William Waddell (1969 to 1972)
Willie Waddell was appointed Manager of Rangers on 3 December 1969, one week after defeat to Gornik in the European Cup Winners Cup brought the curtain down on Davie White’s two-year tenure.
Waddell seemed the ideal candidate to resurrect Rangers fortunes. He had served the Club with great distinction as a player. Joining in 1938, he was a wonderful outside-right who made 558 appearances, scored 143 goals and provided countless assists, winning four League titles and two Scottish Cups. His playing career finished when he left Rangers in 1956.
The following year he became Manager of Kilmarnock, with whom he enjoyed success, culminating in 1965 in their only League title, whereupon he left football management to pursue a career as a newspaper columnist. In this role, he had been openly critical of Davie White under whose leadership Waddell felt that Rangers standards, both on and off the field, had fallen. Waddell was the fans’ choice to challenge Jock Stein and Celtic.
Waddell immediately set about getting the fans on board with his plans to turn things around and rally the troops. Discipline was very important, as were the standards expected of Rangers players on and off the field. Long hair and “Pedro” moustaches were out, the clean-cut look was in. Double training sessions were also in, as Waddell perceived a poor level of fitness in the squad. Not a tracksuit Manager, indeed more akin to Scot Symon, Waddell had the trainers Harold Davis and Lawrie Smith put the players through their paces.
Waddell extended the first team squad to include several younger players, including Willie Mathieson and Alfie Conn, whilst a number of the more senior players soon found themselves out of the picture - before the 1970/71 Season started, Baxter, Johansen, Provan, Sorensen, Persson and Watson were gone. Peter McCloy joined from Motherwell.
Waddell’s arrival sparked an unbeaten League run of 9 wins and 2 draws, but from 11 March 1970 to the end of the League season, Rangers lost five, drew two and won only one of their fixtures, and finished in second place, 12 points behind Celtic, who had also knocked Rangers out of the Scottish Cup, 1-3 at Parkhead.
Waddell saw lack of player fitness as a major concern, and in April Harold Davis, Lawrie Smith and Davie Kinnear lost their jobs. Hearts Assistant Manager Jock Wallace took over as chief trainer and coach, with Stan Anderson joining him later as an assistant trainer.
Wallace’s training regime was brutal, driving the players to the point of collapse, and included weekly sessions on the infamous sand dunes at Gullane, East Lothian. These stern training methods were to prove beneficial to most. Waddell often stood on the sidelines during training at the Albion ground but left Wallace to get on with the rigours of the work. Waddell dealt with the management of the team and administrative matters, and always had the final say on team matters. The Waddell/Wallace managerial partnership was considered innovative for its time.
The 1970/71 Season saw Waddell put together a team that looked fresh and exuberant, the average age lowered to just 24. Rangers breezed through their League Cup section and subsequent knock-out rounds to reach the Final where they would meet Celtic on 24 October, optimism somewhat tempered by a League defeat to their old foes 0-2 at Parkhead on 12 September. In the Fairs Cup, Rangers interest ceased in the first round, despite valiant efforts against Bayern Munich who progressed 2-1 on aggregate.
The League Cup Final at Hampden saw Rangers seeking their first silverware in four years. The team news had two shocks for the Rangers fans - John Greig was missing, with Ronnie McKinnon captaining the team in his absence ; and 16 year-old Derek Johnstone had the centre-forward spot. The youngster’s header five minutes before half-time was enough to win Rangers the trophy and send their fans into raptures.
In under a year, Waddell had lifted Rangers from the depths of despair, won silverware, and built the foundations of a side which might re-establish Rangers as the top team in Scotland.
Form in the League campaign was inconsistent, and by the time the Old Firm derby at Ibrox on 2 January, 1971 came round, Rangers were well adrift of both Celtic and Aberdeen in the table. In the match itself, it seemed Rangers were heading for defeat when Celtic scored to make it 1-0 with a minute left to play, but with only seconds remaining Colin Stein equalised and the match finished 1-1. What happened thereafter was a tragedy of horrendous magnitude, as 66 fans were killed and more than 140 injured in a crush as they exited the stadium on Stairway 13, in what came to be known as The Ibrox Disaster.
Waddell was the central figure as Rangers faced the cameras, the Press and officialdom in the aftermath of the disaster. He organised representation of players and Directors at funerals, and players also visited the injured in hospitals.
The Directors resolved to ensure such a tragedy could never recur, and plans were drawn up for a complete transformation of the Stadium, doing away with high open terracings and replacing with all-seated accommodation. Waddell was tasked with overseeing the work.
With their League aspirations effectively over, Rangers looked to the Scottish Cup for further success, and battled through to the Hampden final on 8 May, where their opponents would again be Celtic. A late equaliser by substitute Derek Johnstone earned Rangers a 1-1 draw, but the replay four days later saw Celtic take the trophy by a 2-1 scoreline. A gruelling season was over.
