Johnny Hubbard
Encyclopedia
Jonathan "Johnny" Hubbard, MBE
(born 16 December 1930) is a retired South Africa
n footballer who spent the majority of his career at Rangers
, and latterly played for Bury
and Ayr United
.
Hubbard arrived at Ibrox
in 1949, signing for Rangers despite being offered a larger signing on fee by Clyde
. He made his debut on 10 September 1949 in a league match against Partick Thistle
. This was the first of only two appearances he would make for Rangers that season, the other came against Falkirk
. His first goal was scored in a 5-0 home win versus East Fife
during a league match on 23 December 1950.
He became one of the few players to score a hat-trick
in an Old Firm
match on 1 January 1955, the only foreign player in Rangers history to do so. Hubbard was nicknamed the "Penalty King" by Rangers fans, due to his exceptional record of 65 goals scored from 68 penalty kick
s, 22 consecutively. He won three league titles and the 1953 Scottish Cup
whilst at Rangers and finished top scorer in 1955 with 27 goals.
He left Rangers in 1959 with 238 appearances and 106 goals for the club, moving to Bury
for £6000. After three years at Bury he returned to Scotland, spending two years with Ayr United
before retiring from football to work as a PE teacher
and a community sports development officer. In 2007 he was named an honorary member of the Rangers Supporters Trust, along with Mark Walters
and Billy Simpson
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 16 December 1930) is a retired South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n footballer who spent the majority of his career at 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...
, and latterly played for Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
and Ayr United
Ayr United F.C.
Ayr United Football Club are a Scottish association football team based in Ayr, South Ayrshire, that plays in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Formed in 1910 after the merger of former clubs Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C...
.
Hubbard arrived 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 1949, signing for Rangers despite being offered a larger signing on fee by Clyde
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...
. He made his debut on 10 September 1949 in a league match against 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...
. This was the first of only two appearances he would make for Rangers that season, the other came against Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
. His first goal was scored in a 5-0 home win versus East Fife
East Fife F.C.
East Fife Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the Fife coastal town of Methil...
during a league match on 23 December 1950.
He became one of the few players to score a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
in an Old Firm
Old Firm
The Old Firm is a common collective name for the association football clubs Celtic and Rangers, both based in Glasgow, Scotland.The origin of the term is unclear. One theory has it that the expression derives from Celtic's first game in 1888, which was played against Rangers. However, author,...
match on 1 January 1955, the only foreign player in Rangers history to do so. Hubbard was nicknamed the "Penalty King" by Rangers fans, due to his exceptional record of 65 goals scored from 68 penalty kick
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
s, 22 consecutively. He won three league titles and the 1953 Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup 1952-53
The 1952–53 Scottish Cup was the 68th staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Rangers who defeated Aberdeen in the replayed final.-First round:-Replays:-Second round:-Replays:-Third round:...
whilst at Rangers and finished top scorer in 1955 with 27 goals.
He left Rangers in 1959 with 238 appearances and 106 goals for the club, moving to Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
for £6000. After three years at Bury he returned to Scotland, spending two years with Ayr United
Ayr United F.C.
Ayr United Football Club are a Scottish association football team based in Ayr, South Ayrshire, that plays in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Formed in 1910 after the merger of former clubs Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C...
before retiring from football to work as a PE teacher
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
and a community sports development officer. In 2007 he was named an honorary member of the Rangers Supporters Trust, along with Mark Walters
Mark Walters
Mark Everton Walters is a retired professional footballer from Birmingham, England.-Aston Villa:Walters began his career as an apprentice at Aston Villa on leaving school in the summer of 1980, turning the professional a year later - just after Villa's Football League First Division title triumph...
and Billy Simpson
Billy Simpson
William "Billy" J. Simpson is a former Northern Ireland international footballer.Simpson signed for Rangers from Linfield for a sum of £11,500 in 1950. He spent nine years at Rangers making 239 appearances and scoring 163 goals...
.