902, 1905 and 1906.

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NICKY LAW, ANDY MURDOCH, DARREN MCGREGOR, NICKY CLARK, TOM WALSH

FE AR NO FOE

BUILT BY PUMA

2015/16 THIRD KIT

IN STORE NOW

TICKET CENTRE AND HOTLINE OPENING HOURS THE SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP FIRST ROUND Rangers FC v Peterhead FC Sunday 2nd August • 3pm Kick Off Tickets: £15 adults • £10 concessions • £5 juniors.

To purchase match tickets please call the Rangers Tickets Hotline on 0871 702 1972 (option 1) calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras.

SEASON TICKET HOLDERS SALE Monday 20 July - Thursday 23 July GENERAL SALE Monday 20 July (selected seats only)

Rangers Ticket Hotline is open Monday to Sunday from 9am-9pm.

Rangers Ticket Centre is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9am until 5pm, Thursday 9am until 6pm, Saturday 10am until 2pm and closed Sunday.

SUPPORTERS CLUBS

*Please note that the Club Deck will remain closed for this fixture. All Bar 72 and MLF season ticket holders will have their smartcards activated as normal for all home first team games.

PETROFAC TRAINING CUP FIRST ROUND Hibernian FC v Rangers FC Saturday 25 July, 12.30pm Kick Off Tickets: £15 adults and £10 concessions.

CONTINUOUS CREDIT CARD

NEXT HOME GAME

//TICKET INFORMATION

PETROFAC TRAINING CUP FIRST ROUND Hibernian FC v Rangers FC Saturday 25 July, 12.30pm Kick Off Tickets: £15 adults and £10 concessions.

Payment has been taken and tickets are now available for collection.

THE SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP FIRST ROUND Rangers FC v Peterhead FC Sunday 2nd August • 3pm Kick Off Tickets: £15 adults • £10 concessions • £5 juniors.

The special match deadline for this fixture is Wednesday 22 July.

Payment will be taken from Thursday 23 July and tickets will be available for collection on Friday 24 July.

Payment has been taken and tickets have been posted.

THE SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP FIRST ROUND Rangers FC v Peterhead FC Sunday 2nd August • 3pm Kick Off Tickets: £15 adults • £10 concessions • £5 juniors.

Payment will be taken from Monday 20 July and smartcards will be activated. All Bar 72 and MLF season ticket holders will have their smartcards activated as normal for all home first-team games.

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N A N R E KI

//BURNLEY • FRIENDLY

2-0 TEMPLETON 24 • HOLT 59 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

15.07.2015 • Pre-Season Friendly • Murray Park (behind closed doors)

SUBS NOT USED • KELLY • CRAWFORD • SINNAMON

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MARK Warburton’s Rangers stepped up their preseason preparations with a comfortable 2-0 triumph over Ayr United at Auchenhowie last week. Despite this being the first time the team had played a standard match of two 45-minute periods, they kept a high-tempo throughout and the club’s new boss was happy with a number of players on display.

After a lively start to proceedings the Light Blues made the breakthrough on 24 minutes thanks to David Templeton. Barrie McKay crossed the ball from deep on the right and, after Nicky Clark slid in and missed his chance to turn the ball goalwards, Templeton found himself in the right place at the right time to fire the ball home and hand the Light Blues a thoroughly deserved lead.

Jason Holt then replaced Dean Shiels at the interval and it was the trialist who managed to grab his side’s second goal of the night. The ball broke to the 22-year-old playmaker on the edge of the area and he slewed a quite terrific shot into the top corner, with Greg Fleming completely rooted to the spot.

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FODERINGHAM AIRD KIERNAN (ZALIUKAS 75) WILSON WALLACE HALLIDAY (THOMPSON 60) LAW (WALSH 60) SHIELS (HOLT 45) MCKAY (HARDIE 75) TEMPLETON (SHIELS 60) CLARK (GALLAGHER 60)

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FLEMING DEVLIN (MUIR 75) BOYLE DOCHERTY MCLAUGHLIN (MURRAY 70) MURPHY WARDROPE CRAWFORD (NISBET 70) TRIALIST (MCKENZIE 45) GILMOUR DONALD SUBS NOT USED • NEWMAN •

//ACTION REPLAY

>DANNY WILSON

>DAVID TEMPLETON

“It was our second preseason game and we showed a good tempo, good quality, we got on the ball, dominated possession and we created a lot of chances, especially in the first half. If I have one criticism it would be that we weren’t ruthless enough in front of goal, but I’m very pleased with the overall performance.” >MARK WARBURTON & DAVID WEIR

>JASON HOLT

>RYAN HARDIE

Mark Warburton

>ANDY HALLIDAY

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//BURNLEY • FRIENDLY

Throughout the 2015/16 season we’ll take a look at some great top ten features relating to Rangers. Tonight, Nick Thomson from the club’s media department has picked out a few of the Light Blues’ best preseason victories.

PRE-SEASON WINS

Blackburn Rovers 1 Rangers 2 (2010/11) DESPITE still trying to shake off the jet-lag from a long trip to Australia, Sam Allardyce’s Premier League Blackburn were defeated in the first game of the Sydney Festival of Football.

Maurice Edu opened the scoring after only 10 minutes when he headed home a Steven Davis free-

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kick before Kenny Miller doubled Rangers’ advantage shortly before half time.

Miller then had the chance to extend his side’s advantage from the penalty spot when Grant Hanley tripped Edu, but his effort hit the crossbar before Rovers had a penalty of their own when Madjid

Bougherra fouled Junior Hoilett, and David Dunn made no mistake with his kick.

But despite late Rovers pressure, Rangers held on for the victory which got their tour ‘Down Under’ off to the perfect start.

//TOP TEN • PRE SEASON GAMES

(1983/84) Rangers 4 West Bromwich Albion 2 TOP-FLIGHT Midlands outfit West Brom were well beaten by John Greig’s Rangers in this highly entertaining pre-season encounter at Ibrox.

A quite amazing first half saw Robert Prytz open the scoring before a Noel Luke own-goal levelled proceedings.