Season 1971/72 saw the arrival of new signing Tommy McLean from Kilmarnock for £60,000. The League Cup section found Rangers grouped with Celtic for the fourth time in five years, and defeat to their old rivals in both the Parkhead and Ibrox ties meant an early Cup exit. This was followed by a League defeat to Celtic at Ibrox a few weeks later, and their worst-ever start to a League Championship meant that Rangers title hopes were over even before a further defeat in the New Year Old Firm derby.
In the European Cup Winners Cup, Rangers put aside domestic struggles. Waddell and Wallace closely studied opposition sides and gave the Rangers players photographs of their opponents with detailed analysis of their strengths and weaknesses.
The competition began with Rangers overcoming Rennes (France) by a 2-1 aggregate score. In round two, Rangers defeated Sporting Lisbon on the away goals rule with the sides tied 6-6 on aggregate after extra time in Lisbon, but only after the referee had mistakenly ordered a penalty shoot-out. Waddell, rule-book in hand, ensured Rangers progress. In the quarter-final Rangers disposed of Torino 2-1 on aggregate.
In the semi-final Rangers faced old foes Bayern Munich, who included six members of the West German international side. A masterly performance in Germany saw Rangers return to Ibrox with a 1-1 draw, where the task was completed with a convincing 2-0 win, goals coming from Sandy Jardine and European debutant Derek Parlane, a replacement for the injured John Greig.
Rangers opponents in the European Cup Winners Cup Final in Barcelona on 24 May, 1972 were Moscow Dynamo. It was Rangers third appearance in the final and this time it ended with victory. Rangers led 3-0 four minutes into the second half, when Willie Johnston added to his first half goal and the opener by Colin Stein. A Dynamo revival saw them reduce the arrears to 3-2 in the closing stages, but Rangers hung on. What should have been Rangers finest hour was marred with pitch invasions and scenes of violence between Rangers fans and Spanish police. John Greig received the trophy in an underground dressing room in the Nou Camp Stadium.
On 7 June, 1972 Willie Waddell became Rangers General Manager and Jock Wallace became Team Manager. In his two and a half year tenure as Manager, Waddell had lifted Rangers from the depths of despair to domestic silverware and triumph in Europe.
In his new role, Waddell pursued Rangers appeal against UEFA’s two years ban on the Club for the mayhem in Barcelona. He was successful in having this reduced to one year. He continued his drive to rid the Club of its hooligan element.
He turned his attentions from team affairs to the reconstruction of Ibrox Stadium, making it one of the most modern stadiums in Europe when the new Copland, Broomloan and Govan Stands opened in the early 1980’s. The present Stadium is evidence of his vision and determination, and a monument to those who lost their lives in the Ibrox Disaster.
by David Plews
William Waddell (1969 to 1972)
Willie Waddell was appointed Manager of Rangers on 3 December 1969, one week after defeat to Gornik in the European Cup Winners Cup brought the curtain down on Davie White’s two-year tenure.
Waddell seemed the ideal candidate to resurrect Rangers fortunes. He had served the Club with great distinction as a player. Joining in 1938, he was a wonderful outside-right who made 558 appearances, scored 143 goals and provided countless assists, winning four League titles and two Scottish Cups. His playing career finished when he left Rangers in 1956.
The following year he became Manager of Kilmarnock, with whom he enjoyed success, culminating in 1965 in their only League title, whereupon he left football management to pursue a career as a newspaper columnist. In this role, he had been openly critical of Davie White under whose leadership Waddell felt that Rangers standards, both on and off the field, had fallen. Waddell was the fans’ choice to challenge Jock Stein and Celtic.
Waddell immediately set about getting the fans on board with his plans to turn things around and rally the troops. Discipline was very important, as were the standards expected of Rangers players on and off the field. Long hair and “Pedro” moustaches were out, the clean-cut look was in. Double training sessions were also in, as Waddell perceived a poor level of fitness in the squad. Not a tracksuit Manager, indeed more akin to Scot Symon, Waddell had the trainers Harold Davis and Lawrie Smith put the players through their paces.
Waddell extended the first team squad to include several younger players, including Willie Mathieson and Alfie Conn, whilst a number of the more senior players soon found themselves out of the picture - before the 1970/71 Season started, Baxter, Johansen, Provan, Sorensen, Persson and Watson were gone. Peter McCloy joined from Motherwell.
Waddell’s arrival sparked an unbeaten League run of 9 wins and 2 draws, but from 11 March 1970 to the end of the League season, Rangers lost five, drew two and won only one of their fixtures, and finished in second place, 12 points behind Celtic, who had also knocked Rangers out of the Scottish Cup, 1-3 at Parkhead.
Waddell saw lack of player fitness as a major concern, and in April Harold Davis, Lawrie Smith and Davie Kinnear lost their jobs. Hearts Assistant Manager Jock Wallace took over as chief trainer and coach, with Stan Anderson joining him later as an assistant trainer.
Wallace’s training regime was brutal, driving the players to the point of collapse, and included weekly sessions on the infamous sand dunes at Gullane, East Lothian. These stern training methods were to prove beneficial to most. Waddell often stood on the sidelines during training at the Albion ground but left Wallace to get on with the rigours of the work. Waddell dealt with the management of the team and administrative matters, and always had the final say on team matters. The Waddell/Wallace managerial partnership was considered innovative for its time.
