Rangers are set to welcome Stranraer to Ibrox Stadium tonight in the Scottish Cup and the Dumfriesshire club will also be welcomed to take part in the Loving Cup ceremony.
The traditional ceremony involves the directors of both clubs taking a sip from the Loving Cup in commemoration of the coronation in May 1937 of Their Majesties King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
The cup is passed around after giving the Loyal Toast and directors and management are invited to take a sip before the first game at Ibrox of every New Year.
This unique tradition stretches back to 1937 when Rangers were invited to Stoke City to play a charity match to raise funds after the Holditch Colliery Disaster.
Originally, 22 of the 30 cups were given to the English First Division teams, with others going to the British Museum and various other organisations.
Following the disaster, then Ibrox manager, the legendary Bill Struth, accepted the invitation from then Stoke City President, Sir Francis Joseph, to partake in the match.
After the game finished goalless, Sir Francis presented Rangers with the Loving Cup as a token of the Stoke community’s gratitude.
Alongside the gifting of the cup, Sir Francis’ “one request was that the vessel should be used in perpetuity to drink to the health of the reigning monarch prior to the club’s first home match of every year” [Rangers].
So as it is, the directors of Rangers, Stranraer and various other representatives shall take part in the ceremony as Gers prepare to play the Blues at Ibrox this evening.
