Rangers to unveil statue of legendary former manager - and Helensburgh man - Walter Smith

A statue of Rangers hero Walter Smith will be unveiled outside Ibrox Park later this month.

The Gers icon, who lived in Helensburgh and played for Dumbarton, took charge of more than 600 games during two spells in Govan - winning 10 top flight titles, five Scottish Cups and guiding the club to the 2008 UEFA Cup Final.

In his younger days he spent two years as a player at Dumbarton - featuring in the 1976 Scottish Cup semi-final. He also managed Scotland and English Premier League giants Everton.

Smith passed away in October 2021 after a battle with cancer.

Announcing news of the statue on their website, Rangers chairman John Bennett, said: “It is a poignant moment in the history of this great football club to unveil a statue of our legendary former manager, Walter Smith.

“The outpouring of tributes which arrived from near and far following his passing two-and-a-half-years ago speaks to Walter’s stature as both a human being and custodian of our historic football club, and there is no Ranger more deserving in the modern era of being honoured in bronze.

“I would like to place on record our thanks as a club to the artist and sculptor, Douglas Jennings, as well as internal and external stakeholders who have helped facilitate the process since the commissioning of the statue in October 2022.

“I’m sure the day of the unveiling will be one full of emotion for Walter’s wife, Ethel, his two sons, Neil and Steven, and the rest of the family.

“The work consolidates the significance of the great man and the place he occupies in the storied history of Rangers Football Club.”

After retiring from the dugout, Smith was a regular at Ardencaple games - and a keen supporter of the grassroots game.

Speaking after his passing, club chairman Craig Holburn said: “Walter was so generous with his time and whenever he attended Caple events he would always go that extra mile to accommodate requests from our players and their families.”

Friend Rev. Ian Miller added: “There was something quite unique about him. He had an aura. He commanded respect but didn’t expect it.

“He exacted integrity and honesty and decency and common humanity.

The bronze statue has been designed and sculpted by esteemed London-based artist, Douglas Jennings, whose portfolio includes a statue of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in London and football icons Jack Charlton and George Cohen.

It will be unveiled on Saturday May 25, before Rangers face arch-rivals Celtic in the Scottish Cup final at Glasgow’s Hampden Park.