Celtic, Third Lanark and Rangers' Stolen History

As regular readers of this blog know, I have recently published a book which has shot straight to the top of the New York Times best-seller list faster than Barry Ferguson trying to avoid a Georgios Samaras dummy “throw the ball at your face,” routine.

Whilst researching my book, Great Scot – the James Scotland Symon Story, I came across a shocking, sinister revelation.

When Charles Green bought Rangers from Duff & Phelps, the history of the club was included in the purchase, so Rangers is still the same club as was formed by the Gallant Pioneers in 1872.

What is not so widely known is that a key part of Rangers’ history was STOLEN in the early 1960’s by Third Lanark!

I can now reveal that in 1963, a struggling Third Lanark were encouraged by Celtic’s Jesuit-educated Chairman Robert Kelly to take possession of a precious part of Rangers’ history, in a desperate bid to both keep Thirds afloat, and do damage to Rangers.

There was a break-in at Ibrox in the early hours of 23^rd January 1963.

The sinister, hate-filled burglar made it all the way to the Blue Room, where he STOLE a piece of Rangers’ history.

As was the way in those days, Rangers maintained a dignified silence over the break-in, and said nothing when Third Lanark began to publicly claim a part of their illustrious history.

Those days incidentally, are now over for good. Jim Traynor, a decent, honest, hardworking journalist, would not tolerate anyone stealing Rangers’ history today.

Back in 1963 though, things were different.

Old pals of mine in the auld inky trade south of Hadrian’s Wall often ask me why Rangers make such a huge effort to support the armed forces.

I can tell you now that if it wasn’t for the armed forces, there would be no Rangers.

Every decent, hardworking, patriotic Rangers fan knows about the Gallant Pioneers.

Those four boys who had a dream that was to come so gloriously true over the next 140 years and more.

What no one knows any more, thanks to Third Lanark and the bitter, hate-filled, anti-Rangers bigot Robert Kelly, is that the Gallant Pioneers were not only keen rowers.

THEY WERE ALSO MEMBERS OF THE THIRD LANARKSHIRE RIFLE VOLUNTEERS!

That’s right, the Gallant Pioneers were British soldiers, sworn to Her Majesty Queen Victoria’s service, and formed Rangers as the Official Regimental football team!

The evil, sinister, Rangers-hating Kelly knew that if Third Lanark were to go out of business, it would only make Rangers stronger.

So the evil, sinister, Rangers-hating Kelly conspired with the Third Lanark board to steal Rangers’ history so that Thirds could appeal more to decent, hardworking, patriotic folk, leading to a boost in attendances at Cathkin Park, the survival of Thirds, and a weakened Rangers.

The shameless Third Lanark was not to profit from Kelly’s evil, sinister, anti-Rangers plan. They went out of business in 1967.

But Rangers WERE weakened in the years before Kelly’s shameful appointment of the degenerate, sinister, Rangers-hater Jock Stein as manager of Celtic.

The theft of Rangers’ history by the bitter, hate-filled Kelly and Third Lanark was responsible for Celtic winning the European Cup, as a weakened Rangers were in no position to stop the sporting wing of the IRA from bullying their way to the League Championship following their loss of a precious part of their history.

I have now written to UEFA to demand that the 1967 win be stripped from Celtic’s record, because they CHEATED to win it, by conspiring with Third Lanark to STEAL Rangers’ history.

The record can now be set straight.

I have informed Charles Green of the sinister theft of Rangers’ history all those years ago, and he is now taking steps to restore that part of Rangers’ patrimony that was so shamefully stolen from them.

Rangers’ origins as the official regimental team of the Third Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers will be restored to the club on a gala day at Ibrox in February next year.

Before the home match against Queens Park on 9^th February, a ceremony will take place to hand back this precious part of Rangers’ history.

It will be attended by First Minister Alex Salmond, Sandy Jardine, John Greig and other great names from Rangers’ glorious past, including Alex Miller and Tommy McLean.

Guest of honour though, will be the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir David Richards.

He will be there in order to restore Rangers to their rightful place at the heart of the Armed Forces family.

The General will present Charles Green with the colours of the Third Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers. The colours will then be restored to their place of honour in the Blue Room, where they belong.

The Royal Regiment of Scotland will also parade on the pitch before the match and at half time, they will take a lap of honour around the track.

Coming hot on the heels of my revelation that Rangers are to be sponsored by the Ministry of Defence from next year, this confirms Rangers’ rightful place as the Armed Forces Club.

 

 

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      AND……

 

Master of the dark arts Peter Lawwell is a worried man today, and he is right to be.

My sources within Ibrox tell me that Head of Communications Jim Traynor, a decent, honest, hardworking journalist, is set to blow the lid on master of the dark arts Peter Lawwell’s control of the Daily Rhebel.

Traynor, a decent, honest, hardworking journalist, has pledged that Rangers will forever more confront their enemies head-on.

The decent, honest, hardworking Jim Traynor is the most formidable presence in the Scottish game, and master of the dark arts Peter Lawwell’s days as the shadowy puppet-master of Scottish football are OVER!

 

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      FINALLY………

Sources in the City of London, auld pals in the old inky trade who spent their careers working on the City desk and still meet up with their old contacts, tell me that Charles Green, Imran Ahmad and Brian Stockbridge’s share issue is on track to raise £30m, on top of the £30m the MoD is to invest in the club.

Charles Green is set to give Alistair McCoist a £15m warchest for his assault on Division 2 next season and tomorrow, I’ll be revealing the Rangers scouting team’s sensational targets!

 

Here!

Tomorrow!

Here!

On this blog!

Tomorrow!

Here!

Pip! Pip!