Cyrille Regis pulled one back for the Baggies before Bobby Russell restored Rangers’ twogoal advantage, but that lasted less than a minute as Luke scored at the right end this time to leave the half-time score at 3-2.

In a quieter second half, Prytz made it 4-2 with a penalty kick in a game which marked one of Ally McCoist’s first appearances in Light Blue.

Fulham 0 Rangers 1

(2004/05)

IN front of a typically enormous Rangers support, established Premier League outfit Fulham were defeated at Craven Cottage.

But it wasn’t so much the victory the game will be remembered for, as Dado Prso scored one of the most spectacular goals in modern times.

At the back post, Chris Burke nodded the ball across goal and rather than head it goalwards the big Croat, with his back to goal, pulled off a stunning bicycle kick to plant the ball past Mark Crossley.

It was the beginning of a mutual love affair between the Rangers support and Prso, and it set the tone for what would turn out to be a memorable season as Alex McLeish’s men claimed a League and League Cup double.

Rangers 2 Tottenham Hotspur 0 (2004/05) JACQUES Santini’s Spurs were defeated in another impressive preseason win from the 2004/05 season.

Nacho Novo opened the scoring early on for Rangers when he went through one-on-one with Paul Robinson before slotting past the England goalkeeper.

On the stroke of half time, Peter

Lovenkrands cut the ball back for Dado Prso to sweep home to double the home side’s advantage.

Prso and Novo featuring together on the scoresheet was to become a regular fixture for Rangers in that season as the pair formed an excellent partnership in attack.

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Rangers 2 Tottenham 1

(1980/81)

THE Broomloan Road stand was inaugurated at Ibrox with a match against a top-quality Tottenham side.

Glenn Hoddle, Ossie Ardiles, Steve Archibald and Ricky Villa were just some of the names Keith Burkinshaw brought north to Glasgow, but they were to be sent back to London with their tails between their legs following a strong Rangers performance and victory.

Ian Redford opened the scoring for the Light Blues after just five minutes before Tom McAdam doubled that advantage early in the second half.

John Lacy pulled one back for Spurs, but it wasn’t enough as John Greig’s Gers held on for victory.

Roma 1 Rangers 4

(2004/05)

THE third game to feature from the ‘Helicopter Sunday’ season, Rangers pulled off a remarkable demolition of Serie A giants AS Roma in neutral Kapfenberg, Austria.

The Italians had finished second in their domestic league in the previous season and as such were

40

preparing for Champions League football, but their preparations were dealt a major blow as Alex McLeish’s men simply blew them away.

A double from Nacho Novo, a Dado Prso penalty and an Alex Rae strike had Gers 4-0 up before Daniele de Rossi pulled one back late-on.

(1994/95) Rangers 2 Manchester United 0 SIR Alex Ferguson’s Premier League champions were defeated in match two of the Ibrox International Challenge Trophy.

After Rangers lost to Sampdoria and United lost to Newcastle, Rangers met the Red Devils in a third and fourth-place play-off – an unusual scenario for two clubs so used to success at that time.

But it was to be Walter Smith’s side that triumphed thanks to an own-goal from David May. Among the United ranks that day were Peter Schmeichel, David Beckham, Eric Cantona and Ryan Giggs.

Rangers 3 Manchester City 2

(2009/10)

A last-gasp David Weir goal helped Rangers – who hadn’t spent a penny in the summer of 2009 – see off Mark Hughes’ Man City who had blown a reported £90million in new talent over the same period.

Nacho Novo had Rangers ahead early on before goals from Stephen Ireland and Martin Petrov either side of half time turned the game on its head.

Brazilian £30m+ star Robinho was running the show for the most part, but Walter Smith’s side dug deep to show the immense resolve they had become famous for as Kenny Miller equalised before new assistant manager Weir’s volley in injury time sealed a quite excellent victory.

Rangers 3 Arsenal 0

(1996/97)

STEWART Houston’s Arsenal side were dismantled

by Rangers in what was Richard Gough’s testimonial match. In front of a crowd of over 40,000, Ally McCoist, Peter van Vossen and Jorg Albertz sealed a win over a side containing the likes of Lee Dixon, Nigel Winterburn, Martin Keown and Paul Merson.

McCoist handed Gers an early advantage before new signing van Vossen made it two on the hour mark, and then another new addition in Albertz sealed a terrific win with five minutes left.

Houston lasted only a matter of weeks at Highbury before being replaced by Arsene Wenger, who of course continues to lead the Gunners today.

Rangers 2 Chelsea 0 (2007/08) IN front of a fervent Ibrox atmosphere, Jose Mourinho’s star-studded Chelsea were defeated thanks to goals from Nacho Novo and a collector’s item from Filip Sebo.

The London Blues featured Petr Cech, John Terry, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Andriy Shevchenko and Ashley Cole among their ranks, and although Mourinho would last only a matter of weeks longer in the Stamford Bridge hot seat, that Chelsea side went all the way to the Champions League Final that season where only a John Terry slip denied them victory against Manchester United in Moscow.

For Rangers, while the victory over Chelsea came as a massive confidence boost, nobody could ever have envisaged the season the Light Blues would go on to have as they reached the UEFA Cup Final thanks to a quite incredible run firstly in the Champions League and then the tournament that is now the Europa League.

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//BURNLEY • FRIENDLY

ANDY CAMERON ALEX MCLEISH AND FERNANDO RICKSEN ON HELICOPTER SUNDAY

MARK WARBURTON AND DAVID WEIR

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//ANDY CAMERON

T

HE season tickets are bought, the Cameron family are all excited about the new campaign and they’ll be watching Rangers, as is a family tradition, every Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, in the middle of the night or whenever the Teddy Berrs take to the field.

Daughters Ellen and Marion and my three grandchildren all have season books, sons Elliott and Spencer in Majorca and Dubai respectively have their subscriptions to RangersTV in place and yours truly is looking forward to my 70th year follow following the Rangers.

Like thousands of bluenose families around the globe we live for the Gers and as I heard about Meiklejohn, McPhail and Morton from my uncles and granda so my kids have heard of Millar and Brand and Greig and Baxter from me and they will tell their weans about McCoist, Gazza, Laudrup, The Goalie and Jasper, the midfield genius also known as Durranty.

