Irish League’s Andrew Mitchell and Chris Hegarty look back on dream days in Rangers blue

Larne midfielder Andrew Mitchell may have made just 18 senior appearances for Rangers, but he has had the pleasure of winning two league winners’ medals at the club during his five years at Ibrox Park.
Rangers' Andrew Mitchell during the friendly with Linfield in 2013. Pic by PressEye Ltd.Rangers' Andrew Mitchell during the friendly with Linfield in 2013. Pic by PressEye Ltd.
Rangers' Andrew Mitchell during the friendly with Linfield in 2013. Pic by PressEye Ltd.

Former Linfield favourite Mitchell, from Newtownabbey, won a Scottish Third Division medal for Rangers in 2012/13 season and, earlier, captained the Rangers reserves team to a Scottish Reserve League title.

For Mitchell, being part of the Rangers team that clinched the Third Division title before 50,000 fans at Ibrox in May, 2013 was a huge achievement. Indeed, on that afternoon, he was voted ‘Man of the Match’ in the game against Berwick Rangers.

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Mitchell, who was at Manchester City for five years from a 13-year-old youth, signed for Rangers at 18 in 2010 and played under the management of both Walter Smith and Ally McCoist.

Chris Hegarty with Rangers in 2013. Pic by PA.Chris Hegarty with Rangers in 2013. Pic by PA.
Chris Hegarty with Rangers in 2013. Pic by PA.

“During my years at Rangers, the Northern Ireland contingent included, at various times, Steve Davis, Kyle Lafferty, Andy Little, David Healy and Chris Hegarty, plus Matthew Clarke and Josh Robinson who played with me at Linfield,” he said. “I made my Rangers debut as a right-winger in a Scottish Premier League game against Dundee United at Tannadice Park in 2011 which we won 2-1.

“The following Saturday I was on the bench for the ‘Old Firm’ game against Celtic at Ibrox. Rangers won this game 3-2, with Andy Little scoring the winning goal, I was then only 19.

“At the end of that season, Rangers were unfortunately relegated due to well-publicised administrative problems, but I was retained for another two years and was given an important role in helping win the Third Division, which ensured promotion to the next level.

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“Over that period, I received six ‘Man of the Match’ awards - I was by then a defender who could also play in midfield.

“Playing for such a huge club as the Glasgow Rangers has given some wonderful memories, I am grateful for the coaching I received there from guys like Ian Durrant and Jim Sinclair.

“Coming from the New Mossley estate, where there are a lot of Rangers fans, it was a popular move for me.

“I left Rangers to join Annan United in Scotland and also had a short spell at Southport in England.

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“I returned home to Northern Ireland to join Crusaders, where I won an Irish League winners’ medal,” said Mitchell. “I then had two-and-a-half seasons at Linfield, a club, after Rangers, I always wanted to play for.

“I also won a League winners’ medal there.”

Dungannon’s Chris Hegarty figured with Rangers as a full-back in the Scottish Third Division in 2012/2013 and in League One the following season.

He joined Rangers in 2010 after a spell in London with Millwall and, in May 2012, made his senior debut for Ally McCoist’s team in a friendly against Linfield at Windsor Park.

Hegarty went on to make 34 appearances (with two goals) as Rangers progressed their journey from the Scottish Third Division to the Premiership after the club’s financial difficulties in early 2012.

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Injury problems, however, halted his progress, but Hegarty, looking back, has plenty of great memories from his four years at Rangers.

“I fulfilled an ambition by playing for the club I grew up supporting and I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity,” he said. “It was a wonderful experience playing for such a mighty club.

“My Rangers experience has been the highlight of my career.”

On leaving Rangers, Hegarty signed with Linfield in 2014 and spent two seasons at Windsor Park, part of which was plagued by injury, then moved on to his hometown side Dungannon Swifts before joining current club Crusaders.

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Extracts from ‘Rangers Football Club - the Ulster Connection’ by Billy Kennedy. (Published 2019 by Books 4 Publishing). Available in hardback and softback at Rangers superstores in Belfast (Ann Street) and Glasgow (St Enoch’s Square) and online from Amazon.