Chelsea v Rangers 1971

[Lofty]

Anyone remember this one? I came across this site:

RANGERS IN LONDON 1960 - 1971

while searching for something completely different.

CHELSEA V RANGERS

Chopper?s No Coppers. A Glamour Testimonial

Ron Harris Testimonial Match

Tuesday 23rd November 1971

EXTRACTS FROM BACKGROUND TO THE MATCH

? RANGERS SNAP UP CHOPPER?S INVITE. ORGANISING THE MATCH

Rangers snapped up the opportunity to supply the opposition in this Testimonial, Chelsea had something desperately wanted. The Londoners were current holders of the European Cup Winners? Cup but surprisingly had already been eliminated in the Second Round. Rangers were still in the competition and wanted to pick up as much extra knowledge and practice as possible. It would also be an interesting experience for Rangers fans, Chelsea were an excellent and exciting team. They had come to be known as the glamour club of London cheered on by an assortment of ?showbiz? fans. The team, a metaphor for the 24 hour partying, decadence and sophistication of the adjacent Kings Road.

I wasn't at the game but remember it was still being talked about many years later. And with a friendly at Ibrox just around the corner, what better time could there be to bring back a few old memories .. great quote about the Sponge!

[Tim W]

Think Bluebeard was there

[Lofty]

I wouldn't be surprised. By the way, where's he been recently?

[loz]

He is in Cornwall, back very soon I think

[Lofty]

Ah. I remember now. Thanks for reminding me.

[BlueBeard]

Think Bluebeard was there

You're right Tim, I was there that night, at the tender age of 14. I went to all our home games in those days, plus all the away games in London. When I left school the following summer (1972), I started work and was suddenly able to afford to follow Chelsea all over the country - so I did, for the next 14 years or so!

I've followed Rangers almost as long as I've supported Chelsea, so when Ron Harris' testimonial opponents were announced I was well chuffed. There was no way I'd miss this one, even if it wasn't a competetive game!

From what I can remember, it was a cold November evening at the Bridge. The official attendance was 16,362, but it's my humble opinion that there were far more people in there than that (same story when Chelsea played Gers in 1985). I can remember being in awe of the Rangers following that night - they brought literally thousands down for the game, a testimonial for another club's player. They seemed to fill the North Stand end, which really brings into question the official attendance. In those days the only teams that brought large support to the Bridge were Man.Utd, Spurs, Arsenal, West Ham, and to a much lesser extent, Liverpool. Rangers easily equalled any of 'em that night, and their vocal support was magnificent.

I seem to remember about a dozen or so extremely pissed Gers fans stood in the Shed before the game, but the police moved them down to the North Stand end to avoid trouble - this was before Chelsea & Rangers became all matey - I was probably the only one in the ground wearing a Chelsea scarf and a Rangers silk scarf!

Although it was the first time I ever got to see Rangers, to be honest I don't remember much about the game, except that Rangers won 1-0 with a goal by Sandy Jardine, one of my all time Rangers favourites. Both clubs fielded a very strong side for Chopper's night, a nice show of respect for the great man.

Teams that night: -

Chelsea

Peter Bonetti (John Phillips), Gary Locke (Peter Bonetti), Ron Harris, John Hollins, David Webb, Marvin Hinton, Charlie Cooke, Chris Garland (Micky Droy), Peter Osgood, Johnny Boyle (Tony Potrac), Peter Houseman

Rangers

Peter McCloy, Sandy Jardine, Billy Mathieson, John Greig, Colin Jackson, Dave Smith, Willie Henderson, Alfie Conn, Colin Stein, Alex MacDonald, Willie Johnston (Tommy McLean)

[loz]

I was at the game in 85 - it was the benefit game for the Bradford fire disaster anf if I recall the stadium was pretty empty. Chelsea won 3-2 with Chelsea's goalscoming fromKerry, Duncan Shearer and an own goal from Hugh Burns (possibly one of the worst full backs I have ever see play football!)

[BlueBeard]

I was at the game in 85 - it was the benefit game for the Bradford fire disaster anf if I recall the stadium was pretty empty. Chelsea won 3-2 with Chelsea's goalscoming fromKerry, Duncan Shearer and an own goal from Hugh Burns (possibly one of the worst full backs I have ever see play football!)

I was at that game too, naturally. I was in the Rangers end with a few mates - there seemed to be quite a few Rangers fans there, but then I'd had a lot to drink before the game so my memory probably isn't that reliable

The official attendance of that game was 7,239. I know the crowd was small, but it wasn't that bloody small!

Did you know that there were 2 games between Chelsea & Rangers in the mid-80's? I think they were both for the Bradford Fire Appeal Fund - the one at the Bridge in 1985 definitely was, but I'm not so sure about the game at Ibrox the following year. Rangers won that one 3-2 with one of the goals from the great Hugh Burns (at the right end this time!)

The last time I saw Rangers play live was at White Hart Lane against the scum from N17 - again, in the mid-80's, a testimonial for Paul Miller or someone. Thousands of Gers fans there, and quite a few Chelsea allies mixed in with 'em - made for an interesting afternoon in North London

[loz]

Just the name Hugh Burns reminds me of a time when I thought my Dad was going to get us slaughtered at a football game.

