Who Put The Ball In The Rangers Net?

The Jukebox Rebel · December 18, 2017

^ WAT at its best, thanks indeed folks, the Hansen entry duly corrected. :thumbsup2:

The Jukebox Rebel · December 18, 2017

:ptfc: Who put the ball in the Rangers net?

DAVIE McPARLAND

27.09.1954 Rangers [n] W2-0 (Glasgow Cup Final)

Davie McParland (1-0, 18 mins); John Harvey (2-0, 81 mins)

Davie was yet another protégé of the Davie Meiklejohn era who would, himself, eventually take his philosophies and influences into the realms of football management.

For now, he was the raw teenager being given a chance to perform at the highest level – and boy, did he take it. Only last Tuesday, he had hit the headlines as the young man that heroically settled the epic 3 game struggle in the Glasgow Cup Semi Final, shooting a glorious last-minute winner in a 5-4 victory over Celtic on their own turf. That he would go on to be the hero of the hour against Rangers in the final just 6 days later is simply ridiculous for a 19-year-old, but that’s what transpired in front of 45,000 on this Monday afternoon at Hampden Park.

Thistle were “overwhelmingly superior in the arts and crafts of the game”, and the performance was all the more remarkable considering it was achieved with only 10 men for the majority of the match. After half-an-hours play, inside-right Bobby Bell was effectively put out of the game when a tackle by Menzies left his knee in bad shape. Bell limped on a few minutes at a time here and there, but eventually had to admit defeat, finally retiring several minutes into the second half.

The Glasgow Herald correspondent was keen to underline that their were no excuses for Rangers: “Let us not hear a word of the foolish theory that it is more difficult to play against 10 men than 11; otherwise one may suggest to Rangers that in future they should start a match a player short… It was astonishing to see the ease with which the handicapped Thistle side, several of whom in addition to Bell were limping at various stages, could spreadeagle their opponents. Bell, Smith and McParland, all of whom are in their ‘teens and all reserve players, were confident in their trapping and control of the ball and shrewd as veterans in their use of it.”

:football: Capitalizing on their fine early play, Thistle got the goal that they so richly deserved in the 18th minute. A Johnny MacKenzie cross was headed out of the Rangers box by Geordie Young, but he only succeeded in teeing it up for Davie McParland who took it on the volley from the 18-yard-line and sent it flying, body-high, past future-Jag Geordie Niven in the Rangers goal, the force of the ball threatening to uproot his left-hand stanchion as it did so. 1-0 to the Jags!

As the clock ran down, an equally brilliant goal from John Harvey served to underline Thistle’s superiority; but for some slack finishing, the winning margin would have been much greater.

Davie McParland had his first taste of silverware. The hunger for more success, and the belief that anything was possible, stayed with him for the next 20 years at Thistle!

The Jukebox Rebel · December 19, 2017

:ptfc: Who put the ball in the Rangers net?

NEIL HARRIS

15.04.1916 Rangers [h] W5-2 (SFL - game 34)

William Leitch (1-0, 10 mins); John Bowie (2-0, 1st half); Muir Honeyman (3-0, 1st half); Neil Harris (4-0, 45 mins); Neil Harris (5-2, 80 mins)

The capture of Neil Harris in the summer of 1913 proved to be an extremely shrewd piece of business. He was described by the press at that time as “the most sought-after Junior player in Scotland” and “the cleverest centre-forward in the Junior world”.

The 5’ 8 hitman wasted no time in living up to the hype, scoring 4 goals in his first 4 games whilst an 18-year-old. Over the course of the next 7 seasons he never let up, scoring 98 goals in just 168 appearances before a big money move took him down to St James’ Park, where fame and fortune beckoned.

Neil thoroughly merits his high placing in our countdown, with no fewer than 8 goals against the Rangers to his credit.

The best spurt was undoubtedly in season 1915-16, as Thistle continued to dominate Rangers in the Scottish Football League (yes, you read that correctly!) Thistle finished joint 5th in the table this term, and another two victories over our South side rivals made it a season to remember in footballing terms, if not in worldly matters, as man fell into bloody conflict with man all over the globe.

