Joshua Bennett
Glasgow Rangers FC has historically been associated with a Protestant identity and has been accused of refusing to sign players of the Catholic faith. However, this perception has been challenged by the club and supporters, who cite examples of Catholic players who have been signed prior to the arrival of Maurice Johnston in 1989. The signing of Johnston, an openly Catholic former Celtic player, marked a significant shift in the club's policy and helped dispel the myth of sectarian signing practices. While some Catholic players experienced hostility and kept their faith secret, others, like Johnston, became prominent signings for the club. Today, Glasgow Rangers are known for their inclusive signing policy, demonstrating a commitment to diversity and talent above religious divisions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Did Glasgow Rangers sign Catholic players? | Yes, but the club has been accused of having an unwritten rule that they would not sign any player who was openly Catholic. |
| When did the policy begin? | The club became more of a Unionist/Protestant club in its recruitment after World War I. |
| Were there any Catholic players before the introduction of the policy? | Yes, players such as Pat Lafferty (1886), Tom Dunbar (1891-1892), J. Tutty (1899-1900), Archie Kyle (1904-1908), Willie Kivlichan (1906-1907), Colin Mainds (1906-1907), Tom Murray (1907-1908), William Brown (1912), Joe Donnachie (c. 1914-1918), and John Jackson (1917) played for the club before World War I. |
| Were there any Catholic players after the introduction of the policy? | Yes, players such as Laurie Blyth (1951-1952), Don Kitchenbrand (1955-1956), Hugh O'Neill (1976), and John Spencer (1985-1992) played for the club despite the unwritten rule. |
| Has the policy changed? | Yes, the club has employed an inclusive signing policy for over 30 years since the signing of Maurice Johnston in 1989. |
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What You'll Learn
History of Glasgow Rangers' signing policy
Glasgow Rangers Football Club was founded in 1873 as a Protestant boys club. Before the First World War, the club did not have a policy regarding players' religion, and several Catholic players were part of the team. However, as the connections between Rangers and loyalism/Orangeism strengthened, the club quietly introduced an unwritten rule that they would not sign any player or employ staff members who were openly Catholic.
Despite the policy, some Catholic players did play for Rangers. For example, South African Don Kitchenbrand kept his Catholicism secret, and Laurie Blyth played for the club until his Catholic faith was discovered. In addition, promising youth player John Spencer joined the club in 1982 and progressed through the ranks while dealing with hostility from both sides of the Glasgow religious divide.
In 1986, Graeme Souness became the Rangers manager and declared his intention to build a team based solely on merit. He expressed his comfort with signing players of other religions and skin colours. In 1989, Rangers signed their first openly Catholic player, Mo Johnston, a former Celtic player. This move was met with criticism from some supporters, with the general secretary of the Rangers Supporters Association, David Miller, expressing his disappointment.
The signing of Johnston marked a turning point in Rangers' signing policy, and the club has since pledged to remove religious barriers in player signings. In recent years, the club has faced heavier fines and scrutiny regarding religious sectarianism. Despite this, in a promising step towards unity, Rangers signed a young Catholic Gaelic football player, Aaron McGregor, in 2023.
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Catholic players who signed before Maurice Johnston
While Maurice Johnston was the first high-profile Catholic player to sign for Glasgow Rangers in 1989, the club had signed Catholic players before him.
One notable example is Hugh O'Neill, who signed for Rangers a decade before Johnston. O'Neill was a Roman Catholic and joined the club from the Hartford Bicentennials of the North American Soccer League. Although he was mainly confined to the reserves, he played almost all of the games available during his six-month stint and contributed with some goals. O'Neill faced hostility and violence from Glasgow's streets to the team bus due to the religious divide in the city during the 1970s.
Other Catholic players who signed for Rangers before Maurice Johnston include Laurie Blyth (1951), Don Kitchenbrand (1955), and John Spencer (1982), who progressed quietly through the youth ranks.
While Rangers had signed Catholic players before Johnston, his signing as a former Celtic player and an openly Catholic individual sent shockwaves across Scottish football and caused a significant upset among Celtic supporters.
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The Rangers' fan base
The Rangers fanbase, also known as the Teddy Bears, is one of the most loyal and passionate fanbases in football. They are known for their unwavering support for the team through thick and thin, and their commitment to the club is truly remarkable. The Rangers fanbase is also one of the largest in Scotland, with a significant number of supporters not just in Glasgow but across the country and worldwide.
Historically, the Rangers fanbase has been predominantly Protestant and Unionist, with strong links to the Orange Order. This dates back to the early 20th century when the club had an influx of support from loyalist workers who moved to Glasgow following the acquisition of local shipyards by a Belfast-based company. This loyalist element within the fanbase has often been associated with sectarianism and bigoted behaviour, which has led to criticism and negative media perception of the club.
