Sad Loss

[ian1964 10,457]

RANGERS Football Club has been informed that former goalkeeper George Niven has sadly passed away at the age of 79.

 

George NivenThe Ibrox great, who enjoyed a memorable decade at the club from 1951-61 after signing for Bill Struth, was the successor to Bobby Brown and was both courageous and dependable between the posts.

 

This was evident in the 1953 Scottish Cup Final against Aberdeen when he suffered a horrific head knock going down at the feet of Paddy Buckley on 27 minutes.

 

George Young took his place in goals but Niven reappeared at the start of the second-half and, with his head swathed with bandages, produced a superb display of shotstopping which kept the scoreline level at full time.

 

Rangers won the replay and, in total, the Blairhill-born keeper played his part in five League Championship, two Scottish Cup and one League Cup triumphs, making 327 appearances for the club.

 

His best ever season was perhaps in 1959-60 when he was outstanding throughout and was selected for Scotland against England.

 

He was to play his last league match against Motherwell at Ibrox on March 25, 1961 before moving on to Partick Thistle where he played a further 232 games with distinction in one of the Jags best-ever teams.

 

RIP

[pete 2,499]

I am sure he is the first Rangers keeper i saw although i was too young to be 100% sure. He was certainly a loved name in our household.

RIP George

[alexscottislegend 2,090]

Think he had just left when I started seeing Gers for the first time - Ritchie, Shearer, Caldow.. rolls off the tongue. Sad all the same.