165 Years Ago Today. Founder William McBeath.

The Moonlighter

Well-Known Member
On the 7th May 1856 our Founder William McBeath was born in the village of Callander.

triumvirate crossword
Willie’s dad Peter owned a general store on Callander’s Main Street and the family home was above the store which today is The Waverley Hotel.

triumvirate crossword

William had an older sister Jane and a brother Peter. Another boy was born after William but he like so many other children of the time died in infancy.Tragically, William’s dad Peter McBeath passed in November 1864. Shortly afterwards,his wife took William and his sister Jane to Glasgow to start a new life.

By the time of the 1871 census, the McBeaths were living at 17 Cleveland Street,living in the same close were five members of the McNeil family,including brothers Peter and William.It was here that the boys first made contact.

The following year,at the beginning of 1872,the boys had an idea to form a football team.

William McBeath played in our first ever match v Callander and according to fellow Ranger William Dunlop ‘’William was awarded man of the match but then spent a week in bed recovering due to his exertions!”.

In 1874, incredibly at the age of just 17,William McBeath was elected as Rangers first ever President. This highlights how young the founders of our Club were.

By 1878 William was a commercial traveller and after marrying a Jeannie Harris he moved to the Crosshill area of Glasgow .Within a year the family had moved to Bristol in what was almost certainly the most settled and happiest period of William’s life.

In 1884 at the Club’s ‘Annual Hop’ his friends and fellow Founders honoured William for the role he played in its conception and presented him with a gold badge.This was at an event held in the St.Andrews Hall which is at the rear of today’s Mitchell Library in Glasgow.

Sadly,the remaining period of William McBeath’s life is clouded in mist.

What happened to cause a breakdown in the happy family life of the McBeaths is uncertain.William’s son Norman was sent to Glasgow to live with his grandmother.Norman McBeath died in Glasgow, aged eighty-three, in 1973.

William last few years make for unpleasant reading. He moved from town to town, found himself in court on charges of fraud (of which he was acquitted) and married for a second time.He then moved to Lincoln and stayed at 57 Cranwell Street and 34 Vernon Street.


triumvirate crossword

Tragically the deterioration in William McBeath’s life continued until his death in a workhouse at Lincoln in 1917. He was certified‘’imbecile”.The evidence of his state of health suggests he had actually suffered from Alzheimer’s.Medical terminology back then was brutal to say the least.

William McBeath was buried in an unmarked, pauper’s grave in Lincoln Cemetery but there is a happy ending to his story.

During his research for the Gallant Pioneers book Gary Ralston found William’s final resting place.The grave is now marked with a fitting stone which was paid for by the worldwide Rangers support and placed there by a group of fellow supporters.

As we celebrate our 55th title we today remember Founder William McBeath.


triumvirate crossword
 
Excuse a potentially ridiculous question but is there some sort of Founders tribute on the grounds at Ibrox? I do not recall seeing or hearing about anything like it.

If not then sure something must be done, perhaps a section in the new Museum dedicated to these fine lads.
 
Excuse a potentially ridiculous question but is there some sort of Founders tribute on the grounds at Ibrox? I do not recall seeing or hearing about anything like it.

If not then sure something must be done, perhaps a section in the new Museum dedicated to these fine lads.
There are plenty of items relating to our founders within the stadium on the Marble Staircase and in the Trophy Room etc.I’m sure those kids will get their dedication in the museum.
 
William McBeath Tribute (7th May 1856 - 15th July 1917)

From Callander in Perthshire to Glasgow town he came
Upon a door in Cleveland Street hung the family name
McBeath whose neighbours were the family of McNeil
All formed a friendship and a plan that Fate would soon reveal

History shows us that he played for the team he helped create
Though the road was often rocky, the path was always straight
The Rangers Football Club were set and on their way to glory
And William played his part in this neverending story

Oh Willie as your memory faded with the passing years
Did you still recall the gold badge presented by your peers?
Did your thoughts traverse the miles back to the Glasgow Green
Reminiscing glory days when you were just fifteen?