Trying to take their minds off the horrific events of the time, some 24,500 were at Firhill to witness this one, and proceedings got underway in the spring kick-off time slot of 3.30pm. Come 4.15pm, there was great joy for the Maryhill regulars as Thistle had positively romped into a 4-0 half-time lead, with headers from Leitch and Bowie, a shot from Honeyman and a spectacular waltz and drive from Neil Harris capping it all off. Thistle kept at it in the second period, but the goals were not so easily forthcoming, and Rangers clawed their way back into contention, only trailing by 4 to 2 by the midway point of the closing half.

:football: However, any lingering doubts about blowing a 4 goal lead were removed in the 80th minute “with alertness and dash” as William Leitch slipped a lovely pass into the path of Neil Harris who, “from a fair range”, fittingly scored with “the best shot of the day which had Hempsey beaten all the way”.

The Daily Record reporter opined that the game had been played too fast for Rangers. Thistle were certainly doing something right in these encounters, for this was our fourth consecutive League win over Rangers – a H2H record which stands to this day.

And what of this man Harris? In January, he had scored the only goal of the game at Ibrox and now, here he was, contributing an excellent brace to give Thistle a handsome 5-2 win, completing an historic League double for the second successive season. To this day, Neil is the only Jag in history to score in every game of a “League whitewash” season over Rangers. The biggest miracle in all of this is that they didn’t try to poach him away!

The Jukebox Rebel · December 20, 2017

:ptfc: Who put the ball in the Rangers net?

WILLIE SHARP

30.09.1946 Rangers [h] W3-2 (SFL Division A - game 10)

Kenny Chisholm (1-0, 17 mins); Peter McKennan (2-1, 32 mins); Willie Sharp (3-2, pen 41 mins)

This five-goal thriller in front of 36,000 placed Thistle level at the top of the League after 10 games, Hibs and Rangers only ahead by virtue of goal average.

:football: Willie Sharp’s 41st minute penalty put Thistle ahead for the third and final time in the game, and it was enough to secure two very big points.

With 9 goals against Rangers, Willie stands as our second highest scorer against them in competitive action. We’ll read about the highest later on, but this post cannot pass without mentioning Willie’s incredible final tally of 239 goals all told – the highest recorded total of any Jags player in history. Willie’s club-records are many and varied, but his FIFTEEN hat-tricks total is outstanding, as is his unique feat of scoring in EIGHTEEN different seasons. Willie, in fact, scored in every season that he played.

That his scheming genius was never utilised by the Scottish selectors remains a great mystery. That said, these are the same people who qualified for the World Cup in 1950 but declined to participate, go figure.

No club held ever held a fear for Willie, and his 9 goals against Rangers were scored in 9 different “League” games, the first of which was registered in a 2-2 Regional League West draw in March, 1940, when he was merely a 17-year-old boy. To be precise, he was 17y, 10m, 0d, and thereby became our youngest known scorer against them. Mind you, he scored a hat-trick on his debut as a 17-year-old, so perhaps we shouldn’t be too surprised. He set the tone early and proceeded to deliver with an uncanny consistency. At the other end of the scale, he scored his last goal against them on Saturday, 15th October, 1955, in a 3-1 defeat at home in the SFL First Division, aged 33y, 4m, 20d. He's only beaten to the oldest spot by Jimmy Davidson. Right there, we have an excellent microcosm of Willie Sharp's Thistle career; long, steady and personally succesful.

Legend of legends!

The Jukebox Rebel · December 21, 2017

:ptfc: Who put the ball in the Rangers net?

SAM KENNEDY

29.09.1906 Rangers [a] W2-1 (SFL First Division - game 8)

Sam Kennedy (1-0, 1st half); Sam Kennedy (2-1, 2nd half)

Sam Kennedy, a plumber from Girvan, had been making headlines with Ayr in the second tier, and got his move to the Thistle in the summer of 1902. Aged 21, he scored on his debut in a 2-1 League win at home to Killie, and never looked back.

Thistle had been a bit of a yo-yo club 'til now, and this battering-ram of a centre played a big part in improving the stature of the club, finishing as top-scorer in each of his first four seasons, and again in his 6th season. Only Willie Paul has finished as top-scorer more often. With Sam leading the line, Thistle's all-time best League positions continued to rise in his first 4 seasons; 8th in 1902-03, 6th= in 1903-04, 5th= in 1904-05 and 5th in 1905-06.

