Walter smith autobiography rangers family

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The Foundation was proud to be named as the beneficiary of the commemorative programme produced for the unveiling of the new Walter Smith statue at Ibrox.

Fans who could not attend the ceremony on the day can now buy this unique collector’s item from the Foundation’s on-line shop HERE for just £5, with all profits from the sale helping us continue to support our charity partners and carry out our life-changing work in the community.

With only a limited print run of this exclusive programme produced, it is a must for any Rangers collector and comes with a free A3 poster of commissioned artwork showing an iconic moment from Walter’s career.

The programme includes tributes to Walter from nine in a row stars Ally McCoist, Brian Laudrup, Richard Gough and Stuart McCall, as well as top players from Walter’s later spell as Manager, such as Kris Boyd, Barry Ferguson and David Weir.

It also features interviews with Graeme Souness, Ian Durrant and Steven Davis and with sculptor Douglas Jennings, who provides an in-depth look at how the statue was created.

Walter was a great friend to the Foundation and did so much to support our work. We couldn’t be prouder to benefit from this unique programme, and would like to thank the club and the Smith family for this honour.

BORN in Lanark on February 24, 1948, Walter Smith grew up in Carmyle in Glasgow’s East End.

His grandfather took him to Ibrox for the first time when he was five-years-old and it was to be the start of his Rangers love affair.

In his 1994 published autobiography ‘Mr Smith – The Fan Who Joined The Ibrox Legends’ he described the moment simply: “It was enough to confirm for me all the stories of Ibrox greatness that I had heard from my grandfather.”

Primary school pupil Smith soon dreamed of pulling on the iconic Light Blue jersey and becoming a club hero.

But, instead, it would be with a club blazer on that he would establish himself as a Gers legend – and one of the greatest managers in Scottish football history.

Defender Smith’s hopes of a career as a professional footballer began at Drumchapel Amateurs and then junior outfit Ashfield.

He was an apprentice electrician for the South of Scotland Electricity Board when Dundee United, managed by Jerry Kerr, suddenly gave him his first big break in the game with a contract in 1966.

Smith made his first team debut the following year but it wouldn’t be until the 1970-71 season that he established himself.

Over the next three years he made his mark for United in central defence, with Jim McLean appointed manager in December, 1971, and then in January, 1972, a certain Archie Knox arrived as a team-mate.

Smith produced an unforgettable goal celebration by kissing his BOOT after netting the derby winner against Dundee in 1973.

He starred for United in their first major final, the 3-0 1974 Scottish Cup final defeat to Celtic, before leaving for Dumbarton in September, 1975.

The Sons, part managed by ex-Rangers idol Davie Wilson who was a Tannadice team-mate and once worked alongside Smith’s father at a steelworks in Cambuslang, paid the princely sum of £8,000.

The pinnacle of his time at Dumbarton was a Scottish Cup semi-final

Scottish football player and manager (1948–2021)

This article is about the Scottish football manager and former player. For other people, see Walter Smith (disambiguation).

Walter Ferguson SmithOBE (24 February 1948 – 26 October 2021) was a Scottish football player, manager and director, primarily associated with his two spells as manager of Glasgow club Rangers.

A defender, Smith's playing career consisted of two spells with Dundee United, split by a short time at Dumbarton. A pelvic injury caused his retirement from playing and Smith moved into coaching at Dundee United, working for manager Jim McLean. Smith also took charge of the Scotland under-18 and under-21 teams, and assisted Scotland manager Alex Ferguson at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, after it had been announced that he would be moving to Rangers as assistant to Graeme Souness.

Smith became the manager of Rangers in 1991, succeeding Souness. He won thirteen major trophies in seven years, including seven league titles in succession. After leaving Rangers at the end of the 1997–98 season, he was appointed manager of English Premier League club Everton. He was in charge at Goodison Park for four seasons before he was sacked in 2002.

After a brief stint as assistant manager to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, Smith was appointed Scotland manager in December 2004. He presided over a revival in their fortunes, taking the national team seventy places up the FIFA World Rankings. After a UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying, he resigned as Scotland manager in January 2007 to return to Rangers. He won eight trophies during his second spell as Rangers manager and guided the team to the 2008 UEFA Cup final, before retiring from management in 2011. Smith is the second-most-successful manager in the history of Rangers, behind Bill Struth.

Early life

Smith was born in Lanark, but grew up in the Carmyle district in the East End of Glasgow, and was a boyhood f