The Moonlighter

They are £12.00 (+ £2.86 P&P) and can be purchased by emailing us at thegallantpioneers@googlemail.com or on the Founders Trail.

On the 9th April 1938 our Founder Moses McNeil passed at Townend Hospital Dumbarton. http://www.thegallantpioneers.co.uk/Moses-McNeil.html 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. Only 9 months after Moses’ passing Rangers would set their record attendance at Ibrox Park of 118,000 . It’s a comforting thought that our Founder was sitting in his cottage while the Club that he’d help form were now one of the biggest in the World. 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 isn’t inscribed on the family headstone. The late Sandy Jardine was a great supporter of the Founders project and had expressed a wish to have a plaque with Moses name on it placed at the churchyard at Rosneath and this is a project that we completed on Sandy’s behalf on Sunday 28th June 2015. Fellow Rangers supporter David Calderwood cleaned Moses stone and placed an engraved plaque which was purchased after funds were raised via the Rangers support. Today we remember Moses McNeil.

Please note that this Tour is now SOLD OUT. We have seats available on Sunday 10th July. thegallantpioneers@googlemail.com

Glasgow professor of surgery George B McLeod.

Tom Vallance was still speaking about the great injustice and frustration that goal not standing caused many years later. Two years later in 1879 we again met Vale in the Cup Final and again we had a '' good goal'' chalked off. Rangers led by Tom Vallance lodged an appeal but it was thrown out and a replay ordered. On the day that the Cup Final Replay kicked off the Rangers team were enjoying a day out at Ayr races, they simply didn't turn up.

The 1877 Scottish Cup Final Replay. 1877 saw the young Rangers, after trips in earlier rounds to places such as Mauchline in Ayrshire, incredibly reach the Scottish Cup Final where the mighty Vale of Leven lay in wait. Vale had caused a sensation of their own in an earlier round by handing Queens Park their first ever defeat on Scottish soil. The final was to be played on 17th March 1877 at Hamilton Crescent in Partick and our lads got to work to make sure that they were prepared. Moses fondly recalled tuck-ins of ham, eggs and steaks every morning after a 6am rise followed by a 10 mile training walk or a 90 minute session with the football. The lads would train for the Final at their Kinning Park ground often late into the night and because of this the local residents daubed the Rangers ‘ The Moonlighters’ a name which actually stuck with us for a few years. To say that the final of 1877 caught the imagination of the Glasgow public is a massive understatement as thousands made their way to Hamilton Crescent . The first match played on the 17th March ended in a 1-1 draw with the Rangers goal coming via a Vale own goal. A crowd of 8,000 attended that day to see this team of youngsters take on the mighty Vale. The draw saw the young Rangers team carried off shoulder high by the crowd. The replay took place on 7th April 1877 William Dunlop scored in normal time for the Rangers only for Vale to equalise, that game also ended 1-1.We then went into extra time William Dunlop scored again and up went the roar from the Rangers fans of “GOAL” and “The Cup is surely ours” but the ball incredibly was in the arms of the Vale goalkeeper .The umpires were consulted but “No goal” was the verdict passed. Glasgow Professor of Surgery George B McLeod was standing behind the goal and was prepared to take an oath and vow that the ball had actually went through the goal, struck him on the head then landed back in the goal-keepers arms. The goal never stood, and this led to supporters of both sides invading the playing field bedlam ensued and the match was duly abandoned. The Scottish Cup of 1877 was eventually decided at first Hampden, with Vale winning 3-2, Peter Campbell and William McNeil scoring for Rangers. This series of games saw the transformation of the Rangers from what was essentially a boys club into a respected football club one which caught the imagination and admiration of the Glasgow working classes this is something that the Club has never lost. The Rangers were never to look back.

Thank you, every penny will go to help restore these sites.

Over the last few months we've continued to locate and restore the final resting places of those men who played such a vital role in not only forming our Club but the subsequent years thereafter. Restoration work and the placing of memorials has already been carried out on the final resting places of: Peter and James McNeil, and Mr. Struth at Craigton. Moses McNeil at Rosneath and William Wilton , AB and Dugald McKenzie and RS McColl at Cathcart. Harry McNeil at Rutherglen Cemetery. There are many others sites around Glasgow which are sadly in various states of disrepair. Stone cleaning requires to be carried out on some, stones re-erected on others and some sadly have no stone at all. Just recently the families of Rangers greats John McPherson and James ‘’Tuck’’ McIntyre have made contact with us which will lead to the restoration of both of their plots at Craigton Cemetery. Funds are in place to let the work proceed but please donate if you can via the link : Every penny donated counts. PAYPAL LINK. - https://www.paypal.com/sendmoney ***Follow the link and add following email address along with donation – sonsofstruth@aol.co.uk These men from our early years gave us so much that we still enjoy today and it’s now time to give them some respect back in return. The Founders Project isn’t only about an education process it’s about putting everything in place for this and future generations to enjoy. Every Rangers supporter can now contribute to The Restoration of Rangers Graves Project. Regular updates on progress will be posted.

Only three seats left for the Founders Trail and Ibrox Stadium Tour on Sunday 15th May. Sunday 24th April.( SOLD OUT ) Sunday 15th May 3 seats available Saturday 11th June ( SOLD OUT) Sunday 10th July 57 seats available We will also operate from August to November. Adults : £22 Children (under 16) and Senior Citizens £16. Group discounts are available upon request. To reserve your seat just send an email to : thegallantpioneers@googlemail.com For further information phone : 0790 2855536 An insight into our research can be found here on our website. http://www.thegallantpioneers.co.uk/

The Founders Trail Sunday 3rd April. A Bear Cub laying a floral tribute and paying his respects at the the resting place of our Founder Peter McNeil at Craigton Cemetery during yesterday's Founders Trail.

