Stuart Munro (1984 to 1991)
Stuart Munro joined Rangers from Alloa Athletic on 3rd February 1984 for a reported fee of £25,000 and there can be little doubt that it proved to be one of the bargain signings of the 1980’s, certainly Jock Wallace’s most fruitful signing of his second spell as Rangers boss.
The blonde haired, left sided player had broken into the Alloa Athletic side under manager Alex Totten and it is probably fair to say that Totten played a major role in Stuart joining Rangers. By 1984, Totten was Wallace’s assistant manager and (despite interest from Aberdeen) convinced Munro to join the Club on a full time basis, thus leaving behind his job at BP in Grangemouth.
Stuart’s first team debut came as a substitute in a 3-1 victory at Dens Park just three weeks after signing and he would make the starting line up on 25th February 1984 as Rangers defeated St. Johnstone 4-1 at Muirton Park. It would be a gentle settling in period for the 21 year old who would go on to make a handful of first team appearances during his debut season.
Although capable of playing anywhere on the left hand side, it was as a full-back that Stuart would build his reputation at Rangers.
Season 1984/85 began slowly for Munro but by the second half of the campaign he was beginning to find himself featuring regularly in the starting XI. Whilst he missed out on the League Cup Final win over Dundee United, there was the consolation a substitute appearance just 10 days later as the mighty Inter Milan came to town. The Italian giants were given a major fright on the night with Rangers winning 3-1 in the UEFA Cup despite being eliminated 3-4 on aggregate.
Tellingly, Munro would occupy the Number 3 jersey for the final league matches of the campaign which was, perhaps, an indication of Wallace’s plans for the forthcoming season.
1985/86 would not prove to be a memorable campaign for Rangers but it was a season in which Stuart cemented his position in the first team. He would start 35 of a possible 44 competitive matches with one further substitute appearance coming in a league match at Love Street on 19th April 1986. By then, Walter Smith was taking first team duties following the sacking of Jock Wallace and pending the imminent arrival of new player-manager Graeme Souness from Sampdoria. It was already clear that there would be wholesale changes in time for the start of season 1986/87 and the future of Munro and the majority of the current squad was uncertain.
Whilst many of his team mates did depart Ibrox over the weeks and months ahead, Stuart raised his game to new levels and played a major part in Rangers securing the league title for the first time in 9 years. He played in 43 of a possible 44 league matches including the memorable title clincher at Pittodrie. His first major trophy had been secured in October 1986 as Celtic were defeated 2-1 at Hampden, the Souness ‘revolution’ now fully under way. There were, of course, disappointments too; a shock defeat to Hamilton Accies in the Scottish Cup and a harsh sending off in Germany as Rangers were eliminated by Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Never one to stand still, Souness was regularly linked with new players in Stuart’s position and by 1987/88 Jimmy Phillips, Jan Bartram and John Brown had all been signed and were all capable of occupying that left back role. Whilst a second league cup medal arrived courtesy of a win over Aberdeen, Stuart did find himself in and out of the side although still featured on 22 occasions.
This was bettered in 1988/89 although John Brown was now vying for the left back position. Stuart appeared in the opening day win over Hamilton, a game that would mark the beginning of our nine in a row sequence of championship victories. He would make 22 appearances in that title winning season which included his first goals for the Club. A scrappy effort during a vital win at Pittodrie was followed up by a sweet strike at Tannadice in February 1989 in what was an important 1-1 draw. Stuart missed out on our third successive league cup win and suffered the disappointment of a Scottish Cup Final defeat on the last day of the season. By then, young Tom Cowan had arrived to apply further competition to the left back position but Stuart had finished the season strongly and was back in the starting line up.
Having continued to see off his numerous challengers which by now also included Chris Vinnicombe, Stuart was the model of consistency during season 1989/90 and whilst never attracting the same level of headlines as his team mates he was a top performer and every bit as vital as right sided fullback, Gary Stevens. Stuart played in all 36 league matches (along with Maurice Johnston the only ever present) and the title was secured at Tannadice when Trevor Steven headed home Stuart’s right foot cross. He also made a third league cup final appearance (although had to settle for a runners up medal on this occasion) not missing a single competitive match throughout the season.
Perhaps the number of games caught up with Stuart in 1990/91 when he succumbed to injury after a stop start season. His willingness to help bolster a depleted Gers side backfired when he suffered a serious groin injury during a Scottish Cup defeat at Parkhead. This ended his season on March 17th 1991 and, unbeknown, would prove to be his final appearance for Rangers. The highlight of his season had been another League Cup Final win over Celtic at Hampden.
With Graeme Souness having been replaced by Walter Smith as manager by the time Stuart had recovered from injury, he opted to reject a new contract with Davie Robertson having joined on a big money transfer. Stuart left with the best wishes of all at Rangers having been the model of consistency and the ultimate professional during his 7 years at Ibrox.
Stuart would go on to play for Blackburn Rovers, Bristol City, St.Mirren and Falkirk before carving out a new life for himself on the other side of the world, emigrating to Australia.
by Rick Plews
