dh1963
Well-Known Member
Part 1
There will never be a definitive answer on who has been the greatest player to wear The Rangers colours, it is an impossible task to choose just one. But whenever the debate arises, one name that seems to rarely get mentioned as part of the discussion is that of the first superstar winger to wear the colours, the great Alec Smith.
Rangers have been blessed over the years to have had some truly outstanding wingers. The first in that illustrious long line was born in Darvel, Ayrshire on November 7th 1875. As a teenager, he starred for his local junior side, and was spotted by another son of the town, Rangers full back Nicol Smith, who was no relation. Nicol saw a young player of speed, agility, instant ball control, and an eye for a pass, and he mentioned this to the club, recommending they offer Alec a trial. In early 1894, Rangers had just won the Scottish Cup for the first time in their history, and the club was celebrating the achievement as well as casting an eye out for potential talent to join the following season. A match was organised against FA Cup holders Notts County, and Rangers fielded Smith as a trialist to see if the recommendation of his better known Darvel namesake was worth pursuing.
Alec Smith was sensational. Undaunted by the exalted company he was suddenly playing in, he terrorised the County defence in a 3-1 victory. Rangers immediately offered him a contract, and at the age of just 18 Alec Smith became a Rangers player. Incredibly, he would still be wearing the Royal Blue over 20 years later, during the early days of World War One.
Rangers already had a highly effective goalscoring outside left in John Barker, the first man ever to score a hat trick for Rangers in a competitive Old Firm match. He started season 1894/95 still the man in possession of the jersey, but Smith was in brilliant form for the reserve team, and within the club it was accepted as a matter of time before he was given his chance in the first team, and on October 27th 1894 the 18 year old made his debut in a Glasgow Cup semi final against Partick Thistle. His league bow came a few days later, and he made it a day to remember by scoring twice in an emphatic 5-1 home win over Leith Athletic. On November 18th, he took to the field against Celtic for the first time in the Glasgow Cup Final, but had to settle for a second prize in a 2-0 loss.
Smith wasn’t yet an automatic choice, but in that first season he played 11 times, scoring 3 goals. As well as being a runner-up in the Glasgow Cup, he also played in a losing Charity Cup final to Celtic. He ended the season as the first choice left winger in a Rangers team who finished 3rd in the league behind winners Hearts, and in season 1895/96 he nailed the place down by having a brilliant season.
Rangers didn’t win any trophies in the season, although they improved their league placing to 2nd behind Celtic, but the young Ayrshire winger had did all he could to land a prize. He started in 17 of the 18 league games, scoring a hugely impressive 13 times. This included a 4 goal haul against St Mirren, and strikes home and away against Celtic. Sadly, both those derby matches ended in heavy defeats. He scored in the Scottish Cup defeat to Hibs, he scored in the Glasgow Cup defeat to Queens Park, the only competition he failed to score was the Charity Cup, which saw another big defeat to Celtic. Although he was a great creator for others, Smith was also proving to be a goalscoring matchwinner in his own right, his 22 goals in all competitions in 1895/96 remained his highest scoring season for the rest of his career.
1896/97 saw Smith claim his first winners medals at the club, and they would prove to be the first of many. Rangers struggled again for the consistency to mount a serious league title challenge, Smith started 17 league games and scored 5 times in another campaign that ended in 3rd place. But Rangers kept their best for the cup competitions, and completed a memorable clean sweep for the first time. Smith scored in the semi final Glasgow Cup thumping of Linthouse, then lined up in a familiar final against Celtic. After a 1-1 draw, he was part of the team who triumphed 2-1 in the replay on 21st November 1896 thanks to a double by centre forward Peter Turnbull. Partick, Hibs and Dundee were all beaten in the Scottish Cup, setting up a semi final tie with Morton. Smith scored one the 7 goals Rangers scored in a 7-2 rout, and it was old foes Dumbarton who were waiting in the final. On March 20th, Smith ran riot in the second half, scoring once in a 5-1 demolition that featured a 4 goal blitz in just 16 minutes. Then in the end of season Charity Cup, Smith again scored in an emphatic 4-1 semi final thumping of Celtic, and notched another in a 6-1 final victory over Third Lanark. Three winners medals in the one season, scoring in all 3 semi finals and 2 finals.