Now my Dad is one of those football fans who is willing to give credit to the opposition if they do something that he considers to be good football, and he is prepared to show that appreciation whilst at the game. You can generally get away with that in these days of all seater stadiums and with the average football fans being middle class and disciplined however, as Bluebeard will testify to, the East Enclosure at Ibrox in the days of Jock Wallace as manager (second time round) were very different times!

Now my old man is a londoner, about 6 foot, only weighs about 12 stone maximum and has been grey for a long time - so not exactly an intimidating character.

So there we are in the middle of Ibrox's equivalent of 'The Shed' - I am about 13 and Rangers are awful, and I mean really awful. These are the days before Souness and before being an Englishman at Ibrox was seen as a badge of honour and Rangers habitually finishing 4th or 5th in the league . Rangers are playing Dundee, and it is like pub football with maybe a couple of stand out players who must have wondered why they were so unfortunate to be plying their trade for Rangers in an era when they were so desperately bad (Davie Cooper and Bobby Russell being the obvious ones).

Anyway my Dad and I are surrounded by Rangers fans deeply engrossed in a rendition of 'The Sash' and my old man, in a southern accent, is pointing out just how woeful the likes of Hugh Burns and Craig Paterson are. I could almost feel a circle developing around us.

Then someone tapped my Dad on the shoulder, he turned round, I feared the worst. In a broad West of Scotland accent this bloke said 'A'right big man (everyone is either big or wee, there are no average sized men up here), you come up here tae watch a decent game o' fitba?'

'Say yes Dad, Say yes - tell him you are a season ticket holder and wouldn't miss a minute - say it now, say it loud SAY IT PROUD' thinks little Loz already looking to protect his head.

But he doesn't, oh no not this smart arse.

He replies very very sarcastically 'That's right, I travelled 450 miles with my son to watch Rangers play St Mirren'

At that very second I saw my life flash before my eyes, which seemed a little dull as I hadn't even been laid yet.

The seconds past like hours and then, to my lifelong relief, the bloke laughed out loud and said 'Aye fair enough big man, we are f'cking sh*te'

[loz]

I was also at the Ibrox game BB, I can't remember too much about the game though but I do remember it was a good atmosphere, probably somewhere in the region of 20,000 at it. It wasn't a pre-seaosn game though was it - I am pretty sure it was half way through the season that it was played.

[BlueBeard]

I was also at the Ibrox game BB, I can't remember too much about the game though but I do remember it was a good atmosphere, probably somewhere in the region of 20,000 at it. It wasn't a pre-seaosn game though was it - I am pretty sure it was half way through the season that it was played.

I didn't manage to see this game - to be honest I didn't even know about it till after it had been played!

It was played on 14 February 1986, with an 'official' attendance of 17,512. Rangers won 3-2 with goals by those legends Hugh Burns, Craig Paterson & Dougie Bell

Chelsea's goals were by Keith Jones & Nigel Spackman.

Teams: -

Rangers

Nicky Walker, Hugh Burns, Ally Dawson, Derek Johnstone, Craig Paterson, Dougie Bell (Duncan Ferguson), Kevin McMinn, Ally McCoist, Ian Ferguson (Bobby Williamson), Davie McPherson (Ian Durrant), Davie Cooper (Bobby Russell)

Chelsea

Eddie Niedzwiecki, Darren Wood, John Millar, Robert Isaac (Willie Watson), Doug Rougvie, Keith Jones (Phil Priest), Pat Nevin, Nigel Spackman, Duncan Shearer (Kevin McAllister), Dave Speedie, Mickey Hazard (Dale Jasper)

As you said in your other post, that Rangers side certainly wasn't the best ever seen at Ibrox

Of the players on display, the only ones I rated at all were Davie Cooper, Ian Durrant, Ally McCoist, Ally Dawson, Davie McPherson and possibly Ian Ferguson (to be honest, I get confused with the amount of Ferguson's Rangers have had in their ranks over the years)

Derek Johnstone of course was a legend, but he was well past his best by this point.

[loz]

Ian Ferguson was the spiky haired blonde bloke they bought from St Mirren after he scored in the Scottish Cup Final against Dundee United. He was about as die hard a Rangers fan (and Orangeman) as the Rangers faithful could ever hope to see in a blue shirt. He was also heavily rumoured to have links with some very dodgy people in the Glasgow underground. The big story up here way back then was that it was Ian Ferguson who got a hit taken off Andy Goram after Goram was caught knobbing either the wife or the daughter of one the Glasgow mafia's main men.

Derek Ferguson was the classier footballer (elder brother to Barry I think, or cousin at least) but Ian would have chopped off his own leg and still ept running for 90minutes if he thought it would do Rangers good.

I think you give big Dave MacPherson a little too much credit. He only really looked that good when playing alongside Richard Gough because GOugh was a classabove most centre halves - the truth is MacPherson had a head like a fifty piece coin and his aerial ability proved it! No denying he put the effort in and wouldalways chase a lost cause but he was a bit of a ropey centre half when put under pressure.

[BlueBeard]

I think you give big Dave MacPherson a little too much credit. He only really looked that good when playing alongside Richard Gough because GOugh was a classabove most centre halves - the truth is MacPherson had a head like a fifty piece coin and his aerial ability proved it! No denying he put the effort in and wouldalways chase a lost cause but he was a bit of a ropey centre half when put under pressure.

You could be right

I don't remember him all that well to be honest, not as well as I remember Colin Jackson, John McClelland or Tam Forsyth.