Bobby Cunning (left) bidding farewell to Jackie Cox, Hamilton manager, before signing for Rangers. EVER since he could kick a ball, Bobby Cunning had wanted to play for Rangers. So Scot Symon made the young Hamilton Academicals striker a very happy man when he signed him for the ibrox club in September 1954. Bobby’s grandson Jamie got in touch to tell us: “Scot Symon became the manager of Rangers FC in 1954 and his first signing was my grandpa. It took place in the Central Hotel and the fee was £2500.” Bobby’s debut was in a Glasgow Cup replay against Clyde on September 10, just a few days after his momentous signing. Our sister newspaper noted that he and fellow newcomers (McKenzie and Menzies) “passed their test with honours.”
RANGERS v FIORENTINA 1961. ORZAN CLEARS A RANGERS CORNER TO BEAT RALPH BRAND AND DAVIE WILSON . IT WAS the first time a British club had ever reached a European final – and despite eventually losing out to Fiorentina, Rangers did Scotland and the UK proud in the 1961 European Cup Winners Cup. Ten teams had taken part in the inaugural tournament and the Ibrox club, managed by Scot Symon, had defeated the Hungarians Ferencvaros 5-4 on aggregate to reach the last eight, where they hammered Borussia Moenchengladbach 11-0 over two legs. A 3-1 aggregate win over Wolverhampton Wanderers had Rangers supporters dreaming of success in the final, on May 27.