1978 october 7th
martedì 15 ottobre 2013
mercoledì 9 ottobre 2013
venerdì 20 settembre 2013
Terry Butcher - Ipswich Town
born: 28th December 1958 in Singapore
league debut: Saturday, 15th April 1978 in a 1-0 defeat at Everton
271 League apps, 16 goals for Ipswich Town
Photo: George Herringshaw
Terry Butcher - Rangers
by Alistair Aird (Author of Ally McCoist - Portrait of a Hero)
In the summer of 1986, Terry Butcher was regarded as being one of the finest central defenders in the British Isles. A standout performer at the heart of the Ipswich Town defence in the 1980s, he was a first pick for England and had been in terrific form during the World Cup Finals in Mexico. He was courted by Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur on his return from North America, but it was the persuasive powers of Graeme Souness that won him over and he joined Rangers for a club record fee of £725, 000.
In the long run it would prove money well spent, as Butcher became the cornerstone of Rangers' rebuilding programme. His arrival also illustrated that Souness meant business and showed that a Rangers board that had often been regarded as parsimonious were prepared to back their manager as he sought to revive the fortunes of the club.
Immediately installed as club captain, Butcher made his debut in a friendly against Bayern Munich at Ibrox on 5 August, and led the team out for their opening Premier Division match of the 1986/87 season against Hibernian four days later. It was the first of forty-three league appearances that the Englishman made in his debut season, and it was his goal - a towering header against Aberdeen at Pittodrie - that clinched the Light Blues' first title in nine years.
Victory in the title race and success in the Scottish League Cup - Rangers defeated Celtic 2-1 in the Final - had made Butcher's first season in Scotland a memorable one, but his second campaign was blighted by injury and suspension. He was ordered off in a tempestuous Old Firm game at Ibrox in October, and just a month later he broke his leg in a league match against Aberdeen at the same venue. The injury kept him out the side for the remainder of the season, and his prolonged absence undoubtedly cost Rangers a second successive Championship win. The Light Blues finished third, twelve points adrift of champions Celtic.
A tough, no-nonsense centre-back, Butcher also boasted a fine range of passing - his long forward passes with his left foot were a hallmark of Rangers' attacking play in that era - and he was re-introduced to the Rangers team when he returned to the fold in time for the start of the 1988/89 season. During that campaign he forged an excellent partnership with Richard Gough as Rangers won back the Premier Division title and also added the League Cup for a third successive season. Butcher missed only two league matches, and scored a couple of vital goals, notably his looping header against Celtic in a 4-1 win in the league at Ibrox on New Years' Day 1989.
Butcher added another league title to his collection in the 1989/90 season, playing in thirty-four of Rangers' thirty-six league matches, but it would prove to be his last full season as a Rangers player. After returning from the World Cup in Italy nursing a knee injury, he struggled for form in the early matches of the 1990/91 season, and endured a dreadful afternoon at Tannadice in September when Dundee United profited from two of his mistakes to secure a 2-1 win. Those errors were Butcher's last acts in a Rangers jersey. He was dropped for the next match, the semi-final of the League Cup against Aberdeen four days later, and never played for the first team again. He was sold to Coventry City for £400, 000 in November 1990 and became player-manager at Highfield Road.
Named in the Greatest Ever Rangers XI in 1999 and inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in 2000, Butcher made a total of 176 appearances and scored eleven goals for the Light Blues. He played a pivotal role in rousing Rangers from their decade-long slumber, and wore his heart of his sleeve, which means he will forever be regarded as a legend in the eyes of the club's supporters.
In the long run it would prove money well spent, as Butcher became the cornerstone of Rangers' rebuilding programme. His arrival also illustrated that Souness meant business and showed that a Rangers board that had often been regarded as parsimonious were prepared to back their manager as he sought to revive the fortunes of the club.
Immediately installed as club captain, Butcher made his debut in a friendly against Bayern Munich at Ibrox on 5 August, and led the team out for their opening Premier Division match of the 1986/87 season against Hibernian four days later. It was the first of forty-three league appearances that the Englishman made in his debut season, and it was his goal - a towering header against Aberdeen at Pittodrie - that clinched the Light Blues' first title in nine years.
Victory in the title race and success in the Scottish League Cup - Rangers defeated Celtic 2-1 in the Final - had made Butcher's first season in Scotland a memorable one, but his second campaign was blighted by injury and suspension. He was ordered off in a tempestuous Old Firm game at Ibrox in October, and just a month later he broke his leg in a league match against Aberdeen at the same venue. The injury kept him out the side for the remainder of the season, and his prolonged absence undoubtedly cost Rangers a second successive Championship win. The Light Blues finished third, twelve points adrift of champions Celtic.
A tough, no-nonsense centre-back, Butcher also boasted a fine range of passing - his long forward passes with his left foot were a hallmark of Rangers' attacking play in that era - and he was re-introduced to the Rangers team when he returned to the fold in time for the start of the 1988/89 season. During that campaign he forged an excellent partnership with Richard Gough as Rangers won back the Premier Division title and also added the League Cup for a third successive season. Butcher missed only two league matches, and scored a couple of vital goals, notably his looping header against Celtic in a 4-1 win in the league at Ibrox on New Years' Day 1989.
