Stuart McCall's first and last Scottish Cup semi-finals bookended a golden era for Rangers before the curtain fell on Walter Smith’s trophy-laden adventure.
And the former midfielder insists there’s still time for today’s band of departing stars to write one last glorious chapter before Michael Beale starts drafting an Ibrox story of his own.
McCall reckons victory over Celtic in the rain-lashed 1992 last-four tie was the moment that lit the fuse as Smith’s stuttering side clicked before rocketing off towards nine in a row. Down to 10 after Davie Robertson got sent off for cementing former Pittodrie pal Joe Miller inside 10 minutes, Smith’s squad gave the first display of the stoic mood of defiance that would become their derby hallmark in years to come as Ally McCoist’s strike proved decisive. And it didn’t take McCall long to realise the significance of that plot twist. He said: “My first semi-final was in 1992 and I always say that was the night Walter’s team was born.
"We’d been knocked out of the Skol Cup at the semis by Hibs, knocked out of Europe by Sparta Prague early and while we were top of the league, we weren’t miles ahead.
“If Celtic had won that night at Hampden who knows what would have happened? They’d have got a lift and it might have affected us.
“So it really was a huge win and the memories of it are still so clear. It was bouncing down with rain. I remember Archie Knox telling Robbo before the game to sort wee Joe Miller out early doors because they’d been pals at Aberdeen.
“To be fair to Archie, he didn’t mean to take him out by the throat like Robbo did! It was a deserved sending-off but we hung in there and I was happy to play my part in the goal, setting up Coisty to do what he did.
“It was backs to the wall from there to the final whistle. Paul McStay hit the bar, the Goalie [Andy Goram] had to do his usual against Celtic with a string of outstanding saves and we got over the line. I remember after the game looking round the dressing room and thinking something special was brewing.”
Six years later and McCoist was Rangers’ hero again as he provided Smith with another famous derby win at a neutral Celtic Park.
That 1998 triumph proved to be the end of an era as the band of brothers Smith had assembled during his first Ibrox stint was dismantled ahead of Dick Advocaat’s arrival. It’s a situation not too dissimilar to the one facing today’s current crop, many of whom are preparing for their last meaningful go at their bitter enemies as they look to retain the Scottish Cup won last year and prevent another barren campaign.
Allan McGregor, Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos are all out of contract while there’s bound to be more comings and goings as Beale gets down to reshaping the squad. And McCall just hopes they go out in a blaze of glory.
He said: “The 1998 semi was my last derby at Parkhead. We knew by that point that the gaffer and Archie would be leaving at the end of the season. Brian Laudrup had signed a pre-contract to move to Chelsea and few of the boys’ deals were up too so it did feel like the end of an era was coming by that stage.
“I was privileged to play in an era where we dominated Celtic. We played four semi-finals against them and won them all.
“The last was that one at Celtic Park. Big Jorg Albertz was outstanding that day and scored a screamer. Then Coisty again did what he always did and scored against them. Unfortunately we couldn’t go on to lift the trophy against Hearts having fallen short in the league as well.
“It’s a similar situation facing this current Rangers team and it should be a motivation for them. There will be boys in there who know this is their last chance of silverware at Rangers, guys like Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent.
“And it’s their last chance to make a mark in an Old Firm game where something is on the line. They’ll be thinking this is an opportunity to go out on a blaze of glory. But to do that they have to beat their deadly rivals so it should be a huge motivational boost for them.
“If I’m Ryan Kent for example, I’d want to leave people with a lasting impression having won a trophy.”
McCall’s team never went more than two derby matches without a win during the former Scotland midfielder’s entire time in Glasgow. But it’s a different story nowadays, with Celtic currently on a year-long unbeaten run against Gers spanning five Old Firm clashes.
McCall added: “It’s been tough against Celtic this year. But looking back on the last few since Beale has come in, Celtic started the first half at Ibrox the stronger but Rangers were good in the second.
“In the Viaplay Cup Final Celtic were far better but in the last one at Parkhead, where two silly mistakes and certainly one debatable decision cost the team, I think Rangers can take enough from that to take a belief into Sunday.
“I’ve watched Rangers a lot this season and sometimes it’s been quite slow, the tempo hasn’t always been right. But even last weekend in the defeat to Aberdeen, I thought they played with a bit more pace and created quite a few good chances.
“Obviously the end result was poor but I actually liked what I saw in spells. But there are questions being asked about this squad, just like when Celtic were going for 10 in a row. They managed to do the business then and they need to do the same this time.
“It’s time to dig deep, show character, belief and desire. Hopefully they can do that and get the result we need.”
READ NEXT
