List of Rangers F.C. seasons explained

Rangers Football Club was founded in 1872 and is one of the 11 original members of the Scottish Football League in 1890.[1] The club's home ground, Ibrox Stadium, is in the south-west of Glasgow, Scotland.

Rangers were the first British club to reach a UEFA tournament final and won the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1972 after being runner-up twice in 1961 and 1967. A third runners-up finish in Europe came in the UEFA Cup in 2008. A fourth runners-up finish in Europe came in the Europa League in 2022.

The table details the club's achievements in all national and European first team competitions and the top scorers for each season.[2]

Overview

Although Rangers had been playing in the Scottish Cup since season 1874–75, being runners-up twice, they did not compete in an official league until 1890–91. In their very first season the club played eighteen championship matches, also a play-off which they drew and so shared the first ever league title with Dumbarton.

The Scottish League Cup did not begin until season 1946–47, Rangers won the inaugural competition by defeating Aberdeen 4–0 in the final. The 1956–57 season saw the club enter the European arena.

Key
Colour coding
bgcolor=goldChampionsbgcolor=silverRunners-upPromotedDemoted

Seasons

Prior to league formation (1872–1890)

SeasonLeagueScottish
Cup		FA CupTop goalscorerNotes
width=130Divisionwidth=20Pldwidth=20Wwidth=20Dwidth=20Lwidth=20GFwidth=20GAwidth=25PtsPosNameGoals
1874–75n/a[3] R2n/a[4] Moses McNeil
David Gibb		1
1875–76R2John Campbell3
1876–77RUPeter Campbell5[5]
1877–78R4Peter Campbell7
1878–79RUWilliam Struthers6[6]
1879–80R1Archibald Steel
William Struthers		2
1880–81SFGeorge Angus5[7]
1881–82SF5
1882–83R2W Corbett
William Pringle
James Watson		2
1883–84SFJames Gossland5[8]
1884–85QFJames Gossland
Alick McKenzie
Peter Morton		3[9]
1885–86R1R1No goals scored0
1886–87R3SFMatthew Lawrie5[10]
1887–88R2n/a[11] John Gow5[12]
1888–89R2Thomas Wylie8[13]
1889–90R3Donald Gow
Thomas Wylie		5[14]

League football era, Pre-war (1890–1939)