After their cup successes, Rangers started 1897/98 with high hopes they could mount a more successful league challenge, especially after signing the much heralded RC Hamilton. But despite only 2 losses in the league all season, they finished second behind a Celtic team who lost none at all. Smith hit 12 goals in 17 league games, including a fine hat-trick against Clyde. He also helped defeat Celtic in the Glasgow Cup semi final, being the tormentor in chief of the their defence while Hamilton grabbed a double. Smith then scored one of the goals in the 4-0 win over Queens Park in the final, as Rangers retained their trophy. The Scottish Cup was also retained, Smith scoring 6 times in the competition, including a vital strike in a 1-1 semi final draw with Third Lanark and the crucial opening goal in the final against Kilmarnock, which was won 2-0. Smith, incredibly, was one of 7 Ayrshire players in the Rangers team that day. After defeating Celtic in the Charity Cup semi final, Rangers looked odds on to win all 3 cups again, but Smith was shocked in the final when Third Lanark edged it by 1-0.
This was a Rangers team who hadn’t been Scottish Champions since 1891, but whose cup exploits had many neutrals calling the best team in the country. As well as Smith, the side was sprinkled with international class footballers such as John McPherson, Neilly Gibson, Jock Drummond as well as Nicol Smith and RC Hamilton. And Alec Smith himself became an international player on April 2nd 1898, when he lined up at Parkhead against England alongside club teammates Drummond, Gibson and Jimmy Millar in a 3-1 defeat. Alec Smith would go on to represent Scotland 20 times, a huge number of caps back in the days when there were often just 3 international matches per year. He played for Scotland in 3 different decades, his last appearance coming in April 1911, and he scored 3 times for his country. Probably his finest match for his country was in 1900, when he was superb in a 4-1 thrashing of England. At the time, when he won his 20th cap this was a record for any Scottish player. As well as those 20 full caps, he also played 14 times for the Scottish League.
Season 1898/99 was when Rangers finally brought back the title to Ibrox, and they did it in historic style. Played 18, won 18 was the incredible record, and Alec Smith played a huge role in it as one of 5 players who were ever present. He again scored 12 times in the league, his incredible consistency of performance being what helped make him such a special player. As well as weighing in with plenty goals for a winger, he was also the man whose ability to beat an opponent and to find his teammates with a killer pass resulted in him being the main creative force for the other forwards. He had now built an almost telepathic understanding with Hamilton, the captain and centre forward banging in 21 goals in those 18 games. Smith hit 4 goals in a record 10-0 win over Hibs to clinch the title on Christmas Eve, and he scored one of the goals against Clyde on the final weekend of the season to clinch the history making 100% record. With the focus all on the league season, Rangers failed to win any of the cup competitions that season, but the league record will mean Alec Smith and his 1898/99 teammates are Rangers immortals.
Rangers had last lost a league game on 12th February 1898, and amazingly this would be their last league defeat of the 1800s. Smith started in 16 of the 18 league games in season 1899/1900, and it would be match number 15 before they tasted defeat, a 3-2 loss at Parkhead on January 1st 1900, with Alec Smith scoring the first Rangers goal and becoming the first club goalscorer of the 20th century. Overall he hit 13 goals in the league to maintain his excellent goals return. These included a hat trick against Dundee, double against Clyde and Hibs, as well as an Ibrox Old Firm goal to go with his New Year strike at Parkhead. Celtic ended hopes of adding the Scottish Cup, but Smith got his revenge in the other 2 cup competitions, playing in victories over them in both the Glasgow and Charity Cup finals. The Charity final on May 12th saw the season rounded off in particular style, with a 5-1 battering of their deadly rivals.
