25 years ago today we lost Jock Wallace

Always felt that if we still had Jock and Willie Waddell at the club we would never have went through what we did.
Some men are made greats by Rangers but a select few make Rangers great, Wallace was one of the chosen few.
 
The Quintessential Rangers man. They just don’t build them like Jock anymore.

A proper man. Honest, forthright, hard as nails, laden with integrity and morals, good Protestant work ethic, and a proper sense of humour.

He embodied everything good there was and is about Rangers Football Club and the values we hold dear.

A very sorely missed man by all.
 
Had the pleasure of meeting Jock on many an occasion, an absolute gentleman.
During his 2nd tenure as manager he took me, my dad, uncle and cousins on a tour of Ibrox.
Made the effort to travel and stay overnight for my dad's raising, which was nearly 40 years ago and my dad still talks about to this day.
Sadly missed but fondly remembered
We've got the battle fever on...
 
The Quintessential Rangers man. They just don’t build them like Jock anymore.

A proper man. Honest, forthright, hard as nails, laden with integrity and morals, good Protestant work ethic, and a proper sense of humour.

He embodied everything good there was and is about Rangers Football Club and the values we hold dear.

A very sorely missed man by all.
Couldn’t have put it any better great words to honour a great man Paulski. Rangers Royalty rest easy Jock.
 
I was too young to remember Mr Wallace in his 1st stint as our manager, but growing up with Rangers fans you hear the stories about Mr Wallace, his tough training, his heart on sleeve love of Rangers.

but the night he walked out onto the Ibrox pitch I think it was a game v Aberdeen and the roar from our fans that greeted him as he defiantly pumped a raised fist in the air, I understood what he meant to us and more what we meant to him

a true Rangers legend
 
Couldn't believe it when I read in a biography of Jock Wallace that he was escorted out of Ibrox in the late 80s. I'm glad times have changed in how legends are treated, but it was mind boggling to me that such a legend and servant to the club would ever be treated that way.

Used to work with a Welsh lassie who spent some of her childhood in Seville, and it wasn't until she saw a photograph of Jock Wallace in the paper from one of his treble winning seasons that she realised he'd been a football manager. She just remembered him as the fella from down the street who would always chat to her when she cycled past his house. Said he had been one of her favourite neighbours and she was sad when he moved away.
 
I remember going to see him at Dillinger's Nightclub in Inverness for a book launch, it must have been early 80's as my Dad was still alive to take me.

I also remember at the end, Jock thanked everyone for coming, and asked us to remember one thing, gave a little pause, and sang, "Though the straits be broad or narrow" and the whole place joined in.

A great man.
 
He was a little before my time but I loved watching clips of him and hearing the stories. He sounds like an absolute Titan and a 100% Grade A Rangers man.

I do recall Mark Warburton saying he didn’t like the way Wallace coached and how he vowed never to do anything like that. The statement made me very concerned about him as Rangers boss and so it proved to be true.

The Battlefever line is absolutely immortal, I’d have it stitched on the kits.
 
Hard to believe that Jock Wallace was only 60 years old when he passed. it just seems so young. I remember the shock I felt when he walked away from the club in 1978. To this day his reasons for doing that remain unknown to me. He undoubtedly gave the club and supporters a wee lift in the period he returned after John Greig resigned but we never reached the levels of his first spell.
 
First time i met him i was about 5. grandparents took me to gullane to see the team train. Nevet time was outside Ibrox as a teenager. So much reapect for this man.
 
Only time I ever met him was at a Kirkintilloch RSC dance.
Asked “Mr. Wallace can I get your autograph, please?” “ it’s just Jock son, its just Jock”.
He was just one of us who was lucky enough tobe manger! A true Ranger.
 
Big Jock true Rangers legend,
met him once as a young kid standing there in awe of the big man waiting on his autograph and can still remember shaking in my shoes as he growled "hurry up son " a true Rangers great
 
Nobody looked more like a Protestant than Jock Wallace. The dimpled chin, granite jaw, working class, hard as nails attitude. I bet we can all see a bit of our dads in him.
 
Last edited:
A guy I know well worked for Jock as scout at Rangers back in the day during his first stint as manager . Thought the world of him . And I think the world of the guy who knew him . there are just some people who have it and will never be forgotten .
 
A true Ranger and a very important part of our history. He was manager when I fell in love with the club. Men of Jocks character would never last these days unfortunately. Guys you would fear but respect at the same time. The way it should be IMO but that’s another story.
Rest Easy Jock
 
'One of the most famous incidents concerns his appearance at a Rangers rally when the chairman invited the new manager to say a few words.

``To hell with that,'' Wallace replied before leading the assembled company in an enthusiastic rendition of the Sash.'

The dream Ranagers manager would have the tactics of Gerrard, Trophies of Walter and the personality of Jock Wallace. What a man.
 
I always remember my dad telling me he was at a Rangers supporters club do in the seventies and Jock was there, standing on a table belting out The Sash. I adore Gerrard but I don't think even he'd do that.
 
They don't make them like Jock Wallace anymore. Also managed Sevilla and signed Ted McMinn. Ted's book has a good chapter including cracking anecdotes about the great man and his softer side. Also only man to play in the Welsh English and Scottish Cups in the same season 1967. For those interested there is colour footage on YouTube of him in goal for Berwick during THAT match. As an aside from the footage we were all over them.
 
Was only a fan his second time here, but I'm convinced that he was creating a winning Rangers team the second time as well. We'll never know, but his ability as a manager/coach sometimes seems under-rated if one looks at things objectively; for instance, a look at the 1976 Final, v Hearts, particularly the third goal, demonstrates a team that played very stylish football; his ability to pick a player is incredible as well, especially when some of those players came from vastly smaller clubs than Rangers- to sign them is one thing, but to elevate them into very good Rangers players truly indicates that Jock Wallace was an extremely talented man to man manager.
 
I once met Alan Ball, who was a football hero of mine, and I mentioned Big Jock to him.
What a reaction, his face lit up and his praise and affection was fulsome.
It always stuck with me.
Sadly Alan has now passed ... far too early as well.
 
Back
Top