SeasonLeagueScottish
Cup		Top goalscorerNotes
width=130Divisionwidth=20Pldwidth=20Wwidth=20Dwidth=20Lwidth=20GFwidth=20GAwidth=25PtsPosNameGoals
1890–91Scottish League181332582529bgcolor=gold align="center"1stR115[15] [16]
1891–92Scottish League2211295946245thSFJohn McPherson 12
1892–93Scottish League1812424127282ndQFHugh McCreadie13
1893–94Division One188464430204thbgcolor=gold align="center"WJames Steel12[17]
1894–95Division One1810264126223rdR1John McPherson
John Barker		9
1895–96Division One1811435739262ndQFAlex Smith16
1896–97Division One1811346430253rdbgcolor=gold align="center"WTommy Hyslop
John McPherson		15
1897–98Division One1813327115292ndbgcolor=gold align="center"WRobert Hamilton26
1898–99Division One181800791836bgcolor=gold align="center"1stRURobert Hamilton25
1899–1900Division One181521692732bgcolor=gold align="center"1stSFRobert Hamilton 23
1900–01Division One201712602535bgcolor=gold align="center"1stR1Robert Hamilton 20
1901–02Division One181323432928bgcolor=gold align="center"1stSFRobert Hamilton 11
1902–03Division One2212555630293rdbgcolor=gold align="center"WRobert Hamilton 18
1903–04Division One2616648033383rdRURobert Hamilton 31
1904–05Division One2619348328412ndRURobert Hamilton 19
1905–06Division One3015785848374thQFRobert Hamilton 10
1906–07Division One3419786933453rdQFJimmy Speirs14
1907–08Division One3421857440503rdR2Robert Campbell25
1908–09Division One3419789138454thFRobert Campbell17[18]
1909–10Division One3420687035463rdR2Willie Hunter19
1910–11Division One342365903452bgcolor=gold align="center"1stQFWillie Reid41
1911–12Division One342437863451bgcolor=gold align="center"1stR2Willie Reid34
1912–13Division One342455764153bgcolor=gold align="center"1stR3Willie Reid23
1913–14Division One3827567931592ndR3Willie Reid25
1914–15Division One38234117447503rdn/a[19] Willie Reid28
1915–16Division One3825678739562ndWillie Reid21
1916–17Division One3824596832533rdCharlie Duncan15
1917–18Division One342563662456bgcolor=gold align="center"1stTommy Cairns
Jimmy Gordon		11
1918–19Division One3426538616572ndDavid McLean29
1919–20Division One4231921062571bgcolor=gold align="center"1stSFAndy Cunningham25
1920–21Division One423561912476bgcolor=gold align="center"1stRUAndy Cunningham27
1921–22Division One42281048326662ndRUGeordie Henderson27
1922–23Division One382396672955bgcolor=gold align="center"1stR2Geordie Henderson24
1923–24Division One382594722959bgcolor=gold align="center"1stR3Geordie Henderson23
1924–25Division One3825103762660bgcolor=gold align="center"1stSFGeordie Henderson32
1925–26Division One38196137955446thSFAndy Cunningham
Jimmy Fleming		20
1926–27Division One3823105854156bgcolor=gold align="center"1stQFJimmy Fleming21
1927–28Division One3826841093660bgcolor=gold align="center"1stbgcolor=gold align="center"WJimmy Fleming37[20] [21]
1928–29Division One3830711073267bgcolor=gold1stRUJimmy Fleming40
1929–30Division One382846943260bgcolor=gold align="center"1stbgcolor=gold align="center"WJimmy Fleming33[22]
1930–31Division One382765962960bgcolor=gold align="center"1stR2Bob McPhail22
1931–32Division One38285511842612ndbgcolor=gold align="center"WSam English53[23]
1932–33Division One38261021134362bgcolor=gold align="center"1stR3Jimmy Smith35
1933–34Division One3830621184166bgcolor=gold align="center"1stbgcolor=gold align="center"WJimmy Smith46
1934–35Division One382558964655bgcolor=gold align="center"1stbgcolor=gold align="center"WJimmy Smith44
1935–36Division One38277411043612ndbgcolor=gold align="center"WJimmy Smith37
1936–37Division One382693883261bgcolor=gold align="center"1stR1Jimmy Smith31
1937–38Division One38181377549493rdSFJimmy Smith25
1938–39Division One3825941125559bgcolor=gold align="center"1stR3Alex Venters37
1939–40Division One54101439Willie Thornton5[24]

Football during and after the Second World War (1940–1955)

SeasonLeagueScottish
Cup		League
Cup		Top goalscorerNotes
width=130Divisionwidth=20Pldwidth=20Wwidth=20Dwidth=20Lwidth=20GFwidth=20GAwidth=25PtsPosNameGoals
No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1946 due to the Second World War. Rangers entered unofficial competitions including the 1939–40 Emergency League, the 1940 Emergency Cup, the Southern League, the Summer Cup, the Southern League Cup and the 1946 Victory Cup, winning most of them.[25]
1946–47Division A302145762646bgcolor=gold align="center"1stR2bgcolor=gold align="center"WWillie Thornton
Jimmy Duncanson		25
1947–48Division A3021456428462ndbgcolor=gold align="center"WSFWillie Thornton22
1948–49Division A302064633246bgcolor=gold align="center"1stbgcolor=gold align="center"Wbgcolor=gold align="center"WWillie Thornton34
1949–50Division A302262582650bgcolor=gold align="center"1stbgcolor=gold align="center"WSFWillie Findlay18
1950–51Division A3017496437382ndR2SectWillie Thornton19
1951–52Division A3016956131412ndQFRUWillie Thornton27
1952–53Division A301875803943bgcolor=gold align="center"1stbgcolor=gold align="center"WSFDerek Grierson31
1953–54Division A3013895635344thSFSFWillie Paton22
1954–55Division A3019386733413rdR6QFBilly Simpson23
1955–56Division One342284852752bgcolor=gold align="center"1stQFSFJohnny Hubbard27