In May, 1905, 2 goals from Sam helped Thistle on their way to a thumping 5-0 win over Rangers in the Quarter Final of the Glasgow Charity Cup - our record win against them which stands to this day. It was, in fact, Thistle's third consecutive competitive win over the Ibrox side, at the time another record for the history books, although it's since been equalled a few times. The one thing missing in all of this fine achievement was a League win. Thistle had now made 14 unsuccesful attempts to gain two SFL points against Rangers. That all changed at Ibrox on Saturday, 29th September, 1906…

:football: On the day, Thistle “moved to better purpose” than their opponents and big Sam headed home a splendid centre by the sprinting John Wilkie, giving the Jags a half-time advantage. In the eyes of the home support, normal service was resumed as a reshuffled Rangers improved in the second half, and the scores were eventually levelled after some time. Much to their chagrin, the lead barely lasted 2 minutes. With bustle and trickery, our hero got away and, shouldering off last-ditch challenges from Campbell and Jackson, beat Newbigging with a rousing shot. It was backs to the wall from thereon as Rangers worked hard to divide the points, but Thistle held on for a famous League win over the light blues – at last!

With this win, Thistle moved to joint 2nd in the table, just 2 points behind the leaders. We were firmly established as a decent top-flight club. In the return fixture at Meadowside in January, Sam became the first Jag to do the League double over Rangers when he put Thistle 1 up in the first half, the match finally ending 2-2.

Sam was troubled by injury much later, and never really made it through to the Firhill era, but we've got a lot to thank him for, not least of which was his final tally of TEN goals against Rangers, all scored in competitive action.

When it comes to to putting the ball in the Rangers net, it's Sam Kennedy who stands proudly today as our King of Kings.

Jaggernaut · December 21, 2017

This has got to be the thread of the year. Brilliant, but heart-breaking to see how many times we used to beat yon shower in the past.

The Jukebox Rebel · December 22, 2017

^ Thoroughly decent of you old chap, so glad your enjoying it. Mind you, we're beating Rangers once-per-day, what's not to like?

The Jukebox Rebel · December 22, 2017

:ptfc: Who put the ball in the Rangers net?

JOHNNY GIBSON

04.09.1971 Rangers [h] W3-2 (SFL First Division - game 1)

Johnny Gibson (1-1, 15 mins); Frank Coulston (2-1, 30 mins); Johnny Gibson (3-1, 31 mins)

To fully appreciate the joy of our #4 entry, you need to rewind back to the 8th April 1970 – Partick Thistle 1, Morton 2 – the night when Thistle were mathematically confirmed as a relegated club for the first time in almost 70 years. That game was extra notable on two further counts; Scot Symon took charge of the side for the last time, and Alan Rough made his debut in goals.

Fast-forward 15 months, and new manager, Davie McParland, had steered the side back to the top-flight berth to which they had, for so long, been accustomed.

When the fixture list was announced, no doubt there were wry smiles and mixed emotions from those with an allegiance to the red and yellow. Rangers at Firhill was sure to be a test. Had Thistle truly improved in the intervening period, or would they be on the receiving end of a short-sharp reminder of Thistle life circa '69?

The answer on the day was loud and clear – THISTLE ARE BACK!

Writing beautifully in the Herald, Jim Parkinson set the scene:

“If Firhill’s freshly mown turf, manicured in exquisite pattern, was an open invitation to Partick Thistle’s eager youngsters to produce something equally artististic on their return to the First Division, then it had the desired effect.”

One down after five minutes, Firhill Patrons feared the worst, but their heroes were not long in overcoming their nervousness. Looking back to the game, the biggest thanksgiving is reserved for our wee right winger, 20-year-old Johnny Gibson, who, despite being kicked all over the park, scored twice and helped make the other, doing all of his business in the first-half before retiring at half-time with an ice-pack for his bruises, a chill-out in the jacuzzi, a fat Cuban cigar and a large glass of cognac.

:football: With the cheers still ringing in their ears after turning a one goal deficit on its head, our 5' 5½ hero “hoisted his tiny frame up” to head Thistle into a 3-1 lead, the new League season barely half-an-hour old. The goal came as a result of fine work from Bobby Lawrie, who took on the Rangers defence and sent over a perfect cross. To see the wee man get a header past the giant that was Peter McCloy must have been a sight to behold!

