The Restoration of Rangers Graves Project and Matt Dickie Rangers 1896-1904.

The Restoration of Rangers Graves Project and Matt Dickie Rangers 1896-1904.

Earlier this year we were taken to the final resting place in Helensburgh Cemetery of Rangers great Matt Dickie by friend of the project David Wilkie, sadly Mr Dickie’s stone was off its plinth and lying on the grass. We’re delighted to say that our Restoration team carried out the necessary work last weekend. The total cost of the Restoration was covered by The Melbourne Rangers Supporters Club, a heartfelt thanks from all of us!

Matt Dickie was a goalkeeper and Rangers great,one of the 1899 “ Invicibles”.

Matthew Dickie Rangers goalkeeper from 1896-1904 and a pivotal part of the club's early success should surely be a candidate for the Rangers Hall of Fame ( Anyone with influence please take note).

He was born in Helensburgh (an area of the country rich in the foundations of our great club) where he eventually opened a tobacconist business of long standing. In Matt's first season at Ibrox he won the Scottish cup, the Glasgow Cup and the Glasgow Merchants Charity Cup. The side became known as the "three Cup team", not content with this the following season he was an ever present as Rangers won their first league championship outright in which they had a world record 100% record of winning every league game they played. This was the start of a run of four Championship titles in a row. Mattha also played and won the Glasgow International Exhibition Cup played for in 1901.The Final was won against Celtic 3-1 at the Exhibition Stadium at Glasgow University.

Matt Dickie’s final roll of honour after eight years at the club reads

Four - League Championships

Three - Scottish Cups

Five - Glasgow Cups

Two - Glasgow Merchants charity Cups

One - Glasgow League

One - Glasgow Empire exhibition Cup.

Matt also played in the opening fixture at the present Ibrox Stadium on the 30th of December 1899,a match in which Rangers beat Hearts 3-1 thanks to a John Wilkie hat-trick.

Matt Dickie passed away aged 86 on the 30th of December 1959 the day his beloved Ibrox turned 60.

In the days after the second World War David Wilkie’s father used to play billiards upstairs from his tobacconist and loved to hear of his stories of his Rangers glory days.

Unlike his illustrious colleagues in that great era for Rangers - Nicol Smith, Jock Drummond, John McPherson, Neilly Gibson, RC Hamilton, Alec Smith - the Rangers Hall of Fame has not yet found a place for Matt Dickie. I hope that whenever the club decides to induct others into the list of club great they decide that he should join the list on the board at the top of the marble staircase.

A dedication event at Helensburgh Cemetery will be held on Saturday 1st November at 12pm. All welcome.