Ralph Brand
Encyclopedia
Ralph Laidlaw Brand is a retired Scottish footballer, who played as a striker for Rangers
, and latterly, Manchester City
, Sunderland, Raith Rovers
and Hamilton Academical
.
whilst playing in a schoolboy international against England at Wembley
in 1952. Struth signed him on a provisional contract in the summer of that year. In 1954 he turned professional and made his debut for Rangers on 6 November against Kilmarnock
, scoring two goals in a 6–0 win. He missed the next two seasons doing his national service
. After his return in December 1957, he formed an effective strike partnership with Jimmy Millar
, and scored 14 goals in 28 games over the course of the second half of the season.
His best season came in 1960–61
, where he played in all of Rangers' 34 league games, scoring 24 goals, and 44 in all competitions. These included 5 goals in Rangers' run to the final of the Cup Winners Cup, 3 of which were scored in an 8–0 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach
.
Brand played in four Scottish championship winning sides, 1958–59, 1960–61, 1962–63 and The Treble
winning side of 1963–64. He won four League Cup
and four Scottish Cup
winner's medals, and is the only player to have scored in four consecutive Scottish Cup finals. He played in a total of seven finals for Rangers, scoring six goals and never finishing on the losing side. He played for Scotland eight times, scoring eight goals, although his international opportunities were limited because Denis Law
was an established striker in the side.
He played his last match for Rangers on 23 April 1965 when he scored the only goal in a 1–0 win over Third Lanark in the last League game of the season. Brand was sold to Manchester City in August that year for £30,000. Two years later he moved to Sunderland and finished his career at Raith Rovers. He retired in 1970. In his time at Rangers, he played 317 times and scored 206 goals. He is the club's third top post war scorer behind Ally McCoist
and Derek Johnstone
.
for 6 months from December 1972, then Albion Rovers
between 1973 and 1974. After leaving the footballing business he worked as a taxi-driver.
Manchester City
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, Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
, Sunderland, Raith Rovers
Raith Rovers F.C.
Raith Rovers Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Kirkcaldy, Fife. They are members of the Scottish Football League, currently playing in the First Division, having secured promotion from the Second Division as champions in 2009. Rovers have won one national trophy, the...
and Hamilton Academical
Hamilton Academical F.C.
Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as Hamilton Academical, or Accies, are a Scottish football club from Hamilton in South Lanarkshire. They were established in 1874 from the school football team at Hamilton Academy. They remain the only professional club in British football to have...
.
Playing career
Brand signed for Rangers after impressing manager Bill StruthBill Struth
Bill Struth was the second manager of Rangers Football Club, leading the Club for 34 years between 1920 and 1954, as well as the holder of a number of other positions, including director...
whilst playing in a schoolboy international against England at Wembley
Wembley
Wembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena...
in 1952. Struth signed him on a provisional contract in the summer of that year. In 1954 he turned professional and made his debut for Rangers on 6 November against Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
, scoring two goals in a 6–0 win. He missed the next two seasons doing his national service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
. After his return in December 1957, he formed an effective strike partnership with Jimmy Millar
Jimmy Millar
James "Jimmy" Millar is a retired footballer who played for Dunfermline Athletic, Rangers and Dundee United....
, and scored 14 goals in 28 games over the course of the second half of the season.
His best season came in 1960–61
1960-61 in Scottish football
The 1960–61 season was the 64th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: RangersRelegated: Clyde, Ayr United-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: Stirling Albion, Falkirk...
, where he played in all of Rangers' 34 league games, scoring 24 goals, and 44 in all competitions. These included 5 goals in Rangers' run to the final of the Cup Winners Cup, 3 of which were scored in an 8–0 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach is a German association football club based in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia. The team plays in the Bundesliga and is one of the country's most well-known, well-supported, and successful teams. Borussia Mönchengladbach has over 40,000 members and is the sixth...
.
Brand played in four Scottish championship winning sides, 1958–59, 1960–61, 1962–63 and The Treble
The Treble
The term treble or Treble is used in association football to refer to a team winning three trophies in a single season. Honours usually considered to contribute to a treble are the top-tier domestic league competition, domestic cup competitions, and continental tournaments; although this depends to...
winning side of 1963–64. He won four League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
and four 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...
winner's medals, and is the only player to have scored in four consecutive Scottish Cup finals. He played in a total of seven finals for Rangers, scoring six goals and never finishing on the losing side. He played for Scotland eight times, scoring eight goals, although his international opportunities were limited because Denis Law
Denis Law
Denis Law is a retired Scottish football player, who enjoyed a long and successful career as a striker from the 1950s to the 1970s....
was an established striker in the side.
He played his last match for Rangers on 23 April 1965 when he scored the only goal in a 1–0 win over Third Lanark in the last League game of the season. Brand was sold to Manchester City in August that year for £30,000. Two years later he moved to Sunderland and finished his career at Raith Rovers. He retired in 1970. In his time at Rangers, he played 317 times and scored 206 goals. He is the club's third top post war scorer behind Ally McCoist
Ally McCoist
Alistair Murdoch "Ally" McCoist, MBE ; 24 September 1962) is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is the current manager of Rangers in Scotland....
and Derek Johnstone
Derek Johnstone
Derek Joseph Johnstone is a former Scottish association footballer.Johnstone played mainly for Rangers during his career. He also had a spell at Chelsea and a brief stint in management with Partick Thistle. He mainly played as a striker but could also perform in central defence, and in midfield...
