Moses McNeil
Encyclopedia
Moses McNeil was a Scottish
professional footballer
who was one of the founding members of Rangers Football Club
. He played as a winger.
(his brother) and friends William McBeath
and Peter Campbell
, adopted the name Rangers, reportedly from an English rugby
annual. Rangers played their first ever match against Callander F.C.
at Glasgow Green
's Flesher's Haugh in May 1872, which resulted in a 0-0 draw. Rangers played one more match in 1872, an 11-0 win against Clyde - not the present Clyde F.C.
.
In 1874 Rangers played their first ever Scottish Cup
match, and McNeil scored in a 2-0 win over Oxford, but Rangers lost to Dumbarton in the second round. Rangers reached their first Scottish Cup final in 1877 but lost to Vale of Leven
after two replays.
McNeil's Rangers reached the Scottish Cup final again in 1878 but, after Rangers refused to play in the replay following a 1-1 draw at Hampden
, the trophy was awarded to Vale of Leven. Rangers won their first trophy in 1879, the "Glasgow Merchants' Charity Cup" after beating Vale of Leven 2-1 in front of 11,000 spectators at Hampden.
McNeil's last recorded appearance for Rangers was on 30 September 1882 in a Scottish Cup replay defeat to Queen's Park
at Hampden Park
. He made 34 Scottish Cup appearances and scord ten goals during his Rangers career.
, the first on 25 March 1876 in a 4-0 win over Wales
(the first international
between the two countries) and the second on 13 March 1880 in a 5-4 win over England
, in which he played alongside his brother, Henry. McNeil was the first Rangers player to receive an international cap.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who was one of the founding members of Rangers Football Club
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...
. He played as a winger.
Club career
McNeil, along with fellow founding members Peter McNeilPeter McNeil
Peter McNeil was a Scottish footballer and along with brother Moses, one of the founding members of Rangers Football Club...
(his brother) and friends William McBeath
William McBeath
William McBeath was a Scottish footballer and one of the founding members of Rangers Football Club. He made five Scottish Cup appearances for the club...
and Peter Campbell
Peter Campbell (footballer)
Peter Campbell was a Scottish footballer and one of the four founding members of Rangers Football Club...
, adopted the name Rangers, reportedly from an English rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
annual. Rangers played their first ever match against Callander F.C.
Callander F.C.
Callander Football Club were a short-lived 19th-century football club that were one of the original 16 teams to participate in the inaugural season of the Scottish Cup....
at Glasgow Green
Glasgow Green
Glasgow Green is a park situated in the east end of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde. It is the oldest park in the city dating back to the 15th century.In 1450, King James II granted the land to Bishop William Turnbull and the people of Glasgow...
's Flesher's Haugh in May 1872, which resulted in a 0-0 draw. Rangers played one more match in 1872, an 11-0 win against Clyde - not the present Clyde F.C.
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
.
In 1874 Rangers played their first ever 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...
match, and McNeil scored in a 2-0 win over Oxford, but Rangers lost to Dumbarton in the second round. Rangers reached their first Scottish Cup final in 1877 but lost to Vale of Leven
Vale of Leven F.C.
Vale of Leven Football Club are an association club based in the town of Alexandria, Scotland, in the Vale of Leven area of West Dunbartonshire. Nicknamed the Vale and formed in 1939, they play at Millburn Park...
after two replays.
McNeil's Rangers reached the Scottish Cup final again in 1878 but, after Rangers refused to play in the replay following a 1-1 draw at Hampden
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
, the trophy was awarded to Vale of Leven. Rangers won their first trophy in 1879, the "Glasgow Merchants' Charity Cup" after beating Vale of Leven 2-1 in front of 11,000 spectators at Hampden.
McNeil's last recorded appearance for Rangers was on 30 September 1882 in a Scottish Cup replay defeat to Queen's Park
Queen's Park F.C.
Queen's Park Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland. The club are currently the only amateur club in the Scottish League; their amateur status is reflected by their motto, Ludere Causa Ludendi – to play for the sake of playing.Queen's Park are the oldest...
at Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
. He made 34 Scottish Cup appearances and scord ten goals during his Rangers career.
International career
McNeil won two caps for ScotlandScotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, the first on 25 March 1876 in a 4-0 win over Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
(the first international
Scotland v Wales (1876)
The first international match for the Wales national football team came on 25 March 1876 when they played Scotland at Hamilton Crescent, Partick, the home of the West of Scotland Cricket Club, with the Scots claiming an emphatic 4–0 victory...
between the two countries) and the second on 13 March 1880 in a 5-4 win over England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
, in which he played alongside his brother, Henry. McNeil was the first Rangers player to receive an international cap.