It’s a way of life and like life it throws up delights and disappointments. I prefer to remember the delights and during the close season the Cameron clan discussed the biggest thrills and best memories from our many years supporting Rangers.

As the oldest I regaled them with stories of Geordie Young, Willie Waddell and the man who got an extra ten bob a week from Bill Struth for keeping his boots so clean, Willie Thornton! I then went on a tuppenny thing about Millar, Brand, Baxter and John Greig who we are delighted to see back at the club as Honorary Life President.

Ellen and Marion had great memories of Colin Stein and Willie Johnston and the rest of the Barcelona Bears and my two boys had a lump in my throat talking about the nine-in-a-row

team and the Dutch legends from the Advocaat era such as Numan, de Boer, Mols, Van Bronckhurst and Fernando.

Of course there are great players not mentioned here because of space restrictions but it was great fun recalling all our favourite games from the past.

My favourites included a game at Tynecastle when Rangers had Billy Ritchie, our goalie, carried off injured after eight minutes. We lost a goal early in the second half only to come back and score three to win the match 3-1. This was in the days before substitutes so Bobby Shearer went in goal and The Old Warhorse Jimmy Millar went to right back. What a night that was and what a victory.

My two lassies also remembered a couple of classic wins when they were younger when they went to the matches wi’ their blue scarves on.

Ellen travelled to Easter Road as a 15-year-old on her own because I was working and couldn’t make it. She watched her hero Colin Stein score the goal in a 1-1 draw with Hibs which clinched the title for Jock Wallace’s team and stopped Celtic winning 10-in-a-row.

Marion then recalled Rangers’ famous 3-2 victory over PSV Eindhoven in 1978 after going a goal down in 23 seconds.

Elliott and Spencer have so many memories from the Souness revolution and their favourites Gazza and Laudrup that I’d be here all day repeating them!

One thing we all agreed on was that a day which means so much to us all as a family was Helicopter Sunday for a variety of reasons.

It was Ellen’s 45th birthday on 22 May 2005 and because it was a family tradition to go to the last league game of the season no matter what position Rangers were in, I was looking forward to

heading for Easter Road to see Alex McLeish’s men take on Hibs.

Now, as I’m sure you’ll remember, Celtic only had to go to Motherwell and win to ensure the flag would be flying in the east end of Glasgow the following season.

With this in mind my eldest child decided that, seeing as her sister was putting on a BBQ for her birthday, she’d forego the game in Edinburgh and watch it on the box while munching a sausage or six and drinking a Bud or ten on her birthday!

Her brother Elliott decided there was no way he was going to watch Rangers while Celtic were singing and dancing at Fir Park so he’d just drown his sorrows with his sisters.

So it was me and Spencer and Andra Bain who headed through to the capital with not a lot of hope in our hearts.

With three minutes to go at Easter Road I turned to Sandy Jardine and said something which will remain with me forever. ‘It looks as if we’ll no’ win the league this year Sandy’ and right on cue the Rangers end erupted into a roar which told us that Motherwell had equalised.

As we were leading 1-0 we would win the title if it stayed that way for the next three or so minutes. Then there was another roar and the south stand at Easter Road was a sea of red, white and blue as the helicopter changed direction!

Families like ours all over the world celebrated that night and as our Ellen texted me ‘Carlsberg don’t do birthdays…..but if they did’.

So there you have it Mr Warburton and Mr Weir, that’s your task. Bring us back days like Helicopter Sunday and make yourselves Rangers legends.

C’MON THE RANGERS!

43

CHANGING FOR THE BETTER

CRAIG MULHOLLAND DISCUSSES THE PLANS FOR GERS’ YOUTH ACADEMY • BY NICK THOMSON 44

//YOUTH • CRAIG MULHOLLAND

I

T has been a summer of dramatic change at Rangers behind the scenes, and while much of the attention has focused on the first-team, the club’s academy structure is also undergoing a radical overhaul.

At the forefront of the revolution is Head of Academy Craig Mulholland, and in tandem with new first-team manager Mark Warburton, the pair are implementing a single formation to be played at all levels from the senior professionals right down to the youngest kids teams.

And while technical and tactical work is a major part of what goes on at the academy, there is also a real desire to create good people too, with the club’s traditions being instilled in every player who goes through the doors at Auchenhowie.

Mulholland met Warburton for the first time on the day he was unveiled as the club’s 15th manager, and the pair have immediately built a close working relationship.

Mulholland explained: “It’s an exciting time to be at Rangers.

The manager and I sat down on his first day for a good 20 or 25 minutes, and we immediately knew we were on the same page, and we have a philosophy that will run from the top of the club right down to under-8s.

“If you’re a member of staff or a player, it’s about learning, it’s about respect and so many of the values that are important at Rangers traditionally will be part of the culture that we create and both myself and the manager want to come together with that culture and that style of play.

“If we can marry that from the top of the club right down to the bottom, then there is no doubt that we can produce players.

“The key thing however is that the manager will only play players if they are good enough, so as an academy, we now face a challenge where we have to produce a

quality of player that the manager can look at and say ‘yeah, I’d like to get him on board.’”

As part of the drive to create good people as well as good players, Mulholland is keen for every player within the academy setup to display a level of authority and influence.

But one player has to stand-out above all else to be selected as the team captain for every side at every level, and for the under-20s full-back Ross McCrorie has been chosen as skipper.

“We’re looking for all the players in the academy to have some form of leadership about them, and we absolutely won’t put up with energy sappers in the group,” Mulholland insisted.

“Ross probably epitomises the opposite. He’s a real energiser – he’s first in the gym every day and around the group he is really positive.

“We’re trying to create a culture where players are not afraid to come and take the ball, so if someone makes a mistake, they don’t have someone screaming and bawling at them whether that be a coach or a captain, and Ross is excellent amongst the group.

“We have high hopes for Ross, and he demonstrates the qualities we want from a young Rangers player.”

At every level, every Rangers team will now play a 4-3-3 formation with an emphasis on positive play at all times, and while the plans have been accelerated with the arrival of new boss Warburton, Mulholland revealed the building blocks were being put in place even prior to his appointment.

