Derek Grierson
Encyclopedia
Derek Dunlop Grierson was a former Scottish
football player best known for his time with Rangers
and Falkirk
.
before then manager Bill Struth
brought him to Rangers
in 1952. He made his competitive debut in a 5–0 defeat to Hearts on 9 August. He scored his first and second goals for the club a week later in a League Cup
match against Aberdeen
.
Those goals were to be some of many. In his four seasons at Ibrox
he netted 59 times in total. He was Rangers top scorer in his first season after scoring 31 goals. He won the League championship
and Scottish Cup
that season. Grierson also won a Glasgow Cup
in 1953. He is noted as scoring the first ever live goal on Scottish television.
He left Rangers in 1956 and joined Falkirk
where he won the Scottish Cup in 1957. He scored 23 league goals for the Bairns but left them in 1960 to join Arbroath
. He retired to Newton Mearns, in East Renfrewshire. Derek died on 7 September 2011, aged 79.
At the Falkirk v Rangers Scottish League Cup third round match, played on 21 September 2011, Grierson was remembered during a minutes silence at the beginning of the match, in memory of his contribution to both clubs during the 1950s
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football player best known for his time with Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
and Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
.
Club
Grierson started out at Queen's ParkQueen's Park F.C.
Queen's Park Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland. The club are currently the only amateur club in the Scottish League; their amateur status is reflected by their motto, Ludere Causa Ludendi – to play for the sake of playing.Queen's Park are the oldest...
before then manager Bill Struth
Bill Struth
Bill Struth was the second manager of Rangers Football Club, leading the Club for 34 years between 1920 and 1954, as well as the holder of a number of other positions, including director...
brought him to Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
in 1952. He made his competitive debut in a 5–0 defeat to Hearts on 9 August. He scored his first and second goals for the club a week later in a League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
match against Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
.
Those goals were to be some of many. In his four seasons at Ibrox
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
he netted 59 times in total. He was Rangers top scorer in his first season after scoring 31 goals. He won the League championship
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
and Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
that season. Grierson also won a Glasgow Cup
Glasgow Cup
The Glasgow Cup is a knockout football tournament open to teams from Glasgow. It was competed for annually by senior Glasgow clubs from 1887 until 1988. It is now competed for between the youth teams of Rangers, Celtic, Clyde, Partick Thistle and Queen's Park.It is dominated by the Old Firm of...
in 1953. He is noted as scoring the first ever live goal on Scottish television.
He left Rangers in 1956 and joined Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
where he won the Scottish Cup in 1957. He scored 23 league goals for the Bairns but left them in 1960 to join Arbroath
Arbroath F.C.
Arbroath F.C. are a Scottish football club currently playing in the Scottish Second Division. They were founded in 1878 and currently play their home matches at Gayfield, Arbroath, Angus. They play in maroon strips, and are nicknamed "The Red Lichties" due to the red light that used to guide...
. He retired to Newton Mearns, in East Renfrewshire. Derek died on 7 September 2011, aged 79.
At the Falkirk v Rangers Scottish League Cup third round match, played on 21 September 2011, Grierson was remembered during a minutes silence at the beginning of the match, in memory of his contribution to both clubs during the 1950s