“McParland’s babes”, as they were occasionally styled, knew no fear, and played with a youthful confidence that was extremely refreshing to the Firhill faithful; the tired old Partick Thistle club of the late 1960s was born anew.

You can just imagine how a Jaggy conversation might well have went heading down the Firhill Road at 4.50pm… “I'm tellin' ye Tam, ah 'hink they could dae something in wan ae the Cups this year, Alloa on Monday, ye gawn?”…

AlgarveJag · December 22, 2017

Fantastic TJR - Loving this thread

The Jukebox Rebel · December 23, 2017

:ptfc: Who put the ball in the Rangers net?

GERRY BRITTON

04.05.1993 Rangers [h] W3-0 (SFL Premier Division - game 42)

Ray Farningham (1-0, 1 min); Grant Tierney (1-0, 52 mins); Gerry Britton (3-0, 62 mins)

♪ Who put the ball in the Rangers net? Gerry… Gerry… Who put the ball in the Rangers net? Gerry Gerry Britton. Gerry Gerry Britton, Gerry Gerry Britton, Who Put The Ball In The Rangers net? Gerry Gerry Britton! ♫

If that's not the original version of the song, then it’s certainly the version which has been sung most often, and with most gusto, for he is the King of Spain, and he loves the Thistle just as much as we love him and his rubbery ways. Seemingly Half Man / Half Elastic Band, his unlikely methodology of bamboozling his way to goal is a thing of Jaggy folklore, first witnessed in season 1992-93.

Technically, this #3 entry is nowhere near the best goal he ever scored, for that would have to in the Scottish Cup at Dens Park in 2002. Heck, it wasn’t even the best goal on this night! However, Gerry's high placement is secured by virtue of the fact that it encapsulates the very essence of our countdown; his goal was all about Shankly’s holy trinity – players, manager and fans – revelling in a glorious moment together, as the man who would become one of our most favourite sons led the party with a merry dance all over the hallowed turf.

Just 3 days earlier, a dominant Glasgow Rangers had, almost inevitably, secured the fifth of their nine-in-a-row League titles. Last month, they were just 90 minutes away from reaching the Champions League final. From August to March, they did not lose for seven months, stringing together a run of 44 games without defeat in all competitions. In a few weeks time, they would secure the domestic treble. I’m really sorry to have to drag all that up but, you know, perspective, it’s important.

Thistle were desperately keen to snare at least a point in this Tuesday evening affair, as the vital end games were being played in the 5-way struggle to avoid the 2 relegation places. Rangers lined up with battle-hardened lads such as Richard Gough, John Brown and Ian Durrant, and potent final-third men such as Mark Hately and Pieter Huistra, but they were no match on the night for a well-organized and hungry Thistle side that played with an irresistible mixture of dig and flair. Ray Farningham’s stunning first-minute strike (the best of the match) set the tone, as did some fine saves by Craig Nelson. By half-time, the Jags were looking good for at least a point. When Grant Tierney stabbed home a second in 52 minutes, the Firhill Shed really came alive, as the prospect of a glorious win drew nearer. The cracking atmosphere would reach a mighty crescendo just 10 minutes later…

:football: Shooting towards the North terracing, Davie Irons thundered a drive towards goal which was too hot to handle for Ally Maxwell, and the sheer box sense of Gerry Britton meant that it was he who was in the right place at the right time to take advantage of the spill. As Maxwell scrambled to his feet, Gerry sold him a dummy which made it oh-so-easy for our man to take a step to the left, and to tap it home with gleeful abandon.

The iconic mazy run in celebration is now synonymous with the match itself, and will live forever in the minds of every Jags fan who was there that night. As will the personal celebrations which ensued in the Shed and elsewhere. Me and my mate, up at the back and beside the segregation fence, decided upon a wee jig up on your actual crush barrier, together with a few, er, cheery waves at the scowling faces just 15 yards to our right. To the tune of the Billy Boys, the largely wordless “Ha Ha” was glorious, as were the modern day classics such as “Champions League? You’re Having A Laugh!”, and “Who’s the pub team in the blue?”

The Jags fans lapped it up for all it was worth and, by all accounts, the dressing room celebrations were a bit lively too, as the King of Spain himself later explained:

“To get a win was sensational but to achieve it in the manner that we did was fantastic for us. We didn’t just win, we won with a bit of style. I’ll never forget Gerry in the dressing room after the game. He gets excited at the best of times and tends to get carried away in matches. He said: ‘You played like AC Milan tonight, boys!’ I think everyone was caught up in the excitement of it all, in fairness, because we had achieved our ambition of staying in the league for another year.”

