page_title: History of Rangers F.C.
section_title: The Wilton years (1899–1920)
hierarchical_section_title: History of Rangers F.C. / The Wilton years (1899–1920)
context_page_description: Rangers Football Club, formed in March 1872, are the fourth-oldest football club in Scotland and were the first association football club in the world to win more than fifty national league titles, currently 54. The club is also the most honoured in the world, winning 115 trophies in total.
context_section_description: Rangers were in the ascendancy at the turn of the century, winning the championship seven times between 1900 and 1918 (with four League title in a row). The season of 1898–99 was particularly memorable, in that it saw the Gers win all 18 league games to establish a perfect record. This feat has yet to be repeated by the club, although the team did go through the 2013–14 season unbeaten.
  However, between 1902 and 1910, Celtic took over as the dominant force, and though Rangers had the chance to foil a third League and Cup double in 1909, the Scottish FA withheld the Cup due to disgraceful scenes after a pitch invasion by drunken fans. The Hampden Riot of 1909 had written itself a sorry page in the history books, and both clubs were ordered to compensate hosts Queen's Park for the damage caused by their so-called fans.
  Having lost the title in 1919 they responded in 1920 with one of the best seasons in their history as manager William Wilton and his right-hand man Bill Struth retained the title netting 106 goals in 42 league games. However, in May 1920 the club's first ever manager, William Wilton, died in a boating accident and Bill Struth was subsequently appointed manager.
caption: The 1902 Ibrox disaster
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