He continued: “It’s something we started in the academy before the gaffer came in, and he has now taken it on to a new level.

“The whole club will now play with a set formation. The manager, myself and some of the technical staff are working on a player profile, so every position within the formation will have a

number of attributes the player for that position should have.

“That may even be from a mental perspective. They must be desperate to be Rangers players, they must be desperate to become top footballers and they must be coachable and want to listen and learn every day.

“There will also have to be physical attributes that match each position, and that will of course inform our scouting and therefore any player that comes to Rangers will have to fit into that model.”

Work in the academy continues at pace, and while there is still a long way to go, Mulholland is more than satisfied with how things have been progressing.

It would, of course, be unrealistic to expect every player in the academy system to progress to the first team, but Mulholland is hopeful the example being set by those who have recently made the step up to the main squad will prove an inspiration to those in the younger sides.

He continued: “We’ve made a lot of positive changes in the academy in terms of where we’re heading over the last six or seven months, but there is a lot of work still to be done.

“The culture, as I keep going back to, is important, and any young player who goes round to that first team should be able to slide straight into the

45

MAX ASHMORE

//BURNLEY • FRIENDLY

46

THE changes being made at youth level are already being noticed by those who it affects most – the players.

Young midfielder Max Ashmore has this summer made the step up from under-17 level to under-20 level, and he is thoroughly enjoying what has been on offer for them so far at Auchenhowie.

He explained: “The changes that have been made this preseason mean there is a whole new culture to the academy now.

“It’s a lot more positive and it’s a lot more disciplined. We’re trying to create an atmosphere that gets any energy sappers

away from the club and gets everyone else who wants to do well for the club in.

“That’s linked to the way we are trying to play football now with our 4-3-3 formation and looking to dominate the ball.”

And the new tactical system is something Ashmore believes will suit him down to a tee.

“I like playing deeper in the midfield, although I can play anywhere across the middle of the park,” he said. “I think it’s a really key role, and the manager likes it to be like an old-style number four.

“It’s like being the anchor of the team and being able to get on the ball to push other people forward. It’s somewhere I certainly enjoy playing.”

The dream for all of Rangers’ young players is to make the step up to first-team level, and with Mark Warburton already making clear his belief in youth, there is a real hope that their breakthrough can come sooner rather than later.

Ashmore added: “I want to make my mark in the under-20s, and the manager will hopefully be at some of the 20s games, so we’ll need to see what happens after that.

“He seems to have a lot of belief in youth, and he has said if we’re good enough then we will be played, so it’s now just a case of trying to impress him in training and in games and then hopefully, if I’m given the chance, then I can take it.”

//YOUTH • CRAIG MULHOLLAND

intensity and the work they do there based on the work we have done at the academy.

“When you look at Ryan Hardie, Tom Walsh and Andy Murdoch, it’s great that those lads are there, and that’s an aspiration for the next batch.

“But we need to make sure we produce a quality of player that gets the fans excited, that they have that trick and they have that move that we’ve not produced so much in the past.

“We’re putting together a strategy, and while everything to do with a youth academy has to be longer-term, I don’t believe it will take the long-term to get a structure in place.

“What the manager is trying to create, and it has been fantastic, is a really high-performance environment where everyone on a daily basis is ‘at it’.

“We’re looking for those few per cents that make us better and give us a competitive advantage over someone else.

“I’m delighted with the progress we’ve made, but at this club you can never, ever rest on your laurels and on a daily basis we need to look to get better and better and better.

“Whether that be through coaching, recruitment, sports science or medical, we have to create a multi-disciplinary approach that’s all about the player, making the player better, adding value and ultimately doing well for Rangers.”

And the theme of adding value to players is something that will be extremely important for the club going forward if it is to become the financially settled and indeed profitable institution that everyone craves.

It’s the way football is going, and while seeing the best talent exit Rangers for pastures new may be an understandably difficult pill for some supporters to swallow, Mulholland insists it is absolutely the correct way for the club to proceed in the future.

“There is no doubt the reason we’re doing youth development is to get players through to the Rangers first-team that will ultimately benefit the club and make it successful,” he explained.

“With that, and the manager speaks about this a lot, we need to add value by having the best coaching and by having an environment in which these players can develop, and then ultimately we can sell these players on for a lot of money later which ultimately keeps the club sustainable.

“That is part of the business plan from the board and right through the whole football side.”

47

//BURNLEY • FRIENDLY

21st JULY 1971

Rangers win the Gothenburg Alliance Jubilee Trophy, beating Orgryte 2-1 in the final, having won a semi-final the previous day. John Greig gets Gers off to a flying start with a first minute goal and Tommy McLean nets the winner just after the break.

Rangers – Neef, Jardine, Mathieson, Greig, Jackson, Denny, McLean, MacDonald, Stein, Johnston, Johnstone.

Subs – Miller, Parlane

1983

1987 Rangers beat FC Wettingen 3-2 in the second of their three-match tour of Switzerland. All of the goals are scored before the break with Graeme Souness and Ally McCoist netting equalisers before Super Ally grabs the winner.

Ally McCoist, in his first outing in a Rangers jersey, hits a hat-trick as Rangers kick off their Swedish tour with an 11-0 win over Arlovv BI. John MacDonald also nets a treble with Dave McPherson, Bobby Russell, Sandy Clark, Ian Redford and Robert Prytz also on target.

Rangers – Woods, Cohen, Phillips, Roberts (Nicholl), Kirkwood, Butcher (McGregor), Falco (Nisbet), Souness, McCoist (Fleck), Durrant, Cooper

Rangers – McCloy, Dawson, Lyall, McClelland (Stevens), Paterson, McPherson (Redford), Prytz, McCoist, Clark (MacDonald), Russell (Davies), Cooper (McKinnon)

First-half goals from Mark Hateley and Paul Gascoigne see Rangers start their Danish tour with a 2-1 victory over Brondby in Copenhagen.

1999 Ian Ferguson’s Testimonial ends in a 3-1 Rangers victory over Sunderland at Ibrox before 38,200 spectators. Barry Ferguson opens the scoring for Rangers before a Steve Bould own goal and a Giovanni van Bronckhorst strike wrap up the win.

