McNeil, Moses

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Moses McNeil

Personal Information

Full Name:Moses McNeil

Height:1.63 meters

Date Of Birth:29/10/1855

City Of Birth:Rhu

Country Of Birth:Scotland

Club Information

Shirt Number:

Position: Winger

Debut:May 1872 vs Callandar FC

Early Years

Born at Belmore House, in Rhu on October 29th 1855 to John and Jean McNeil. Towards the end of 1871, Moses followed his brothers and sister to Glasgow, moving in with his sister Elizabeth and fellow siblings at No. 17 Cleveland Street, then just around the corner at No. 169 Berkley Street.

Formation of Rangers Football Club and Playing Years

In early March 1872, inspired by seeing the Queens Park play, Moses, alongside his brother Peter, William McBeath and Peter Campbell discussed forming a football team whilst walking along West End Park, (nowadays known as Kelvingrove park.)

The young fellows unanimously adopted the name 'Rangers' for their new team, after Moses McNeil related that he had been reading Charles W Alcocks 'English Football Annual' and was drawn to the name of an English Rugby team of the era, 'Swindon Rangers', who's kit was white socks, white shorts and white shirts with a blue star on the breast, much like that of the Rangers 1876/77 Scottish Cup Final team. (William Dunlop would later pen that the name was taken on because 'Rangers' rhymed with 'Strangers', whether one, or both of the stories are true is unknown)

Moses McNeil's last recorded appearance for Rangers was on September 30, 1882 in a Scottish Cup replay defeat to Queen's Park at Hampden.

After Football, Career and Passing

It's claimed by some that Moses' still had an active role in Rangers during the years following his departure as a player. He was a regular for the Rangers Ancients, listed in the November 1885 team when they took on the Cameronians at Maryhill Barracks. He was present, but didn't play in the 'Ancients' versus 'Moderns' game, the last game at the old Kinning Park ground in February 1887 though.

For most of Moses' professional career, he was employed as a clerk, and later a commercial traveller at a commission agents based at No. 70 Union Street Glasgow, working for Hugh Lang Junior. After the closure of H & P McNeil's in 1896, Moses and brother Harry took over the running of the 'Royal Hotel' in Bangor, until 1901 when they returned to Scotland. Moses then became an oils and brush salesmen, whilst lodging in a house at Stanley Street.

Moses' close connections to the club he helped form seemed to disappear during the 1900's. In 1923, surprisingly, Moses didn't make an appearance at the Rangers 50th Anniversary gala dinner, writing an apology that he was unable to participate, or did he attend the funeral of his old good friend and former team mate, Tom Vallance in 1935.

In 1923, he helped John Allan pen his material for the Jubilee History of Rangers and wrote an article for the Daily Record in 1935. As 1930 came around, Moses moved to the quiet little town of Rosneath, on the Gareloch peninsula, close-by to his birthplace of Rhu, living in a cottage with his sister Isabella.

On the 9th April 1938, Moses passed away succumbing to Cardiac disease, being the last founder, and last close connection to the 'Gallant Pioneers' of Rangers Football Club. An obituary was penned in the Daily Record a week later, by 'Waverly', he wrote "A famous player of a long past era in Moses McNeil has also departed. Moses was one of several brothers who helped to form the Rangers Club, in 1873, and he was the last of the old originals. He played against England in 1880. It is wonderful to think, that one who was a the start of the Rangers 65 years ago should have been with us until a few days ago".

Moses' final resting place is in the old churchyard in Rosneath, in a grave with his sisters, Isabella, Elizabeth and her husband Duncan Gray. His name was sadly never added to the gravestone, which underneath he lies peacefully next to a stream and fittingly, an amateur football park.