# 1870s Rangers F.C. seasons

Rangers were founded in 1872, and began competitive play in 1874. The team then participated in the Scottish Cup during every season for the rest of the decade. Though they did not win the Scottish cup during the 1870s, Rangers reached the final round twice.

## 1874–75 season

The 1874–75 season was the first season of competitive football by Rangers.

### Overview

Rangers entered the Scottish Cup for the first time and reached the second round where they lost to Dumbarton after a replay.
Between 1873 and 1879, Rangers played in their now traditional royal blue shirts and white shorts.

### Scottish Cup

| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers |
| 10 October 1874 | First round | Oxford | A | 2–0 | M. McNeil, Gibb |
| 28 November 1874 | Second round | Dumbarton | H | 0–0 | |
| 12 December 1874 | Second round | Dumbarton | A | 0–1 | |

## 1875–76 season

The 1875–76 season was the second season of competitive football by Rangers.

### Overview

Rangers entered the Scottish Cup for the second time. They equalled their previous best in the competition by reaching the second round where they lost to 3rd Lanark RV after a replay.

### Scottish Cup

| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 16 October 1875 | First round | 1st Lanark RV | H | 7–0 | J. Campbell (3), Watson (2), P. Campbell, Phillips | |
| 30 October 1875 | Second round | 3rd Lanark RV | A | 1–0 | P. Campbell | |
| 13 November 1875 | Second round replay | 3rd Lanark RV | H | 1–2 | M. McNeil | 2,000 |

#### Notes

* ^ A-3rd Lanark RV protested the result after Rangers kicked-off in both halves. The match was declared void and replayed two weeks later.

### Friendlies

| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 11 September 1875 | Vale of Leven | H | 1–1 | | |
| 18 March 1876 | Clydesdale | H | 0–0 | | |

## 1876–77 season

The 1876–77 season was the third season of competitive football by Rangers.

### Overview

Rangers entered the Scottish Cup for the third time. Wins over Queen's Park Juniors and Towerhill saw Rangers go one stage further than the previous two seasons as they reached the third round where they were given a bye to the fourth round. They then defeated Mauchline and Lennox to reach the semi-finals for the first time. With only three teams in the semi-finals, Rangers were the lucky ones to receive a bye straight to the final where they would play Vale of Leven. After two 1–1 draws at Hamilton Crescent, Vale finally overcame their opponents 3–2 at the original Hampden Park thanks to an 88th-minute winner from Robert Paton.

### Scottish Cup

| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 30 September 1876 | First round | Queen's Park Juniors | H | 4–1 | J. Campbell | |
| 21 October 1876 | Second round | Towerhill | H | 8–0 | Dunlop (2), Watson (2), Marshall (2), P. Campbell (2) | |
| November 1876 | Third round | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| 9 December 1876 | Fourth round | Mauchline | H | 3–0 | Watson, Marshall, P. Campbell | |
| 30 December 1876 | Quarter-final | Lennox | H | 3–0 | Dunlop, Marshall, P. Campbell | |
| January 1877 | Semi-final | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| 17 March 1877 | Final | Vale of Leven | N | 1–1 | McDougall 65' (o.g.) | 8,000 |
| 7 April 1877 | Final replay | Vale of Leven | N | 1–1 | Dunlop 20' | 15,000 |
| 13 April 1877 | Final second replay | Vale of Leven | N | 2–3 | W. McNeil, P. Campbell | 12,000 |

## 1877–78 season

The 1877–78 season was the fourth season of competitive football by Rangers.

### Overview

Rangers entered the Scottish Cup for the fourth time. In the first round, they set a new club record for the biggest win after defeating Possilpark 13–0. Wins over Alexandra Athletic and Uddingston saw Rangers through to the fourth round where they lost to defending champions Vale of Leven after a replay.

### Scottish Cup

| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers |
| 6 October 1877 | First round | Possilpark | H | 13–0 | *Ricketts, Hill (2), J. Campbell (2), Marshall (2), Watson (2), M. McNeil, P. Campbell (3) |
| 27 October 1877 | Second round | Alexandra Athletic | H | 8–0 | Dunlop, J. Campbell, M. McNeil (3), P. Campbell (3) |
| 10 November 1877 | Third round | Uddingston | H | 13–0 | Hill, J. Campbell, Marshall (4), Watson (4), McNeil (2), P. Campbell |
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 1 December 1877 | R4 | Vale of Leven | H | 0–0 | 4,000 | |
| 15 December 1877 | R4 R | Vale of Leven | A | 0–4 | 4,000 | |

## 1878–79 season

The 1878–79 season was the fifth season of competitive football by the Rangers F.C..

### Overview

Rangers played a total of 7 competitive matches during the 1878–79 season.

### Results

All results are written with Rangers' score first.

#### Scottish Cup

| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance |
| 28 September 1878 | R1 | Shaftesbury | H | 3-0 | |
| 19 October 1878 | R2 | Whitefield | A | 6–1 | |
| 9 November 1878 | R3 | Parkgrove | H | 8–2 | 3,000 |
| 30 November 1878 | R4 | Alexandria Athletic | H | 3-0 | |
| 8 March 1879 | R5 | Partick | H | 4-0 | |
| 22 March 1879 | QF | Queen's Park | A | 1-0 | |
| 29 March 1879 | SF | | | Bye | |
| 19 April 1879 | F | Vale of Leven | N | 1–1 | 28,000 |

## 1879–80 season

The 1879–80 season was the sixth season of competitive football by Rangers.

### Overview

Rangers played a total of 2 competitive matches during the 1879–80 season.

### Results

All results are written with Rangers' score first.

#### Scottish Cup

| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 20 September 1879 | R1 | Queen's Park | H | 0–0 | 7,000 | |
| 27 September 1879 | R1 R | Queen's Park | A | 1–5 | 5,000 | |