David Alexander Robertson was the model of consistency during six trophy laden years at Ibrox. Initially a target of Graeme Souness, Robertson eventually signed for new manager Walter Smith in the summer of 1991 as the side was beginning to be reshaped following the introduction of the ‘three foreigner’ ruling. The left back position had been one Souness had never seemed entirely at ease with during his own time as manager, John Brown, Jimmy Phillips, Chris Vinnicombe, Jan Bartram and Tom Cowan had all been signed but none of them could dislodge the dependable and underrated Stuart Munro despite each having spells occupying the number 3 jersey.
However, in signing Robertson Rangers now had a left back in the mould of right back Gary Stevens. Like Stevens, Davie was capable of getting up and down the pitch for 90 minutes possessing blistering pace and a decent delivery. He could also chip in with the occasional goal and his link up play with various wide men over the coming seasons became a major feature of Gers play as we dominated domestically and enjoyed a wonderful run in Europe during season 1992/93.
His departure from Aberdeen in 1991 did not go down well with his hometown club and their supporters who would have, to put it mildly, much preferred him to join ex-manager Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford and the fee of £970k was way below their own valuation of a player who had already amassed 135 league appearances by the time he was 22 and who had helped the Dons secure both domestic cups. Ironically, Davie’s final appearance for Aberdeen was the title decider defeat at Ibrox as Rangers made it ‘3 in a Row’ (in the knowledge that he would start the following season in Royal Blue).
If a League Championship medal had eluded him in his time at Aberdeen, there would be no such problem in Glasgow as Davie picked up a winners medal in every one of his six seasons with the Club. His competitive debut came on 10th August 1991 during a 6-0 win over St.Johnstone and he never looked back. He made 42 league appearances in his first season, 39 in his second and 32 in his third. His first goal came in a league cup win over Partick Thistle at Firhill just weeks after making his debut. Although injuries eventually started to trouble Davie, he remained an automatic first pick when fit and never made less than 20 appearances in any league campaign. The silverware kept coming, often at the expense of ex club Aberdeen. In addition to his six league medals, he also secured three Scottish cup and three league cup winners medals. His final appearance for the Club came on the momentous night when Rangers secured NIAR at Tannadice but after some 11 seasons in Scottish Football he decided to try his luck in England with Leeds United.
On moving into coaching, Davie spent six years abroad, initially in the USA and then successfully with Indian side Real Kashmir. This had followed brief spells in charge of both Montrose and Elgin. Eager to return to Scotland where he felt his exploits abroad should have earned him the chance at another senior Club, he was appointed manager of Peterhead on 29th November 2022. Unfortunately, it proved to be another short lived tenure and he was dismissed in March 2023.
by Rick Plews
