To captain Rangers to our historic 55th title is a memory I’ll hold on to FOREVER
FOR James Tavernier, his Rangers journey over the past six years has been a voyage of selfdiscovery through often stormy seas.
The Ibrox captain’s undoubted nadir came with the backlash sparked by the confession he made in his programme notes before a 1-0 home defeat to Hamilton last March.
Namely, that Steven Gerrard’s players simply could not handle the pressure of opposition getting in their faces.
At that point, the 29-year-old looked to be heading for an ignominious exit from Govan.
But a man who had been cruelly branded a ‘serial loser’ by former Celtic striker Chris Sutton, on account of his lack of major silverware, has enjoyed the last laugh after finally reaching his desired destination as a Premiership champion.
As skipper of the club when they captured their 55th title — thereby stopping Celtic reaching an unprecedented ten in a row at the same time — his place in Rangers history is now assured.
The former Wigan Athletic
“This isn’t the end, it’s only the start... and I can’t wait”
player admits he will have to pinch himself on May 15 when he becomes the first Rangers captain in a decade to hoist aloft the top-flight league trophy.
And, with Covid cases steadily dropping in Scotland, he desperately hopes that Ibrox will be able to open its doors for its first big title party since 2011.
Whatever happens, this is one skipper who is looking forward to completing his remarkable voyage from the Scottish Championship to the Champions League when Zadok the Priest by Handel rings out across the old stadium this summer.
‘I started this journey nearly six years ago and it’s been a journey that’s had its ups and downs,’ admitted Tavernier yesterday. ‘But it’s made me who I am.
‘To captain Rangers to our historic 55th title is a memory I will hold for ever.
‘It is a privilege and an honour to pull on the famous royal blue, and adding the captain’s armband makes it even more special.
‘As soon as I arrived six years ago, I soon realised how massive this club is. It isn’t a club really — it’s an institution.
‘I think it’ll be a surreal moment when it comes to May 15.
‘It will really sink home what we have achieved — and hopefully we can have fans in the stadium then so they can enjoy it with us.
‘It’s been some journey to come through the years and the struggles that we have had.
‘But we are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
‘This is the best team I’ve played in — and I’m sure the board and the gaffer will be looking to improve the team in the areas that we need to improve.
‘I’m really excited and I know the boys are really excited to push on with Champions League qualifiers next season.
‘It’s something that you dream of, walking out to that music.
‘I can’t wait to lead the boys out doing that.’
Rangers coach Michael Beale insisted recently that title 55 was not the end point on the journey for the club. Celtic may be lining up Eddie Howe as their new manager, but Tavernier is hoping to usher in a period of sustained success in Govan. Next in his sights is the Scottish Cup — and a potential Double for Gerrard’s side this season — with Celtic visiting Ibrox in the fourth round on April 17. Tavernier is hoping to banish the hurt of 2016 when Rangers lost 3-2 to Hibernian in the final, with the Easter Road side winning the trophy for the first time since 1902. ‘We’ve finally come to that 55th title and I believe that’s just the start of it,’ the Englishman told Rangers TV after pledging his future to the club until 2024.
‘You constantly want to win more and more trophies — so it was an easy decision when the club offered me an extension.
‘I’ve got unfinished business. There are cups I’ve not won that I want to win.
‘We are in the Scottish Cup to win it.
‘I want to push on and win more trophies with this club. You have that little taste of success and you want more and more.
‘This club has come through so much. But we have the full backing of the board and the supporters, and this feels like the start of something special for the club.
‘It’s not the end — it’s the start, and I can’t wait.’
Tavernier has not played since a knee injury saw him hobble out of Rangers’ 4-3 Europa League win against Royal Antwerp in Belgium on February 18.
He is back training on the grass and hopes to return soon, but he did not confirm whether he will be ready for the Old Firm game.
‘I can’t wait to get back fit — I’m not too far away,’ continued the Rangers captain.
‘The boys have got a tough game this weekend against Hibs, then we have a stronger opposition when we play Celtic in the cup.
‘We are looking to finish off the season like we started — really strong and hopefully we can add more silverware. That’s our aim.’
Should Tavernier see out his new contract until 2024, he will have been a Rangers player for nine years.
And he will forever be indebted to former manager Mark Warburton for signing him and breathing life into his career.
‘From the very start, when Mark
Warburton brought me through the door, this was the first club that gave me the platform to play football,’ he insisted. ‘I’ve enjoyed it ever since.
‘It’s given me great experience through the journey, seeing the players who have come and gone and seeing the managers who have come and gone.
‘I’ve learned a lot of things throughout that course of this journey, but one thing is the fans have always stuck by us. That’s credit to them.
‘You’ll never see any supporters like them around the world. It’s amazing what they give to the team and to myself.
‘There have been ups and downs, but this club has given me the chance to showcase what I’m about and I’ll continue to keep giving back to the club and to the fans.
‘I’ll give everything I’ve got.’