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

Overview 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 All results are written with Rangers' score first.

Scottish Premier Division DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 29 August 1981Partick ThistleA1–019,159McLean (pen) 5 September 1981HibernianH2–223,500Bett, Cooper 12 September 1981St MirrenA1–115,652MacDonald 19 September 1981CelticH0–240,900 3 October 1981AirdrieoniansH4–112,500Bett (2), Johnstone, Jardine 10 October 1981AberdeenH0–030,000 17 October 1981DundeeA3–211,956MacDonald (2), Russell 24 October 1981MortonH1–121,000Russell 31 October 1981Partick ThistleH0–217,000 7 November 1981HibernianA2–114,685Bett (2, 1 pen) 11 November 1981Dundee UnitedA0–216,138 14 November 1981St MirrenH4–118,000Johnstone, Russell, Bett (pen), Cooper 21 November 1981CelticA3–348,600Dalziel, Bett, MacDonald 5 December 1981AirdrieoniansA2–213,750MacDonald, Russell 19 December 1981DundeeH2–111,000Bett, McAdam 9 January 1982CelticH1–044,000Bett (pen) 16 January 1982Dundee UnitedH2–023,000Dalziel, Cooper 30 January 1982HibernianH1–120,000Johnstone 17 February 1982Partick ThistleA0–26,513 20 February 1982Dundee UnitedA1–112,945Dawson 27 February 1982MortonH3–010,200MacDonald, Dalziel, MacKay 10 March 1982St MirrenA3–28,633Johnstone (2), Bett (pen) 13 March 1982AberdeenH1–325,000Johnstone 17 March 1982MortonA0–04,579 20 March 1982Partick ThistleH4–113,000Johnstone, Russell, Bett (pen), MacDonald 27 March 1982HibernianA0–012,390 31 March 1982AirdrieoniansH1–08,000MacDonald 10 April 1982CelticA1–249,144Johnstone 14 April 1982DundeeA1–37,975MacDonald 17 April 1982AirdrieoniansA1–010,000MacDonald 21 April 1982AberdeenA1–315,700Johnstone 24 April 1982Dundee UnitedH1–112,000MacDonald 1 May 1982MortonA3–16,500MacDonald (2), Russell 5 May 1982St MirrenH3–06,000MacDonald, McAdam, Redford 8 May 1982DundeeH4–08,500Dalziel (3), Redford 15 May 1982AberdeenA0–416,200

Cup Winners' Cup DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 16 September 1981 R1FK PříbramA0–322,500 30 September 1981 R1FK PříbramH2–135,000Bett, MacDonald

Scottish Cup DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 6 February 1982R3Albion RoversH6–29,200Johnstone, MacDonald, Russell, McAdam, McPherson (pen), Redford 13 February 1982R4DumbartonH4–015,000Jardine (2), McAdam, Johnstone 6 March 1982QFDundeeH2–016,500Johnstone, McAdam 3 April 1982SFForfar AthleticN0–015,878 6 April 1982SF RForfar AthleticN3–111,864Johnstone, Bett, Cooper 22 May 1982FAberdeenN1–453,788MacDonald

League Cup DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 8 August 1981SRMortonA1–111,500McAdam 12 August 1981SRDundeeH4–113,500McAdam, Johnstone, Miller, MacDonald 15 August 1981SRRaith RoversH8–118,000Redford (4), Russell (2), Jardine, McAdam 19 August 1981SRDundeeA2–19,124Stevens, McGeachie (og) 22 August 1981SRMortonH1–030,000Johnstone 26 August 1981SRRaith RoversA3–16,000Redford, Johnstone, MacDonald 2 September 1981QFBrechin CityA4–07,000Russell, Jackson, McLean (pen), Redford 23 September 1981QFBrechin CityH1–05,000MacDonald 7 October 1981SFSt MirrenA2–214,058McAdam, MacDonald 28 October 1981SFSt MirrenH2–128,000Bett (pen), MacDonald 28 November 1981FDundee UnitedN2–153,777Cooper, Redford

Glasgow Cup DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 12 December 1981 SFClydeH2–04,500Redford (2) 13 May 1982 FCelticH1–25,000Garner (own goal)

Appearances PlayerPositionAppearancesGoals Peter McCloyGK130 Jim StewartGK420 Sandy JardineDF524 Alex MillerDF271 Gregor StevensDF221 Tom ForsythDF210 Jim BettMF5114 Davie CooperMF475 Bobby RussellMF4910 Colin McAdamFW369 Derek JohnstoneFW4216 Tommy McLeanMF122 Ian RedfordMF5010 John MacDonaldFW5322 Ally DawsonDF381 Willie JohnstonMF170 John McClellandDF220 Colin JacksonDF321 Billy MacKayMF101 Kenny BlackMF100 Gordon DalzielMF246 Billy DaviesMF80 Kenny LyallMF40 Doug RobertsonFW30 Jim McIntyreMF10 Dave McPhersonDF21

League table

See also 1981–82 in Scottish football 1981–82 Scottish Cup 1981–82 Scottish League Cup 1981–82 European Cup Winners' Cup

References