The Iron Curtain: 6 great Rangers players, 3169 appearances

dh1963

Well-Known Member
Our first treble, back in season 1948/49, is probably the least celebrated of the record 7 trebles we have won.

A last-day dramatic title win at Albion Rovers in the league, on a day the prolific Willie Thornton scored a hat-trick, saw the title regained from the great Hibs team of the time.

The League Cup was only in its third season, and Rangers won it for the second time, beating Raith Rovers 2-0 in the final.

The Scottish Cup was retained in front of 120,162 at Hampden as Clyde were beaten 4-1.

Rangers played a total of 44 games that season, and although the magnificent Thornton played a huge part in the clean sweep by scoring 34 goals, the triumph was built on the most famous defence in the history of the club, and of Scottish football.

In the days of the 3-2-5 formations Rangers line-up for virtually the whole season saw Bobby Brown in goal, full backs George Young and Jock Shaw either side of centre half Willie Woodburn, behind Ian McColl and Sammy Cox at half back.

This was the great Iron Curtain.

In that season of 44 games, Bobby Brown played in all 44. George Young in 42. Jock Shaw captained the side and appeared 41 times. Willie Woodburn played in 42 games. Ian McColl in 41 matches. And Sammy Cox made 43 appearances.

The rocks on which Mr Struth built his latest great Rangers team were virtually ever-present, and such was their combination of ability, determination, dedication and organisation, they are remembered to this day. All 6 players gave Rangers at least a decade of service, and in total they played an almost unbelievable 3169 times for the club.

All 6 players are in the Hall of Fame, and they all deserve a place at the top table in among that company.

Their names, and the Iron Curtain nickname, will live on forever as part of the great history of The Rangers Football Club.

Amongst the countless medals and trophies they collected, they were the biggest reason why the first treble in the history of Scottish football was won.

I doubt there will ever be a defensive unit to rival them in terms of longevity, consistency and success. Anywhere.
 
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What a cracking OP, was this the season that Dundee blew the League on the last day losing at Falkirk to allow us to clinch the title?
 
Would love to see a modern team play that formation...

Just to keep it Rangers related, could be..


..............Foderingham.........

Tavernier.........Alves.........Wallace
..............Cardoso........McRorie/Jack


Candieas.Dorrans.Morelos.Peña.Windass
 
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Bobby Brown achieved 109 clean sheets from his 296 appearances for Rangers.

The great team of the late 40s and early 50s was the Rangers team my old dad first saw. Till his death in 2014 he still had George Young, Willie Woodburn, Willie Waddell and Willie Thornton in his greatest eleven, and he always mentioned all the Iron Curtain players as deserving to be right up there.
 
Theoretically, RM, you are right that it was 2-3-5, but in reality, they had Young at right back to accommodate Willie Woodburn in the centre and Jock Shaw on the left. This would take care of the wingers and centre-forward. McColl and Cox as wing-halves would then counter the opposition's inside forwards. In reality, therefore, it was 3-2-5. However, some of the fans would argue that the Iron Curtain was from the mid-40's, which included Jerry Dawson in goal, with Dougie Gray and Shaw together with Young and Cox. Whichever formation, they were still great teams.
 
With regard to formation, the centre half was often referred to as a pivot, ie in modern terms the full backs would tuck in depending on which flank the opposition was attacking.
 
Incredible.

A dedication to the club that deserves its place in our illustrious history, that stands with the Laudrups, the Baxters, the Mortons, the McNeils.

I love that the "Iron Curtain" has a different, more affectionate meaning to the Rangers support than the regular political definition.

Whenever I hear it in documentaries, on the news etc I think of Bobby Brown and Corkie Young rather than the Soviet Union and the Cold War.

That's what The Rangers are for.
 
Our first treble, back in season 1948/49, is probably the least celebrated of the record 7 trebles we have won.

A last-day dramatic title win at Albion Rovers in the league, on a day the prolific Willie Thornton scored a hat-trick, saw the title regained from the great Hibs team of the time.

The League Cup was only in its third season, and Rangers won it for the second time, beating Raith Rovers 2-0 in the final.

The Scottish Cup was retained in front of 120,162 at Hampden as Clyde were beaten 4-1.

Rangers played a total of 44 games that season, and although the magnificent Thornton played a huge part in the clean sweep by scoring 34 goals, the triumph was built on the most famous defence in the history of the club, and of Scottish football.

In the days of the 3-2-5 formations Rangers line-up for virtually the whole season saw Bobby Brown in goal, full backs George Young and Jock Shaw either side of centre half Willie Woodburn, behind Ian McColl and Sammy Cox at half back.

This was the great Iron Curtain.

In that season of 44 games, Bobby Brown played in all 44. George Young in 42. Jock Shaw captained the side and appeared 41 times. Willie Woodburn played in 42 games. Ian McColl in 41 matches. And Sammy Cox made 43 appearances.

The rocks on which Mr Struth built his latest great Rangers team were virtually ever-present, and such was their combination of ability, determination, dedication and organisation, they are remembered to this day. All 6 players gave Rangers at least a decade of service, and in total they played an almost unbelievable 3169 times for the club.

All 6 players are in the Hall of Fame, and they all deserve a place at the top table in among that company.

Their names, and the Iron Curtain nickname, will live on forever as part of the great history of The Rangers Football Club.

Amongst the countless medals and trophies they collected, they were the biggest reason why the first treble in the history of Scottish football was won.

I doubt there will ever be a defensive unit to rival them in terms of longevity, consistency and success. Anywhere.
Great read again bro, it reminded be of the Willie Thornton quote:D.......

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