Rangers F.C.
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Full name : Rangers Football Club
Nickname(s) : The Gers, Teddy Bears, Light Blues
Founded : 1872
Ground : Ibrox Stadium
(Capacity 51,082)
Chairman : Sir David Murray
Manager : Walter Smith
League : Scottish Premier League

History
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Formation and early years
   The four founders of Rangers - brothers Moses and Peter McNeil, Peter Campbell and William McBeath - met in 1872 and named their team after an English rugby club upon seeing the name in a book. In May of that year the first match was played, a 0-0 draw in a friendly against Callander F.C. on the public pitches of Glasgow Green. The only other match played that year was another friendly against a team called Clyde (not the present-day Clyde F.C.) resulting in an 11-0 victory and featuring the debut of the club's blue strip. The official founding of Rangers is recognised as taking place in 1873, when the club held its first annual meeting and staff were elected. The first season's fixtures were all friendlies, as the deadline for joining the Scottish Football Association had been missed, meaning the team did not take part in the inaugural Scottish Cup. By 1876 Rangers had their first internationalist, with Moses McNeil representing Scotland in a match against Wales, and by 1877 Rangers had reached a Scottish Cup final. The first ever Old Firm match took place in 1888, the year of Celtic's establishment. Rangers lost 5-2 in a friendly to a team largely comprised of "guest players" from Hibernian.

   The 1890-91 season saw the inception of the Scottish Football League, and Rangers were one of ten original members. By this time Rangers were playing at the first Ibrox Stadium. Rangers' first ever league match took place on August 16, 1890 and resulted in a 5-2 victory over Heart of Midlothian. After finishing equal-top with Dumbarton a play-off was held at Cathkin Park to decide the who would be champions. The match finished 2-2 and the title was shared for the only time in its history, the first of Rangers' world record 51 championships. Rangers' first ever Scottish Cup win came in 1894 after a 3-1 victory over rivals Celtic in the final. By the turn of the century Rangers had won two league titles and three Scottish Cups.


Club colours and crest
--------------------------------------------------------------------    The club colours of Rangers F.C. are royal blue, white and red.

   The team's home strip invariably features a royal blue shirt (often with white and/or red trim). Traditionally this is accompanied by white shorts (often with royal blue and/or red trim) and black socks with red turn-downs. However when wearing the 'home strip' Rangers will occasionally alter the shorts and socks, sometimes replacing the black socks with white ones; or replacing the white shorts and black socks combination with royal blue shorts and socks.

   The basic design of Rangers away strips has changed far more than the traditional home strip. White and red have been the most common predominant colours for Rangers alternate strips, though dark and light blue have also featured highly.

   In recent years, Rangers have also introduced a third kit. This is usually worn if both the home and away kits clash with their opponents. The colours used range from light blue to red to a very controversial tangerine.