THERE WAS some encouraging news for Rangers in their 2018-19 financial results, but the figures also revealed just how far the club is behind “old firm” rivals Celtic. Rangers made a loss of £ 11.3 million despite revenues climbing by 63% to £ 53.2 million, boosted by a lengthy involvement in the Europa League. Chairman David King said the financial year had been positive, although … Continue reading Rangers’ slow road back continues
THE mid-1960s through to the 1970s was Celtic’s time in Scotland, Jock Stein’s side winning almost everything on offer. Before the tide turned in Glasgow, Rangers completed a memorable treble in 1963-64. Ibrox Park regulars would have found it hard to believe if anyone had told them, in 1964, that the Gers would not be crowned Scottish champions again for 11 long years. The Rangers … Continue reading Rangers 1963-64 – a final flourish for the 60s
IT HAS been a long time since anyone south of the border thought about Kilmarnock Football Club. It has been more than 50 years since they won their only Scottish title and nearly as long since they made their impact on Europe when they reached the last four of the Inter-Cities Fairs’ Cup. But in the first half of the 2018-19 season, Kilmarnock became one … Continue reading Club of the Month: Kilmarnock – the Clarke revolution
THEN, AS NOW, Celtic ruled the roost in Scotland, winning everything that came before them at home and, in the 1960s, abroad. Rangers, who had a decent team in the late 1960s were in their shadows and the rest of Scottish football could only look on and admire. Celtic were Scottish Champions with a two-point margin over Rangers in 1967-68 with Hibernian in third place … Continue reading Great Reputations: Dunfermline Athletic 1967-69 – heroes from Fife
Whisper it quietly, but is there a little bit of optimism creeping into Scottish football? The national team is keeping its hopes alive in the European Championship qualifiers and there is a realistic chance that they could make France 2016. In the domestic game, the continued absence of Rangers seems to have had a demotivating affect on Celtic, although by the end of the campaign, … Continue reading What’s so good about Hamilton?
They call Perth the “Fair City” and if you’ve waited 130 years for the local football team – St. Johnstone – to win a piece of silverware, it sounds like patience might also be one of its virtues. It is hard to believe that Perth is a city at all, because by modern definitions, it looks like the sort of market town you find dotted … Continue reading Perth rejoices
This year’s Scottish FA Cup final is between Dundee United and St.Johnstone. Not a hint of Celtic and Rangers. Just over 30 years ago, Dundee United won their only Scottish Premier title. It was in an era when, for the first time in years, the Glasgow duopoly was seriously challenged by what became known as “The New Firm” – Aberdeen and Dundee United. For many … Continue reading Great Reputations: Dundee United 1982-83 – enter the “New Firm”
It’s not been a great season for Scottish football. The pathetic story of Glasgow Rangers and the continued malaise around the national team underline how far Scotttish football has declined. But the Scottish Cup Final today at Hampden Park has a special ring about it. We’ve become accustomed to old firm cup finals, but the Edinburgh derby Hearts v Hibernian has really divided the Scottish … Continue reading Edinburgh final can lift Scottish football