There will never be a definitive answer on who has been the greatest player to wear The Rangers colours, it is an impossible task to choose just one. But whenever the debate arises, one name that seems to rarely get mentioned as part of the discussion is that of the first superstar winger to wear the colours, the great Alec Smith.
Rangers have been blessed over the years to have had some truly outstanding wingers. The first in that illustrious long line was born in Darvel, Ayrshire on November 7th 1875. As a teenager, he starred for his local junior side, and was spotted by another son of the town, Rangers full back Nicol Smith, who was no relation. Nicol saw a young player of speed, agility, instant ball control, and an eye for a pass, and he mentioned this to the club, recommending they offer Alec a trial. In early 1894, Rangers had just won the Scottish Cup for the first time in their history, and the club was celebrating the achievement as well as casting an eye out for potential talent to join the following season. A match was organised against FA Cup holders Notts County, and Rangers fielded Smith as a trialist to see if the recommendation of his better known Darvel namesake was worth pursuing.
Alec Smith was sensational. Undaunted by the exalted company he was suddenly playing in, he terrorised the County defence in a 3-1 victory. Rangers immediately offered him a contract, and at the age of just 18 Alec Smith became a Rangers player. Incredibly, he would still be wearing the Royal Blue over 20 years later, during the early days of World War One.
Rangers already had a highly effective goalscoring outside left in John Barker, the first man ever to score a hat trick for Rangers in a competitive Old Firm match. He started season 1894/95 still the man in possession of the jersey, but Smith was in brilliant form for the reserve team, and within the club it was accepted as a matter of time before he was given his chance in the first team, and on October 27th 1894 the 18 year old made his debut in a Glasgow Cup semi final against Partick Thistle. His league bow came a few days later, and he made it a day to remember by scoring twice in an emphatic 5-1 home win over Leith Athletic. On November 18th, he took to the field against Celtic for the first time in the Glasgow Cup Final, but had to settle for a second prize in a 2-0 loss.
Smith wasn’t yet an automatic choice, but in that first season he played 11 times, scoring 3 goals. As well as being a runner-up in the Glasgow Cup, he also played in a losing Charity Cup final to Celtic. He ended the season as the first choice left winger in a Rangers team who finished 3rd in the league behind winners Hearts, and in season 1895/96 he nailed the place down by having a brilliant season.
Rangers didn’t win any trophies in the season, although they improved their league placing to 2nd behind Celtic, but the young Ayrshire winger had did all he could to land a prize. He started in 17 of the 18 league games, scoring a hugely impressive 13 times. This included a 4 goal haul against St Mirren, and strikes home and away against Celtic. Sadly, both those derby matches ended in heavy defeats. He scored in the Scottish Cup defeat to Hibs, he scored in the Glasgow Cup defeat to Queens Park, the only competition he failed to score was the Charity Cup, which saw another big defeat to Celtic. Although he was a great creator for others, Smith was also proving to be a goalscoring matchwinner in his own right, his 22 goals in all competitions in 1895/96 remained his highest scoring season for the rest of his career.
1896/97 saw Smith claim his first winners medals at the club, and they would prove to be the first of many. Rangers struggled again for the consistency to mount a serious league title challenge, Smith started 17 league games and scored 5 times in another campaign that ended in 3rd place. But Rangers kept their best for the cup competitions, and completed a memorable clean sweep for the first time. Smith scored in the semi final Glasgow Cup thumping of Linthouse, then lined up in a familiar final against Celtic. After a 1-1 draw, he was part of the team who triumphed 2-1 in the replay on 21st November 1896 thanks to a double by centre forward Peter Turnbull. Partick, Hibs and Dundee were all beaten in the Scottish Cup, setting up a semi final tie with Morton. Smith scored one the 7 goals Rangers scored in a 7-2 rout, and it was old foes Dumbarton who were waiting in the final. On March 20th, Smith ran riot in the second half, scoring once in a 5-1 demolition that featured a 4 goal blitz in just 16 minutes. Then in the end of season Charity Cup, Smith again scored in an emphatic 4-1 semi final thumping of Celtic, and notched another in a 6-1 final victory over Third Lanark. Three winners medals in the one season, scoring in all 3 semi finals and 2 finals.
