The Moonlighter

Many thanks to those who purchased books over the weekend, these have all been posted out this morning. https://www.thefounderstrail.co.uk/shop

Once again apologies for the delay, the postage to Europe is £5.25, taking the total cost to £21.25. If you'd like to purchase a book please send me a PM with your email address and i'll send you a payment request.

Apologies,i've just noticed this i'll get a price from the post office for you today.

George Goudie was born on the 9th April 1859.A few years ago in Lambhill Cemetery in Glasgow we managed to locate the final resting place of Rangers President George Goudie,unfortunately the stone marking the plot was off it’s plinth.Subsequently our Restoration team re-erected the stone and blast cleaned it.As a token of our gratitude,thanks and respect we at the Restoration of Rangers Graves Project thought that it would be fitting to mark Mr Goudies plot with a plaque.This is today’s generation of Rangers supporters saying thank you to Mr George Goudie. President 1882 – 1883 - Vice President 1883 – 1885.George Goudie was a Paisley “Buddie” born at 2 Hamilton Street in the town on 9 April 1859 to Humphrey, an engine-fitter and his wife Anne.It would appear young George spent his formative years overseas.There is no trace of the family in the census of 1861 or in that of 1871.They do appear in the 1881 census. By then the family home was at 14 Union Street in Leith. The census records twenty-one year-old George had three siblings. Eighteen year-old Matthew and sixteen year-old William had been born in Greece. The youngest of the four sons,fourteen year-old Henry, had been born in Turkey. George’s occupation was given as “clerk”.Research has,as yet, failed to reveal how the young clerk from Leith became,within a year, vice-president of Rangers Football Club! Goudie’s first appearance in the Glasgow PO directory was not until 1886/87. We do know, though,that he was an accomplished athlete, being successful at distances ranging from 100 yards to 880 yards.It is not an unfair assumption that George became friends with Tom Vallace on the athletics circuit and he was brought into the Rangers’ circle through Tom.When Archie Harkness died so tragically young in November,1882,Vice-president George Goudie assumed the presidency of the club.These were not good times for the Rangers.There had been no attempt to build up the club membership.The club was in such financial straits,the committee approached President Goudie requesting he provide a loan of £30 (just under £3,000 in today’s terms). This he did without hesitation.Would Rangers Football Club have survived if Goudie had not agreed to provide the loan? We have to assume that without it, the end may have been nigh.By the summer of 1883, the club was £100 in debt. George served just a matter of months as president. He stood down at the annual general meeting in May, 1883, held at the Athole Hotel.Tom Vallance became president.George served as his vice-president for the next two years.The fact the committee felt they could approach George Goudie for a loan would suggest he had already established his business as a produce merchant with some success. George married Jane Currie on 14 April, 1887 at her family home at 20 Kelvingrove Street. George had been living at 89 Grant Street, a short distance from Rangers’ old Burnbank ground. The first marital home would appear to have been at Sandyford Street. By 1891, the family, now augmented by George, Jnr had moved to 20 Kelvingrove Street. George had had offices in Waterloo Street and York Street.By the time of the 1901 census, George Jnr had been joined by sister Jane and brothers Alexander and James. Five years later, the Goudies had moved to Pollokshields, the family home being “Dunard” at 14 Leslie Street. George had retained his sporting competitive spirit,turning his hand to bowls. He had been a member of the St Vincent Club,then, on moving south of the river, Titwood Bowling Club. His final business address was in Howard Street.George suffered from heart disease for the last eighteen months or so of his life. He died, aged only fifty-one on 24 February 1911. His funeral took place at the Western Necropolis, attended by his “wide circle of friends”. The funeral directors were James Henderson and Co. Yes, the same James Henderson who, too, became president of Rangers and at the time of George’s death, was chairman of Rangers Football Club Limited. We do not have a great record of George Goudie’s time on the Rangers committee.That one act,however,the granting of a loan of £30,will ensure his place in our history will live for ever.Today as we celebrate our 55th title we remember George Goudie,the man who saved the Rangers.

