The history of Rangers Football Club is long and rich, from the very formation of the club success has followed, for 137 glorious years a multitude of players have worn the royal blue jersey and bled the red, white and blue but only 12 men have led them.
Of the 12, there are giants of the game, but 1 man stands head and shoulders above all at Ibrox, to this day he overlooks the world record haul of trophies, his enduring legacy of success and passion is there for all to see in the cabinets beneath, in over 3 decades of loyal service he was responsible for bringing over 80 awards to Ibrox, of which 30 make up nearly a third of the world record.
He is one of the most successful managers this country has ever produced.
He is the heart and soul of the history of Rangers.
He is Bill Struth.
Born in Milnathort, Kinross-shire in 1875 he learned his trade as a stonemason whilst excelling at athletics as a professional middle-distance runner. It was a hard life, and he no doubt welcomed the approach by Hearts to take up the post of Trainer at Tynecastle. He had lived much of his early days close to the Gorgie ground – yet his time there was brief, answering a call from Clyde to move to Shawfield in 1907. His time at Clyde showed the makings of a true great, in 1910 and again in 1912 he helped them reach the final of the Scottish Cup, both funnily enough played at Ibrox, and although unsuccessful both times foreshadowed the future that was waiting.
2 years later he was brought to Ibrox to serve as assistant to the very first manager William Wilton but within 3 months of his appointment the outbreak of World War 1 seen the attentions shift from football, both Wilton and Struth helped out Bellahouston hospital, he used this time aiding the wounded to learn physiotherapy skills, when peace was declared and normality resumed Rangers lifted the 1919/20 Scottish League title.
Unknown to all later that year would herald a new age at Ibrox, but it would take the worst circumstances to make it happen, while on holiday in Gourock William Wilton was killed in a tragic boating accident and at 45 years of age the mantle passed for the first time to Bill Struth.
No comments:
Post a Comment