European football era

SeasonLeagueScottish
Cup		League
Cup		EuropeanTop goalscorerNotes
width=130Divisionwidth=20Pwidth=20Wwidth=20Dwidth=20Lwidth=20Fwidth=20Awidth=25PtsPosNameGoals
1956–57Division One342635964855bgcolor=gold align="center"1stR6SREuropean Cup - R2Max Murray36
1957–58Division One3422578949492ndSFRUEuropean Cup - R1Max Murray35
1958–59Division One342185925150bgcolor=gold align="center"1stR3SR—Max Murray24
1959–60Division One3417897238423rdbgcolor=gold align="center"WSREuropean Cup - SFJimmy Millar36
1960–61Division One342356884651bgcolor=gold align="center"1stR3bgcolor=gold align="center"WCup Winners' Cup - RURalph Brand40
1961–62Division One3422758431512ndbgcolor=gold align="center"Wbgcolor=gold align="center"WEuropean Cup - QFRalph Brand40
1962–63Division One342572942857bgcolor=gold align="center"1stbgcolor=gold align="center"WSFCup Winners' Cup - R1Jimmy Millar43
1963–64Division One342554853155bgcolor=gold align="center"1stbgcolor=gold align="center"Wbgcolor=gold align="center"WEuropean Cup - QRJim Forrest39
1964–65Division One3418887835445thQFbgcolor=gold align="center"WEuropean Cup - QFJim Forrest57
1965–66Division One3425549129552ndbgcolor=gold align="center"WRU—George McLean39
1966–67Division One3424739231552ndR1RUCup Winners' Cup - RUAlex Smith23
1967–68Division One3428519334612ndQFSRInter-Cities Fairs Cup - QFAlex Ferguson22
1968–69Division One3421768132492ndRUSRInter-Cities Fairs Cup - SFWillie Johnston23
1969–70Division One3419786740452ndQFSRCup Winners' Cup - R2Colin Stein27
1970–71Division One3416995834414thRUbgcolor=gold align="center"WInter-Cities Fairs Cup - R1Colin Stein20
1971–72Division One34212117138443rdSFSRbgcolor=gold Cup Winners' Cup - WColin Stein25
1972–73Division One3426447430562ndbgcolor=gold align="center"WSF—Derek Parlane27
1973–74Division One3421676734483rdR4SFCup Winners' Cup - R2Derek Parlane22
1974–75Division One342563863356bgcolor=gold align="center"1stR3SR—Derek Parlane18
1975–76Premier Division362385602454bgcolor=gold align="center"1stbgcolor=gold align="center"Wbgcolor=gold align="center"WEuropean Cup - R2Derek Johnstone31[26]
1976–77Premier Division36181086237462ndRUSFEuropean Cup - R1Derek Johnstone21
1977–78Premier Division362475763955bgcolor=gold align="center"1stbgcolor=gold align="center"Wbgcolor=gold align="center"WCup Winners' Cup - R1Derek Johnstone38
1978–79Premier Division3618995235452ndbgcolor=gold align="center"Wbgcolor=gold align="center"WEuropean Cup - QFGordon Smith17
1979–80Premier Division36157145046375thRUR3Cup Winners' Cup - R2Derek Johnstone21
1980–81Premier Division36161286032443rdbgcolor=gold align="center"WR3—Colin McAdam21
1981–82Premier Division36161195745433rdRUbgcolor=gold align="center"WCup Winners' Cup - R1John MacDonald22
1982–83Premier Division361312115241384thRURUUEFA Cup - R2John MacDonald20
1983–84Premier Division36151295341424thQFbgcolor=gold align="center"WCup Winners' Cup - R220
1984–85Premier Division361312114738384thR4bgcolor=gold align="center"WUEFA Cup - R2Ally McCoist 18
1985–86Premier Division36139145345355thR3SFUEFA Cup - R1Ally McCoist 27
1986–87Premier Division443176852369bgcolor=gold align="center"1stR3bgcolor=gold align="center"WUEFA Cup - R3Ally McCoist 38
