Neil Lennon – Interest From Rangers

Player Biog | Player Pics | A to Z of Players | Forum |

Difficult as is it is now to imagine but Rangers were once keen on bringing Neil Lennon to Ibrox.

As a 13-year-old schoolboy footballer with Lurgan United and Northern Ireland Under-14s the future Celtic captain caught the attention of several clubs in England and Scotland. Among them were Rangers, who at the time were managed by Jock Wallace. Neil was even invited to Glasgow to take a look around the Ibrox stadium and meet Northern Ireland international Jimmy Nichol.

Rangers at this time still operated their vile and shameful sectarian signing policy but in his autobiography Lennon states that he was at least given the impression that the interest was genuine. However, perhaps unsurprisingly, Rangers did not follow up their interest. Given the hate fuelled and bigoted reaction of Rangers supporters to Lennon throughout his time in Scotland it looks like Neil had a very lucky escape.

Lennon letter

Lennon at Ibrox