.
Managerial career
Brand had a brief managerial career, taking charge of DarlingtonDarlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
for 6 months from December 1972, then Albion Rovers
Albion Rovers F.C. (Scotland)
Albion Rovers Football Club are a Scottish football team from the North Lanarkshire town of Coatbridge, who are currently playing in the Scottish Football League Second Division...
between 1973 and 1974. After leaving the footballing business he worked as a taxi-driver.
International goals
- Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1 9 November 1960 Hampden Park Hampden ParkHampden 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...
, Glasgow4–2 5–2 BHC 1961 British Home ChampionshipThe 1961 British Home Championship international football tournament saw a series of high scoring games, with 40 goals scored in just six matches - a ratio of 6.66 goals per game. England took the British title after a final match at Wembley in which they put nine goals past Scotland, who returned...2 9 November 1960 Hampden Park Hampden ParkHampden 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...
, Glasgow5–2 5–2 BHC 1961 British Home ChampionshipThe 1961 British Home Championship international football tournament saw a series of high scoring games, with 40 goals scored in just six matches - a ratio of 6.66 goals per game. England took the British title after a final match at Wembley in which they put nine goals past Scotland, who returned...3 3 May 1961 Hampden Park Hampden ParkHampden 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...
, Glasgow1–0 4–1 WCQG8 4 3 May 1961 Hampden Park Hampden ParkHampden 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...
, Glasgow2–0 4–1 WCQG8 5 7 May 1961 Dalymount Park Dalymount ParkDalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup...
, Dublin3–0 3–0 WCQG8 6 7 October 1961 Windsor Park Windsor ParkWindsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:...
, BelfastBelfastBelfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
3–1 6–1 BHC 1962 British Home ChampionshipThe 1962 British Home Championship was a football competition played in the season preceding the 1962 FIFA World Cup in Chile, for which only England had qualified from the home nations...7 7 October 1961 Windsor Park Windsor ParkWindsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:...
, BelfastBelfastBelfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
5–1 6–1 BHC 1962 British Home ChampionshipThe 1962 British Home Championship was a football competition played in the season preceding the 1962 FIFA World Cup in Chile, for which only England had qualified from the home nations...8 2 May 1962 Hampden Park Hampden ParkHampden 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...
, Glasgow2–3 2–3 Friendly
As a player
RangersRangers 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...
- Scottish League First Division Title winner: 1952–531952-53 in Scottish footballThe 1952–53 season was the 56th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division A:Rangers won the title with a 1–1 draw in their last match, away to Queen of the South...
, 1955–561955-56 in Scottish footballThe 1955–56 season was the 59th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Overview:Following league reconstruction League Division One was expanded from 16 to 18 teams with Airdrieonians and Dunfermline Athletic being promoted...
, 1956–571956-57 in Scottish footballThe 1956–57 season was the 60th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: RangersRelegated: Dunfermline Athletic, Ayr United-Scottish League Division Two:...
, 1958–591958-59 in Scottish footballThe 1958–59 season was the 62nd season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:The last day of the season saw Rangers holding a 2 point lead over Hearts, with the clubs having an identical goal average....
, 1960–611960-61 in Scottish footballThe 1960–61 season was the 64th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: RangersRelegated: Clyde, Ayr United-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: Stirling Albion, Falkirk...
, 1962–631962-63 in Scottish footballThe 1962–63 season was the 66th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: RangersRelegated: Clyde, Raith Rovers-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: St...
, 1963–641963-64 in Scottish footballThe 1963–64 season was the 67th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: RangersRelegated: Queen of the South, East Stirlingshire-Scottish League Division Two:...
- Scottish CupScottish CupThe 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...
winner: 1953, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964
- Scottish League CupScottish League CupThe Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
winner: 1960–611960-61 in Scottish footballThe 1960–61 season was the 64th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: RangersRelegated: Clyde, Ayr United-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: Stirling Albion, Falkirk...
, 1961–621961-62 in Scottish footballThe 1961–62 season was the 65th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Dundee had an excellent start to the season, including a 5–1 win away to Rangers, and having a seemingly invincible lead by Christmas. A poorrun of form in the new year, including a...
, 1963–641963-64 in Scottish footballThe 1963–64 season was the 67th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: RangersRelegated: Queen of the South, East Stirlingshire-Scottish League Division Two:...
, 1964–651964-65 in Scottish footballThe 1964–65 season was the 68th season of Scottish league football.-Scottish League Division One:In one of the closest finishes ever seen in a league competition in Britain, Hearts faced Kilmarnock on the last day of the season with...
Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
- First Division TitleFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
winner: 1965–661965-66 in English footballThe 1965–66 season was the 86th season of competitive football in England.-Diary of the season:7 October 1965: An experiment to broadcast a live game to another ground takes place...
Managerial stats
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
| Darlington Darlington F.C. Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003... |
 |
December 1972 | June 1973 | 26 | 4 | 13 | 9 | 15.4 |
| Albion Rovers Albion Rovers F.C. (Scotland) Albion Rovers Football Club are a Scottish football team from the North Lanarkshire town of Coatbridge, who are currently playing in the Scottish Football League Second Division... |
 |
1973 | 1974 | |||||
External links
- Newcastle Fans profile
- International stats at Londonhearts.com