Ronnie MacKinnon (1960 to 1973)
Ronnie MacKinnon signed for Rangers from Dunipace Juniors in 1960.
Growing up in Greenfield Street in Govan, Ronnie began his career at local side Benburb Juniors. His team mates included twin brother Donnie and future Rangers team mate Alex Ferguson. Ferguson's own brother, Martin, was also part of the side.
One day, having been summoned to appear in front of the Committee, the four players were told that they were free to move on. It is stated that Ronnie simply shrugged his shoulders and declared "I'm not worried, I'm going to sign for Rangers". Within six months, true to his word he had swapped Tinto Park for Ibrox Park!
MacKinnon was a centre-half of outstanding quality, off the field he was suave and sophisticated and on the pitch he was calm and composed.
Ronnie's debut came on 8th March 1961 as Rangers defeated Hearts 3-0 in a league match at Ibrox and although still not a first team regular, he he was in the starting line up as Rangers defeated St. Mirren 2-0 in the 1962 Scottish Cup Final at Hampden the following season.
Season 1962/63 would see MacKinnon finally fully establish himself in the Rangers first team. Appearing in 32 of a possible 34 league matches, Rangers would win the Championship with Scot Symon's side now dominating domestically and retaining the Scottish Cup with an emphatic 3-0 replay win over Celtic. The trio of (John) Greig, MacKinnon and (Jim) Baxter were hugely significant and their names within that famous line up still roll off the tongue some 60 years later.
MacKinnon and the Rangers side went one better the following season, the domestic Treble was secured in 1963/64 for only the second time in the history of the Club. Once again, Ronnie had been a major part of this ongoing success having played in 32 league matches whilst starting both domestic Cup Final victories (over Morton and Dundee respectively).
During his 13 years at Ibrox, Ronnie made 473 competitive first team appearances. In terms of goals, they were few and far between. He had to wait until the last day of 1966 to score his first as Rangers drew 2-2 with Dundee at Ibrox.
With Jock Stein's Celtic side in the ascendancy, major honours became harder to come by. However, there were victories over our ancient rivals in the 1966 Scottish Cup and 1970 League Cup Finals. MacKinnon played in both and, indeed, captained the side to victory in 1970 in the absence of John Greig. McKinnon and Greig often appeared to carry the team in those difficult years. Greig describes Ronnie as 'the best centre half I ever played with'.
Whilst season 1971/72 will forever be remembered as one the greatest in the history of the Club, it would end prematurely for Ronnie with his Rangers career effectively over. Having played in the 2-1 aggregate victory over Stade Rennes, Ronnie was also in his usual position when Sporting Lisbon came to Ibrox in the second round of the European Cup Winners Cup. A narrow 3-2 win set up an intriguing return tie in Portugal. The match would end in chaos but for Ronnie there was the added misfortune of suffering a leg break. It was not an injury he could recover from in time for the Final in Barcelona the following May. Having missed out on the opportunity to take his place in the only Rangers side ever to win a European trophy, Ronnie never made another first team appearance.
MacKinnon is, of course, rightly remembered as a a major part of that 1972 winning squad and was indeed awarded one of just 13 medals received by the Club. Not surprisingly, Ronnie is inducted in the Rangers Hall of Fame.
A regular for the national side, Ronnie earned 28 full caps for Scotland and was part of the side which famously defeated world champions England at Wembley in 1967.
On leaving Rangers, Ronnie moved to South Africa where he spent time playing for Durban United.
Returning to Scotland at the end of his playing days, he relocated to the Isle of Lewis (his mother having come from Carloway) and he remained Honorary Member & Ambassador of The Lewis and Harris Rangers Supporters Club.
On September 17th 2023, Rangers announced that Ronnie had died at the age of 83.
by Rick Plews