Then on the Fifteenth of July, on a warm sultry day
Alone, forlorn in Lincoln, William sadly passed away
An unmarked grave far from home, his final resting place
But that was not the end thanks to God's Eternal grace

For the Rangers fans did rally, they are truly like no other
And a marble stone now stands in honour of our brother
This Founding Father loved the club he helped bequeath
His name will never be forgotten, the name William McBeath

ItsInTheNet
 
William McBeath Tribute (7th May 1856 - 15th July 1917)

From Callander in Perthshire to Glasgow town he came
Upon a door in Cleveland Street hung the family name
McBeath whose neighbours were the family of McNeil
All formed a friendship and a plan that Fate would soon reveal

History shows us that he played for the team he helped create
Though the road was often rocky, the path was always straight
The Rangers Football Club were set and on their way to glory
And William played his part in this neverending story

Oh Willie as your memory faded with the passing years
Did you still recall the gold badge presented by your peers?
Did your thoughts traverse the miles back to the Glasgow Green
Reminiscing glory days when you were just fifteen?

Then on the Fifteenth of July, on a warm sultry day
Alone, forlorn in Lincoln, William sadly passed away
An unmarked grave far from home, his final resting place
But that was not the end thanks to God's Eternal grace

For the Rangers fans did rally, they are truly like no other
And a marble stone now stands in honour of our brother
This Founding Father loved the club he helped bequeath
His name will never be forgotten, the name William McBeath

ItsInTheNet
Brilliant.
 
William McBeath Tribute (7th May 1856 - 15th July 1917)

From Callander in Perthshire to Glasgow town he came
Upon a door in Cleveland Street hung the family name
McBeath whose neighbours were the family of McNeil
All formed a friendship and a plan that Fate would soon reveal

History shows us that he played for the team he helped create
Though the road was often rocky, the path was always straight
The Rangers Football Club were set and on their way to glory
And William played his part in this neverending story

Oh Willie as your memory faded with the passing years
Did you still recall the gold badge presented by your peers?
Did your thoughts traverse the miles back to the Glasgow Green
Reminiscing glory days when you were just fifteen?

Then on the Fifteenth of July, on a warm sultry day
Alone, forlorn in Lincoln, William sadly passed away
An unmarked grave far from home, his final resting place
But that was not the end thanks to God's Eternal grace

For the Rangers fans did rally, they are truly like no other
And a marble stone now stands in honour of our brother
This Founding Father loved the club he helped bequeath
His name will never be forgotten, the name William McBeath

ItsInTheNet
A wonderful tribute.
 
William McBeath Tribute (7th May 1856 - 15th July 1917)

From Callander in Perthshire to Glasgow town he came
Upon a door in Cleveland Street hung the family name
McBeath whose neighbours were the family of McNeil
All formed a friendship and a plan that Fate would soon reveal

History shows us that he played for the team he helped create
Though the road was often rocky, the path was always straight
The Rangers Football Club were set and on their way to glory
And William played his part in this neverending story

Oh Willie as your memory faded with the passing years
Did you still recall the gold badge presented by your peers?
Did your thoughts traverse the miles back to the Glasgow Green
Reminiscing glory days when you were just fifteen?

Then on the Fifteenth of July, on a warm sultry day
Alone, forlorn in Lincoln, William sadly passed away
An unmarked grave far from home, his final resting place
But that was not the end thanks to God's Eternal grace

For the Rangers fans did rally, they are truly like no other
And a marble stone now stands in honour of our brother
This Founding Father loved the club he helped bequeath
His name will never be forgotten, the name William McBeath

ItsInTheNet
Whalllll!
That is brilliant.
 
Tragic how sick people with diseases were so callously catalogued as imbeciles in these days.

In a hundred years we will look back on this period and acknowledge we could spend millions in pumping gallons of poisonous chemotherapy drugs into diseased patients.

It's such a shame.
 
Back
Top