However, it is important to note that the Rangers fanbase is diverse and inclusive, with supporters from various religious and cultural backgrounds. While there have been accusations of a sectarian signing policy, with claims that the club refused to sign Catholic players, these allegations have been disputed. In recent years, the club has actively promoted inclusivity and rejected any religious barriers in its signing policy. This shift has been welcomed by many fans, who recognise the importance of moving beyond religious divides and embracing diversity within the Rangers family.
The Rangers fanbase is known for its vocal and passionate support during matches, with chants and songs that echo around Ibrox Stadium. They have a reputation for creating an intense and electrifying atmosphere, especially during derby matches against their rivals, Celtic. The rivalry between the two clubs is well-documented, and the passion displayed by the Rangers fans during these encounters is a testament to their deep love for the club.
In conclusion, the Rangers fanbase is a dedicated, passionate, and diverse group of supporters who are united by their love for the club. While historical associations with sectarianism have been a source of controversy, the club and its fans have taken steps towards inclusivity and embracing all supporters, regardless of religious background. The loyalty and commitment of the Rangers fanbase are truly remarkable, and their support for the team continues to be a driving force in Scottish football.
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The Rangers' rivalry with Celtic
The rivalry between Glasgow football clubs Celtic and Rangers, collectively known as the Old Firm, is deeply rooted in Scottish culture and has contributed to social and religious divisions in the country. The rivalry is not limited to sporting competition but has often erupted into violence and tragedy, with the actions of a minority of supporters on both sides dominating headlines.
The origin of the rivalry between the two clubs and their fans is often attributed to the religious divide between Catholicism and Protestantism in Scotland. Traditionally, Rangers supporters are Protestant, while Celtic fans are Catholic. The foundations of the two clubs are linked to this religious division, with Rangers formed in 1873 as a Protestant boys club. While Rangers have denied the existence of a signing policy based on religion, it has been alleged that they had an unwritten rule of not signing players or employing staff who were openly Catholic. This policy was indicated by the signing of Egyptian international Mohamed Latif in 1934, and later confirmed by former players and staff. In 1989, Rangers signed their first prominent Catholic player, Mo Johnston, a former Celtic player.
The sporting rivalry between the two clubs was established in the early 20th century, with Rangers winning three successive championships and Celtic taking advantage of their rivals' weakened position following a stadium disaster in 1902 to win six successive titles from 1905 to 1910. The tension between the two clubs and their supporters came to the fore in the 1980 Scottish Cup Final, which ended in riots and violence on the field. This rivalry has continued into the 21st century, with Celtic supporters arguing that the current Rangers club, following financial difficulties and liquidation in 2012, is distinct from the pre-2012 club, and that the rivalry no longer exists as the Old Firm.
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The Rangers' signing of a Catholic GAA player
Glasgow Rangers FC has historically been associated with Protestantism and loyalism, with an unwritten rule that the club would not sign any openly Catholic players. This perception of the club as sectarian was challenged by Rangers manager Willie Waddell, who stated that "no religious barriers will be put up at this club regarding the signing of players".
Despite this assertion, no senior Catholic players were signed by Rangers until the summer of 1989, when Rangers signed Mo Johnston, a former Celtic player and openly Catholic. This was an especially significant signing as Johnston was a prominent ex-Celtic player, and it was the first time an openly Catholic player had been signed since the introduction of the unwritten rule.
Prior to the signing of Johnston, some Catholic players did play for Rangers, including South African Don Kitchenbrand, who kept his Catholicism secret, and Laurie Blyth, who left the club after his Catholic faith was discovered. In addition, promising youth player John Spencer joined the club in 1982 and progressed through the ranks while dealing with hostility from both sides of the Glasgow religious divide.
In recent years, there have been efforts to breach the religious divide in Glasgow football and eradicate bigoted sectarianism. One such example is the signing of 17-year-old Aaron McGregor, a young Catholic boy from Limavady in Northern Ireland who plays Gaelic football (GAA), by Glasgow Rangers. This signing has been seen as a positive step towards putting aside religious differences and allowing football to take center stage.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Glasgow Rangers have signed Catholic players. Prior to the First World War, Rangers did not have a policy regarding players' religion, and the club did have Catholic players. In 1989, Rangers signed openly Catholic player Maurice Johnston, a former Celtic player. Other Catholic players who signed for the club include Laurie Blyth, Don Kitchenbrand, and John Spencer.
There were accusations and perceptions that Glasgow Rangers had an unwritten rule of not signing Catholic players. In 1965, former Rangers player Ralph Brand stated that Rangers operated a Protestants-only policy. In 1986, Rangers manager Graeme Souness declared his intent to build a team based on merit, implying that the club's signing policy had changed.
Yes, Glasgow Rangers faced criticism and accusations of having a sectarian signing policy. The club was also criticized for its association with loyalist supporters and the Orange Order. In 1976, a friendly match with Aston Villa was abandoned due to hooliganism by Rangers fans.
