THE VITALS:

Team: Rangers

Brand: Umbro

Era: 2008-09 (Used for the 2008-09 Scottish Premier League Season, the 2009 Scottish League Cup Final and the 2009 Scottish Cup Final)

Name/Number: -

CONDITION: EXCELLENT

This shirt comes in excellent condition with so little wear that it is practically brand new!

DIMENSIONS:

Size: Small

Pit to Pit Measurement: 19.5 inches

Shirt Length: 28.25 inches 

Made using Umbro’s ‘Climate Control’ technology range that they introduced ahead of the 2008-09 season; this shirt provides the dimensions for a comfortable size small shirt, that may also be perfect for a size medium who prefers a tighter fitting shirt.

DESCRIPTION:

In the fourth collaboration between Umbro and Rangers; Umbro would ditch all of the red accents from the shirt, making it classic royal blue with white slashes incorporated in the Umbro’s motif that they utilised ahead of the 2008-09 season. Red only exists in the stars that are beautifully embroidered above the crest in what was another ode to the value of minimalism. Like the previous two shirts, the Umbro diamond is deliberately aligned with the drop of the collar as opposed to being in league with the crest.

THE SEASON:

‘Oh so near, yet so far’ would best describe Rangers efforts at the end of 2007-08; although they would win the domestic cups, they’d fall short of dethroning Celtic by just 3 points and would suffer heartbreak in the final of the UEFA Cup against Zenit Saint Petersburg. Thomas Buffel, Carlos Cuellar and Daniel Cousin would all depart in the summer, however: Kenny Miller, Kyle Lafferty, Andrius Velicka, Madjid Bougherra, Aaron Niguez, Pedro Mendes, Steven Davis and Maurice Edu all came in an as exciting recruits ahead of the new season.

‘The Gers’ season began in late July as they sought to be amongst the draw for the Champions League Group Stages, however, they would fall 2-1 to FBK Kaunas on aggregate; relegating them to no European participation for the 2008-09 season. Nothing less than winning the Scottish Premier League would surely compensate for such a disappointment, especially after the adventure of the previous season. They exactly went about their business in such a manner as they went unbeaten in their opening 17 league games, winning 6 of them including the first Old Firm Derby of the season when they beat Celtic 4-2 on August 31st.

They’d taste defeat for the first time when they were beaten 1-0 away against St Mirren on October 5^th, but that defeat only inspired a 9 match unbeaten run in the league and Scottish League Cup! They’d score 15 goals in their next 4 league outings, while a 2-0 win over Hamilton Academical on October 28^th saw them reach the semi-final in their defence of the Scottish League Cup. However, in spite of their excellent form, the next time they tasted defeat, which was in the league against Hearts on November 29th, they had fallen to 7 points behind Celtic!

That gap of 7 points was again restored on December 27^th when Celtic avenged their early season defeat with a 1-0 win at Ibrox. The New Year would kick off with a 3-0 win over Inverness, before Falkirk were seen off 3-1; those two wins would see the gap at the top reduced to just 2 points!

That 2 point distance would be retained as the two sides battled to a goalless draw at Celtic Park on February 15^th; exactly a month out ahead of their Scottish League Cup Final! 3 days later, Rangers continued their Scottish Cup defence as they reached the quarter final with a 4-0 win over Forfar Athletic. Back to back league wins over Kilmarnock and Hamilton Athletic would finally see Rangers usurp Celtic at the top of the table, even if it was only on goal difference.

A first defeat of 2009 would come as they lost 1-0 against Inverness on March 4^th, and after losing 2-0 in the Scottish League Cup Final to Celtic, and dropping points in the 2-2 draw with Hearts on March 21^st; the season looked in danger of unravelling. Fortunately, the arrears were only 3 points at the top, and there was still a Scottish Cup semi-final to look forward too against St Mirren on April 25^th.

With a difficult March in the rear view mirror, April yielded maximum points in the league as: Falkirk, St Mirren, Motherwell and Hibs were all beaten – moving Rangers to within just a point of Celtic as we entered the final phase of the league season. There would also be a return to the Scottish Cup Final to look forward too as St Mirren were beaten 3-0 on April 25^th.

Rangers would defeat Hearts 2-0 ahead of what was likely the title deciding, final Old Firm Derby of the season on May 9^th. Rangers would avenge their League Cup Final heartbreak with a 1-0 win at Ibrox, however, a 1-1 draw with Hibs in their next outing saw Celtic return to the top on goal difference! Celtic would be next to drop points to Hibernian, and Rangers would capitalise; defeating Aberdeen 2-1 to move 2 points clear ahead of the final game of the season. Rangers would win back the Scottish Premier League title as Celtic’s drew with Hearts, still, Rangers made sure it was academic as they put Dundee United away 3-0! 6 days later, on May 30^th, Rangers would complete the double as they defeated Falkirk 1-0 to successfully retain the Scottish Cup!

The notable players that season were:

Andrius Velicka, Daniel Cousin, Kyle Lafferty, Jean-Claude Darchville, Kenny Miller, Steven Naismith, Nacho Novo, Kris Boyd, Steven Davis, Aaron Niguez, DaMarcus Beasley, Chis Burke, Lee McGulloch, Charlie Adam, Brahim Hemdani, Barry Ferguson, Pedro Mendes, Maurice Edu, Steven Whittaker, Steven Smith, Madjid Bougherra, Christian Dailly, Kirk Broadfoot, Sasa Papac, Carlos Cuellar, David Weir, Allan McGregor, Neil Alexander