Ian Durrant (1984 to 1998)
The phrase ‘one of our own’ could have been written for Ian Durrant. The local boy who first trained with the Club as a schoolboy and who went on to make 346 competitive first team appearances, scoring 45 goals along the way. As a youngster, Ian would skip into the famous old stadium to catch a view of his Ibrox heroes.
Although signed to the ground staff by John Greig, it was under Jock Wallace that Ian made his debut in April 1985 as Morton were defeated 3-0 (Ally McCoist scoring a hat-trick). In his early days as an Ibrox apprentice, Durrant would clean the boots of the Gers striker but following the match at Cappielow, Ian would soon establish himself as a first team player, missing only 6 league games the 1985/86 season. Always the man who thrived on the big occasion, Ian's first league goal arrived in another 3-0 victory, an Old Firm demolition of Celtic at Ibrox in November 1985. Whilst the emergence of Ian and fellow midfielder Derek Ferguson offered hope for a brighter future, it was not enough to save Wallace's job and Jock was sacked from his beloved Rangers in April of 1986.
The arrival of Graeme Souness, undoubtedly one of Europe's top midfielder players of the 1980's, seemed to spur Durrant (and others) on to new levels and it was Ian's solitary Ibrox goal on 31st August 1986 which gave Souness a vital victory in his first league encounter against Celtic as player / manager. Less than two months later Ian would again open the scoring in the next meeting between the two sides, Rangers again coming out on top to secure the League Cup with a 2-1 triumph. It was Ian’s first major honour and he did not have too long to wait for his second. The League Championship was secured the following May at Pittodrie after an absence of 9 years. Durrant had missed just 5 matches in a gruelling 44 game campaign, netting 4 times.
A second League Cup winners medal was won in season 1987/88, Durrant scoring a wonderful second goal as Aberdeen were eventually edged out after extra time and penalties (Ian also scored the decisive spot kick in the penalty shoot out) following an epic contest. Whilst the league campaign ended in disappointment for Rangers, it had been an outstanding season for Ian on a personal level. Reaching double figures in the scoring charts, Durrant went one better than the previous season in terms of appearances.
Not surprisingly, the rumour mill was in overdrive that a big money move overseas was potentially on the cards for Durrant at the start of season 1988/89. Within weeks, Ian's career hung in the balance when he was the subject of a scandalous challenge at Pittodrie, one that effectively destroyed his knee. Ian would be missing from first team action from that fateful day on 8th October 1988 until 6th April 1991, the victim of Aberdeen's Neil Simpson.
For most, the severity of the injury would have been the end of their career but Ian fought back bravely. The mental strength shown by Durrant over those years can not be underestimated, few if any could have come emerged from those day of darkness amid numerous set backs and aborted comebacks. It was fitting that Ian was on the pitch at full time on the climax of season 1990/91 as Aberdeen were overtaken and beaten to the title by just two points. They have never come close to winning another.
With Walter Smith now in charge, Durrant appeared intermittently during season 1991/92 as Rangers looked to build up Ian’s strength and confidence following such a long lay off. Used sparingly in what was another successful league campaign Ian, as was often the case, found himself in the starting line up for the showpiece game, this time against Airdrieonians in the Scottish Cup Final. Rangers won 2-1 and with the Cup returning to Ibrox for the first time since 1981, Durrant now had the full set of domestic winners medals.
Although not the same box to box midfielder he had been pre-injury, season 1992/93 dispelled any notion that he was not still ‘top drawer’. The footballing intelligence of Durrant allowed him to remodel his game, sitting deeper and controlling matches with his ability on the ball.
In arguably Rangers greatest ever season, Durrant was unquestionably back in the heart of it as Rangers went on a 44 game unbeaten run, culminating in the domestic Treble and coming within 90 minutes of a place in the inaugural Champions League Final. Durrant would score another Old Firm winner (this time at Celtic Park) as well as crucial European goals against Lyngby and Bruges, in addition to his stunner in Marseilles. Playing in both domestic Cup Final victories over Aberdeen, Ian was the MOTM in the Scottish Cup win over the Dons at Celtic Park. Another League Cup Final goal followed in season 1993/94 as Gers domestic domination continued with a 2-1 win over Hibernian, again played at Celtic Park, in which McCoist typically grabbed most of the headlines.
As Rangers closed in on securing 'Nine in a Row', Ian was again thrust into first team action when the chips were down, starting in the final Old Firm clash of season 1996/97 at Celtic Park. Incredibly, Ian had not featured in a league game since 2nd November 1996 when the two sides lined up on 16th March 1997, a game that was effectively the title decider. As always, he was more than up for the battle, his goal bound effort being bundled into the net by Brian Laudrup to secure a victory of some magnitude.
Ian was awarded a testimonial in 1998 and there can have been few more deserving of one, the heartbeat of the Club for so many years. Sheffield Wednesday provided the opposition in the midweek clash at Ibrox.
With Smith, Knox and so many Gers heroes moving on, the summer of 1998 was the natural time for Ian to leave Rangers, rejecting Dick Advocaat's offer to remain at the Club for at least one more season, instead joining Bobby Williamson's Kilmarnock. Ian's great friend Ally McCoist would soon join him at Rugby Park and Durrant would thrive in his new surroundings, a new lease of life enabling Ian to force his way back into the International set up with Scotland.
On retirement, Ian moved into coaching and was soon back at Ibrox passing on his knowledge to the youngsters within the Academy. The return of Smith and McCoist in 2007 saw Ian promoted to the first team staff and they would enjoy tremendous success in Walter's second spell as manager.
On leaving Rangers, Ian was part of the coaching set up at Dumbarton, East Kilbride and latterly Kilwinning Rangers in the competitive Junior Leagues.
He remains as popular as ever with Rangers supporters, representing the Club he loves on matchdays and still very much part of the fabric.
by Rick Plews
