By Alistair Aird

As we look back over the rich, 151-year history of the Rangers, it’s fair to say that the period between 1980 to 1986 would fall into the ‘best forgotten’ and ‘painful’ categories. After winning the domestic Treble under Jock Wallace in season 1977/78 and coming close to repeating the feat the following season under John Greig, Rangers entered a fallow period in the League Championship. With Ibrox in the throes of reconstruction and the transfer budget reduced, Rangers fell by the wayside as the New Firm of Aberdeen and Dundee United slugged it out with Celtic for the title. There was a smattering of success in the domestic cup competitions, but the ‘bread and butter’ that is success in the League Championship was becoming increasingly elusive.

But that trend was bucked in spectacular fashion when David Holmes made the bold move to appoint the club’s first-ever player-manager in April 1986. His name was Graeme James Souness, and his arrival coincided with the rebirth of the Rangers and kicked off one of the most successful eras in the club’s history.

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Souness spent the summer of 1986 in Mexico with the Scotland squad at the World Cup, but that didn’t deter him as he drew up his blueprint to rebuild Rangers. Aided and abetted by arguably his best ever signing, Walter Smith, Souness started a paradigm shift that would see the crème de la crème of English football cross Hadrian’s Wall to ply their trade in Scotland.

Colin West, formerly of Sunderland and Watford, started the influx and was soon followed by England’s second-choice goalkeeper, Chris Woods. But the most significant arrival was a world-class central defender called Terry Butcher. Initially reluctant to leave Ipswich Town, Butcher would become the cornerstone of the success that came Rangers’ way in the seasons that followed.

‘I didn’t want to leave Ipswich, even though we had just been relegated from the old First Division which was the top flight back then,’ said Butcher. ‘Although we had lost a lot of the players that had played in 1980/81 [when Ipswich won the UEFA Cup], I had just signed a new four-year contract. I was team captain too. But the manager, Bobby Ferguson, told me I had to leave as the club needed money to meet the payments for recent redevelopment work that had been carried out at Portman Road.’

Having just represented his country at the World Cup in Mexico and played with distinction in the top tier of English Football for many years, news of Butcher’s availability alerted potential suitors. One of them was Graeme Souness.

Butcher recalled, ‘I had been linked with Manchester United for about three years and had spoken to some of their players when we were away on international duty. But when I became available, United didn’t come in for me. It was disappointing, but then I heard that Rangers were interested. And the main reason I went to speak to them was Graeme Souness.’

There was interest from Tottenham Hotspur too, but Butcher made up his mind to join Rangers after his first meeting with Souness.

He said, ‘Graeme can be very persuasive, and I had no doubt after we first met that I would sign for Rangers. I thought it would be a great challenge to do something new, and another big factor was that Scottish clubs like Rangers were in European competition whereas English clubs weren’t following the events at Heysel the previous year. I really enjoyed playing in Europe with Ipswich, winning the UEFA Cup in 1981, so getting the chance to keep doing that with Rangers was an added bonus.’

The signings of West and Woods would also mean there would be some English roses among the Scottish thistles in the Rangers dressing room.

‘Chris and I were both in the England squad in Mexico and I had played against him when he was with Ipswich’s great rivals, Norwich City,’ said Butcher. ‘I scored past him a few times, and funnily enough I did likewise when we were both at Rangers!’

Butcher made his debut in a midweek friendly defeat against Bayern Munich at Ibrox as Souness made the final tweaks to his squad ahead of the big kick-off in the Premier Division against Hibernian at Easter Road. And on a day when the sunshine was most definitely shining on Leith, Butcher’s career in Scotland got off to a somewhat raucous start.

‘I enjoyed the Munich game but as I had come back late from the World Cup, I was still getting used to my new team-mates,’ said Butcher. ‘I felt at home straight away, but nothing could have prepared me for going to Easter Road. As the bus travelled through the streets there was anger and provocation from the crowds. It was pretty meaty, and it was right up there with the experience I had had at similar venues that I had played at in England.’

The experience on the field of play was of a similar ilk too, and there would be a volcanic eruption when Graeme Souness was dismissed for a foul on the former Celtic player, George McCluskey. Suddenly, all the players apart from the Hibernian goalkeeper, Alan Rough, were brawling in the middle of the pitch.

‘It was certainly a rude awakening,’ recalled Butcher. ‘The gameplan we had was blown out of the water by that one incident. I remember being gutted after the game too. The SFA looked at what had happened and decided to award all the players involved in the melee a yellow card. I had been booked during the game for holding back Chris Woods after he came charging out of his goal to the halfway line. So even though I had been trying to be a peacemaker, I ended up with two yellow cards which meant that I missed a game against Dundee through suspension. It was the only game I missed all season.’

Rangers lost the game 2-1, and seven days later let slip a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 at home to Dundee United. This wasn’t part of the masterplan. After three league games – a 1-0 midweek win over Falkirk was sandwiched between the Hibernian and United matches – the reborn and rebuilt Rangers were rocking.