On the 9th April 1938 our Founder Moses McNeil passed at Townend Hospital Dumbarton.Moses had been visiting a friend in Dumbarton and became unwell.He was the grand age of 82. Moses was born on the 29th October 1855 at Belmore House which today is part of the Faslane Naval Base.His father John was from Comrie in Perthshire and mother Jane Bain from Downpatrick in Ulster. He was a natural athlete,powerful and of stocky build,it was said that he was also known for his pace.In the Ibrox trophy room today is a cup won by Moses for a half-mile race at the Garelochead Athletic Sports on 1 January 1876,it’s the oldest Trophy that the Club has. Moses played for the club he helped form for ten years,playing in the 1877 and 1879 Scottish Cup Finals.He was also a member of the first Rangers side to lift a trophy,the Glasgow Merchants Charity Cup in 1879. He was the first Ranger to play for his country when Scotland defeated Wales 4-0 at Hamilton Crescent in Partick in 1876. Moses led a nomadic lifestyle mainly due to his 20 year employment with the company Langs whose name was synonymous with the famous brand of whisky.Their premises,which Moses worked from,was at 70 Union Street in Glasgow.During his time in Glasgow Moses lived at 169 Berkeley Street and 333 Dumbarton RoadThese locations are among many others that we visit during the Founders Trail. We have a wonderful newspaper report which details Moses and his friend,team-mate and fellow Founder Tom Vallance attending the 1905 Scotish Cup Final as supporters. Only 9 months after Moses passed Rangers would set their record attendance at Ibrox Park of 118,000.It’s a comforting thought that our Founder was sitting in his Rosneath cottage while the Club that he’d help form and nurture were now one of the biggest in the World. Moses spent the last few years of his life living with his sister Isabella in Clynder at Craig Cottage. She died in 1935, to be followed by her brother, the last of the siblings,in 1938.They lie together with their sister Elizabeth and Isabella’s husband Duncan Gray in the lovely churchyard at Rosneath.But sadly for the man who gave Rangers their name his own wasn’t inscribed on the family headstone.This was because Moses was the last family member in the Rosneath area to pass and no one was left to have his name added. The late great Sandy Jardine was a supporter of our Founders project and had expressed a wish to have a plaque with Moses name on it placed at the churchyard at Rosneath,this is a project that we completed on Sandy’s behalf on Sunday 28th June 2015.Our Restoration team cleaned Moses stone and placed an engraved plaque which was purchased after funds were raised via the worldwide Rangers support. Today as we celebrate our 55th title we remember Founder Moses McNeil. Moses full story can be read here in our book. All books purchased are posted out by ourselves within 24 hours. https://www.thefounderstrail.co.uk/shop

Many thanks to those who have already donated and got their name into the draw,£220 has already been raised for the Restoration Project. To be in with a chance of winning the bottle of whisky and celebrate 55 in style just donate £5 to the Restoration of Graves Project via this link.The more donations you make the more chance you have of winning. PAYPAL LINK. - https://www.paypal.com/sendmoney ***Follow the link and add following email address along with donation – sonsofstruth@aol.co.uk The winning name will be drawn next Tuesday 13th April. Good luck everyone.

Many thanks to those who have already donated and got their name into the draw,£95 has already been raised for the Restoration Project. To be in with a chance of winning the bottle of whisky and celebrate 55 in style just donate £5 to the Restoration of Graves Project via this link.The more donations you make the more chance you have of winning. PAYPAL LINK. - https://www.paypal.com/sendmoney ***Follow the link and add following email address along with donation – sonsofstruth@aol.co.uk The winning name will be drawn next Tuesday 13th April. Good luck everyone.

Once again we’d like to sincerely thank our friends at the John Greig Loyal Rangers Supporters Club for donating this bottle of whisky,it retails at an incredible £150! and is for export only. To be in with a chance of winning the bottle of whisky and celebrate 55 in style just donate £5 to the Restoration of Graves Project via this link.The more donations you make the more chance you have of winning. PAYPAL LINK. - https://www.paypal.com/sendmoney ***Follow the link and add following email address along with donation – sonsofstruth@aol.co.uk The winning name will be drawn next Tuesday 13th April. Good luck everyone.

Founder Peter McNeil kneeling far left with the Rangers team of 1888.

