1981–82 Rangers F.C. season

The 1981–82 season was the 102nd season of competitive football by Rangers.

Rangers
1981–82 season
ChairmanRae Simpson
ManagerJohn Greig
GroundIbrox Park
Scottish Premier Division3rd
P36 W16 D11 L9 F57 A45 Pts43
Scottish CupRunners-up
League CupWinners
Cup Winners' CupFirst round
Glasgow CupRunners-up
Top goalscorerLeague:
John MacDonald (14)

All:
John MacDonald (22)

Overview

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Rangers played a total of 55 competitive matches during the 1981–82 season. Greig's fourth season in charge ended yet again without the league championship. Rangers finished third, twelve points behind Old Firm rivals Celtic who were champions. There was an apparent lack of ambition at the club due a lack of transfer funds which were being directed towards the redevelopment of Ibrox Park. There was the surprise signing of Northern Ireland international John McClelland from Mansfield Town. The Ulsterman proved to be a shrewd acquisition and later became the club captain. European participation was halted by Dukla Prague who soundly beat the team 3–0 in Prague and a 2–1 second leg win for Rangers was not enough for the team to progress. The domestic cup competitions provided successful ground as Rangers reached both finals. The team lost the 1982 Scottish Cup Final 4–1 to Aberdeen despite taking the lead in the match. The game went into extra-time where the Dons added a trio. Rangers did win the 1981 Scottish League Cup Final by defeating Dundee United 2–1 with goals from Davie Cooper and Ian Redford.

Results

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All results are written with Rangers' score first.

Scottish Premier Division

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Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
29 August 1981 Partick Thistle A 1–0 19,159 McLean (pen)
5 September 1981 Hibernian H 2–2 23,500 Bett, Cooper
12 September 1981 St Mirren A 1–1 15,652 MacDonald
19 September 1981 Celtic H 0–2 40,900
3 October 1981 Airdrieonians H 4–1 12,500 Bett (2), Johnstone, Jardine
10 October 1981 Aberdeen H 0–0 30,000
17 October 1981 Dundee A 3–2 11,956 MacDonald (2), Russell
24 October 1981 Morton H 1–1 21,000 Russell
31 October 1981 Partick Thistle H 0–2 17,000
7 November 1981 Hibernian A 2–1 14,685 Bett (2, 1 pen)
11 November 1981 Dundee United A 0–2 16,138
14 November 1981 St Mirren H 4–1 18,000 Johnstone, Russell, Bett (pen), Cooper
21 November 1981 Celtic A 3–3 48,600 Dalziel, Bett, MacDonald
5 December 1981 Airdrieonians A 2–2 13,750 MacDonald, Russell
19 December 1981 Dundee H 2–1 11,000 Bett, McAdam
9 January 1982 Celtic H 1–0 44,000 Bett (pen)
16 January 1982 Dundee United H 2–0 23,000 Dalziel, Cooper
30 January 1982 Hibernian H 1–1 20,000 Johnstone
17 February 1982 Partick Thistle A 0–2 6,513
20 February 1982 Dundee United A 1–1 12,945 Dawson
27 February 1982 Morton H 3–0 10,200 MacDonald, Dalziel, MacKay
10 March 1982 St Mirren A 3–2 8,633 Johnstone (2), Bett (pen)
13 March 1982 Aberdeen H 1–3 25,000 Johnstone
17 March 1982 Morton A 0–0 4,579
20 March 1982 Partick Thistle H 4–1 13,000 Johnstone, Russell, Bett (pen), MacDonald
27 March 1982 Hibernian A 0–0 12,390
31 March 1982 Airdrieonians H 1–0 8,000 MacDonald
10 April 1982 Celtic A 1–2 49,144 Johnstone
14 April 1982 Dundee A 1–3 7,975 MacDonald
17 April 1982 Airdrieonians A 1–0 10,000 MacDonald
21 April 1982 Aberdeen A 1–3 15,700 Johnstone
24 April 1982 Dundee United H 1–1 12,000 MacDonald
1 May 1982 Morton A 3–1 6,500 MacDonald (2), Russell
5 May 1982 St Mirren H 3–0 6,000 MacDonald, McAdam, Redford
8 May 1982 Dundee H 4–0 8,500 Dalziel (3), Redford
15 May 1982 Aberdeen A 0–4 16,200