1995

Rangers – Goram, Wright, Robertson, Moore, McLaren (Steven), Reid, Miller (McCall), Gascoigne (Durrant), Ferguson, Hateley (Durie), Laudrup (Mikhailichenko)

Rangers – Klos, Adamczuk (Nicholson), Moore (Porrini), Wilson, Numan, B. Ferguson (Reyna), Wallace, I. Ferguson (Vidmar), Mols, van Bronckhorst, Albertz (Johansson)

INFO: ROBERT CARMICHAEL 48

//ON THIS DAY

2001

BIRTHDAYS

Rangers lose 2-1 to Belgian cracks Anderlecht in John Brown’s Testimonial at Ibrox.

Claudio Caniggia’s goal can’t prevent defeat in front of 25,200 fans.

1987 Bilel Mohsni (2013/15) 46 league apps, 11 goals

Rangers – Klos, Ricksen, Moore, Amoruso, Numan, Vidmar (Konterman), Caniggia, Nerlinger, Reyna (Johnston), Mols (Miller), Latapy (Brown)

2004 Rangers record an impressive 4-1 victory over Roma in a friendly played in Austria.

Nacho Novo scores twice with Dado Prso and Alex Rae also on the scoresheet against a side containing Mexes, Aquilani, Montella and Daniele De Rossi.

2007 Rangers fight out a 1-1 draw with fellow SPL side Falkirk in a testimonial for Alex Totten at the Westfield Stadium.

Lee McCulloch opens the scoring in the first minute but Falkirk equalise in the first minute of the second half.

Rangers – Klos, Ricksen, Vanoli (Ross), Boumsong (Khizanishvili), Andrews (Hutton), Malcolm, Zajac (Arveladze), Mladenovic (A. Rae), Namouchi, Novo (Prso), Burke

THE LAST GAME

Rangers – McGregor (Carroll), Hutton (Murray), Papac (Broadfoot), Weir (Webster), Cuellar, Ferguson (Hemdani), McCulloch (Novo), Thomson (Adam), Darcheville (Burke), Gow (Boyd), Beasley (Sebo)

Centenniel Stadium, Victoria, British Columbia • Att: 5,735 • Friendly

1-2 •Hundal 12•

•Gallagher 10 • Clark 29•

Mitrou (Watson) Simonsen T. Hughes Smith Ravenhill Faure (McKay) G. Barrett Zaliukas (McCulloch) Ashlee McGregor Rowley Hutton Gomez (Stokes) Gallagher (Murdoch) Hundal Black Sturrock Clark (Templeton) O’Neill (Basso) Shiels (Boyd) J. Hughes (W. Barrett) Crawford

49

THE INTERVIEW On RangersTV supporters can watch in-depth one-to-ones with a lot of the club’s greatest stars as they discuss their football careers and years at Ibrox.

In this season’s matchday programme we’ll pick a player and publish a few answers from their must-watch interview with the club’s online channel. Tonight it is Lorenzo Amoruso.

Name

Lorenzo Pier Luigi Amoruso DOB

28-06-1971 • Bari - Italy Position

Central Defender Previous clubs

Bari, Mantova -loan- Pescara -loanFiorentina, Rangers, Blackburn Rovers, Cosmos Rangers Honours

Scottish Premier League (1998/99, 1999/2000, 2002/03); Scottish Cup (1998/99, 2001/02, 2002/03); League Cup (1998/99, 2001/02, 2002/03).

Individual Honours

SPFA Player of the Year (2001/02) 50

//THE BIG INTERVIEW

51

//FRIENDLY • BURNLEY

S

IGNED by Walter Smith in the summer of 1997, it was to be eight months before Lorenzo Amoruso made his Rangers debut as a result of an Achilles tendon injury.

When he did eventually appear, he was given an incredible baptism of fire, going on as a substitute in Gers’ 2-1 win over Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final at ‘neutral’ Parkhead.

He went on to play in five of the last six matches that season, although it ended in colossal disappointment as the Light Blues missed out on both a tenth league title in a row and the Scottish Cup following a defeat to Hearts in the final.

Dick Advocaat replaced Walter Smith as manager in the summer of 1998, and he named Amoruso as his captain, with the Italian lifting a sensational Treble in 1998/99 and then the League in 1999/00, although he missed out on the Scottish Cup Final in that second season through injury.

Midway through the following campaign he lost the captaincy before recovering to be named SPFA Player of the Year in 2001/02 as Rangers lifted a ‘cup double’ under new boss Alex McLeish and then another Treble the following season.

His time at Rangers came to an end following the 2003 Scottish Cup Final, where he scored the winner in a 1-0 victory over Dundee before moving on to join Graeme Souness at Blackburn Rovers.

52

Was leaving Italy for Scotland a difficult decision for you?

LA: “It took me a few days to understand what it was I was doing. It was a big decision for me in my career – Rangers were offering me a big contract, although that was not the only reason.

“There was a chance for me to play in the Champions League, and with respect to Fiorentina, I didn’t think we would ever be able to qualify back then. We were a good team, but not as big as the likes of AC Milan and Juventus.

“When I met Walter Smith though, I had a fantastic first impression and he was one of the reasons for me moving too.”

You were injured for much of your first season. That must have been incredibly frustrating for you?

LA: “I was really devastated by it.

Before I joined Rangers they knew about the problem and they had specialists looking at it.

“It took me 10 months to get fit though, and that was a horrible feeling. The club was looking to win 10-in-a-row and it was really frustrating being unable to help out with that.

“Just before the end of the season, we had a party to

celebrate the end of an era, and I remember Stuart McCall telling me, ‘Lorenzo, if you could have played 30 games this season we could have had the 10-in-a-row in our pocket.’”

It was towards the end of that season when you eventually made your debut, and your first two games came against Celtic.

LA: “I made my debut from the bench at Celtic Park in the Scottish Cup after Gordan Petric got injured. We played a fantastic game and won 2-1 thanks to goals from Ally McCoist and Jorg Albertz.