On the 30th March 1901 our Founder Peter McNeil passed at Hawkhead Asylum in Glasgow which today is Leverndale Hospital.He rests in Craigton Cemetery with his brothers William and James and parents John and Jean. On the 9th September 2009 Heather Lang unveiled our plaque at Fleshers Haugh to mark the location of the first match played by Rangers Football Club against Callander in May 1872. There was no-one more appropriate to carry out the ceremony than Heather, Granddaughter of Gallant Pioneer,Peter McNeil. Heather and her sister Doreen Holland were the strongest link we had with Peter and his fellow Pioneers, his brother Moses, Peter Campbell and William McBeath. Sadly Heather passed at her sister’s home in London in 2016. Heather and Doreen though were unaware of their link with the founding of Rangers.Grandfather Peter had a tragic end to his life.It was probably because of this, that their mother Gertrude, daughter of Peter and his wife Janet, never spoke of her father.He had died in Hawkhead Asylum on 30 March 1901.He had clearly suffered from a form of mental illness, though his death was recorded as “general paralysis’’. Peter was born in 1854,a year before his brother and fellow Pioneer Moses. In his mid-teens he had moved to Glasgow with other members of his family.In May 1872 Peter played in the Club’s first match against Callander aged only 18.He was one of the Club’s earliest captains and was a regular in the side until 1876.It was off the field of play though Peter McNeil made his greatest contribution during the formative years of the Club. Rangers team mate William Dunlop wrote an article in the SFA Handbook of 1881, Willie actually used the pen name “True Blue”. It’s a beautifully written article that describes in such loving terms of how Peter McNeil would travel on a Saturday morning across town from the family home at Berkeley Street to Fleshers Haugh, put poles in the ground which would act as goalposts and then literally stand guard until the hour came in the afternoon when he would be joined by his friends.We felt this was a very dramatic and moving image and commissioned a painting to be done depicting this scene. We presented the painting by artist Helen Runciman to the Club in 2009 and the painting now hangs on the marble staircase within Ibrox Stadium When his playing days were over Peter became honorary secretary. He held this position from 1876 – 1883.He was also vice-president from 1886 – 1888.Peter McNeil was a greatly respected administrator, serving as treasurer of the Scottish Football Association from 1879 – 1883.He was known as “Genial Peter”, a much-loved and respected figure within Scottish Football. Peter had a business which he ran with his brother, Harry, “H and P McNeil’s”. It was one of the forerunners of the modern sports outfitters. The business had started in the mid 1870’s.The original premises had been in Renfield Street but in 1883, the brothers moved to Union Street.They were suppliers of outfits to both Rangers and Scotland. In March, 1885, Peter married Janet.Rangers Football Club presented the happy couple with “a beautiful inlaid marble clock and a pair of equestrian bronzes”. Within five years, the family was complete with the birth of John Fraser and Gertrude Grace. Despite the happy home life, it was clear the pressure of business was taking its toll of Peter. The business of H & P McNeil disappeared from the PO Directory by 1896,bankruptcy had come to Peter and Harry. The deterioration of Peter's mental health caused great anguish to his family In January, 1901,he was committed to Hawkhead Asylum where he was to pass. Peter McNeil lay at rest for many years with his parents, John and Jean, and older brother William in what was an unmarked grave at Craigton Cemetery Glasgow.Either side of him are his brothers Alexander and James.On the 22nd June 2013 we placed memorial stones to our Founder Peter McNeil and his family on their final resting places at Craigton Cemetery. Founder Peter’s resting place fittingly looks on to the front door of Ibrox Stadium. Our Founder Peter McNeil died at a young age,he was only 47,but he lived long enough to see the Club that he helped form and nurture grow from what was essentially a boys club on Fleshers Haugh into Ibrox Stadium and then on it’s way to becoming a worldwide sporting institution. As we celebrate our 55th Title we today remember Founder Peter McNeil.

Only £16.00(+£2.32 P+P).‬‪Our copies are all signed by author Gary Ralston. ‬This updated version of the book has a chapter devoted to the Founders Trail.‪ A must read for all True Blues !‬‪Purchase your book here on our website and we’ll post your copy out within 24 hours.https://www.thefounderstrail.co.uk/shop

As we celebrate 55 read about how our incredible story began.The dream of a group of kids in a Glasgow public park becomes reality. Only £16.00(+£2.32 P+P).‬ ‪Our copies are all signed by author Gary Ralston. ‬This updated version of the book has a chapter devoted to the Founders Trail. ‪ A must read for all True Blues !‬ ‪Purchase your book here on our website and we’ll post your copy out within 24 hours. https://www.thefounderstrail.co.uk/shop

As we celebrate 55 get wrapped up in Rangers with a Founders Trail Scarf. Our scarves are designed on the original colours of the Club,Royal Blue Jersey,White Shorts, Blue and White Socks. They’re only £14.00 (+ £3.30 P&P) and can be purchased here on our website. All orders are posted out by ourselves within 24 hours. https://www.thefounderstrail.co.uk/shop

