The Rangers-Celtic Old Firm rivalry is one of the oldest and fiercest in world football, dating back to the late 19th century when Celtic were founded in Glasgow´s East End.
The teams first met at Celtic Park on May 28, 1888 in what was also the Parkhead club´s first-ever match. Around 2,000 fans saw the home side win 5-2.
The nickname ´The Old Firm´ originated during the early year of the 20th century when the clubs began to dominate Scottish football and the term in part referred to the financial benefits associated with their frequent meetings.
No two teams have dominated their national championship as much as Rangers and Celtic - between them they have won 89 of the 107 Scottish titles available since 1890.
And they have also contested numerous dramatic head-to-head encounters.
Here are the stats on how the Light Blues have fared against their old foes.
RANGERS´ COMPLETE RECORD v CELTIC:
P W L D F A
League 276 107 89 80 402 366
Scottish Cup 46 16 22 8 59 70
League Cup 44 23 19 2 65 65
All Matches 366 146 130 90 526 501*
* as at April 25, 2005
RANGERS´ OLD FIRM LEAGUE RECORD:
IN THE PREMIER DIVISION/SPL
P W L D F A
120 41 45 34 160 161
PREMIER AT IBROX
P W L D F A
60 26 17 17 97 70
PREMIER AT CELTIC PARK
P W L D F A
60 15 28 17 63 91
ALL LEAGUE GAMES
P W L D F A
276 107 89 80 402 366
LEAGUE GAMES AT IBROX
P W L D F A
138 66 32 40 226 149
LEAGUE GAMES AT CELTIC PARK
P W L D F A
138 41 57 40 176 217
* stats correct at April 25, 2005
FIVE OLD FIRM FACTS
Rangers´ biggest league victory over Celtic was the 5-0 thrashing in September 1893. Their best Premier triumphs were the 5-1 wins of August 1988 and November 2001.
The largest crowd ever to watch an Old Firm game was the 132,870 which saw the 1969 Scottish Cup Final at Hampden. The clubs hold the British record attendance for a league match - 118,567 watched their New Year derby at Ibrox on January 2, 1939.
The Light Blues´ best score in an Old Firm fixture was the 8-1 rout of January 1, 1943. Unfortunately, like all wartime games, the match is classed as unofficial!
Ally McCoist is Rangers´ top modern-day goalscorer in Old Firm matches with 27 goals between 1983 and 1998. However the famous R.C. Hamilton hit 35 goals against Celtic in various competitions during the late 1890s and early 1900s. Celtic´s leading scorer in the fixture is Jimmy McGrory, who ties with McCoist on 27.
Alfie Conn is the only player to have won Scottish Cup medals with both Old Firm sides. The midfielder scored for Rangers in the 1973 Old Firm Final and was in the Celtic team which defeated Gers 1-0 in 1977.