“A week later, we played them at Ibrox in the league and won 2-0 with a great goal from Jonas Thern and another from Jorg.”

You played a part in the Scottish Cup Final as well.

LA: “That was a bad, bad one for us as we lost 2-1. Hearts got a penalty after 30 seconds, which wasn’t a penalty as the foul was outside the box.

“It wasn’t to be for us that season, but I still tried to take the positives from it. I got to work with the likes of Richard Gough, Ally McCoist and Ian Durrant and I learned a lot from them.”

//THE BIG INTERVIEW

Dick Advocaat came in the following season, made you captain, and the team went on to win the Treble. It was an incredible turnaround.

LA: “It was fantastic. We didn’t start well and we struggled for the first few months. We were winning but it wasn’t really great the way we were playing.

“After Christmas and the winter break when we went to Florida, it got much, much better. Those 10 days away really helped us as we got to know each other much better.

“It was really hard at the start when the new manager came in. He wanted some really strict discipline and that was good to begin with, but after a year or two the players got a bit fed-up about it as we were treated like kids.

“He was using the stick all the time and some can react well to that, others can’t. He was never ready to compromise his attitude, and one day I went to his office to sort the problems between me and him.

“He told me he didn’t like the way I had been playing or the way I had been talking and that he should change the captaincy.

“It was a personal attack, and I wasn’t happy. I said to him ‘if you think I’m the scapegoat then do

it, no problem. But if you think I’m the main problem, leave me out of the team.’

“He never did that and that’s why I think it was a personal attack on me. He wasn’t happy with the way I was talking to the players and the way I was trying to get him to talk to the whole team.

“No disrespect to Barry Ferguson but he got the captaincy after me and he was only 22. He was a good young player but I think it was too big for him at the time.

“Eventually, he got much better and was a really good captain of the club. But at the time, with all the problems we had, it was really difficult for him and we didn’t do any better that season.

“It hurt me a lot and my first instinct was to stop playing for Rangers. I got on to my agent and told him ‘get me out of here, I can’t work with this man.’

“That wasn’t the case though.

I had talks with Sunderland and West Ham, but there was no agreement between me and them or the two clubs.

“Eventually I stayed but I didn’t want to stay. Not because of Rangers, but because of Advocaat.

“But at the start of the new season [2001/02] I signed a new contract. Performances were OK

but Celtic were going really, really well.

“We did really well in Europe, but in November, after a few bad results, I got a call from the club to say that Alex McLeish was the new manager.”

What were your feelings at that time?

LA: “Advocaat became the director of football, but I saw it as an elaborate way to sack him.

I was in Italy as I was suspended but after only a few days I got a phone call from Alex McLeish.

“I had a really good relationship with him and we ended that season with two trophies and beat Celtic again after going a year without doing that.

“All the workers at Rangers, the physios, the ladies in the kitchen and the groundsmen, all got a lift when Advocaat took a step away.

“The way he was acting and the way he was talking to everyone was really disappointing.

The dressing room changed completely. Alex is a man who will give you something, but he always wants something back. That is the way he started with us and the results showed that in his first year and a half. >>>>>

53

//FRIENDLY • BURNLEY

EMOTIONAL DAY: AMORUSO LIFTS THE SCOTTISH CUP IN 2003

54

//THE BIG INTERVIEW in my ankle and because we had Champions League qualifiers early the next year, we decided to get the operation done before the end of the season.

“I wasn’t happy at missing the final but I had to think ahead and put the team first.”

In 2001/02 you were a part of the team that did the League Cup and Scottish Cup double.

LA: “The key to that season was the semi-final of the League Cup against Celtic. The team did extremely well that night, and Bert Konterman scored a fantastic goal. The way the team desperately wanted to win that game was fantastic and afterwards you could see how united we were.”

Going back to the 1998/99 season, your first trophy was the League Cup after a 2-1 win over St Johnstone (above). That must have been a proud moment for you?

LA: “It was really important for me and the club after what had happened the previous year. But the best memory for me was winning the league.

“It’s the only time we’ve ever won the league at Celtic Park, and the way we did it by winning 3-0 was brilliant. I still remember the fans in the corner, and they couldn’t stop singing and jumping, it was absolutely amazing.

“Winning the Scottish Cup was great too, but if I was to choose one memory that year it would be winning the league.

“In the end we achieved a fantastic Treble which we thoroughly deserved.”

The next season, 1999/00, there was another league title and a Scottish Cup, but you missed the final with Aberdeen.

LA: “I missed the final as I had an unfortunate collision with Craig Moore on the pitch a few months before. I had some loose cartilage

2002/03 was another Treblewinning season for Rangers.

Not many players can say they have been involved in one Treble let alone two.

LA: “We started that season so well, and everything that year was just fantastic. That was until we lost the last Old Firm game 2-1 against Celtic, and then we drew 2-2 at Dundee the next week although I was suspended.

“But we went to the last game of the season with the same number of points and goal difference as Celtic. We scored inside three minutes, but Dunfermline started really well too and equalised straight away.

“But we scored enough goals, and it really was a thriller of a day and a relief to clinch the title.”

Were you aware of what was happening in Celtic’s game?

LA: “We had our kit man Jimmy Bell who was listening to their game at Kilmarnock on the radio.

So he was informing the manager who was informing us.

“Our game finished before theirs, so we had to wait a few minutes before we found out we had won the league.”

Your last game for the club was against Dundee at Hampden in the Scottish Cup Final.

LA: “That was such a sad day. I knew the club wouldn’t be able to offer me a new contract because of the financial problems.

“The manager came to my house, and like an older brother, he explained why they couldn’t do it. I didn’t want to leave. I was thinking I would finish my career at Rangers.

“That game against Dundee was really tough. We couldn’t perform to our best as they were really tight and made it difficult to score.

“But in the second half, Neil McCann took a fantastic free-kick which I managed to get my head to.

“When the referee blew the final whistle, I felt so cold, as I knew that was going to be my last game for Rangers.

“The way the day went, scoring the winning goal, winning ‘man of the match’ and another Treble, was probably the perfect way for me to leave.

“I started to cry, and I couldn’t really enjoy the moment as I couldn’t stop crying.”