Founder Peter Campbell was born at Garelochhead on the 6th March 1857. Peter came from a more privileged background than his fellow Pioneers. His father John was a harbour master, his mother Mary was sister of Sir James Jenkins, honorary surgeon to Queen Victoria. The family home was “Craigellan”, a large sandstone villa in the lochside village of Garelochhead. A life on the ocean wave was always seemingly inevitable for the youngest of our founders given the sea-faring family to which he belonged but it was the ocean wave that tragically claimed his life at the age of 25. In the early 1870’s Peter moved to Glasgow and joined the Barclay Curle shipyard as an apprentice. When he and his friends Peter and Moses McNeil and William McBeath struck upon the idea of forming a football club it was no doubt a welcome release from the Clyde-side for Peter. He served a five-year apprenticeship with Barclay Curle and a further two years as a journeyman until 1879 while playing for the newly-formed Rangers. He was one of the better players in the fledgling side. Indeed he was described in annuals of the time as one of most outstanding players of the period. Like his fellow founders, Campbell played in that first match in May 1872 and went on to become a pivotal player for Rangers. Campbell, who was vice-captain of Rangers, played for Glasgow against Sheffield in 1876 when he and Moses became the first Rangers players to gain representative honours.He scored five goals in the 1876/77 Cup campaign when Rangers made it all the way to their first final but as previously described they agonisingly lost 3-2 in a second replay to Vale of Leven. His last match for Rangers was a Scottish Cup tie against the dominant Queen’s Park which was lost 5-1 in September 1879 and then he became one of the first Scottish players to move to England when he joined Blackburn Rovers and played for them briefly before hanging up his boots. The smell of the salt was too strong in his nostrils. He is said to have had seven spells at sea with the London-based merchant ship Margaret Banks in the next three years and then, fatefully, he was on board the St Columba which was bound for Bombay with coal when it left Penarth in South Wales in January 1883.In horrific weather the boat never got past the Bay of Biscay off western France and Peter was pronounced drowned on March 3.The youngest of our founders died aged just 25. On Saturday 22nd July 2017, after a period of negotiation with Penarth Council, we unveiled a memorial plaque at Penarth Pier to commemorate the life of Peter Campbell and his contribution in the formation of Rangers Football Club.The memorial was funded by our Restoration of Rangers Graves Project. We’re fortunate to have something more tangible to remember Peter Campbell by.He was a member of the first Rangers’ side to win a trophy, the Glasgow Merchants’ Charity Cup in 1879,and there’s an incredible story behind the medal that Peter won that day. Fellow Rangers supporter William Mason contacted us to tell of how one of his friends had found this medal belonging to Peter Campbell in a park in East Kilbride in 1968. A few years ago his friend loaned the medal to Rangers and Peter Campbell’s medal is on display in the Blue Room at Ibrox. This is a permanent reminder of the contribution Peter Campbell made in forming our great Club. Today as we charge towards our 55th League title we remember Founder Peter Campbell.

William Summerhill was only 17 years of age when he didn’t return home from Ibrox on the 2nd January 1971. We were recently contacted by William’s family and a memorial plaque was placed yesterday in his name at Daldowie Crematorium Glasgow. Remembered always by the worldwide Rangers support. If you’d like to donate to the Restoration Project please use the link here on our website. Every penny helps. Thank you. PAYPAL LINK.https://www.paypal.com/sendmoney - ***Follow the link and add following email address along with donation – sonsofstruth@aol.co.uk

As we charge towards 55 read about how it all started.The dream of a group of kids becomes reality.Only £16.00(+£2.32 P+P).‬‪Our copies are all signed by author Gary Ralston. ‬This updated version of the book has a chapter devoted to the Founders Trail.‪ A must read for all True Blues !‬‪Purchase your book here on our website and we’ll post your copy out within 24 hours.https://www.thefounderstrail.co.uk/shop

The winner of the Memorial Badge is Brian Lindsay who has been notified. A wonderful £205 was raised via the raffle every penny of which will go to the Restoration of Rangers Graves project.This will help to ensure that our work continues over the coming weeks and months. Thanks very much to The Blue Order for donating the badge and to everyone who participated.