1987–88Premier Division44268108534603rdR4bgcolor=gold align="center"WEuropean Cup - QFAlly McCoist 42
1988–89Premier Division362646622656bgcolor=gold align="center"1stRUbgcolor=gold align="center"WUEFA Cup - R2Kevin Drinkell19
1989–90Premier Division3620115481951bgcolor=gold align="center"1stR4RUEuropean Cup - R1Ally McCoist18
1990–91Premier Division362475622355bgcolor=gold align="center"1stQFbgcolor=gold align="center"WEuropean Cup - R2Mo Johnston19
1991–92Premier Division4433651013172bgcolor=gold align="center"1stbgcolor=gold align="center"WSFEuropean Cup - R1Ally McCoist39
1992–93Premier Division443374973573bgcolor=gold align="center"1stbgcolor=gold align="center"Wbgcolor=gold align="center"WChampions League - GSAlly McCoist49
1993–94Premier Division4422148744158bgcolor=gold align="center"1stRUbgcolor=gold align="center"WChampions League - R1Mark Hateley30
1994–95Premier Division362097603569bgcolor=gold align="center"1stR4R3Champions League - QRMark Hateley15
1995–96Premier Division362763852587bgcolor=gold align="center"1stbgcolor=gold align="center"WSFChampions League- GSGordon Durie23
1996–97Premier Division362556853380bgcolor=gold align="center"1stQFbgcolor=gold align="center"WChampions League - GSBrian Laudrup21
1997–98Premier Division3621967638722ndRUQFChampions League - QR2
UEFA Cup - R1		Marco Negri37
1998–99Premier League362385783177bgcolor=gold align="center"1stbgcolor=gold align="center"Wbgcolor=gold align="center"WUEFA Cup - R3Rod Wallace27
1999–2000Premier League362862962690bgcolor=gold align="center"1stbgcolor=gold align="center"WQFChampions League - GS
UEFA Cup - R3		Rod Wallace21
2000–01Premier League3826487636822ndQFSFChampions League - GS
UEFA Cup - R3		Jörg Albertz15
2001–02Premier League38251038227852ndbgcolor=gold align="center"Wbgcolor=gold align="center"WChampions League - QR3
UEFA Cup - R4		Tore André Flo25
2002–03Premier League3831431012897bgcolor=gold align="center"1stbgcolor=gold align="center"Wbgcolor=gold align="center"WUEFA Cup - R1Ronald de Boer20
2003–04Premier League3825677633812ndQFSFChampions League - GSShota Arveladze15
2004–05Premier League382963782293bgcolor=gold align="center"1stR3bgcolor=gold align="center"WUEFA Cup - GSNacho Novo25
2005–06Premier League38211076737733rdR4QFChampions League - L16Kris Boyd20
2006–07Premier League3821986132722ndR3QFUEFA Cup - L16Kris Boyd26
2007–08Premier League3827568433862ndWWChampions League - GSKris Boyd25
UEFA Cup - RU
2008–09Premier League3826847728861stWRUChampions League - QR2Kris Boyd31
2009–10Premier League3826938228871stQFWChampions League - GSKris Boyd26
2010–11Premier League3830358829931stR5WChampions League - GS
Europa League - Ro16		Kenny Miller22
2011–12Premier League382657772873†2nd R5R3Champions League - QR3
Europa League - POR		Nikica Jelavić17[27]
2012–13Third Division3625838729831st R5QFChallenge Cup - QFLee McCulloch26
2013–14League One363330106181021st SFR1Challenge Cup - RUJon Daly25
2014–15Championship36191076939673rdR5SFChallenge Cup - SFNicky Law13[28]
2015–16Championship3625658834811st RUR4Challenge Cup - WMartyn Waghorn28
2016–17Premiership38191095644673rdSFSF—Martyn Waghorn16
2017–18Premiership38217107650703rdSFSFEuropa League - QR1Alfredo Morelos
Josh Windass		18
2018–19Premiership3823968227782ndQFSFEuropa League - GSAlfredo Morelos30
