On This Day: November 27

[ian1964 10,441]

 

Today we remember the signing of a former Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris St Germain midfielder, famous for a howitzer of a strike in 1988, the sportsmanship of the Ibrox faithful and Rangers players playing against London in 1886.

 

A mere £250,000 was enough for Rangers to sign England international Ray Wilkins from Paris Saint Germain on this day in November 1987. A glittering career including spells at Chelsea and Manchester United saw him collect 84 England caps. The most impressive part of his CV was the three seasons spent at AC Milan, one of the very few British players to make it in Italy.

 

Whilst he may have played fewer than 100 games for the club, “Butch” was an integral part of the Souness Revolution that paved the way for the nine-in-a-row success. In spite of just three goals for Rangers during his two-year spell at Rangers, Ray Wilkins enjoys legendary status at the club, inaugurated into the Hall of Fame – read his profile here.

 

One reason he holds a place in the hearts of the Gers faithful owes as much to one moment of class as to his consistent performances.

 

Rangers were being held 1-1 by reigning champions Celtic on a hot afternoon in August 1988. Wilkins smacked a peach of a right-foot volley into the top corner to give the Light Blues the momentum, cruising to a 5-1 victory.

 

You can watch an in-depth interview with him here.

 

On this day in 1957, it had appeared to be going so well for Rangers against one of Butch Wilkins’ former clubs, AC Milan, leading by a single Max Murray goal until the 76th minute of the match when the wheels came off at Ibrox.

 

Uruguayan forward Juan Alberto Schiaffino, famous for scoring a goal to win the World Cup in 1950 against Brazil in the Maracanã, was on fire form throughout the match, but it was Argentinian Ernesto Grillo who would equalise for Milan with fourteen minutes remaining of the match. From then on, it was all Milan, who ran out winners at Ibrox.

 

In much the same way that Brazilian Kaka was applauded by the Ibrox faithful after scoring in a friendly at Ibrox in 2008, the Rossoneri were sportingly applauded from the field after winning 4:1 in 1957.

 

Interestingly, in 1886 an understrength Rangers were in Belfast to meet Cliftonville in an annual friendly in front of 2,000 supporters. Rangers won the match 4:1, although conditions were reported to be treacherous and the last third of the match was played in near darkness.

 

Part of the reason Rangers fielded an understrength team was that they had three players back at Hampden, taking part in the fifth annual friendly between footballers representing London and Glasgow.

 

Goalkeeper Willie Chalmers, full back John Cameron and inside right Charlie Heggie all took part in the game in front of around 4000 supporters. Heggie scored the opening goal from long range in a match that was to finish 2:2 and he would also nearly win it for the men from Glasgow, with a strike rattling the crossbar in the closing stages.

 

http://rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/on-this-day-november-27/

[pete 2,499]

 

Today we remember the signing of a former Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris St Germain midfielder, famous for a howitzer of a strike in 1988, the sportsmanship of the Ibrox faithful and Rangers players playing against London in 1886.

 

A mere £250,000 was enough for Rangers to sign England international Ray Wilkins from Paris Saint Germain on this day in November 1987. A glittering career including spells at Chelsea and Manchester United saw him collect 84 England caps. The most impressive part of his CV was the three seasons spent at AC Milan, one of the very few British players to make it in Italy.

 

Whilst he may have played fewer than 100 games for the club, “Butch” was an integral part of the Souness Revolution that paved the way for the nine-in-a-row success. In spite of just three goals for Rangers during his two-year spell at Rangers, Ray Wilkins enjoys legendary status at the club, inaugurated into the Hall of Fame – read his profile here.

 

One reason he holds a place in the hearts of the Gers faithful owes as much to one moment of class as to his consistent performances.

 

Rangers were being held 1-1 by reigning champions Celtic on a hot afternoon in August 1988. Wilkins smacked a peach of a right-foot volley into the top corner to give the Light Blues the momentum, cruising to a 5-1 victory.

 

You can watch an in-depth interview with him here.

 

On this day in 1957, it had appeared to be going so well for Rangers against one of Butch Wilkins’ former clubs, AC Milan, leading by a single Max Murray goal until the 76th minute of the match when the wheels came off at Ibrox.

 

Uruguayan forward Juan Alberto Schiaffino, famous for scoring a goal to win the World Cup in 1950 against Brazil in the Maracanã, was on fire form throughout the match, but it was Argentinian Ernesto Grillo who would equalise for Milan with fourteen minutes remaining of the match. From then on, it was all Milan, who ran out winners at Ibrox.

 

In much the same way that Brazilian Kaka was applauded by the Ibrox faithful after scoring in a friendly at Ibrox in 2008, the Rossoneri were sportingly applauded from the field after winning 4:1 in 1957.

 

Interestingly, in 1886 an understrength Rangers were in Belfast to meet Cliftonville in an annual friendly in front of 2,000 supporters. Rangers won the match 4:1, although conditions were reported to be treacherous and the last third of the match was played in near darkness.

 

Part of the reason Rangers fielded an understrength team was that they had three players back at Hampden, taking part in the fifth annual friendly between footballers representing London and Glasgow.

 

Goalkeeper Willie Chalmers, full back John Cameron and inside right Charlie Heggie all took part in the game in front of around 4000 supporters. Heggie scored the opening goal from long range in a match that was to finish 2:2 and he would also nearly win it for the men from Glasgow, with a strike rattling the crossbar in the closing stages.

 

http://rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/on-this-day-november-27/

 

I remember that game as I was in Glasgow with a group of my Dutch friends playing a football tournament. We couldn't get tickets for the big game so I took them to see the reserve teams playing. Even there, there was a 5000 crowd. As we were returning from the midden on the bus a guy with a traney kept us up to date as the goals were flying in. As it was mostly tims on the bus watching the pain was exquisite. As we were speaking in Dutch I could say what I was thinking as well. Oh the memories.

[Bruno55 0]

I remember his first game against hearts ( I think) he turned to graham Roberts and asked him if it was near half time and robbo replied it's just ten minutes in. He said he was dizzy with the amount of time the ball was in the air..