John McPherson

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This article is about the former Scottish footballer, John McPherson is also the name of the creator of the syndicated comic strip Close to Home.

John McPherson (?-1926) was a Scottish footballer who played for Kilmarnock and Rangers.

After starting his career with Kilmarnock, McPherson joined Rangers in 1890. He played mainly as a striker, but was often used in other positions including goalkeeper.

McPherson played in the inaugural Scottish League season, 1890-91, where Rangers finished as joint champions with Dumbarton. McPherson's first recorded appearance for Rangers was in a friendly against English club Everton on April 19, 1890, and he scored in a 6-2 defeat at Ibrox.

His first League appearance, however, was in Rangers' first ever Scottish League match, on August 16, 1890 in a 5-2 win over Hearts at Ibrox, in which McPherson scored. McPherson scored 15 goals in Rangers' 18 matches in the League that season, including 4 in a 6-2 win over Cambuslang F.C. on August 23, 1890 (the first ever hat-trick scored in the Scottish Football League) and 5 in an 8-2 win over St Mirren on October 4, 1890.

Despite Rangers' successful introduction to the Scottish Football League, they had to wait until season 1898-99 to win the League title again. It was done in style as Rangers won all of their 18 League matches, with McPherson netting 10 times. That remarkable season was the first of four consecutive League titles and McPherson make significant contributions in all of them, scoring 9 goals in 1899-1900, 7 in 1900-01 and 3 in 1901-02 - which proved to be his last season with Rangers.

McPherson also won 3 Scottish Cup medals with Rangers, the first in 1894, where he scored in 5 of Rangers' 6 matches, including the 3-1 final win over Celtic at Hampden. McPherson also scored in the 1897 final, where Rangers defeated Dumbarton 5-1. His third Scottish Cup winners medal came a year later, 1898, where Rangers defeated McPherson's former club Kilmarnock 2-0.

McPherson was also a Scottish International, winning a total of 9 caps and scoring 6 goals.

His final recorded appearance for Rangers was in a 2-0 friendly defeat to Glentoran U. on April 2, 1902. After his playing years, McPherson continued a close association with Rangers as a director from 1907 until his death in 1926.