129 Years Ago Today.

[The Moonlighter 387]

On 20th August 1887 Rangers opened First Ibrox with a game against Preston North End.

 

 

The Rangers left Kinning Park where they’d been since 1876 and moved along Paisley Road to the Copland Road area of Ibrox which was even further out in the country, it was said at the time that the people of Glasgow were shocked that Rangers were moving so far out of town.

 

In fact a correspondent in one of the Glasgow dailies in 1887 suggested that Rangers should consider installing drinking fountains at their new home at Ibrox as it was that far away from the nearest pub!

 

However, the Rangers Committee had predicted the growth of Glasgow further west and how right they were.

 

They had in fact first looked at a ground in the Strathbungo/Pollokshields area of Glasgow. But, the Rangers back in 1887 were attracting a rather unruly and boisterous crowd from the docks and Kinning Park area and when the Strathbungo residents heard of Rangers intentions they protested furiously.

 

On the same weekend that Rangers booked their place in the Semi-Final of the FA Cup against Aston Villa the Rangers committee after much deliberation settled on a 6 acre piece of land at the Copland Road end of Paisley Road.

 

The new Stadium which would cost £750 would include a Pavilion, a 1,200 capacity stand, an enclosure and a four lane running track.

 

Ibrox it was deemed would be the best stadium bar none in the country. The Wednesday before the ground was officially opened Tom Vallance held a cake and wine party within the pavilion shown to show off our new stadium. The pavilion also provides the back drop to this wonderful photograph which was taken on the day that First Ibrox opened with the match against Preston North End.

 

In 1887 the Waterloo Rooms on Wellington Street Glasgow hosted two concerts which were held in the March and December. Rangers required funds to help with the move to First Ibrox from Kinning Park so Tom Vallance organised these concerts and the shows were a complete sell-out.

 

This was fund-raising for the Rangers by the boys who’d formed the Club 1887 style working hard at making their dream become a reality, working hard at establishing their Rangers as the country’s premier football club.

 

 

Rangers would remain at First Ibrox for 12 years before moving into our current home in 1899.

[Scott7 5,200]

Very interesting. 5p for a night out or 2.5p if you were hard up and needed the balance for refreshment.