Cup Winners' Cup

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Date Round Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
16 September 1981 R1 Dukla Prague A 0–3 22,500
30 September 1981 R1 Dukla Prague H 2–1 35,000 Bett, MacDonald

Scottish Cup

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Date Round Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
6 February 1982 R3 Albion Rovers H 6–2 9,200 Johnstone, MacDonald, Russell, McAdam,
McPherson (pen), Redford
13 February 1982 R4 Dumbarton H 4–0 15,000 Jardine (2), McAdam, Johnstone
6 March 1982 QF Dundee H 2–0 16,500 Johnstone, McAdam
3 April 1982 SF Forfar Athletic N 0–0 15,878
6 April 1982 SF R Forfar Athletic N 3–1 11,864 Johnstone, Bett, Cooper
22 May 1982 F Aberdeen N 1–4 53,788 MacDonald

League Cup

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Date Round Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
8 August 1981 SR Morton A 1–1 11,500 McAdam
12 August 1981 SR Dundee H 4–1 13,500 McAdam, Johnstone, Miller, MacDonald
15 August 1981 SR Raith Rovers H 8–1 18,000 Redford (4), Russell (2), Jardine, McAdam
19 August 1981 SR Dundee A 2–1 9,124 Stevens, McGeachie (og)
22 August 1981 SR Morton H 1–0 30,000 Johnstone
26 August 1981 SR Raith Rovers A 3–1 6,000 Redford, Johnstone, MacDonald
2 September 1981 QF Brechin City A 4–0 7,000 Russell, Jackson, McLean (pen), Redford
23 September 1981 QF Brechin City H 1–0 5,000 MacDonald
7 October 1981 SF St Mirren A 2–2 14,058 McAdam, MacDonald
28 October 1981 SF St Mirren H 2–1 28,000 Bett (pen), MacDonald
28 November 1981 F Dundee United N 2–1 53,777 Cooper, Redford

Glasgow Cup

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Date Round Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
12 December 1981 SF Clyde H 2–0 4,500 Redford (2)
13 May 1982 F Celtic H 1–2 5,000 Garner (own goal)

Appearances

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Player Position Appearances Goals
  Peter McCloy GK 13 0
  Jim Stewart GK 42 0
  Sandy Jardine DF 52 4
  Alex Miller DF 27 1
  Gregor Stevens DF 22 1
  Tom Forsyth DF 21 0
  Jim Bett MF 51 14
  Davie Cooper MF 47 5
  Bobby Russell MF 49 10
  Colin McAdam FW 36 9
  Derek Johnstone FW 42 16
  Tommy McLean MF 12 2
  Ian Redford MF 50 10
  John MacDonald FW 53 22
  Ally Dawson DF 38 1
  Willie Johnston MF 17 0
  John McClelland DF 22 0
  Colin Jackson DF 32 1
  Billy MacKay MF 10 1
  Kenny Black MF 10 0
  Gordon Dalziel MF 24 6
  Billy Davies MF 8 0
  Kenny Lyall MF 4 0
  Doug Robertson FW 3 0
  Jim McIntyre MF 1 0
  Dave McPherson DF 2 1

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Celtic (C) 36 24 7 5 79 33 +46 55 Qualification for the European Cup first round
2 Aberdeen 36 23 7 6 71 29 +42 53 Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round
3 Rangers 36 16 11 9 57 45 +12 43 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
4 Dundee United 36 15 10 11 61 38 +23 40
5 St Mirren 36 14 9 13 49 52 −3 37
Source: Statto
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions

See also

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References

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