Alongside Jimmy Millar, Ralph formed one of the most formidable striking partnerships in the history of Rangers Football Club. A truly outstanding goalscorer, he netted 206 times for the first team in 317 appearances.
His debut came at Ibrox on 6th November 1954 when, at the tender age of 17, he scored twice in a 6-0 win over Kilmarnock. Little more than two months later, Millar would also sign for the Club in what was manager Scot Symon’s first season in the hot-seat. Brand had first come to the attention of Symon’s predecessor, Bill Struth, during a schoolboy international 2 years before making his Gers debut and was very quickly snapped up on provisional forms.
Although Rangers won successive Championships in seasons 1955/56 & 1956/57 under Symon, it was not until 1957/58 that Ralph would feature again in the first team as a terrific Hearts side won the Championship. However, silverware was not too far away and Rangers would regain the title in 1958/59 as Ralph played in 25 of a possible 34 matches, scoring 21 times including a goal at Parkhead in a 2-2 draw with Celtic.
The early to mid 1960’s would prove to be an incredible time for Rangers and Brand was at the top of his game. In the three seasons 1960/61, 1961/62 & 1962/63 Ralph would score a sensational 118 goals in 165 appearances. More importantly, the League Championship, Scottish Cup and League Cup would all be secured twice each during those seasons.
Ralph would score a hat-trick in the semi-final of the 1960/61 League Cup as QOTS were thrashed 7-0 at Parkhead (Millar would score two). He would also open the scoring in the Final as Kilmarnock were defeated 2-0 at Hampden. There was disappointment in Europe as Rangers fell at the final hurdle to Fiorentina in the ECWC. Ralph played in both legs and had scored against Wolves in the semi-final 1st leg.
His League Cup Final scoring success would be repeated in 1961/62 as Hearts were defeated 3-1 in the replay after a 0-0 draw. The domestic set of medals was complete on 21st April 1962 when the Scottish Cup was secured. Again, Ralph was on target when he opened the scoring in a 2-0 win over St.Mirren in front of almost 127,000 fans. Always the man for the big occasion, Ralph would again find the net in the 1963 SCF as Celtic were defeated. It was his goal that took the game to a replay, Rangers totally outclassing Celtic 3-0 in that second game, Brand netting twice.
It all came together in season 1963/64 as the domestic treble was clinched. Ralph would score 29 times that season with a young Jim Forrest now entering the fray as the new goal scoring machine. Whilst it was Jim that stole the show in the League Cup Final, Ralph was back on target in the Scottish Cup Final win over Dundee as he and Jimmy Millar shared three between them.
Although never managing to win a European trophy, he found the net regularly against the top sides in the continent including Ferencvaros, Borussia Monchengladbach, Standard Liege, Seville & Spurs.
His last major honour came in the 1964/65 League Cup Final as Celtic were defeated 2-1 at Hampden. He would leave Rangers at the end of that season after 11 years at the Club to try his luck in England with Manchester City and then Sunderland.
The Millar & Brand partnership will forever have legendary status in arguably the greatest of all Rangers sides.