Why do you think you developed such a strong bond with Rangers?

LA: “It’s difficult to say. It’s such a massive, fantastic club, and you realise that when you leave. The fans are absolutely fantastic, and it was great always having them around you and supporting you.”

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56

//CHARITY FOUNDATION

Thanks For Your Support!

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RECEIVED THIS

uk and read about the huge difference the Foundation can make when we all pull together for the greater good. Alternatively, you can contact the Foundation directly to request a copy of the review.

A fantastic new project with Maggie’s is covered as well as the continuing support given to community fundraisers and local projects together with the Foundation’s Dream Days, matchday experiences and hospital visits.

If you would like to help the Rangers Charity Foundation continue to be such a powerful force for good and find out more about becoming a True Blue Hero for the Foundation, please get in touch by emailing rangerscharity@rangers. co.uk or telephone 0141 580 8775.

RANGERS CHARITY FOUNDATION

ANNUAL REVIEW

2014 2015

39,229 AND GROWING! FOUNDATION FACEBOOK FOLL OWERS T O DA TE

WE ARRANGED TO

MEET THE PLAYERS IN

HOSPITAL, AT IBROX OR

AT OUR DREAM DAYS

NUMBER OF T RUE BLUE HEROES IN SEASON 14/15

DONA TION S

LUE H B E

COLLECTED BY WORTHWHIL E CAUSES AT OUR

MATCH DAY

CAN

CO LLE CT IONS

O ER

KIDS AND ADUL TS WHO

£27k

TRU

T

he Rangers Charity Foundation is delighted to share its Annual Review for season 2014/15 which is packed full of good news about the progress of its projects and work in the community – all thanks to your support!

The review highlights some key milestones achieved in the last year, including donating enough funds to pay for 800,000 vaccines as part of an ongoing immunisation project with Unicef and reaching its target of £100,000 to pay for the Family Lounge in the new Hospice for Glasgow.

In addition, 2,437 requests for help were received by the Foundation and 85% of them received a positive response!

You can see the full review on the Foundation’s website at www.rangerscharity.org.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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//BURNLEY • FRIENDLY

CLUES ON THE BLUES which club did 1. From Rangers sign defender Rob Kiernan this summer?

Warburton 2. Mark was previously the manager of Brentford but what is the name of their stadium? scored Rangers’ 3. Who first goal in the 2-0

friendly victory over Ayr United at Murray Park last week?

do Rangers face 4. Who in their first away

fixture in the Ladbrokes Championship on August 16?

and 5. Rangers Peterhead will face

each other in the first round of the League Cup on August 2. What was the score the last time the sides met in Division Three at Ibrox on 20 April 2013?

HISTORY which year did the 1. InLight Blues win the

Drybrough Cup for the first and only time?

2.

Who did Rangers beat in the quarter-final on the way to the UEFA Cup Final in 2007/08?

did Rangers face in the final of the 3. Who Scottish Cup in the Treble-winning season of 1992/93? you name Dick Advocaat’s assistant 4. Can during his years in charge of the Light Blues?

many appearances did 5. How Rangers’ Honorary Life President John Greig make for Scotland – was it 44, 54 or 64?

BOYS AT THE BACK defender 1. Which wore the number 26

jersey for Rangers last season?

was the first 2. Who defender signed

by Walter Smith for Rangers in the summer of 1991? you name the two 3. Can English clubs Danny Wilson joined on loan during his time at Liverpool?

club did former 4. Which Gers right back Richard Foster sign for this summer?

you name the 5. Can only club nine-in-a-row captain Richard Gough has managed?

many times 4. How have Real Madrid won

JUNIOR GERS: QUIZ ANSWERS 1. Turf Moor 2. Sean Dyche 3. Danny Wilson 4. Brentford 5. Hibernian WHO AM I? Lee Wallace FIND THE BALL: Ball 3

age is 1. What Manchester United

ANSWERS: CLUES ON THE BLUES 1. Wigan Athletic 2. Griffin Park 3.

David Templeton 4. Alloa Athletic 5.

2-1 to Peterhead HISTORY 1. 1979 2.

Sporting CP 3. Aberdeen 4. Bert van Lingen 5. 44 BOYS AT THE BACK: 1 Marius Zaliukas 2. David Robertson 3. Blackpool and Bristol City 4.

Ross County 5. Livingston WORLD FOOTBALL 1. 30 2. Werder Bremen 3. Canada 4. 10 5. 7

German Which shirt number 2 Which 5.

Bundesliga club plays will Raheem Sterling its home games at

58

midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger?

the Weserstadion? country 3 Which recently hosted the

2015 Women’s World Cup?

the European Cup/ Champions League?

wear at Manchester City following his £49million summer move from Liverpool?

WORLD FOOTBALL

//QUIZ • CROSSWORD

ANSWERS IN NEXT MATCHDAY PROGRAMME RANGERS V PETERHEAD • SUN 2 AUG ACROSS 5. Rangers’ third manager (4,5) 6. David Weir’s Rangers debut venue (4,3,4) 7. 2015 Europa League winners (7) 11. Tommy McLean’s first club (10) 13. 2014/15 Scottish League Two champions (6,6) 16. National team also known as Los Incas (4) 17. Runners-up at 1958 World Cup (6) 18. 1930 World Cup winners (7) 19. Gers’ Super Cup opponents in 1973 (4) 20. Greenock Morton’s stadium (9,4) 23. Top scorer in nine-in-a-row year (5,7) 24. FIFA’s HQ is based here (6) 28. Alex McLeish’s first signing for Gers (5,6) 30. 1984 League Cup Final hat-trick hero (4,7) 33. El Hadji Diouf’s country of birth (7) 36. Murray Park Head of Academy (5,10) 37. Ally McCoist’s first signing for Rangers (4,6,5) 38. One of Rangers’ founding fathers (5,8) 39. The Honest Men of Scottish football (3,6) 40. Goalkeeper with most Scotland appearances (3,8)

