Peter McNeil

In September, 2009, Heather Lang unveiled a plaque at Fleshers Haugh, Glasgow Green to mark the location of the first match played by Rangers Football Club, against Callendar, in May, 1872.*  There was no one more appropriate to carry out the ceremony than Heather, granddaughter of Gallant Pioneer, Peter McNeil.  Heather and her sister Doreen Holland are the strongest link we have with Peter and his fellow Pioneers; his brother Moses, Peter Campbell and William McBeath.

Heather and Doreen, though, were unaware of their link with the founding of Rangers.  Grandfather Peter had a tragic end to his life.  It was probably because of this, their mother, Gertrude, daughter of Peter and his wife, Janet, never spoke of her father.  He had died in Hawkhead Asylum, on 30 March, 1901.  He had clearly suffered from a form of mental illness, though his death was recorded a “general paralysis.

Peter was born in about 1854, a year before his brother and fellow Pioneer, Moses.  In his mid-teens, he had moved to Glasgow with other members of his family.  Peter played in the first match against Callendar, in May, 1872.  He was one of the Club’s earliest captains and was a regular in the side until 1876.  It was off the field of play, though, Peter McNeil made his greatest contribution to the formative years of the Club. 

William Dunlop tells of Peter heading to Fleshers Haugh about noon to secure the field for the Club.  The goalposts would be planted and he would then have to watch over the field until the “appointed hour”.**  When his playing days were over, and he gave way to better players, he became honorary secretary.  He held this position from 1876 – 1883.  He was vice-president from 1886 – 1888.  He was a greatly respected administrator, serving as treasurer of the Scottish Football Association from 1879 – 1883.  He was known as “Genial Peter”, a much-loved and respected figure within Scottish Football.

Peter had given up his football commitments in 1883, to concentrate on the business he ran with his brother, Harry, “H and P McNeil”.  It was one of the forerunners of the modern sports outfitters.***  The business had started  in the mid-seventies.  The original premises had been in Renfield Street but in 1883, the brothers moved to Union Street.  They were suppliers of outfits to Rangers and a number of other clubs.

In March, 1885, Peter married Janet.  Rangers Football Club presented the happy couple with “a beautiful inlaid marble clock and a pair of equestrian bronzes”.  Within five years, the family was complete with the birth of John Fraser and Gertrude Grace.  Despite the happy home life, it was clear the pressure of business was taking its toll of Peter.  How much brother Harry contributed to the business we do not know.  Harry had been one of the most famous and most popular footballers of his day.  He played for Queen’s Park and had been an established Scottish internationalist.  For many years after he retired from playing, his name was frequently recorded in the sports media of the day.  Did he have any input to the business of H & P McNeil or was it just a case of his name being used? 

By the mid 1890’s Harry had left Scotland with brother Moses to run the Royal Hotel in their mother Jean’s home county of Downpatrick.  The business of H & P McNeil disappeared from the PO Directory by 1896.  Had there been a family feud to cause an end to the business?  We do not know.  Had bankruptcy come to Peter?  The deterioration of his mental health caused anguish to his family. In January, 1901, he was committed to Hawkhead Asylum.

Two years after Peter’s death, Janet married again, to James Fulton.  She died, aged seventy-four, in a Glasgow nursing home, in April, 1932.  She had been widowed a second time.  She had seen her daughter Grace marry William Stewart Chapman in 1925. 

Peter McNeil lies with his parents, John and Jean, and older brother William in an unmarked grave at Craigton Cemetery.  There is a sign a stone marked the grave at one time.  A short distance from Peter is the grave of William Struth.  But for Peter and his three fellow Pioneers, we may never have known the greatest of all managers.

*The Founders Plaque at Fleshers Haugh

**"True Blue" - Page 5

***H & P McNeil shop adverts

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