Bobby Brown dead at 96: Rangers legendary goalkeeper and former Scotland manager passes away
RANGERS legend and former Scotland manager Bobby Brown has passed away aged 96.
The legendary goalie – who was Gers’ oldest living player – spent a decade at Ibrox and kept an amazing 109 clean sheets in 296 games.
Bobby remarkably never missed a league game for six years, playing an astonishing run of 179 matches.
His introduction to senior football was as an amateur with Queens Park, making his debut in goal in 1939 in front of 50,000 against Celtic at Parkhead when he was just 17.
In 1945, he moved to Rangers after flying Swordfish torpedo bombers during World War Two.
And that year, he played between the sticks against Moscow Dynamo in front of a staggering 120,000 crowd at Ibrox.
But incredibly, he was still part-time and earned just £20 while holding down a career as a schoolmaster.
After leaving Ibrox in 1955, Bobby moved to Falkirk where he played on for two years.
He then went on to become the first full-time boss of Scotland in 1967 and his first full international was the stunning 3-2 win over Alf Ramsay’s world champions England at Wembley.
He quit his top footie job in 1971 to resume his career as a PE teacher, then ran shops and a restaurant in Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire with late wife Ruth.
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Bobby was a regular guest at Rangers games in recent years and chairman Dave King paid tribute to the club idol.
He said: “All of us connected with Rangers are deeply saddened to hear that Mr Brown, a genuine Rangers and Scotland legend, has passed away.
“Our thoughts are with Mr Brown’s family at this time.
“He was a wonderful servant of our club and we will remember him with great fondness. He was a gentleman of the game and set standards which typify what Rangers is about.”
A minute’s silence in memory of Bobby will be held before Friday’s Ibrox Scottish Cup tie with Stranraer.