With this victory, the boys earned themselves an end-of-season trip to Ibiza, and they deserved it. The result had bigger implications off-the-park too. With top-flight finances secured for another season, it meant that the proposed £2.5M East Stand development could be rubber-stamped without delay.

Not that Thistle fans cared much about that kind of stuff on the night. More important to them was the ultimate closure on the “wilderness years”. Back in September, the Celts had been turned over on their own park and thus a fine double was complete. Join-top scorers Geordie Shaw and Gerry Britton shared 26 goals between them. As the smash hit said, it felt like the “good times” really were “coming back to Firhill now”. As an excellent bonus, many a bealing bear was heard to be growling its way down the Firhill Road as the darkness descended. They don’t like it up 'em do they?

BowenBoys · December 23, 2017

Ended up, I think, in the Scotia. It's a night that Helen Baxendale will never forget as I bored her to tears with the finer details of the victory. Our relationship remained entirely professional after that!

Thanks TJR

The Jukebox Rebel · December 23, 2017

Ended up, I think, in the Scotia. It's a night that Helen Baxendale will never forget as I bored her to tears with the finer details of the victory. Our relationship remained entirely professional after that!

Wow, what an opportunity missed. Season ticket, fine bovrils, days out in Greenock, she could have had it all.

BowenBoys · December 23, 2017

Wow, what an opportunity missed. Season ticket, fine bovrils, days out in Greenock, she could have had it all.

I know. She'll have regrets, I'm sure.

The Jukebox Rebel · December 24, 2017

:ptfc: Who put the ball in the Rangers net?

JOHN BLAIR

16.04.1921 Rangers [n] W1-0 (Scottish Cup Final)

John Blair (1-0, 20 mins)

John was an Ardrossan-born right winger who scored 33 times in his 6 seasons at Firhill, one of which was arguably the most important goal ever scored by a Partick Thistle player – the match winner in a Scottish Cup final!

John had started the season in fine scoring form, with 8 goals before the New Year, but he was on a barren run of 22 games without netting, albeit he had been making worthwhile contributions, notably assisting with the goals which secured Scottish Cup victories over Hibernian, in February, and Motherwell, in March.

If Thistle were to actually WIN this Cup, it certainly wasn’t going to be easy. An unfortunate injury list left us weakened and, so far, we had won only 4 of our 10 matches in the campaign. Rangers were acknowledged as the best team in Britain at this time and were, once again, dominating this season’s League, eventually losing just one of their 42 games. How they craved their first League & Cup double.

Against the run of play, the famous winning goal at Celtic Park was scored in the twentieth minute…

:football: 40-year-old stand-in Jimmy McMenemy, going for his 7th winners’ medal, was marshal of the day’s operation, nullifying threats and guiding others, and he teed-up a back pass which invited our stand-in spoiler, Watty Borthwick, to uncharacteristically burst forward down the left. Watty shimmied past internationalist Andy Cunningham, and lofted over a deep cross-field pass which was cleverly dummied by Jimmy Kinloch, who had spotted the unmarked run of John Blair, by now, dashing inside from the right wing. Having ghosted in behind the high lying Rangers backs, John was now in with a big chance, and his culminating touch, from some 20 yards out, served justice to a fine move. Thistle’s outside right kept his head at the critical moment, “delivering the parting and successful shot with admirable coolness and judgement”, and the ball nestled just inside the post of the Rangers ‘keeper who, like his defenders, also seemed to be taken by surprise.

From beginning to end, tremendous energy and stamina were displayed by both sides; Thistle were trademark resolute and Rangers were frustrated, although in terms of second half chances, we came closer to increasing our advantage than to losing it.

It tickles me to know that news of Thistle's triumph was received by a great roar at Hampden Park, the good old Queen's Park standites voicing their approval as the final results board went round! ‘twas a popular victory in Scottish football in general, the consensus being that it was for the good of the game that the honours go round.

As for our #2 entrant, he put himself in a great position to have that one shot at glory, and he took it like a champ. John Blair - eternal Partick Thistle legend!

