Willie Woodburn, part of the 'Iron Curtain' defence of the late 1940s and early 1950s, was a member of the first Rangers team to win the domestic treble, in 1948/49. Nicknamed 'Big Ben', he collected four Scottish championship medals, four Scottish Cups and two League Cups in an illustrious career at Ibrox.

But Woodburn will be best remembered as the player whose career was prematurely ended when the SFA imposed a unique life ban in 1954.The sine die punishment was dealt out to Woodburn after he was twice sent off for retaliation during matches between Rangers and Stirling Albion. A fierce competitor, Woodburn was suspended for six weeks and warned over his future conduct after the initial red card in a 2-0 defeat in 1953. When he repeated his crime in a League Cup tie the following year, the SFA issued the swingeing punishment after a disciplinary meeting lasting only four minutes.

The ban rocked the game in Scotland, with most observers believing that Woodburn - who won 24 caps for Scotland between 1947 and 1952 - had been harshly treated. The SFA lifted the suspension three years later but, at 38, Woodburn never returned to football, his career forever tarnished by the ban. Rangers supporters, of course, will prefer to remember him playing alongside the likes of Bobby Brown, George Young, Jock Shaw, Ian McColl and Sammy Cox.

Willie Woodburn

His name was Willie Woodburn
And his crime was too much heart
He gave his all for Rangers
On the field of Ibrox park
Then they banished him forever
With the one they call sine die
The name of Willie Woodburn
In our hearts will never dir

Why must he go, why can't he stay
He gave his all, that he might play
He gave his all, each Saturday
And left his heart down Ibrox way

Now the English down at Wembley
And the Welsh they know his name
Take a trip to dear old Belfast
And they'll tell you just the same
For no matter where you wander
Where they play this football game
There's a legend lives amongst them
Willie Woodburn is his name

Why must he go, why can't he stay
He gave his all, that he might play
He gave his all, each Saturday
And left his heart down Ibrox way