Former Academy player Andrew Halliday didn’t need to be asked twice when Rangers offered him the chance to earn a contract in the summer of 2015. The lifelong Gers fan, raised on Copland Road in the shadow of Ibrox Stadium, felt his opportunity to pull on the blue jersey had passed him by when he was released as a teenager but the rebuilding job required at Rangers following a bitterly disappointing 2014/15 campaign provided Halliday with an unexpected reprieve.
Incoming Manager Mark Warburton was suitably impressed with Andy during those initial days of pre-season training and quickly tied down the former Livingston, Middlesbrough, Bradford and Blackpool player on a 2 year deal. His debut would come on 25th July 2015 as Rangers put a marker down against Championship rivals Hibernian at Easter Road in the Scottish Challenge Cup. Rangers would emerge victorious with James Tavernier, Martyn Waghorn and Halliday all netting on their first appearances during a 6-2 rout. It was Andy’s outstanding strike in front of the jubilant Rangers support that ended any hopes of the home side staging a comeback.
Under Warburton, Rangers found a style of play and identity that had sadly been lacking in recent times as both players and supporters alike bought into the ‘total football’ approach of those early months. Although operating in the holding midfield role which was not his natural position, Andy hit the ground running and along with Jason Holt they soon became vitally important players in the Rangers engine room. On consecutive April weekends at Hampden, Rangers clinched the Challenge Cup with a 4-0 win over Peterhead (with Andy scoring from the penalty spot) before defeating Celtic in the Scottish Cup Semi-Final. It was an incredible moment for Warburton and his young side and Halliday was a stand out performer as Gers stunned their fiercest rivals. Once again, he slotted home from the spot but this time in the pressure cooker of a penalty shootout. It was the kind of moment he would have dreamed of as a young Rangers supporter.
Andy would make 48 appearances whilst scoring 10 goals during that first season at Ibrox. Promotion back to the top flight was non-negotiable so far as Chairman Dave King was concerned and the side duly delivered as Rangers won the Scottish Championship. Defensive frailties had become more prevalent as the season progressed and despite Andy’s goal in the 2016 Scottish Cup Final, there would be no major honour for Warburton.
The euphoria of returning to the Scottish Premiership was quickly followed by a sense of reality and it was soon evident that there was still a long way to go before Rangers would be considered serious challengers for the title. Andy would continue to play regularly throughout 2016/17 and was one of Rangers most consistent players during Warburton’s only crack at the top league. The arrival of Pedro Caixinha as manager eventually saw Andy head for the exit in the summer of 2017 as he went on loan to Gabala of Azerbaijani. However, it was not too long before he was back in Glasgow when Caixinha was sacked after a dismal spell in charge. There would be other low moments for Andy despite his return to his beloved Ibrox and when the legendary figure of Steven Gerrard was appointed as manager in 2018 it was widely assumed Andy would move on permanently.
However, Gerrard clearly liked what he saw in terms of Andy’s ability, passion for the Club and influence in and around the training ground. As a result, he would remain at Rangers during Gerrard’s first two seasons in Glasgow. Andy more than played his part as Europa League qualification was achieved in August 2018 against all the odds. A psychologically important league win over Celtic followed in December with No.16 Halliday in the starting XI.
With the quality within the squad improving with each passing transfer window, Andy’s opportunities became less frequent and latterly it was at left full-back where he was more regularly asked to perform. He did so competently and without complaint, proud to pull on the blue jersey regardless. His final appearance came in that role as Rangers drew 2-2 at McDiarmid Park. The outbreak of COVID-19 the following month denied him a proper farewell and he would join Championship side Hearts at the end of his Rangers contract.
In all, he appeared on 147 occasions scoring a total of 16 goals whilst proudly captaining the side several times.
by Rick Plews
