Rangers' nine-in-a-row trophy sells for £16,000 at auction
An authentic piece of silverware that marked Rangers' ninth consecutive title victory in the 1990s has sold at auction for £16,000 to an unknown buyer.The Bell's Whisky League Championship Trophy from the 1996-1997 season went under the hammer on Thursday at Glasgow-based McTear's, with bidding starting at £9,000.The Ibrox-side lifted the trophy at Tannadice on 7 May 1997, after a header from Danish forward Brian Laudrup in the 10th minute sealed a 1-0 victory over Dundee United.The result secured Walter Smith's team a ninth Scottish Premier League title in a row, equalling the feat achieved by Celtic from 1965 to 1974.
The trophy was presented to Rangers captain Richard Gough on the pitch after the match, while images from the night show star players like Ally McCoist and Paul Gascoigne celebrating with the trophy on the pitch.Laudrup's lone goal in the match led to him being named Scotland's Player of the Year for the second time. Neither Rangers or Celtic have ever managed to win the league 10 years in a row, as Wim Jansen's Celtic took the victory the following season for the first time since 1988.
'A remarkable piece of Rangers memorabilia'
McTear's, one of the oldest independent auction houses in the UK, said the trophy comes with the original box and paperwork from the Scottish Football Museum, confirming its authenticity. The 21-centimetre wide trophy was estimated to sell for between £9,000 and £12,000.Also on sale at the Sporting History, Important Trophies, Medals and Jerseys event was a Rangers Hall of Fame Trophy that was posthumously awarded to Davie Cooper - who died in 1995 after suffering a brain haemorrhage aged 39. Other items in the auction included a rare Rangers programme for a match against Clyde in 1947 and a Coronation Cup Final programme from the clash between Celtic and Newcastle in 1953.
A spokesperson for McTear's said: "This is a remarkable piece of Rangers and Scottish football memorabilia that marks one of the most impressive achievements in the Club's history. "We have auctioned a number of important Old Firm items over the years, and the nine in a row trophy sits alongside the highest profile pieces that have gone under the hammer. "The trophy is being sold by a private individual and we are comfortable with both the provenance of the piece and the legitimacy of the ownership."Rangers did not comment.
Rangers are set to face Greek side Panathinaikos in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League next month.The match at home on 22 July will mark Russell Martin's first competitive game as the Ibrox-side's head coach, having been appointed earlier this month.
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