RANGERS LEGENDS COUNTDOWN: 50-46

They are the stars of today and yesteryear whose performances left the follow follow legions in a light blue heaven.

But the question remains...which Rangers player is simply the best of them all?

It's the kind of debate that can cause an unholy row in an empty room.

From the likes of Alan Morton to Jim Baxter, John Greig and Brian Laudrup, Rangers players have lit up the Scottish game.

Over the next two weeks, we will name the 50 Rangers players in descending order we think truly deserve to be called legends.

Compiled by Matthew Lindsay and Chris Jack, we will count down every day to the player we believe is the ultimate Rangers hero.

We don't claim the list is definitive –this is football, after all.

One thing we can guarantee is that not everyone will agree with our list – or the order it comes in.

But it's all about opinions – and yours' is just as valid as ours'.

So let us know what you think.

At the end of the series, we'll publish a selection of your comments over which players you think should be included in our Rangers legends poll.

So light the blue touch paper and stand back as we publish the first of our famous 50.

50 HAROLD DAVIS

The Rangers Years: 1956/57 - 1963/64

Appearances: 261

Show us your medals: Four league titles, one Scottish Cup, two League Cups

Career highlight: Appearing in Rangers' first ever European match against OGC Nice in 1956.

So what makes you a legend?

Davis recovered from serious injuries sustained in the Korean War to become a stalwart for Rangers. After moving to Ibrox for £1,750 from East Fife, the midfielder would go on to win seven major honours with the club.

He owed his Gers transfer to former player Dave Kinnear, whom he met during his rehabilitation from the severe damage to his abdomen, leg and foot he sustained in 1951.

Kinnear had returned to Rangers to work as a physiotherapist under Scott Symon and after recommending Davis to the Ibrox boss, Symon made his move.

It was to prove a wise investment, with only the emergence of John Greig curtailing Davis' Light Blues career. He later returned as a trainer under Davie White.

49 COLIN JACKSON

The Rangers Years: 1963-64-1981-82

Appearances: 506

Show us your medals: Three league titles, three Scottish Cups, five League Cups

Career highlight: Winning domestic trebles in 1976 and 78.

So what makes you a legend?

'Bomber' had to wait patiently for his chance to impress after joining the Gers as a 16-year-old.

It took until the 1970's for the defender to flourish at Ibrox, but he did so in some style, turning out to be one of the Light Blues' most reliable stoppers.

Jackson lifted his first silverware in the League Cup final of 1971/72 and then won two Trebles in three years under Jock Wallace as Rangers dominated the domestic game. He was to miss out on the Gers' most famous night, however, injury preventing him from taking to the field against Moscow Dynamo in Barcelona.

He would enjoy further European campaigns and will be fondly remembered for his dramatic last-minute winner in the League Cup Final triumph over Aberdeen.

Highly regarded by rival strikers for his robust but fair style. Celtic star Dixie Deans rated him his most difficult opponent. " A right hardy bugger," said Dixie.

48 PETER McCLOY

The Rangers Years: 1969/70-1986/87

Appearances: 533

Show us your medals: Two league titles, four Scottish Cups, four League Cups, European Cup Winner's Cup

Career highlight: 1972 European Cup Winner's Cup victory in Barcelona.

So what makes you a legend?

Plucked from Motherwell's Reserve side, McCloy went on to become one of Rangers' finest keepers and helped them to European glory in 1972. Known fondly as the 'Girvan Lighthouse' McCloy was reknowned for his kicking ability and it was his mighty, length-of-the-pitch clearance that set up Willie Johnston for the Gers' third goal on that famous night in the Nou Camp.

He has made more appearances than any other keeper in the club's history and played in teams guided by Willie Waddell, Jock Wallace and John Greig.

He ended his impressive Ibrox career with 214 clean sheets from his 533 games.

McCloy fought off competition from Stewart Kennedy and Jim Stewart in the latter part of his time with the club before becoming a coach to Chris Woods.

47 JIM FORREST

The Rangers Years: 1962/63 - 1966/67

Appearances: 163

Show us your medals: Two league titles, one Scottish Cup, two League Cups

Career highlight: Five goals in the 7-1 League Cup win over Hamilton Accies in 1965, a Rangers record that still stands.

So what makes you a legend?

After joining Rangers as a schoolboy and spending time at Drumchapel Amateurs, Forrest emerged as Jimmy Millar's successor in the Light Blue forward line as he made a stunning start to life in the first team, netting 50 goals in his first 45 appearances.

The Glaswegian's goals-to-game ratio is up there with the very best and he narrowly missed out on equaling Jimmy McGrory's record for most goals in a single season, his 57 in the 1964/65 campaign just two short of the Celtic legend. His Ibrox career came to a tumultous end, however, with he and centre-forward George McLean blamed for the infamous Scottish Cup defeat to Berwick Rangers in 1967.

Within weeks of the Shielfield shock, Forrest was transferred and his goal-laden Gers stint brought to an untimely end.

46 ALFIE CONN

The Rangers Years: 1968/69 - 1973/74

Appearances: 149

Show us your medals: One Scottish Cup, one League Cup European Cup Winner's Cup

Career highlight: 1972 European Cup Winner's Cup victory in Barcelona

So what makes you a legend?

A boyhood Rangers fan and Barcelona Bear, Conn made his debut against Dundalk in 1968 in the Fairs Cup competition.

His place in Ibrox folklore should have been secured, especially after his memorable goal in the Old Firm Scottish Cup win of 1973. He linked up well with a number of strikers during his Ibrox career, notably Colin Stein and Derek Johnstone.

The midfielder will always split opinions of the Light Blue legions, however, with his decision to cross the divide and sign for Jock Stein's Celtic seen as the ultimate act of treachery by the Ibrox faithful.

His swashbuckling style won him many admirers, but he will be remembered for his switch to Parkhead, a move he admitted he would not have made if Stein had not been in charge across the city. Conn scored 39 goals in 149 appearances for the Gers and played his part in two of Rangers' great successes.

Your shout

Now it's your turn to let us know what you think about our Rangers legends. Get in touch with us online at sport@eveningtimes.co.uk and we'll give you the chance to have your say on the famous 50.

Tomorrow: the Rangers players ranked 45-41

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