DOWN 1. Raith Rovers’ manager (3,8) 2. Rangers’ first opponents in May 1872 (9) 3. Rangers’ first Treble-winning captain (4,4) 4. PSG’s opponents in 2015 Coupe de France Final (7) 8. Rangers’ first scorer in 2013/14 (5,3) 9. Ian Durrant’s Rangers debut opponents (8,6) 10. English club plays at Ashton Gate (7,4) 12. Scotland’s assistant manager (4,6) 14. Former Ger became Scotland boss in 1967 (5,5) 15. Former Aberdeen star joined Gers in Nov 2011 (4,5) 21. Barcelona’s captain (6,7) 22. This band had concert at Ibrox in June 1986 (6,5) 25. Europe’s biggest football stadium (3,4) 26. Ger with most league appearances with 513 (5,9) 27. First European Cup winners in 1955/56 (4,6) 29. Lionel Messi’s shirt number (3) 31. Darren McGregor’s first senior club (11) 32. 2016 Champions League final host city (5) 34. Gers No. 1 at the 1967 Cup Winners’ Cup Final (6,6) 35. Gers’ sub keeper in the 2008 UEFA Cup Final (6,5)

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//BURNLEY • FRIENDLY

Training Gallery M

ARK WARBURTON and Davie Weir have been working hard with their squad for the past three weeks and club snapper Kirk O’Rourke has been a regular at the training ground to capture the players being put through their paces.

Here is a selection of his photos.

>TOM WALSH

>ROB KIERNAN

>CAMMY BELL

>LEE WALLACE • TOM WALSH •DARREN MCGREGOR • DANNY WILSON • RYAN HARDIE

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//TRAINING GALLERY

>BARRIE MCKAY & NICKY LAW

>MARK WARBURTON

>FRASER AIRD

>DARREN MCGREGOR

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//FRIENDLY • BURNLEY

JUNIOR GERS: SPOT THE DIFFERENCE WORDSEARCH

QUIZ

Test your knowledge with our five tricky questions

1. What is the name of Burnley’s stadium?

2. Can you name the manager of Burnley?

3. Who was Rangers' First Signing this summer?

4.

5.

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Which Club did Mark Warburton manage last season in the english championship?

Which Edinburgh side do rangers play in the first round of the Petrofac Training Cup on saturday?

WHO AM I? HINT: The Scottish Left Back is GERS' NUMBER 5

//JUNIOR GERS

Can you spot the 10 differences in the photos of Mark Warburton encouraging Dean shields in training below?

TONIGHT’S MASCOTS

ANSWERS on Page 58

1

Name

JAMES GREER Age

11

From

GlasgoW Hobbies

Football Favourite Player

Lee Wallace Name

Bailey Todd Age 10 From

Ralston, Paisley Hobbies Basketball, Computer Gaming Favourite Players

Lee Wallace And Danny Wilson

2 3

4

Find THE BALL Can you tell where it is?

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//THE LAST WORD

THE LAST WORD

WITH PETER LOVENKRANDS

P

ETER LOVENKRANDS penchant for goals against Celtic and in the biggest European matches saw him become a real fans’ favourite in his six years at Ibrox.

Tonight, he joins our very own Tom Miller on the gantry to add his strong Glaswegian accent to proceedings as part of Rangers TV’s live coverage of the game.

Ahead of the clash with Burnley, he took some time out to give us his thoughts ahead of the new season…

Commentating on games is nothing new for me given I work on English matches for Danish TV, but I am very much looking forward to trying my hand at commentating in the Scottish language tonight!

I love watching football, and giving my thoughts on it, and I can’t wait to see Rangers in action once again.

I really hope this is the start of a

bright new era at Rangers, and hopefully they can get up to the Premiership this year. With the changes around the club and the new faces in the squad, I hope they can go in the right direction this year and get back to where they belong.

I have been really impressed with what Mark Warburton has done down south, and having David Weir behind him is great. They will form a great partnership and hopefully they can do similar things at Rangers as what they did at Brentford.

The new signings the manager has brought in so far have experience of playing in good leagues, so it will be interesting to see what they can bring to the table at Rangers.

Rangers are, of course, another level, and apart from Danny Wilson, none of these guys have played at a club the size of Rangers before so it will be a big task for them and a big ask to establish themselves here.

Burnley are the visitors to Ibrox tonight, and they have a very good squad. Although they were relegated from the Premier League last season, they will be looking to do really well in the Championship this year and get back up to the top league as soon as possible.

The game will be a really tough test for Rangers as they try to get a good result, but this is a level where I believe Rangers should be competing if they get the right squad, and I’ll be interested to see how they do against Sean Dyche’s side tonight.

The backing of the fans is always a massive thing at Rangers, and when I was at the club, they had a big influence on how things went on the pitch.

It makes it so much easier if they are behind you and singing for the full game, and with the new manager in place and all the turmoil going away, hopefully there will be near-enough a fullhouse at Ibrox every time they play.

You can relive all the action from tonight’s game in the company of Peter and Tom, as well as watch pre-match interviews and reaction only on RangersTV.tv.

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SQUADS

GOALKEEPERS

GOALKEEPERS

Cammy Bell Wes Foderingham Liam Kelly

Alex Cisak Matt Gilks Tom Heaton

DEFENDERS

DEFENDERS

Rob Kiernan Darren McGregor Lee Wallace Danny Wilson Marius Zaliukas

Tom Anderson Michael Duff Cameron Dummigan Michael Keane Danny Lafferty Matthew Lowton Kevin Long Ben Mee Luke O’Neill Jason Shackell Stephen Ward

MIDFIELDERS

Fraser Aird Robbie Crawford Andy Halliday Nicky Law Andy Murdoch Dean Shiels FORWARDS

Nicky Clark Calum Gallagher Ryan Hardie Barrie McKay Kenny Miller David Templeton Tom Walsh

REFEREE

Steven McLean ASSISTANT REFEREE 1

Joseph Lawson ASSISTANT REFEREE 2

Jim Burns

MIDFIELDERS

Scott Arfield Steven Hewitt David Jones Michael Kightly Dean Marney Matthew Taylor Fredrik Ulvestad FORWARDS

Ashley Barnes George Boyd Jason Gilchrist Lukas Jutkiewicz Marvin Sordell Sam Vokes Jelle Vossen

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