dh1963
Well-Known Member
Douglas Herbert Gray was born in Alford in Aberdeenshire on April 4th 1905. A fine young junior footballer, he attracted the attention of Rangers while playing for local team Aberdeen Muggiemoss and signed for the Ibrox club in the summer of 1925. A quite incredible one club career followed, which ended after setting all kinds of records.
Gray made his debut in a 3-0 home league victory over Kilmarnock on October 3rd 1925 at right back, fitting that his first match ended in a defensive clean sheet. He was a right back who became known for complete reliability, despite not having any outstanding physical attributes he was an intelligent defender who was fantastic at anticipating danger. His covering abilities were legendary: he was famous for making goal line clearances and it was said that Rangers had two goalkeepers when he was on the pitch.
As Gray racked up the appearances in all conquering Rangers teams, he also racked up plenty medals. He played in the famous 1928 Cup Final when the 25 year Scottish Cup hoodoo was ended. He was a mainstay of Mr Struth's domination of Scottish football in the 1920s through the 1930s. He played in all 3 finals when Rangers became the first team of the 20th century to complete a Scottish Cup hat trick. By the time War ended normal life for everyone, he had amassed 10 league titles and 6 Scottish Cups. He had also won representative honours, with 10 Scotland caps, although the last of these was in 1932.
During wartime, Dougie Gray continued to play for the club in the revised competitions then played. He picked up another 7 "unofficial" titles during this time.
By the time normal competitions resumed in 1946, time had caught up with him, and it was time to pass on the right back jersey to another legend, the great George Young. Gray did play his final 2 matches in post war football, both in the 1946-47 Glasgow Cup, with his last appearance being against Clyde in a semi final replay defeat on September 25th 1946. He officially retired at the end of that season in 1947 at the age of 42, an amazing 22 years after signing for the club. He went on to coach at Clyde to remain part of the game he loved.
Dependable, consistent, resolute, a great reader of the game and a player who never accepted defeat until the final whistle, and whose excellent sportsmanship was demonstrated by completing his lengthy career without a single booking or sending off. The one thing he could not claim was any attacking instinct, Gray was the very epitome of a defender. In fact, he never scored a goal for Rangers from open play, his only 2 goals were when he very briefly was given penalty kick duties, scoring spot kicks against Airdrie and Morton in the autumn of 1930.
Perhaps the greatest compliment to Dougie Gray came from the only manager who ever selected him in senior football. Bill Struth considered Gray his best ever signing and said that he followed the ball more intently than anyone he had ever known. This was a manager whose first recruit had been Alan Morton, and who had assembled multiple teams to dominate Scotland, and who had brought in some of the greatest players ever to represent Rangers.
Dougie Gray died in 1972 at the age of 67.
Dougie Gray holds some records that are highly unlikely ever to be broken. The longest serving Rangers player. The most ever Rangers appearances. And, if you include wartime competition, the most ever championship medals. He is, of course, a member of the club Hall of Fame, and deserves a place in any conversation about our greatest servants.
Dougie Gray, Rangers FC 1925 to 1947
940 appearances (all competitions)
2 goals
10 official league titles
7 unofficial league titles
6 Scottish Cups
10 Scotland caps
Hall of Fame member.
And record breaker.
Gray made his debut in a 3-0 home league victory over Kilmarnock on October 3rd 1925 at right back, fitting that his first match ended in a defensive clean sheet. He was a right back who became known for complete reliability, despite not having any outstanding physical attributes he was an intelligent defender who was fantastic at anticipating danger. His covering abilities were legendary: he was famous for making goal line clearances and it was said that Rangers had two goalkeepers when he was on the pitch.
As Gray racked up the appearances in all conquering Rangers teams, he also racked up plenty medals. He played in the famous 1928 Cup Final when the 25 year Scottish Cup hoodoo was ended. He was a mainstay of Mr Struth's domination of Scottish football in the 1920s through the 1930s. He played in all 3 finals when Rangers became the first team of the 20th century to complete a Scottish Cup hat trick. By the time War ended normal life for everyone, he had amassed 10 league titles and 6 Scottish Cups. He had also won representative honours, with 10 Scotland caps, although the last of these was in 1932.
During wartime, Dougie Gray continued to play for the club in the revised competitions then played. He picked up another 7 "unofficial" titles during this time.
By the time normal competitions resumed in 1946, time had caught up with him, and it was time to pass on the right back jersey to another legend, the great George Young. Gray did play his final 2 matches in post war football, both in the 1946-47 Glasgow Cup, with his last appearance being against Clyde in a semi final replay defeat on September 25th 1946. He officially retired at the end of that season in 1947 at the age of 42, an amazing 22 years after signing for the club. He went on to coach at Clyde to remain part of the game he loved.
Dependable, consistent, resolute, a great reader of the game and a player who never accepted defeat until the final whistle, and whose excellent sportsmanship was demonstrated by completing his lengthy career without a single booking or sending off. The one thing he could not claim was any attacking instinct, Gray was the very epitome of a defender. In fact, he never scored a goal for Rangers from open play, his only 2 goals were when he very briefly was given penalty kick duties, scoring spot kicks against Airdrie and Morton in the autumn of 1930.
Perhaps the greatest compliment to Dougie Gray came from the only manager who ever selected him in senior football. Bill Struth considered Gray his best ever signing and said that he followed the ball more intently than anyone he had ever known. This was a manager whose first recruit had been Alan Morton, and who had assembled multiple teams to dominate Scotland, and who had brought in some of the greatest players ever to represent Rangers.
Dougie Gray died in 1972 at the age of 67.
Dougie Gray holds some records that are highly unlikely ever to be broken. The longest serving Rangers player. The most ever Rangers appearances. And, if you include wartime competition, the most ever championship medals. He is, of course, a member of the club Hall of Fame, and deserves a place in any conversation about our greatest servants.
Dougie Gray, Rangers FC 1925 to 1947
940 appearances (all competitions)
2 goals
10 official league titles
7 unofficial league titles
6 Scottish Cups
10 Scotland caps
Hall of Fame member.
And record breaker.
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