The 1970/71 Season saw Waddell put together a team that looked fresh and exuberant, the average age lowered to just 24. Rangers breezed through their League Cup section and subsequent knock-out rounds to reach the Final where they would meet Celtic on 24 October, optimism somewhat tempered by a League defeat to their old foes 0-2 at Parkhead on 12 September. In the Fairs Cup, Rangers interest ceased in the first round, despite valiant efforts against Bayern Munich who progressed 2-1 on aggregate.
The League Cup Final at Hampden saw Rangers seeking their first silverware in four years. The team news had two shocks for the Rangers fans - John Greig was missing, with Ronnie McKinnon captaining the team in his absence ; and 16 year-old Derek Johnstone had the centre-forward spot. The youngster’s header five minutes before half-time was enough to win Rangers the trophy and send their fans into raptures.
In under a year, Waddell had lifted Rangers from the depths of despair, won silverware, and built the foundations of a side which might re-establish Rangers as the top team in Scotland.
Form in the League campaign was inconsistent, and by the time the Old Firm derby at Ibrox on 2 January, 1971 came round, Rangers were well adrift of both Celtic and Aberdeen in the table. In the match itself, it seemed Rangers were heading for defeat when Celtic scored to make it 1-0 with a minute left to play, but with only seconds remaining Colin Stein equalised and the match finished 1-1. What happened thereafter was a tragedy of horrendous magnitude, as 66 fans were killed and more than 140 injured in a crush as they exited the stadium on Stairway 13, in what came to be known as The Ibrox Disaster.
Waddell was the central figure as Rangers faced the cameras, the Press and officialdom in the aftermath of the disaster. He organised representation of players and Directors at funerals, and players also visited the injured in hospitals.
The Directors resolved to ensure such a tragedy could never recur, and plans were drawn up for a complete transformation of the Stadium, doing away with high open terracings and replacing with all-seated accommodation. Waddell was tasked with overseeing the work.
With their League aspirations effectively over, Rangers looked to the Scottish Cup for further success, and battled through to the Hampden final on 8 May, where their opponents would again be Celtic. A late equaliser by substitute Derek Johnstone earned Rangers a 1-1 draw, but the replay four days later saw Celtic take the trophy by a 2-1 scoreline. A gruelling season was over.
Season 1971/72 saw the arrival of new signing Tommy McLean from Kilmarnock for £60,000. The League Cup section found Rangers grouped with Celtic for the fourth time in five years, and defeat to their old rivals in both the Parkhead and Ibrox ties meant an early Cup exit. This was followed by a League defeat to Celtic at Ibrox a few weeks later, and their worst-ever start to a League Championship meant that Rangers title hopes were over even before a further defeat in the New Year Old Firm derby.
In the European Cup Winners Cup, Rangers put aside domestic struggles. Waddell and Wallace closely studied opposition sides and gave the Rangers players photographs of their opponents with detailed analysis of their strengths and weaknesses.
The competition began with Rangers overcoming Rennes (France) by a 2-1 aggregate score. In round two, Rangers defeated Sporting Lisbon on the away goals rule with the sides tied 6-6 on aggregate after extra time in Lisbon, but only after the referee had mistakenly ordered a penalty shoot-out. Waddell, rule-book in hand, ensured Rangers progress. In the quarter-final Rangers disposed of Torino 2-1 on aggregate.
In the semi-final Rangers faced old foes Bayern Munich, who included six members of the West German international side. A masterly performance in Germany saw Rangers return to Ibrox with a 1-1 draw, where the task was completed with a convincing 2-0 win, goals coming from Sandy Jardine and European debutant Derek Parlane, a replacement for the injured John Greig.
Rangers opponents in the European Cup Winners Cup Final in Barcelona on 24 May, 1972 were Moscow Dynamo. It was Rangers third appearance in the final and this time it ended with victory. Rangers led 3-0 four minutes into the second half, when Willie Johnston added to his first half goal and the opener by Colin Stein. A Dynamo revival saw them reduce the arrears to 3-2 in the closing stages, but Rangers hung on. What should have been Rangers finest hour was marred with pitch invasions and scenes of violence between Rangers fans and Spanish police. John Greig received the trophy in an underground dressing room in the Nou Camp Stadium.
On 7 June, 1972 Willie Waddell became Rangers General Manager and Jock Wallace became Team Manager. In his two and a half year tenure as Manager, Waddell had lifted Rangers from the depths of despair to domestic silverware and triumph in Europe.
In his new role, Waddell pursued Rangers appeal against UEFA’s two years ban on the Club for the mayhem in Barcelona. He was successful in having this reduced to one year. He continued his drive to rid the Club of its hooligan element.
He turned his attentions from team affairs to the reconstruction of Ibrox Stadium, making it one of the most modern stadiums in Europe when the new Copland, Broomloan and Govan Stands opened in the early 1980’s. The present Stadium is evidence of his vision and determination, and a monument to those who lost their lives in the Ibrox Disaster.
by David Plews
