GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - MARCH 08: Rangers' James Tavernier (C) and teammates watch on during the penalty shoot-out during a Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Quarter-Final match between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox Stadium, on March 08, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Barry Ferguson has paid tribute to James Tavernier.
Apparently the former Wigan Athletic ace is the ultimate professional.
From 11 seasons at Ibrox Tavernier has won three out of 32 trophies. That could rise to three out of 33 if he fails to win this season’s SPFL Premiership.
Despite that record Tav is in the Hall of Fame alongside legends of the old club like Lee McCulloch, Jorg Albertz, Nacho Novo and Stefan Klos.
TAVERNIER- THE UNDER APPRECIATED LEGEND
With no sign of a new contract on the table it looks like we are watching the final stages of a career that at some stages almost rose to mediocrity.
For fans across Scotland Tavpen is a figure of fun. The poster boy of failure, for a club that thinks that it is something that it clearly isn’t.
Ferguson took over as interim manager last season before resuming cheerleader duties in the media.
This week he paid homage to Tavernier in his Daily Record column which is apparently all his own work:
Trust me on this one, Tav is the consummate professional and, despite what anyone else out there may think, he lives and breathes Rangers Football Club in very much the same way that I always have.
That’s why I know how much he’ll be hurting every time his name is not on Danny Rohl ’s team sheet, now that this season is reaching such a crucial stage. But it won’t change the way he goes about his business.
And I would say the exact same thing for big John Souttar who was also a real stalwart for me during my short time in charge.
These guys get it. It matters to them. The club is right under their skin.
And I very quickly realised that I could place my complete and utter trust in them because I could see they cared as much as I did.
Ferguson added:
Let me tell you something about Tav. He was the first one into training every morning. And when the work was done for the day and the rest of the boys were heading home, he’d go back out with a bag of balls to practice his set pieces.
Outstanding- a professional sportsman spends some extra time practicing his job!
Is it the over hit corner kicks that he works on, the wee dance before taking a penalty.
Thankfully for Celtic it wasn’t taking penalties as he sent his last one into the Copland Stand after crashing off the bar.
To be fair to Tav he did win both coin tosses to decide which end the penalties are taken at and who took the first.
Strangely there has been no mention yet of a Testimonial match for the legendary coin tosser.
Giving loyal bears the opportunity to salute a modern great and give him the sort of send off that his career deserves.
So far there has been no suggestions of a pre contract deal being done by a club in need of a penalty taker. At the age of 34 there should still be a few seasons left in the second best player in the Tavernier household.
Yes indeed, Tavpen is an accomplished tosser.
BTW. What is it about them that he “gets”?
Masonry & orangeism.
Their shite. 🙂
Given the reverence in which he is held by the likes of Barry Gobshite and the fact that he actually shows up for work each day with some enthusiasm, he is captain after all, maybe he deserves a World First in testimonials. One way of showing respect used to be a minute’s silence although the usual PC fannies seem to be extending that to 2 minutes or more.
So, to give him the respect he has earned, Andrew Cavenagh has ‘reportedly’ come up with the ’90 MINUTE SILENCE FOR TAV’ craic. After some investigative work AC has found that rather a lot of bears, unlike the aforesaid gobshite, don’t really care much for TavPen so his testimonial will be held behind closed doors as a mark of true, loyal respect.
The savings on opening up the stadium, policing/stewarding it and other savings will be paid directly to The Andrew Cavenagh Foundation as will any and all future profits right up until the sale of the new business to the ever-expanding Aldi. Bears may wish to invest in some ‘Medicare’ (via AC Foundation) for when the inevitable happens…..it’s not that far away.
NB Please keep this quiet from Peter T Lawwell as the shock of the death of his cherished O** F*** might ‘knock him off the perch’ after all his efforts trying to help with the pretence that Rangers FC didn’t die in 2012 despite the FACT that they did and their fans now follow, follow a new company that has absolutely NO footballing history prior to 2012 and had NO eligibility to join the then Scottish Football league at the lowest level. Neil Doncaster in 2012: “There is no mechanism for what we’re trying to do here.” as the 5 WA was hatched.
Lest they forget!
Well summed up, TicToc. Your factual summing up of the situation should make the Sevco lackies in the MSM hang their heads.
Much appreciated comment, GMac, cheers.
Unification and all that, sans Wilson and his hypocritical ilk, is essential.
I’m also quite happy with negative comment on here as it informs general opinion, if genuine.
Great site which moves on at pace and hence difficult to ‘converse’.
Has Hammy1967 hacked your account??
If that (Hammy 1967) was the ‘gambling ad’ I already commented on that thread.
Dixie D, what a player, a wee bit smaller than me but with a bigger heart: how he timed a ‘jump’. Bought him from M’well, I think? Great memories.
HHDD
Tava(No)near enough winners medals !!!
I think yez are being harsh on Tavernier. I’ve never once seen or heard him play the loyalist/orange card, or diss any other player or team. Ye can be a prod without being a hun, and play for them and no’ be a dobber.