Maurice Ross

A graduate of the youth and reserve sides, 19 year-old Ross was handed his first team debut by manager Dick Advocaat in 2000, Rangers cruising to a 7-1 victory over his hometown side Dundee at Dens Park.

Ross would regularly be an unused substitute over the next two seasons (primarily due to the U-21 ruling) before beginning to force himself into the starting line up during Advocaat’s final campaign in charge.

The arrival of Alex McLeish mid-way through season 2001/02 did not halt his progress and although he was not involved in the League Cup Final win over Ayr Utd, he played in the final half dozen matches of the league campaign and performed well in the epic Scottish Cup Final victory over Celtic in May 2002.

Whilst Rangers were fairly quiet on the transfer front during the summer of 2002 (in terms of incomings), one of those to arrive was the experienced Kevin Muscat which clearly put Mo’s position in jeopardy.

Whilst not always operating in his preferred right full-back position, Maurice did force his way back into the side, scoring his first goal for the Club in a 2-0 win over Livingston.

Despite an early European exit, it turned out to be an exceptional season domestically as Rangers swept all before them. A used substitute in both the League and Scottish Cup Finals saw Ross collect two winner’s medals to add to his first League Championship gong.

Perhaps his greatest individual highlight for Rangers was the 2004/05 League Cup Final when he started and opened the scoring in a 5-1 win over Motherwell at Hampden.

It was another dramatic league campaign with the 2005 Championship being secured in the final moments of the season at Easter Road. Although Mo did not play in that ‘Helicopter Sunday’ success, he had started 14 league matches throughout the season to earn his second Championship medal.

Mo's final appearance came at the beginning of the 2005/06 campaign as 10 man Rangers lost at Pittodrie. The emergence of Alan Hutton was possibly a factor in allowing Ross to move on but he had certainly fallen out of the reckoning and was allowed to join Sheffield Wednesday on a free transfer having made 106 appearances in total.

A keen student of the game, Mo has already had a spell Managing Cowdenbeath in the Lowland League and is a respected Coach.

by Rick Plews