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Rangers F.C. supporters

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Rangers F.C, a Scottish association football club based in the city of Glasgow, has developed a strong following since their formation in 1872. Rangers fans are often known as Bluenoses, or Bears, derived from the team's nickname, the Teddy Bears.

Numerous fan magazines, blogs and supporters' websites are dedicated to the club and the fans have a famous long-standing rivalry with Celtic FC, the two Glasgow giants collectively known as "The Old Firm".

Rangers supporters have traditionally been identified with the Protestant and Unionist community in Scotland, as well as Northern Ireland. The club has a global fanbase, with a worldwide spread of supporters clubs.[1]

Fanbase and attendances

 
Rangers F.C. supporters in Barcelona in 2006

Rangers, along with Old Firm rivals Celtic FC, have the largest support base of any club in Scotland. The club's average attendance is consistently one of the highest in Europe, the figure of 46,324 for the domestic league Season 2011-12 being the 19th highest across the continent.[2]

Record attendances

Rangers fans have contributed to a number of records for massive attendances,[3] most notably the highest home attendance for a British league fixture, 118,657 on 2 January 1939.[4] Ibrox Park hosted numerous crowds of over 100,000 during the 1950s and 1960s, prior to reconstruction following the Ibrox disaster. Rangers supporters also hold records for the highest attendance at a friendly fixture, 104,679, set at Hampden Park in 1961 vs Eintracht Frankfurt, as well as the largest crowd to watch a non-Cup final fixture, 143,470 for a Scottish Cup semi-final vs. Hibernian in 1948.[5][6] Rangers broke their own world record for a fourth tier league match attendance with a crowd of 49,463 vs Queens Park on 20 October 2012[7]

2008 Uefa cup final

In 2008, an estimated 200,000 Rangers supporters travelled to Manchester for the UEFA Cup Final.[8] Despite the vast majority of supporters behaving "impeccably",[9] a small minority of fans rioted in the city centre, clashing with police and damaging property.[10]

 
A panorama of Rangers supporters at the 2008 UEFA Cup final, in the Piccadilly Gardens fan zone. This picture was taken during the day before the match against Zenit Saint Petersburg on 14 May 2008.

Rivalries

The club's most distinct rivalry is with Glasgow neighbours Celtic F.C; the two clubs are collectively known as the Old Firm. Rangers' traditional support is largely drawn from the Protestant Unionist community, whilst Celtic's traditional support is largely drawn from the Catholic republican community. The first Old Firm match was won by Celtic and there have been nearly four hundred matches played to date. The Old Firm rivalry has fuelled many assaults, sometimes leading to deaths, on Old Firm derby days; an activist group that monitors sectarian activity in Glasgow has reported that on Old Firm weekends, admissions to hospital emergency rooms have increased over normal levels and journalist Franklin Foer noted that in the period from 1996 to 2003, eight deaths in Glasgow were directly linked to Old Firm matches, as well as hundreds of assaults.[11]

The rivalry with Aberdeen began in the late 1970s when the two clubs were among the strongest in Scotland. Relations between fans were further soured during a league match on 8 October 1988, when Aberdeen player Neil Simpson's tackle on Rangers' Ian Durrant resulted in Durrant being injured for two years.[12] Resentment continued and in 1998 an article in Rangers pre-match programme branded Aberdeen fans "scum". Rangers stated that they had "issued a full and unreserved apology" to Aberdeen and their supporters, and this was accepted by Aberdeen. In another incident, then Rangers captain Richard Gough accused Aberdeen of only playing when it was against Rangers.[13] This further increased the hostility between supporters of both clubs, which has continued.[14]

Issues with sectarianism

Main article: Sectarianism in Glasgow

Sectarian chanting by supporters has incurred criticism and sanctions upon the club. In 1999, the vice chairman of The Rangers Football Club Plc, Donald Findlay, resigned after being filmed singing songs regarded as sectarian during a supporters club event.[15][16][17] UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Body have punished Rangers for incidents during European ties, most notably Villareal CF in 2006,[18] Osasuna in 2007,[19] and PSV Eindhoven in 2011.[20][21]