The Jukebox Rebel · December 24, 2017

Well, that's nearly it for this years Jaggy Advent, and I've certainly enjoyed writing these entries for our great wee platform. I've been TJR (William Sheridan), you've been you, thanks very much for reading, and for all of your chip-ins, lovely jubbly. :-)

Many of these entries benefitted from the work of fellow Thistle historians, so I'd just like to say a special thank you to Stu The Jag (Stuart Deans) for all of the tireless work that he puts in to the excellent Partick Thistle History Archive, to AFK (Jack Little) who continues to research with me in the never-ending quest to deepen and widen the great Jaggy database, and to Niall Kennedy and Tom Hosie for their wonderful "Thistle Legends" book.

Stand by for the coolest Xmas no. 1 since Rage Against The Machine.

thistle4celtic1 · December 24, 2017

Thanks TJR....what a wonderful thread you put together here.

Looking forward to #1.

Jaggernaut · December 24, 2017

No. 1's not an OG, is it??

The Jukebox Rebel · December 25, 2017

No. 1's not an OG, is it??

Hell, no!

Pure Thistle glory, Jagger...

The Jukebox Rebel · December 25, 2017

:ptfc: Who put the ball in the Rangers net?

SANDY HAIR

14.05.1927 Rangers [n] W6-3 (Glasgow Charity Cup Final)

Bobby Grove (1-0, 18 mins); Sandy Hair (2-0, 23 mins); Sandy Hair (3-3, 65 mins); Sandy Hair (4-3, 102 mins); Sandy Hair (5-3, 105 mins); Sandy Hair (6-3, 115 mins)

Stanley Matthews, Ferenc Puskás, Kenny Dalglish, Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney – they've all had a go. In fact, well over 5,000 sets of strikers have had a go since the 1870s. In all that time only one man ever managed to put the ball in the Rangers net FIVE times in a single competitive match – that man is Sandy Hair, of Partick Thistle. This would stand as an amazing feat in its own right – that he would do it for Thistle at Hampden in a Cup Final really takes the biscuit! 2 headers and 3 shots from the prolific striker helped Thistle to their first ever Glasgow Charity Cup success; a 6-3 victory over our old rivals on Saturday, 14th May, 1927.

Sandy was a late starter as a pro, joining the Jags, aged 25, in late May 1923, on the back of a sensational season in the junior game with Strathclyde, in which he had bagged 96 (NINETY SIX) goals, en-route to a League and Cup double. Although a wee guy, he was a good header of the ball and could score with either foot, although his left was especially deadly. He was a constant menace to all defenders with his remarkable stamina and clever awareness in the box.

Although his 5 goal feat came as a great surprise to casual observers, it may not have come as TOO much of a shock to those who were closely following the Jags in this season, for these goals took his final tally to 49 in just 46 games (the club played 48). Thistle fans had never seen the likes, nor have they since. 49 competitive goals (including 5 hat-tricks) is way out in front as a record tally for a player in a single season, as his League total of 41. It’s incredible to think that he had previously been rejected by Rangers for being “too wee”!

:football: Remarkably, 3 of Sandy’s 5 goals came in the extra time period, which is another wholly unique occurrence in senior Scottish football. We look to the leading goal, the first in extra-time, as the one which struck the fatal blow, and broke Rangers resistance:

“At three minutes from half-time Hair got a lovely ground pass, and outpacing Gray, he fired a fine slanting ball past Moyles.”

At the end of the game, it’s reported that the referee approached our hero and handed him the match ball. It’s further reported that the crowd cheered vociferously and the Rangers players, in true sportsmanlike fashion, warmly congratulated Thistle's centre forward on his unique achievement.

Sometime after the game had finished, Alex’s mother heard a commotion outside their flat on Dalmarnock Road, near the bandstand at Bridgeton Cross. She leant out the window and shouted down: “what’s all the noise about?” Someone shouted up: “A local lad has just put five in against Rangers!” She looked down and, lo and behold, there was her very own son being carried home on the shoulders of a very happy crowd!

In fact, so delighted were Thistle’s supporters with Sandy that a commemorative trophy was awarded to him in recognition of his unique achievement, and to this day it rests on display in the Scottish Football Museum at Hampden Park.

With 100 goals in 122 games for Thistle, Sandy made a mockery of Rangers assertion that he was too wee; he was packing 5' 6 of pure Jaggy dynamite!