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 20^th 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 90 of the 108 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            285     111    92      82     412     374

Scottish Cup      46      16     22       8       59       70

League Cup       45      23     20        2      65       67

All Matches      376     150    134     92     536    511*

* as at October 20, 2007

RANGERS v CELTIC – THE COMPLETE LEAGUE RECORD

IN THE PREMIER DIVISION/SPL
P     W    L    D    F    A
128 44   48  36  167 169

PREMIER AT IBROX
P     W    L    D    F    A
64   28   18   18 103 73

PREMIER AT CELTIC PARK
P     W    L    D    F    A
64    16  30  18   64   96

ALL LEAGUE GAMES
P      W    L    D   F    A
284 110   92  82 409 374

LEAGUE GAMES AT IBROX
P      W    L    D    F    A
142   68  33   41 232 152

LEAGUE GAMES AT CELTIC PARK
P       W    L    D   F    A
142    42   59  41 177 222 

FIVE OLD FIRM FACTS

Rangers’ biggest league victory Celtic was the 5-0 thrashing of September 1893. Their best Premier triumphs were the 5-1 wins of August 1988 and November 2000.

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.