Rangers partnered with Celtic to form the 'Old Firm Alliance', an initiative aimed at educating children from across Glasgow about issues like healthy eating and fitness, as well as awareness of anti-social behaviour, sectarianism and racism. The club's 'Follow With Pride' campaign was launched in 2007 to improve the club's image and build on previous anti-racist, anti-sectarian campaigns.[22][n 1] William Gallard, UEFA's Director Of Communications, commended the SFA and Scottish clubs, including Rangers, for their actions in fighting discrimination.[24] In September 2007, UEFA praised Rangers for the measures the club has taken against sectarianism.[25][26]

Notable supporters

Notes

  1. ^ Racism has been directed at players on the pitch at Rangers games, including at former Celtic player Bobo Balde,[23] and former Rangers player Mark Walters was racially abused by some Celtic and Hearts fans.

References

  1. ^ "Rangers FC Global Supporters Clubs". Rangers.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
  2. ^ Average European league attendances Season 2011-12 Average attendances of European football clubs
  3. ^ End to End Stuff, by Les Scott Record Attendances
  4. ^ Forsyth, Roddy (22 September 2006). "A lot of bottle in Old Firm duels". telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012. The record Old Firm gate at a club ground was set on Jan 2, 1939 by a crowd of 118,567 at Ibrox. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Record for a friendly match. Rangers hold the world record for a 4th teir match with an attendance of 49,118 against East Stirlingshire during the 2012/13 season. News of the World Football Annual 2006/07
  6. ^ Encyclopedia of British Football Encyclopedia of British Football
  7. ^ McCarthy, David (22 October 2012). "lly McCoist may have donned a tracksuit but Rangers still can't quite find their stride". Daily Record. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  8. ^ Nisbet, John (27 August 2010). "200,000 Rangers fans descended on the city for the Uefa Cup final in 2008". The Independent. Archived from the original on 24 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012. But the chief executive at Rangers, Martin Bain, insists there will be no repeat of the scenes of crowd misbehaviour which marred the club's last visit to Manchester. Some 200,000 Rangers fans descended on the city for the Uefa Cup final in 2008 and trouble started when a giant screen failed to work. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "Rangers fans clash with riot police after Uefa Cup final defeat". Metro.co.uk. Associated Newspapers. Archived from the original on 24 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012. GMP would like to stress that the vast majority of supporters have behaved impeccably and came to Manchester clearly intent on enjoying the carnival atmosphere. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ Carter, Helen; Orr, James (15 May 2008). "Rangers fans clashed with riot police". guardian.co.uk. Guardian News and Media. Archived from the original on 24 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ Foer, pp. 36–37
  12. ^ Lawford, Mark (13 March 2009). "Sportsmail's guide to illogical footballing rivalries". Daily Mail.
  13. ^ "Rangers apologise to Aberdeen". The Independent. 18 November 1998. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
  14. ^ "A history of bad blood". BBC Sport. 19 January 2002. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
  15. ^ "Findlay songs inquiry launched". bbc.co.uk. 9 June 1999. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012. The Faculty of Advocates is to investigate complaints against the leading Scottish lawyer Donald Findlay QC after he was captured on camera singing sectarian songs. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ O'Sullivan, Jack (4 June 1999). "I'm Catholic in a football sense". The Independent. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 18August 2012. Findlay, Scotland's leading criminal lawyer, is a Protestant and proud of it. But he was embarrassed to be caught on video singing sectarian songs. They included "The Billy Boys", a verse of which goes: "We're up to our knees in Fenian blood, Surrender or you die, We are the Billy Boys." {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ "On the Ropes - Donald Findlay QC" (Press release). bbc.co.uk. 2 July 2002. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012. Donald Findlay QC tells John Humphrys about the effect singing sectarian, anti-Catholic songs at a party for Glasgow Rangers had on his life, and how he, at one stage, even contemplated suicide. {{cite press release}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ "Rangers appeal upheld". UEFA. 25 May 2006. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012. UEFA appealed against the decision on 12 April by the Control and Disciplinary Body to find Rangers not guilty of alleged discriminatory chants by the club's supporters at both legs of the tie, on 22 February at Ibrox and 7 March at El Madrigal. Rangers have been fined €19,500 and severely warned about their responsibility for any future misconduct by their fans in relation to sectarian and discriminatory behaviour. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ "Uefa fine for Rangers and Osasuna". BBC Sport. 3 May 2007. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012. Rangers have been fined £8,280 by Uefa for the behaviour of their fans during their match against Osasuna - but the Spanish club must pay £31,000. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ "Rangers to contest Uefa sectarian singing charge". BBC News. 7 April 2011. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012. Rangers are to face a Uefa disciplinary hearing over allegations of sectarian singing during last month's Europa Lague match away to PSV Eindhoven. The club's chief executive Martin Bain says they are "utterly dismayed" by the decision and that they will defend the club's position "vigorously". {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help); line feed character in |quote= at position 148 (help)
  21. ^ "Uefa fines Rangers and bans fans for one away game". BBC News. 28 April 2011. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2011. Uefa has fined Rangers 40,000 euros (£35,652) and banned its fans from the next away European game for sectarian singing in a match at PSV Eindhoven. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ Rumsby, Ben (19 February 2009). "SPL Remains tight-lipped over report on Parkhead chanting". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ "Rangers to root out racists". guardian.co.uk. 10 March 2003. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
  24. ^ Wright, Angus. "SFA praised for stance on bigotry". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ Spiers, Graham (21 September 2007). "Uefa praises Rangers for action on bigotry". The Times. Retrieved 22 March 2009.(subscription required)
  26. ^ Sekar, Satish (20 February 2009). "No Surrender to Bigotry". empower-sport. empower-sport.com. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ a b c ""tiny Scots songstress Lulu is a well-known Gers fan whose family especially son Jordan all go to the games."". Thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
  28. ^ "AMY MACDONALD has revealed she would happily swap pop glory for success for her beloved Rangers." Amy Macdonald: I'd swap chart success for Rangers being top of the league again
  29. ^ "RANGERS-daft rapper Tinchy Stryder" If I’d bought Rangers I’d be playing for them myself published 11 August 2011
  30. ^ "Biffy Clyro's Simon Neil talks Glasgow Rangers with James McMahon - Free Movie Videos, Movie Trailers, Film Trailers, Interviews and Gossip". Nme.Com. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
  31. ^ a b "Malcolm and brother Angus are massive Rangers fans" For Those About To Rock! date May 2010, accessed August 2012
  32. ^ "Rangers fan Midge also reflects on his roots and tells how sectarian hatred" URE A DRUNK; Star Midge's Booze Agony. and the Ultimatum That Saved His Life The Mirror, October 7, 2004, accessed on 18 August 2012
  33. ^ Shaun Edwards (1989-07-22). "Marti Pellow was with him - a Rangers supporter". Simpleminds.org.uk. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
  34. ^ a b c "Poor [Travis singer] Fran Healy – he’s the only Celt in a band full of Rangers fans" Sing When Your Winning: Famous Football Fans
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  37. ^ Keith McLeod (2008-05-10). "100,000 Rangers fans set to head south as Manchester lifts booze ban". Daily Record. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
  38. ^ a b c "Scottish Features". The Sun. 2012-07-24. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
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  43. ^ Allan Hall (2009-02-06). "Could Germany be ruled by man named McAllister who got married in a kilt, supports Rangers... and drinks Irn-Bru? | Mail Online". Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
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