2019–20Premiership2921446419672nd*QFRUEuropa League - Ro16Alfredo Morelos29
2020–21Premiership38326092131021stQFQFEuropa League - Ro16James Tavernier19
2021–22Premiership3827838031892ndWSFEuropa League - RUAlfredo Morelos
James Tavernier		18
2022–23Premiership3829549337932ndSFRUChampions League - GSJames Tavernier
Antonio Čolak		18
2023–24Premiership3827478732852ndWChampions League - POR
Europa League - Ro16
† Rangers were deducted 10 points when the club entered administration.[29]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Gammelsæter. Hallgeir. Senaux. Benoit. The Organisation and Governance of Top Football Across Europe. 2011. Routledge. 9781136705335. 48. 16 November 2015.
  2. Web site: Welcome to Rangers@FitbaStats . fitbastats.com. 25 June 2013 .
  3. The club did not start playing league football until 1890.
  4. The club did not play.
  5. Scorers of 3 goals in this season are unknown.
  6. Scorers of 4 goals in this season are unknown.
  7. Scorers of 8 goals in this season are unknown.
  8. Scorers of 20 goals in this season are unknown.
  9. Scorers of 19 goals in this season are unknown.
  10. Rangers also reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
  11. The club did not play.
  12. Scorers of 5 goals in this season are unknown.
  13. Scorers of 2 goals in this season are unknown.
  14. Scorers of 12 goals in this season are unknown.
  15. From goals in the League and in the Scottish Cup
  16. Shared with Dumbarton after a play off finished 2–2
  17. Rangers win their first Scottish Cup, thanks to a 3–1 win over Celtic
  18. Final between Rangers and Celtic was abandoned due to a riot. The trophy was withheld.
  19. The competition was withdrawn due to the outbreak of the First World War. Unofficial wartime tournaments included the Navy and Army War Fund Shield and the 1919 Victory Cup.
  20. Club wins its first ever double, the league and Scottish Cup
  21. Also won the Glasgow Merchants Charity Cup for three trophies in a season.
  22. Also won the Glasgow Cup and Glasgow Merchants Charity Cup, winning all four tournaments entered.
  23. Season saw the joint greatest number of goals scored in the league
  24. The 1939–40 season was suspended following the outbreak of the Second World War, see below for details of wartime season
  25. https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/rangers-dominated-wartime-football-should-their-titles-be-recognised-record-books-2504693?amp Rangers dominated wartime football but should their titles be recognised in the record books?
  26. Also won the Glasgow Cup, winning all four domestic tournaments entered.
  27. Following administration and pending liquidation of the club's commercial entity, the team was refused entry to the top division and was instead admitted to the fourth tier of Scottish Football.
  28. Rangers lost 6-1 on aggregate in the play-off final against Motherwell.
  29. Web site: Rangers Football Club enters administration. BBC News. 14 February 2012.
  30. News: Celtic champions & Hearts relegated after SPFL ends season. BBC Sport. 18 May 2020. 18 May 2020.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "List of Rangers F.C. seasons".

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