‘The United defeat was a bit of a slap in the face,’ said Butcher. ‘We didn’t play particularly well midweek against Falkirk, but we started really well against United. At 2-0 up I think we all thought it was party time and started to show off a few tricks. I think we thought the game was won, but after we lost the first goal, we seemed to switch off mentally. And once you take your foot off the gas and lose momentum, it’s very difficult to pick that back up again.’

He added, ‘In the dressing room after the game nobody spoke, but at that moment I think collectively we realised that we had to get things going. We couldn’t expect just to turn up and win games.’

There was evidence that the mentality had changed before the month of August was out. Rangers had eked out a narrow 2-1 win over Hamilton at Douglas Park and held their nerve to edge out East Fife on penalties in the League Cup. But the acid test of the new regime would be how they would fare against Celtic, and Butcher and his troops would go into battle against them at Ibrox on the last day of August. And in what would be the first of many memorable Old Firm games in that era, Rangers won 1-0 courtesy of an Ian Durrant goal that is remembered mostly for the majestic reverse pass from Davie Cooper that created the opportunity to score.

‘I had never experienced noise like what I heard that afternoon,’ recalled Butcher. ‘I remember a number of English journalists came up to watch the game, and I met a few of them in the foyer after the game. They were awestruck and with a big smile on my face I told them that this was one of the main reasons why I had come to Rangers.’

A few weeks later, Rangers struck another blow. Inspired by the performance of Derek Ferguson in midfield, a Rangers side shorn of Souness – the player-manager was injured – defeated Celtic 2-1 at Hampden to win the League Cup. But cup success had happened even when Rangers were at a low ebb; the goal for the season was to annex the league title.

Yet at this point in the season, Rangers were still riddled with inconsistency. After the league win over Celtic came successive wins over Motherwell and Clydebank, but a defeat at Dens Park followed, and before the year ended, further points had been dropped courtesy of draws against Hearts, Dundee United, Celtic, and Hibernian and defeats against Motherwell and Aberdeen. And when Souness’s side drew 0-0 at Easter Road on 6 December, they sat in fourth place, eight points adrift of leaders Celtic although they did have a game in hand. It was crunch time.

‘We had to be brave and have the necessary bottle, but in some of the games, we didn’t get the right result,’ recalled Butcher. ‘It’s a horrible feeling losing games, particularly at a club like Rangers. I felt a huge responsibility to the fans. I loved their fanaticism and loyalty, and I didn’t want to let them down.’

Fuelled by the fans, Butcher and the rest of the squad still believed the title could be won. And their quest for glory would be aided by the recruitment of another Englishman.

‘The signing of Graham Roberts in December was significant,’ admitted Butcher. ‘I would often go out for dinner with Graeme Souness and he would talk about English players. Graham Roberts was one of the players he talked about. He knew about Graham and had played against him, but he wanted my opinion on him. Not many managers do that.’

Butcher added, ‘Graham and I understood each other very well, having played together before for England. When he came in the back four was now more solid and we went on a good run after he arrived.’

But even before Roberts made his debut, December looked like being a defining month. On 13 December, Rangers defeated Falkirk 4-0 at Ibrox – Butcher scored one of the goals – while at Fir Park, Celtic dropped a point in a 1-1 draw against Motherwell. They did the same the following Saturday against Aberdeen – Rangers won 2-0 at Hamilton – and as Roberts inspired a 2-0 win over Dundee United, Davie Hay’s side made it three successive stalemates when they drew 1-1 against Clydebank at Kilbowie. Thus, going into the Old Firm match at Ibrox on 1 January, the gap had been whittled down to five points with Rangers still yet to play their game in hand.

Celtic were starting to feel the heat, and they wilted and were washed away in the rain at Ibrox in the opening match of 1987. Graeme Souness was majestic in midfield, and goals from Fleck and McCoist ensured it was a Happy New Year for those clad in red, white, and blue. And by the end of January, Rangers were top of the table. It was a position they would not relinquish.

Rangers hit the front after defeating Hamilton Accies at Ibrox. It was their seventh league win in a row. In a tempestuous match that saw Roberts and Ian Durrant ordered off, Rangers won 2-0, but when they welcomed the Accies back to Glasgow on 31 January in the third round of the Scottish Cup, the outcome sent shockwaves reverberating around the country.

‘Hamilton were in the top flight with us so it wasn’t as if we got beaten by a team from the lower leagues,’ said Butcher. ‘Playing in the game was a surreal experience. We got the record [Chris Woods set a British record of 1,196 minutes without conceding a goal] but it was beaten pretty quickly. They scored a scrappy goal that should have been stopped, but even then, we thought we would shift into a higher gear and win the game. That never happened and it seemed that the harder we tried, the worst it would get. Having won the League Cup and closed the gap between ourselves and Celtic, we felt we could win the Treble. It was a real kick in the teeth, but sometimes you need that in football. It’s how you recover from blips like that that is more important.’

And recover is exactly what Rangers did. A week later they went to Tynecastle and trounced Hearts 5-2. It was the first time Hearts had lost at home for 21 months. And the strikers who drew a blank against Hamilton were on the scoresheet, Fleck scored two, McCoist one. The other goals came from Roberts and an own goal from the former Rangers player, Kenny Black.

