Tom Forsyth (1949 - 2020)

Everyone at Rangers Football Club is sad to learn of the news that our former player, Tom Forsyth, has passed away this evening. We pass on our heartfelt condolences to the entire family circle at this difficult time.

RANGERS Football Club today mourns the loss of one of the club’s most iconic players – Tom Forsyth.

More likely to be known as ‘Tam’ or ‘Jaws’ (the origin of the latter nickname we’ll come to), he won three league titles, four Scottish Cups and two League Cups in a spell spanning 10 seasons from 1972/73 to 1981/82.

Beginning his career in the Lanarkshire juniors, as so many players of the time did, at Stonehouse Violet, he was picked up by nearby Motherwell in 1967 and made 150 appearances for the Fir Parkers before earning a move to Cup Winners’ Cup holders Gers in 1972, aged 23.

Already a Scotland international by that point, he joined Jock Wallace as he added steel to his side with the Light Blues looking to overhaul the dominant Celtic side of that time.

Indeed, Gers finished but a point off their Old Firm rivals in 1972-73, and while that would have been agonising for Wallace and his young squad, the real sign that the tide was perhaps turning came in the ‘centenary’ Scottish Cup final of 1973.

An incredible 122,000 supporters packed onto Hampden Park’s terraces – and it appeared the league winners would make it a double, Kenny Dalglish opening the scoring.

Derek Parlane equalised, however, before Alfie Conn had Wallace’s men deservedly 2-1 ahead early in the second half.

George Connelly levelled matters again from the penalty spot, but Rangers were not to be denied.

Derek Johnstone headed against the post on 61 minutes, and the loose ball rolled along the goal line. There at the back post to poke it home from only a matter of inches out was Forsyth – that being his first goal in the colours of Rangers.

It secured the club their first Scottish Cup since 1966, and in a previous interview, Forsyth recalled: “To play in your first Scottish Cup final and score the winning goal was just a dream come true. As a boy, you dream about those things and it was unbelievable really… I just followed it in, but I honestly thought Derek’s header was going in.

“They all say I nearly missed it but I tapped it in and they can’t take it away from me. Derek did all the hard work by heading it off both posts, but I got the goal and the credit, which was unusual.”

1973-74 was to be a disappointment for Forsyth and Wallace, but 1974-75 was to be the season, as Gers won the title for the first time in 11 years.

Key to that success was the defensive partnership between Forsyth and his great friend, the late Colin Jackson.

So tough was he at the back, one comparison earned him a nickname in the Scottish press which would forever be remembered by his teammates and the club’s supporters.

“A reporter, Allan Herron, made up the name ‘Jaws’ for me,” said Forsyth. “I didn’t really like it but it seemed to stick.

“If I had caught him, I would have killed him! I think the nickname came from the way I played. I was an uncompromising kind of player and I think the name arose from that.

"The film was not long out and so the reporter made the comparison between me and the killer shark.”

That league title in 1975 opened the floodgates for Rangers, and with Forsyth at the back, he played a major role as the club claimed the treble in both 1976 and 1978.

With that came Scotland honours – he played all three games as the Scots won the Home Championship in 1976, and started in that famous game at Wembley a year later as Ally McLeod’s side claimed a 2-1 victory there and many of the visiting fans headed back north with pieces of the stadium’s furniture as souvenirs.

There was a massive expectation then as Scotland jetted out to the World Cup in Argentina in 1978, but it was to be a disappointing campaign – a defeat to Peru was followed by a draw with Iran before it ended in typical, glorious failure with a 3-2 win over eventual finalists The Netherlands.

Back to Rangers it was for Forsyth, and under new manager John Greig, he was to spend long spells of the next three seasons injured – and perhaps it was no coincidence Gers struggled to recapture their form of the years previous.

His final honour came in 1981, Rangers defeating Dundee United 4-1 in a Davie Cooper-inspired Scottish Cup final replay win before announcing his retirement on medical grounds the following year.

A short spell in charge of Dunfermline followed before he headed back to Motherwell to become assistant to former teammate and another close friend in Tommy McLean.

They would lead ‘Well to the Scottish Cup in 1991 – one of their greatest days – before following McLean to Hearts.

He was inducted into Rangers’ Hall of Fame in 2003, and until recent times, he remained a well-known face around Ibrox, working in the hospitality suites at the stadium.

A hero at Motherwell and with the Scottish national team, and a real Rangers legend and cult hero, he described just what it meant to him to represent the Light Blues: “I always wanted to play for a top club and when I got the chance to play for Rangers it was a fantastic moment.

“People watching games probably wonder what it’s like, but words can’t describe it. I think you have to experience it to be able to know what it’s all about and, of course, not too many get the chance.”

In his latter years, Tom continued to support the Club. Most recently, Tom hosted hospitality events as a match day ex-player, visiting the lounges and sharing stories with guests. He was also well known amongst many RSCs across the UK and beyond, his passion for Rangers never waned.

He will be sorely missed by everyone at Rangers Football Club.

Tom Forsyth: 1949-2020

  • 326 Rangers Appearances

  • Six Rangers Goals

  • Three League Titles

  • Four Scottish Cups

  • Two League Cups

  • 22 Scotland Caps