Ibrox to fall silent in tribute to Billy
RANGERS will hold a minute’s silence ahead of their game with Ross County next weekend to mark the death of Ibrox legend Billy Simpson.
The Northern Irishman passed away yesterday morning aged 87 and the Light Blues have paid tribute to one of their finest servants.
Gers fans held a dinner in Glasgow last year to recall the career of Simpson and Ibrox will remember him next Saturday before the County clash.
A Rangers statement read: “The board of directors, management, players and staff at Rangers would like to send our sincere condolences to the family of Billy Simpson after the former Light Blues and Northern Ireland centre-forward passed away peacefully this morning at the age of 87.
“Bill Struth brought Billy to Ibrox in October 1950 for a club record fee of £11,500 from Linfield and the Belfast-born striker proved to be one of the legendary Rangers manager’s best pound for pound signings as he went on to score 163 goals in 239 games for the club.”
Simpson netted 93 goals in 143 senior appearances and won back-to-back league titles in 1949 and 1950 with Linfield before making the move to Rangers.
He would go on to become a legend under Struth and lifted three league titles and a Scottish Cup during his time in Scotland.
Simpson also turned out 12 times for Northern Ireland and famously hit the winner against England at Wembley in 1957.
A Linfield statement read: “The most sincere condolences of everyone at Linfield are extended to the family. The Linfield players will wear black armbands at tomorrow’s game in Dungannon in honour of one of our most famous players.”