Only three points were dropped in the 11 games that followed, a draw at home against Hibernian and a 3-1 reverse at Parkhead.

‘I brought Maurice Johnston down and gave away a penalty at the Rangers end,’ said Butcher of the match at Parkhead. ‘I picked up the ball and booted it over the stand. I picked up a yellow card for it too.’

On 25 April, Rangers defeated Hearts 3-0 at Ibrox. Ally McCoist scored a hat-trick. With two games to go, Rangers had their noses in front, but the gap at the top was just three points. The penultimate round of fixtures would see Rangers travel to Pittodrie – a ground where they hadn’t won since 1982 – while Celtic were at home to a Falkirk side battling to stave off relegation to the First Division. But against all the odds, Rangers clinched their first league title for nine years that weekend. And Butcher, who had missed only one league game all season, would administer the telling blow.

‘It still gives me goosebumps,’ recalled Butcher. ‘It was probably one of my best headers ever and the delivery came from one the best players ever, Davie Cooper. Whatever you wanted, you knew he would deliver. And that day at Pittodrie, we just looked at each other and as I ran forward, he had already gauged where the ball had to be played. All I had to do was redirect it. Jim Leighton never moved.’

He added, ‘As I looked around the ground there was Rangers fans jumping up and down everywhere, not just in the Rangers end. It was bizarre as you don’t expect that. What a feeling that was, it was brilliant.’

Rangers and Aberdeen drew 1-1. That elusive win in the Granite City would have to wait. But in Glasgow, Falkirk were upsetting the applecart. They defeated Celtic 2-1, and all of a sudden, Rangers were champions of Scotland.

‘We all got into the big communal bath and had a beer,’ recalled Butcher. ‘We then got dressed and got on the bus. We stopped at a hotel to pick up some refreshments. There were two sections on the bus: staff and players. We all had beer and they had champagne. The journey back to Glasgow was very slow as there were thousands of Rangers fans trying to stop the bus. That showed what it meant to them. We had done something really special.’

Butcher was handed the trophy a week later. All 26 players that had made an appearance during the season had played their part, but which of those players stood out for the captain?

‘Davie Cooper is an obvious one,’ stated Butcher. ‘He was unbelievable. He only missed two games. But you have to mention Ally McCoist and Robert Fleck for scoring all the goals. I used to get the ball at the back and drop it over the top of the defence, and Coisty and Robert would have made the right run to get on the end of it.’

He added, ‘Coisty scored important goals too. He was like a magnet to the ball at times. He scored 34 league goals that season, incredible.’

Butcher, a mainstay in the England national side and a UEFA Cup winner with Ipswich, had seen it all, but now for the first time in his career he had a league medal. But in a league much maligned at the time south of the border, who was his toughest opponent?

‘Maurice Johnston at Celtic is an obvious one,’ said Butcher. ‘He was tough and so was Brian McClair alongside him. Neither of them was like a Davie Dodds – big, strapping, centre-forwards. I preferred playing against a target man as I didn’t have to run as much! But Johnston and McClair were mobile, similar to McCoist and Fleck, and they can drag you all over the pitch which you don’t get when you are scrapping with a taller striker. But playing in Scotland, you had to adapt to both, and if you weren’t on your game, everyone was a tough opponent. Everyone wanted to beat Rangers.’

Rangers were reborn. After years in the wilderness, they were back at the top. The far-sighted vision of David Holmes to appoint Graeme Souness as player-manager had reaped a handsome reward.

‘Graeme’s greatest strength was appointing Walter Smith as his assistant,’ admitted Butcher. ‘They worked as a team and were both in control together. Psychologically, Graeme knew what buttons to press. He could be very emotional and come in and scream and shout, but Walter was cool, calm, and collected. It was the typical ‘good cop, bad cop’ really.’

He concluded, ‘It was rollercoaster of a season, but it was some trip! I had a really good time at Ipswich in 1981 when we won the UEFA Cup and finished runners-up in the First Division. But winning the league with Rangers was on another level. We had some really wild times, and when I go back to Scotland and meet the lads from that era, it’s like we have gone into a time machine. It was a wonderful time and a great chapter in my life.’

In season 1986/87, Rangers played 44 league games. They won 31, drew seven, and lost six. When the dust settled at the end of the campaign, they had claimed 69 points, six more than their great rivals, Celtic. Rangers Football Club was very much reborn, and their captain, Terry Ian Butcher, played a pivotal role in that rebirth.

Butcher would remain a Ranger until 1990. He picked up another two league medals and lifted the League Cup in season 1988/89. He was the foundation upon which the Rangers revolution was built. But if you ask anyone from that era for their abiding memory of Terry Butcher then it will be of him rising highest to meet that pitch-perfect delivery from Davie Cooper at Pittodrie on 2 May 1987. His bullet header found the target and ended an almost decade-long quest for Rangers to reign supreme in Scotland once more.