Quote:
Originally Posted by Westy  Catholics who had signed for Rangers before Johnston include: 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 (circa.1914-1918), John Jackson (1917), Laurie Blyth (1951-1952), Don Kichenbrand (1955-1956), Hugh O'Neill (1976) and John Spencer (1985-1992). Johnston's signing paved the way for Rangers to sign more Catholic players such as Lorenzo Amoruso, who served as the club's captain. |
I read it the first time.
1.
Laurie Blyth - "released" after one year when his relgion was known by Rangers FC.
Signed for Dunfermline Athletic. He never played for the first team. A man signed because his father was Protestant, then released when his mother was found to be Catholic.
Here's the local paper article about him when he died -
Laurie Blyth Dies at 76.
2.
Don Kichenbrand - A south african who hid his religion from Rangers until he left. A quick search even reveals a headline of a story he went to the daily papers with - "I was Rangers' Secret Catholic". He even joined Masons to hide his religion. That's how it was back then. Rumour mill go into full swing and he was sold to Sunderland. Again Rangers unknowingly signed a Catholic, and quickly shifed him on once the rumours started.
3.
Hugh O'Neil - Being the pillar of all that is Rangers, Westy, you'll evidently be able to tell me the story of Hugh O'Neill? Im not clued up on him or his Rangers days, so if you can fill me in with any information about him, games he played, when his first game was, when he was released etc I'd be grateful
We both know he lasted less than a year - again because it was made know after he signed he was a catholic.
4.
John Spencer - Another one. Assumed a protestant because of his fathers side. However did play first team football, and wasn't moved on. He joined in 1985 - 15 years old. Didn't play for Rangers for a while after. Encroaching the 90's by this point.....cue Mo Johnston.
Compare how many Catholics are/were present in Glasgow to the amount of Scottish catholics employed by Rangers over 135 years and it's hard not to see the trend.
Religion mattered, to your club, Westy.
Relgion matters, today, in society, whether you care or not.
Rangers denied it for a while, but I'll leave with a wee quote regarding the ban;
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Matt Taylor - Rangers Vice Chairman, 1967 It's part of our tradition |
Quote:
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Originally Posted by John Laurence - Rangers Chairman, 1969 The policy of not signing Catholics has been with the club since it formed |
