DAVE PROVAN

Born: 11 March 1941

Came from: Crystal Palace   Went to: St Mirren

First game: 13 March 1971   Last game: 12 October 1974

Appearances: 139 (138/1)   Goals: 10

Born in Falkirk, defender Provan was a product of Rangers' youth system. He had been playing for Bonnyvale Star, in the Bonnybridge area of Stirlingshire, whilst training with Rangers and working in an iron foundry. As a youngster he was a Stirling Albion fan. Training as a youth at Ibrox paid off, as he was taken on as a professional, in 1959.

The talented defender spent 12 years with at Ibrox between 1958 and 1970, making 261 competitive appearances and scoring 11 goals. He made his debut aged 18 in April 1959 as Rangers went down 2-0 at Hearts in the penultimate match of the 1958-59 season, though they did win the title that season.

He grew into his role and went on to help the club win a domestic treble in 1963-64 and played in the 1967 European Cup Winners' Cup Final, which Rangers lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich. In total at Ibrox he won one League title (1964), three Scottish Cups (1963, 1964 & 1966), and two League Cups (1964 & 1965). He also earned five international caps between 1963-1965 for Scotland and his phenomenal contribution to Rangers was recognised when he was inducted into the Rangers Hall of Fame, in 2001.

As well as his Scottish caps he also played for Scotland under-23s in 1964, playing one match and scoring once, and also later that year in an SFL trial v SFA match, and then in 1967 appearing once for a Scottish League XI.

An 'Old Firm' clash in September 1967 prematurely ended his run in the side. Provan was the victim of a shocking challenge by Celtic's Bertie Auld, and faced an extended spell on the side-lines as a result of a broken leg. Although he did recover, his time as a first team regular was coming to an end, and in April of 1970 he was released.

Moving initially to Crystal Palace in June 1970 on a free transfer, he spent nine months at Selhurst Park but found first team chances very limited and made just two appearances.

In March 1971, he moved to Home Park under Ellis Stuttard, initially on loan. He training with Palace during the week and then travelled to Home Park for matches. The arrangement suited him as his daughter was receiving treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. His experience proved a great influence on the club and with relegation avoided the move was made permanent the following season.

He spent four years at Home Park, playing across five seasons under Tony Waiters, once Ellis Stuttard had stood down and returned to the Chief Scout role. He made 139 appearances in green and scored 10, most of which were penalties. He was voted Player of the Season for 1971-72 and whilst he missed the most of the League Cup run to the semi-finals in the 1973-74 season, he did return to the side for the FA Cup 3rd tie against Manchester United in January 1974, resulting in a narrow 1-0 defeat. He also led the team out for the famous friendly against Pele's Santos in March 1973, as Argyle ran out 3-2 winners against a team full of Brazilian World Cup winners. With Johnny Hore given the task of marking Pele, Provan had the no less easy task of picking up Edu.

After his time at Home Park and with a burgeoning interest in coaching, he joined St Mirren as player-coach and then Assistant Coach, both under Alex Ferguson, with whom he had played at Rangers. He made 13 appearances for the Paisley side before calling time on his football career to focus on coaching. Provan ended up assistant-manager at the Love Street club under Ferguson, as promotion to the top-tier was achieved. After Fergie had then left for Aberdeen, he returned to Rangers, acting as chief scout from 1978 to 1983, with former Argyle team mate Johnny Hore persuading him to fulfil the same role for Argyle, within Scotland.

He then worked briefly as a sales rep for a whisky company, before a spell as reserve team coach at Partick Thistle under his old Celtic nemesis Bert Auld. In 1987 he then became the manager of Albion Rovers and led them to the Scottish Second Division title (third tier) in the 1988-89 season.

He left the Coatbridge-based side in 1991 and in his later years was again associated with Rangers, working closely with the hospitality department and also worked for the SFA as a Development Coach. He later become a Youth Development Officer for Inverclyde Council whilst continuing with the match-day hosting role at Ibrox.

Sadly Dave passed away in November 2016, at Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow, following a long battle with cancer, aged 75 years old.