Still time to get your name into today's draw, so far the memorial badge has raised a wonderful £185. To be in with a chance of winning the badge just donate £5 to the Restoration of Graves Project via this link. PAYPAL LINK. - https://www.paypal.com/sendmoney ***Follow the link and add following email address along with donation – sonsofstruth@aol.co.uk

The Memorial badge has so far raised £105. To be in with a chance of winning the badge just donate £5 to the Restoration of Graves Project via this link. PAYPAL LINK. - https://www.paypal.com/sendmoney ***Follow the link and add following email address along with donation – sonsofstruth@aol.co.uk The winning name will be drawn on Friday 26th February. Good luck everyone.

Many thanks to those who have already donated, £60 has been raised.

This Ibrox Disaster 50th Anniversary Badge has been very kindly donated by The Blue Order. In an effort to raise funds for the Restoration of Rangers Graves Project The Blue Order have very kindly asked us to raffle this 50th anniversary memorial badge.Thank you guys. We currently have five memorials/restorations in the pipeline so every penny will help. To be in with a chance of winning the badge just donate £5 to the Restoration of Graves Project via this link. PAYPAL LINK. - https://www.paypal.com/sendmoney ***Follow the link and add following email address along with donation – sonsofstruth@aol.co.uk The winning name will be drawn on Friday 26th February. Good luck everyone.

The winner of the Dalmore Whisky is Stuart Mitchell who has been notified. Congratulations Stuart! An incredible £825 was raised via the raffle every penny of which will go to the Restoration of Rangers Graves project.This will help to ensure that our work continues over the coming weeks and months. Thanks very much to Mark Hilson for donating the whisky and to everyone who participated WATP

We’ve just had a new delivery of books as they continue to sell out. As we charge towards 55 read about how it all began.The dream of a group of kids becomes reality. Only £16.00(+£2.08 P+P).‬ ‪ ‪Purchase your book here on our website and we’ll post your copy out within 24 hours. https://www.thefounderstrail.co.uk/shop ‬

Still plenty of time to get your name into Friday’s draw. An incredible £670 has already been donated.This will help to ensure that our Restoration work continues over the coming months.Thank you. To be in with a chance of winning the bottle of whisky just donate £5 to the Restoration of Graves Project via this link.The more donations you make the more chance you have of winning. Every penny helps. PAYPAL LINK. - https://www.paypal.com/sendmoney ***Follow the link and add following email address along with donation – sonsofstruth@aol.co.uk The winning name will be drawn on Friday 19th February. Good luck everyone.

On the 16th February 1935 Rangers legend Tom Vallance died at the family home at 189 Pitt Street Glasgow aged 78. Tom is buried in Hillfoot Cemetery in Bearsden,his funeral was attended by Mr. Struth, Chairman James Bowie and his old team-mate James McIntyre who both took a cord. Incredibly, players from the Vale of Leven team whom Tom had faced 60 years earlier in 1877 were also in attendance. That will give you an indication as to how highly regarded Tom Vallance was. Tom was paid the ultimate accolade by the Club in May 1898 when he was made a life member of the Rangers. In 2012 we had Tom put on to canvas by way of a painting by artist Helen Runciman which was unveiled at Ibrox Stadium at the end of our Founders Trail. Tom Vallance took his rightful place at the top of the Marble Staircase alongside his friends and fellow Founders. Some facts on Tom Vallance: Tom Vallance had an incredible 60 year association with his Club that he loved. He was a master oarsman, a champion athlete (he set a Scottish long jump record of over 21 feet), he studied at the Glasgow School of Art, had paintings accepted by the Royal Scottish Academy and was Rangers Club Captain and President for many years. While President of the Club it was not uncommon to find Tom Vallance working the turnstiles on match day at First Ibrox. In 1890 he was the owner of the Club Restaurant at 22 Paisley Road Toll which today is the Viceroy Bar. We have recorded details of Tom Vallance being present at the ceremony held on 1st January 1929 which saw the opening of the Main Stand at Ibrox and also at a Dinner held in the old St.Enoch’s Hotel after a Rangers match in 1933, he was also a guest of the Club that year for the New Year’s day game against Celtic.So, the lad who was present at Fleshers Haugh in 1872 was still attending Ibrox some 60 years later where the Club that he’d helped form and nurture were now playing in front of crowds touching 100,000. His final resting place at Hillfoot Cemetery was restored last year. Today we remember the great Tom Vallance.