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Davie Meiklejohn had few equals in British football between the wars. According to his admiring contemporaries, he was "a tactical genius," "ahead of his time"—"the greatest ever Ranger." Fast-tracked by manager William Wilton, the former Maryhill junior was part of a title-winning side in his debut season. There would be many more championships to celebrate for this born leader, though Rangers' failure to lift the Scottish Cup for 25 long years became a music-hall joke—until May, 1928, when Meik led his team to a hoodoo-busting 4-0 rout of arch rivals Celtic. In 1931 the tragic on-field death of Celtic keeper John Thomson saw Meiklejohn at his dignified, inspirational best. He enjoyed international adventures, a post-playing career in journalism, and a twelve-year stint as manager of Patrick Thistle—yet at the height of his fame, Meik lived in a modest two-bedroom flat, no more than 100 yards from Ibrox.
