Gordon Rae
Encyclopedia
Gordon Rae is a retired Scottish
association football player, who played mainly as a defender
for Hibernian
, Partick Thistle
, Hamilton Academical
and Meadowbank Thistle. He also played sometimes as a centre forward, scoring over 50 goals in the Scottish Football League
in his career.
Rae signed for Hibernian
as a 17-year-old from Whitehill Welfare
in 1975. He made his first team debut two years later, and scored in a 2–0 win against Rangers
at Ibrox
in his second appearance. He became club captain, appeared in the marathon 1979 Scottish Cup Final
and won a First Division
winners' medal in 1981
.
Rae was awarded a testimonial match
by Hibs in 1988, played against Manchester United
. Joe Tortolano
was sent off during the match for a tackle on Gordon Strachan
.
He joined Partick Thistle
for £65,000 in 1990, and helped them win promotion to the Premier Division
in 1992
. He finished his playing career after the 1992–93 season, during which he played for Hamilton Academical
and then Meadowbank Thistle.
He left Meadowbank to become manager
of Gala Fairydean
, in a spell that coincided with their failed attempt to enter the Scottish Football League
in 1994. He was sacked by Gala after a Scottish Cup
defeat by East Fife
, who then recruited him as an assistant coach.
He went on to manage Edinburgh City
before working in Hibs’ youth system. He left Hibs in November 2002 to manage junior side .
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
association football player, who played mainly as a defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
, Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
, Hamilton Academical
Hamilton Academical F.C.
Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as Hamilton Academical, or Accies, are a Scottish football club from Hamilton in South Lanarkshire. They were established in 1874 from the school football team at Hamilton Academy. They remain the only professional club in British football to have...
and Meadowbank Thistle. He also played sometimes as a centre forward, scoring over 50 goals in the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
in his career.
Rae signed for Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
as a 17-year-old from Whitehill Welfare
Whitehill Welfare F.C.
Whitehill Welfare F.C. are a football club currently playing in the East of Scotland Football League. Founded in 1953, they play their home matches at Ferguson Park in the village of Rosewell....
in 1975. He made his first team debut two years later, and scored in a 2–0 win against Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
at Ibrox
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
in his second appearance. He became club captain, appeared in the marathon 1979 Scottish Cup Final
1979 Scottish Cup Final
The 1979 Scottish Cup Final was contested between Rangers and Hibernian. After goalless draws in the initial match and the first replay, Rangers won the Cup by winning 3–2 after extra time in the second replay.-Match details:-Teams:-Replay:----...
and won a First Division
Scottish Football League First Division
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
winners' medal in 1981
1980-81 in Scottish football
The 1980-81 season was the 84th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier Division:Champions: CelticRelegated: Kilmarnock, Hearts-Scottish League Division One:Promoted: Hibernian, Dundee...
.
Rae was awarded a testimonial match
Testimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
by Hibs in 1988, played against Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
. Joe Tortolano
Joe Tortolano
Joseph "Joe" Tortolano is a retired Scottish professional footballer of Italian heritage who played in England, Scotland, and Iceland, making over 300 league appearances.-Club career:...
was sent off during the match for a tackle on Gordon Strachan
Gordon Strachan
Gordon David Strachan OBE is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is currently without a club, having last managed Middlesbrough. Strachan played for Dundee, Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds United and Coventry City, as well as the Scotland national team. Prior to Middlesbrough,...
.
He joined Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
for £65,000 in 1990, and helped them win promotion to the Premier Division
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
in 1992
1991-92 in Scottish football
The 1991–92 season was the 95th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier Division:Champions: RangersRelegated: St...
. He finished his playing career after the 1992–93 season, during which he played for Hamilton Academical
Hamilton Academical F.C.
Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as Hamilton Academical, or Accies, are a Scottish football club from Hamilton in South Lanarkshire. They were established in 1874 from the school football team at Hamilton Academy. They remain the only professional club in British football to have...
and then Meadowbank Thistle.
He left Meadowbank to become manager
Manager (association football)
In association football, a manager is responsible for running a football club or a national team. The manager of a professional club is responsible directly to the club president. The position of manager is almost exclusively used in British football...
of Gala Fairydean
Gala Fairydean F.C.
Gala Fairydean F.C. is a football club currently playing in Division 1 of the East of Scotland Football League.- History :Founded in 1907 as the result of a split in the Gala Fairydean Rovers club into Gala Fairydean and Gala Rovers, they play their home matches at the Netherdale ground in Galashiels...
, in a spell that coincided with their failed attempt to enter the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
in 1994. He was sacked by Gala after a Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
defeat by East Fife
East Fife F.C.
East Fife Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the Fife coastal town of Methil...
, who then recruited him as an assistant coach.
He went on to manage Edinburgh City
Edinburgh City F.C.
Edinburgh City Football Club is a semi-professional senior Scottish football club, which plays in the East of Scotland Football League. The club is based at Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh. Edinburgh City was first formed in 1928 as an amateur club. It participated in the Scottish Football League...
before working in Hibs’ youth system. He left Hibs in November 2002 to manage junior side .