The bizarre history of Rangers

BOWLED OVER

Legendary wing-half Scot Symon won 16 titles as player and manager at Rangers. And he also holds the honour for best-ever bowling performance from a Scot against Australia, taking five wickets for a mere 33 runs in 1938. Howzat!

OUTS AND INS

In the 1971-72 Cup Winners’ Cup second round, Gers missed all of their spot-kicks in a shootout against Sporting Lisbon, but they still advanced because the referee had forgotten that away goals counted during extra time.

CARD GAMES

Referee Dougie Smith did not see the funny side when he booked Paul Gascoigne in the Gers’ 7-0 win against Hibernian in 1995. Gazza’s crime? Flashing Smith the card he’d just dropped.

RECORD BREAKER

After securing their ninth successive title in 1997 – equalling a record set by Jock Stein’s Celtic in 1974 – Gers followed their celebratory ditty Nine In A Row (which got to No.54) with Give Us The Ten. File under Fate: Tempting of.

HORSING AROUND

French keeper Lionel Charbonnier tasted domestic Treble joy in 1998-99, but he still wasn’t satisfied. After retiring, he admitted that he wished he’d been born as a horse as they “are perfect athletes.” Why the long face, Lionel?