Post by Forest Fred on Dec 27, 2012 21:27:43 GMT
With all the rain and match cancellations, I though this bit of trivia might be interesting
Anyone with a touch of interest in “historic football derby’s” should look North of the Border this weekend. On Saturday, Rangers FC travel to Queens Park, maybe the biggest battle in Scottish Div3 history. Queens take their name from the park where they use to play, and is just a few miles from Rangers – Ibrox Stadium.
For those who don’t already know, Queens Park are the oldest club in Scotland, play their home games at Hamden Park, Glasgow, proud of still being an Amateur Club… and have been since formation in 1867. Ironically their Motto is – “to play for the sake of playing” their biggest contribution to Modern Day Soccer was the introduction of Combination Type Football, or passing in layman’s terms. Most English football at that time was kick and rush, and dribbling and backing off.
Rangers recent demise has seen them relegated to the lowest level in Scottish Football, but that hasn’t slowed the massive support. After a slow start crowds are back to the regular 40,000 plus with record Fourth Tier attendance at Ibrox when almost 50,000 attended a recent game against Stirling Albion, the day they celebrated their 140th birthday. Interestingly Rangers took their name from an English Rugby Team and are the elder brother of other Scottish and Glasgow Giant – Celtic FC. They also hold a World Record 54 league titles.
There is a great possibility that the 49,913 record may be broken again on Saturday if Hamden Park’s 52,000 seats are full. It’s not a record between clubs, 95,000 witnessed a Scottish Cup Tie between the two in the 1930’s. Queens regular gate is around 800, above average for their division, but sadly small for such an historic club in a big City.
Believe it or not both clubs have played in the English FA Cup, Queens losing out to Blackburn in two finals, Rangers losing to Villa in their only semi-final. Sadly none are involved nowadays. Saturday will be an historic occasion and will hopefully help both clubs back to their former status.
Anyone with a touch of interest in “historic football derby’s” should look North of the Border this weekend. On Saturday, Rangers FC travel to Queens Park, maybe the biggest battle in Scottish Div3 history. Queens take their name from the park where they use to play, and is just a few miles from Rangers – Ibrox Stadium.
For those who don’t already know, Queens Park are the oldest club in Scotland, play their home games at Hamden Park, Glasgow, proud of still being an Amateur Club… and have been since formation in 1867. Ironically their Motto is – “to play for the sake of playing” their biggest contribution to Modern Day Soccer was the introduction of Combination Type Football, or passing in layman’s terms. Most English football at that time was kick and rush, and dribbling and backing off.
Rangers recent demise has seen them relegated to the lowest level in Scottish Football, but that hasn’t slowed the massive support. After a slow start crowds are back to the regular 40,000 plus with record Fourth Tier attendance at Ibrox when almost 50,000 attended a recent game against Stirling Albion, the day they celebrated their 140th birthday. Interestingly Rangers took their name from an English Rugby Team and are the elder brother of other Scottish and Glasgow Giant – Celtic FC. They also hold a World Record 54 league titles.
There is a great possibility that the 49,913 record may be broken again on Saturday if Hamden Park’s 52,000 seats are full. It’s not a record between clubs, 95,000 witnessed a Scottish Cup Tie between the two in the 1930’s. Queens regular gate is around 800, above average for their division, but sadly small for such an historic club in a big City.
Believe it or not both clubs have played in the English FA Cup, Queens losing out to Blackburn in two finals, Rangers losing to Villa in their only semi-final. Sadly none are involved nowadays. Saturday will be an historic occasion and will hopefully help both clubs back to their former status.