After their cup successes, Rangers started 1897/98 with high hopes they could mount a more successful league challenge, especially after signing the much heralded RC Hamilton. But despite only 2 losses in the league all season, they finished second behind a Celtic team who lost none at all. Smith hit 12 goals in 17 league games, including a fine hat-trick against Clyde. He also helped defeat Celtic in the Glasgow Cup semi final, being the tormentor in chief of the their defence while Hamilton grabbed a double. Smith then scored one of the goals in the 4-0 win over Queens Park in the final, as Rangers retained their trophy. The Scottish Cup was also retained, Smith scoring 6 times in the competition, including a vital strike in a 1-1 semi final draw with Third Lanark and the crucial opening goal in the final against Kilmarnock, which was won 2-0. Smith, incredibly, was one of 7 Ayrshire players in the Rangers team that day. After defeating Celtic in the Charity Cup semi final, Rangers looked odds on to win all 3 cups again, but Smith was shocked in the final when Third Lanark edged it by 1-0.
This was a Rangers team who hadn’t been Scottish Champions since 1891, but whose cup exploits had many neutrals calling the best team in the country. As well as Smith, the side was sprinkled with international class footballers such as John McPherson, Neilly Gibson, Jock Drummond as well as Nicol Smith and RC Hamilton. And Alec Smith himself became an international player on April 2nd 1898, when he lined up at Parkhead against England alongside club teammates Drummond, Gibson and Jimmy Millar in a 3-1 defeat. Alec Smith would go on to represent Scotland 20 times, a huge number of caps back in the days when there were often just 3 international matches per year. He played for Scotland in 3 different decades, his last appearance coming in April 1911, and he scored 3 times for his country. Probably his finest match for his country was in 1900, when he was superb in a 4-1 thrashing of England. At the time, when he won his 20th cap this was a record for any Scottish player. As well as those 20 full caps, he also played 14 times for the Scottish League.
Season 1898/99 was when Rangers finally brought back the title to Ibrox, and they did it in historic style. Played 18, won 18 was the incredible record, and Alec Smith played a huge role in it as one of 5 players who were ever present. He again scored 12 times in the league, his incredible consistency of performance being what helped make him such a special player. As well as weighing in with plenty goals for a winger, he was also the man whose ability to beat an opponent and to find his teammates with a killer pass resulted in him being the main creative force for the other forwards. He had now built an almost telepathic understanding with Hamilton, the captain and centre forward banging in 21 goals in those 18 games. Smith hit 4 goals in a record 10-0 win over Hibs to clinch the title on Christmas Eve, and he scored one of the goals against Clyde on the final weekend of the season to clinch the history making 100% record. With the focus all on the league season, Rangers failed to win any of the cup competitions that season, but the league record will mean Alec Smith and his 1898/99 teammates are Rangers immortals.
Rangers had last lost a league game on 12th February 1898, and amazingly this would be their last league defeat of the 1800s. Smith started in 16 of the 18 league games in season 1899/1900, and it would be match number 15 before they tasted defeat, a 3-2 loss at Parkhead on January 1st 1900, with Alec Smith scoring the first Rangers goal and becoming the first club goalscorer of the 20th century. Overall he hit 13 goals in the league to maintain his excellent goals return. These included a hat trick against Dundee, double against Clyde and Hibs, as well as an Ibrox Old Firm goal to go with his New Year strike at Parkhead. Celtic ended hopes of adding the Scottish Cup, but Smith got his revenge in the other 2 cup competitions, playing in victories over them in both the Glasgow and Charity Cup finals. The Charity final on May 12th saw the season rounded off in particular style, with a 5-1 battering of their deadly rivals.
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