Would all who are booked on today's Tour please note that there will be a Founders Trail welcome desk available within Bar 72 East at Ibrox Stadium from 11.15am prior to our 12pm departure from outside of the Ibrox Megastore Access to Bar 72 is via the main entrance to Argyle House .A staff member will be in the area to give directions . This will give us an opportunity to greet you and check you from our loading chart and to distribute our travel packs. Parking is available throughout the day around Ibrox Stadium. If you have any questions before the tour please don't hesitate in contacting us on 0790 2855536.

Tonight at 7.30 folks. Hope to see a few of you there.

We still have a few seats left for this Sunday's Founders Trail and Ibrox Stadium Tour which could be a Title winning day out ! Adults : £22 Children (under 16) and Senior Citizens £16. Group discounts are available upon request. To reserve your seat just send an email to : thegallantpioneers@googlemail.com For further information phone : 0790 2855536 An insight into our research can be found here on our website. http://www.thegallantpioneers.co.uk/

Official Club Website. http://rangers.co.uk/news/club/founders-trail-3rd-april/

We at the Founders Trail continue to be overwhelmed by the support shown to our project. Over the last 7 years, approximately 5000 people have joined us on our tour of Glasgow, listening to the story of how our Club was formed, where we played our early games and where our Founders lived and worked in the city. The Founders Trail and Ibrox Stadium Tour wouldn’t be as successful as it is today without your continued support so we’d like to say a big thank you to you all! As a club and support, we have been to hell and back over the last four years. This has seen many fans look to our history with a renewed fondness. As promotion to the Premiership looms large on the horizon, we’ll soon be back where we belong and now is a great time to embrace our history and shout it from the rooftops. We have a story that is unique in world football so let’s start sharing it. Tell your friends, family, workmates, or even the boys down the local about the four lads who formed the world’s most successful club. We have a history to be proud of. This is your club, your history and your story to tell. For those wishing to learn more about the formative years of the Club, you can join us on the Founders Trail & Ibrox Stadium Tour. Check out our website http://www.thegallantpioneers.co.uk for upcoming tour dates then just drop us an email to thegallantpioneers.co.uk or call 07902 855536 to secure your seat.

A profile on Peter McNeil. http://www.thegallantpioneers.co.uk/Peter-McNeil.html

Tragic Frankie. William McBeath ended up in a workhouse in Lincoln, ''certified Imbecile'' The evidence of his state of health suggests he had actually suffered from Alzheimer’s. Medical terminology back then was brutal to say the least.

On the 30th March 1901 our Founder Peter McNeil passed at Hawkhead Asylum in Glasgow. He rests in Craigton Cemetery with his brothers William and James and parents John and Jean. Rangers team-mate William Dunlop wrote about the Club’s first few weeks on Fleshers Haugh in the SFA Handbook of 1881. Using the name ‘True Blue’ he penned that ”genial Peter McNeil would travel on a Saturday morning to a desirable part of the Glasgow Green, set up the noted standards and stand guard until the classic hour came 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 . The painting by artist Helen Runciman hangs at the top of the Marble Staircase at Ibrox.

The following is a very touching poem sent to us by fellow Rangers supporter ItsInTheNet. The Gallant Pioneers / Founders Trail It was the turn of the year in Eighteen Seventy-Two When four young men who were steadfast and true Walked through West End Park and spoke of their dream To fashion and form their own football team They were named Peter and Moses McNeil of Rosneath Alongside Peter Campbell and William McBeath Tom Vallance would soon join them to captain the side As they began to play football with passion and pride No obstacle deterred those bold Pioneers They refused to give up as they sweat blood and tears Until that blest day upon Fleshers Haugh The Rangers were born in wonder and awe On that historical date on that Spring day in May Callander were the team the Rangers did play The team thrived and grew against all the odds As they delivered their fates into the laps of the gods From such humble beginnings rose this glorious story Of our dear club's rise to fame and world renowned glory For it was planned in the heavens from the day of it's birth That the Rangers would be known in the four corners of earth Their names we shall honour, their memories we shall hail As we retrace their footsteps on the club's Founders Trail Thank you Gordon Bell, thank you Iain McColl For making our history a pathway for all Restoring the gravestones from morning 'til night The results are a sacred and beautiful sight Engraving the names in marble and stone You know who you are, you are one of our own Now our footprints can merge with those gone before In passion and love for our Founders of yore Ne'er shall we forget the price that they paid As we build upon the foundation they laid As all great men do they knew heartbreak and sorrow But the tears that they shed are our hope for tomorrow The trumpets were sounded as they entered God's rest For those Gallant Pioneers were simply the best So look down from Heaven, look down with pride On the team that you formed on the banks of the Clyde We will never forget through the passage of years You four Angels of Ibrox, The Gallant Pioneers ItsInTheNet

The Founders Trail. http://www.rangerstv.tv/view.php?it=10691&c=News&act=view&r=748733734&www=fast&chk=params

Still plenty of seats left for next Sunday's Founders Trail and Ibrox Stadium Tour. Adults : £22 Children (under 16) and Senior Citizens £16. Group discounts are available upon request. To reserve your seat just send an email to : thegallantpioneers@googlemail.com For further information phone : 0790 2855536 An insight into our research can be found here on our website. http://www.thegallantpioneers.co.uk/

Next Friday night folks. Come along and hear the greatest story ever to be told.

On the 25th March 1876 Moses McNeil became the first Rangers player to be capped by Scotland when they defeated Wales 4-0 at Hamilton Crescent in Partick. Joining him in the Scotland team was older brother Harry who scored.

The funds raised saw the Rangers achieve their dream. The move along Paisley Road to Ibrox ,and somewhere they could at long last call home, was achieved.