Named in the Greatest Ever Rangers XI in 1999 and inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in 2000, Butcher made a total of 176 appearances and scored eleven goals for the Light Blues. He played a pivotal role in rousing Rangers from their decade-long slumber, and wore his heart of his sleeve, which means he will forever be regarded as a legend in the eyes of the club's supporters.
Terry Butcher - Rangers
born: 28th December 1958 in Singapore
league debut: Saturday, 9th August 1986 in a 2-1 defeat at Hibernian
127 League apps, 10 goals for Rangers
Photo: George Herringshaw
mercoledì 28 agosto 2013
Jim Leighton - Aberdeen
born: 24th July 1958 in Johnstone
371 League apps for Aberdeen
Photo: George Herringshaw
Jim Leighton - Manchester United
born: 24th July 1958 in Johnstone
league debut: Saturday, 22nd February 1975 in a 0-0 draw at home to Cardiff City
73 League apps for Manchester United
Photo: George Herringshaw
Jim Leighton - Scotland
born: 24th July 1958 in Johnstone
international debut: Wednesday, 13th October 1982 in a 2-0 win against E.Germany
final appareance: 10/10/98 in a 3-2 win against Estonia
91 caps, 0 goals
Photo: George Herringshaw
John McGovern - Derby County
born: 28 October 1949 in Montrose, Scotland
league debut: Saturday, 9th November 1968 in a 2-1 win at home to Charlton Athletic
186 League apps (+4 as sub), 16 goals for Derby County
Photo: George Herringshaw
John McGovern - Nottingham Forest
born: 28 October 1949 in Montrose, Scotland
league debut: Saturday, 22nd February 1975 in a 0-0 draw at home to Cardiff City
249 League apps (+4 as sub), 6 goals for Nottingham Forest
Photo: George Herringshaw
John McGovern - Derby County
by Mike Cockayne
John McGovern signed for Derby County in September 1968, moving to the Baseball Ground from Hartlepool United for a £7500 transfer fee. Although the slightly built nineteen year old right winger cum midfielder took time to settle, he joined a club that had been transformed by appointment of Brian Clough as manager and the signing of the former Tottenham Hotspur stalwart Dave Mackay. Having established himself as a regular in the side in January 1969, McGovern starred in the away wins at Aston Villa and Bury as County went on to win the Second Division championship seven points ahead of Crystal Palace. The "Rams" enjoyed a magnificent first season back in the top flight, a series of tremendous home performances securing a fourth place finish. John's ability to do the simple things well, allied to his work ethic and willingness to act as a man marker saw him return a series of solid displays; often against much older and experienced opponents. He netted four goals, scoring against Liverpool, Newcastle United, Sunderland and Southampton, the undoubted highlight being a brilliant curving drive in a 4-0 demolition of the Merseyside club. Although County started their 1970/71 campaign well, seven defeats in September and October 1970 saw them eventually finish in ninth spot. McGovern made thirty-four appearances, scoring six goals including a double strike in a 4-2, first home game of the season, win against Wolverhampton Wanderers. He also netted goals against Coventry City, Everton, Burnley and local rivals Nottingham Forest. In his first three seasons at the Baseball Ground John made a total of eighty-five league appearances, including three as a substitute, his midfield partnership with Archie Gemmill and Alan Durban in the Spring of 1971 working particuarly well.
Derby County opened their 1971/72 First Division campaign in tremendous form, a twelve game unbeaten run setting the tone for the remainder of the season. After a further five straight win sequence in March 1972 they eventually clinched the title by one point from Leeds United, Liverpool and Manchester City having used just sixteen players and returned twenty-three clean sheets. John was a virtual ever present in the County midfield, making forty appearances and scoring three times, including the only goal of the home game against Liverpool and strikes against Southampton and Huddersfield Town. In 1972/73 Derby slipped to seventh place, McGovern netting his only league strike of the campaign in a 5-0 thrashing of Arsenal. In the European Cup County reached the semi-final stage, exiting controversially against the Italian giants Juventus. On route they demolished Benfica 3-0 at the Baseball Ground, John netting a fine goal in a magnificent team performance. The club was rocked to its foundations in October 1973 when, after an away win at Manchester United, manager Brian Clough announced his resignation. Although his replacement Dave Mackay initially faced a player revolt, calm was eventually restored; County going on to finish in third place behind Leeds and Liverpool. John made twenty starts and scored two goals. He fell out of favour following Mackay's signing of Rod Thomas from Swindon and, along with John O'Hare, rejoined Clough briefly at Leeds United and then longer term at Nottingham Forest. His final game in the "Rams" shirt was against Manchester City at Maine Road on February 6th 1974. In all competitons John played 227 games for County, including four as a substitute. He scored twenty goals and at his best demonstrated ball control and passing skills of the highest level, a talent that frequently allowed others to shine.
Iscriviti a:
Post (Atom)