Icons of Football: John Greig by those who know him best

Archie Macpherson, journalist and broadcaster

There are people in football who are born leaders and born captains and John Greig was.

I remember John Greig sometimes in illustrious ways, when times were hard for Rangers, because he held them together. He could only do that with stature – he was upright.

One of the great things about John Greig was he was a hard man, left some bruises throughout the years, a great goalscorer at times for Rangers at crucial times – and for Scotland – and, once you’ve totalled that up, there’s one more thing about him, respect from opponents. People who met him liked him enormously. He could get on with folk.

He was the greatest Ranger of all because of the total and comprehensive commitment to the club and institution.

Peter McCloy, former team-mate

He was a leader on the park because he drove the team forward.

John always led by example. His commitment and his way about the game is why the fans took to him because of his wholehearted effort on the pitch.

He epitomises what a captain of Rangers is all about. He never dropped his standards.