Ian McMillan (1958 to 1964)

The experienced McMillan joined Rangers on October 2nd 1958 and, at the age of 27, was already a full internationalist who had served Airdrieonians with distinction for the previous 10 years. Whilst more than content to remain with his hometown Club, McMillan unexpectedly found himself in dispute with Airdrie when they failed to honour additional rewards Ian believed to be due on completion of a decade of loyal service. Seizing an opportunity, Rangers Director Alan Morton moved promptly to prize Ian from Broomfield and he soon made the switch to Ibrox and into Manager Symon’s starting XI.

Ian’s Rangers debut arrived on 18th October 1958, scoring twice in a 4-4 draw with Raith Rovers at Ibrox. It had been a somewhat slow start to the 1958/59 league campaign with Rangers languishing in 7th place in the aftermath of that high scoring match with Raith. Lining up in the Raith Rovers midfield that day was 19 year-old Jim Baxter.

Fast forward two years and Baxter would join Ian at Ibrox where one of the outstanding on-field partnerships was established in, arguably, the greatest of all Rangers sides. They may almost have seemed like they were from different generations but many believe that the ‘McMillan & Baxter’ combination was simply meant to be.

The introduction of Ian to the Rangers side provided the catalyst to their League challenge and by the end of his debut season Hearts (reigning Champions) had been replaced at the summit and the title returned to Ibrox. McMillan had played 26 times whilst scoring 9 goals in a more than impressive start to life in Glasgow.

Hearts would bounce back in season 1959/60 (the last of their top flight successes) but more silverware would follow for McMillan, a Scottish Cup Final victory over Kilmarnock earning Ian his second major honour. Rangers would also reach the Semi-Final of the European Cup but were comprehensively defeated by Eintracht Frankfurt over two legs, Ian netting twice during the 3-6 reversal at Ibrox.

The arrival of Baxter in the summer of 1960 propelled Rangers to even greater heights with Ian and Jim expertly dictating the play. Ian would earn the nickname of the “wee Prime Minister” such was his ability to take control of affairs and in direct reference to the then UK Primer Minister of the same surname (Harold). The League Championship was regained and the League Cup also secured with a fine Kilmarnock side narrowly missing out in both competitions. A first European Final for Rangers was reached with Ian featuring in both legs of the 1961 ECWC clashes against Fiorentina. Naturally disappointed by that Final defeat, Ian had enjoyed some great Euro nights along the way including the famous mauling of Borussia Monchengladbach at Ibrox and the now legendary trip to Wolverhampton Town.

Although competing at the very highest level, Ian remained a part-time player throughout his career which now seems absolutely unthinkable. A Quantity Surveyor by profession, Ian dropped from 3 nights training per week (with Airdrieonians) to just Tuesday’s and Thursday’s when he made the big switch to Ibrox! On signing for Rangers, his ‘other’ job would see him employed as part of the John Lawrence empire.

The silverware kept coming. Rangers won both domestic Cup competitions in season 1961/62, Ian scoring in the League Cup Final Replay over Hearts in yet another McMillan / Baxter inspired performance. St. Mirren were defeated in the Scottish Cup but it was Dundee who would keep Rangers at bay to win the Championship.

Following an absence of 12 months, the title returned to Ibrox where it remained until Ian left Rangers in 1964. Although appearing in only 22 of a possible 68 matches over those two successful league campaigns, Ian remained an influential figure and earned a medal in the 1963 Scottish Cup Final victory over Celtic at Hampden. His recall to the first team for the Replay inspired Rangers to a comfortable and emphatic victory just 11 days after the sides could not be separated. By the end, Rangers were toying with their rivals.
In all, Ian made 200 first team appearances and scored 55 goals.

During the 6 seasons he was present at Ibrox, Rangers won 11 of a possible 17 domestic trophies (having been eliminated from the 1958/59 League Cup by the time he joined). It was a golden period.

McMillan would return to the Club closest to his heart, Airdrieonians, at the end of his Rangers career where he enjoyed a long and fruitful affiliation, undertaking a number of senior roles.

Ian died on 16th February 2024 at the ripe age of 92.

by Rick Plews