There is not a single European club that has won more trophies than Rangers FC. In the blue part of Glasgow, the fans are more than proud of their club and its achievements. A magnificent stadium with an eye-watering monumental facade. It feels like love at first sight.
Rangers FC is a club of big stature worldwide. You will not hear Tina Turner’s ‘Simply The Best’ any louder elsewhere in the world. There is no other European club that has won more trophies than Rangers, not even their big rivals Celtic, although they are quickly catching up. The Egyptian club Al-Ahly is the only club that has more trophies in its cabinet.
After going into administration in 2011/12, Rangers FC had to restart in the fourth tier, but they are back to business again fighting for the league title. Under the management of Steven Gerrard the club became unbeaten title winners in 2021/21. The Scottish club also has a massive fanbase. In 2008, around 200,000 fans travelled with the team down to Manchester for the UEFA Cup final. And in 2022 around 100,000 fans travelled all the way to Seville to watch their team play the Europa League final against Eintracht Frankfurt.
It feels like love at first sight. When you see the monumental facade of Ibrox, you cannot help but feel admiration. Beautiful red bricks, phenomenal windows and the name ‘Rangers F.C.’ shines magnificently on top of the entrance. On the corner of the Bill Struth Main Stand and the Copland Road Stand is an iconic metal gate in the club's colours.
Ibrox Stadium has been the home ground of The Gers since 1899. It was the first stadium the renowned Scottish architect and Rangers fan Archibald Leitch designed. Later in his career, he would also design Fulham’s Craven Cottage, Aston Villa’s Villa Park and the stadium of rivals Celtic among others.
During every home game, the stadium is almost completely filled. On every seat, you will find a fan who knows all the songs and will sing enthusiastically. If you visit a home match, you will notice Rangers is a much bigger club than you might think. Everyone lives and breathes football in Glasgow.
On the corner of the Bill Struth Main Stand and the Copland Stand, you will find a statue of John Grieg. At first sight, it looks like an ordinary statue to honour the former player, manager and director, but in reality, it is also a monument to remember one of the biggest stadium disasters the United Kingdom has seen. In 1971, Rangers conceded a goal against Celtic in the dying moments of the game but phenomenally equalised again. On Stairway 13 after the game, 66 people were killed in a crush after fans tried to leave the stadium. More than 200 people were injured. On the statue of John Grieg, who was the Rangers’ captain at the time, you will find the 66 names of those who sadly passed away.
It might be one of the world’s most famous derbies, but that is with good reason. It is a spectacle to witness the passion on the pitch and in the stands during the Old Firm. Celtic and Rangers are not only Scotland’s two most successful clubs, but they are also opposites when it comes to politics and religion. Rangers FC identifies as protestant and British, whilst Celtic identifies as catholic and Irish Scots. That is why you will find British flags in Ibrox and Irish flags on the stands in Celtic Park. This all makes it one of the fiercest rivalries which means much more than football.
In March 1872, four teenagers went on a stroll in West End Park (nowadays known as Kelvingrove Park) in Glasgow. They thought of a brilliant idea: Why not start a football club? Rangers FC was founded and the rest is history. Kelvingrove Park is located in Glasgow’s West End, one of the city’s most trendy neighbourhoods. The park is also home to other tourist attractions such as the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and the University of Glasgow.
The Louden Tavern is, as they proudly say themselves, more than a pub. On Copland Road, nearby Ibrox Stadium, you will find the famous football pub. The walls are Rangers-blue and everywhere you will find photos of club legends. It is the perfect place to get a drink before the match. For those who want to feel Scottish, try a beer with whiskey.
In the city centre, you will find Oswalds, another typical Rangers pub in club colours with memorabilia on the walls. The dishes on the menu also refer to different players of Rangers throughout history. You can order Davie Cooper on the Wings (chicken wings) or Porrini Paninis. The English defender Calvin Bassey also has his own burger on the menu: The Bassey Beef Burger.
The Bristol Bar is home to one of the most beautiful murals of Rangers FC. It is a beautiful ode to the fans of the club. On the white-tiled floor shines an enormous emblem and on another wall you will find a great picture of Ibrox’s facade. Even the bar’s countertop is full of photos of former players. Funnily enough, the bar is in the eastern part of the city not far from Celtic Park.
The Old Firm is almost always sold-out and it is very tough to get your hands on tickets for this game. Ibrox is also well-filled during other games, but it is much easier to get tickets for this. For most games, you do need a MyGers Membership which you can order on the club’s official website, after which you can start buying tickets for the game you would like to see.
Ibrox is easily accessible by Glasgow’s metro system. The metro station Ibrox is near the stadium. On the opposite side of the road, you will find the above-mentioned Louden Tavern.
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