Share

South African soccer legend Hubbard dies

London,  - South African Johnny Hubbard, the only foreigner to score a hat-trick for Scottish side Rangers in a derby with bitter Glasgow rivals, Celtic has died aged 87 the club announced.

Hubbard - also known as the "Penalty King" for his astonishing conversion rate of 65 in 68 penalties taken - joined Rangers aged 19 in 1949.

He tasted plenty of success in his 10 years at the club, being part of three title winning sides as well as the 1953 Scottish Cup.

He scored 106 goals in 238 appearances for them - including the famous hat-trick in the Old Firm derby in 1955.

Hubbard, who became the first player from Africa to play in the European Cup when he turned out for Rangers against French side Nice in October 1956, moved to English side Bury in 1959 and finished his career back in Scotland with Ayr United.

"Everyone at Rangers sends their heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Johnny Hubbard after the former Light Blues winger passed away peacefully today at the age of 87," said Rangers chairman Dave King in a statement.

"All of us at Rangers are deeply saddened by the news that Mr Hubbard has passed away. He was an inspirational player for Rangers and was also one of our most passionate supporters.

"Mr Hubbard wasn't just a great Ranger, he was also a wonderful person. He was a gentleman and will be missed terribly by everyone connected with our club."

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
How much would you be prepared to pay for a ticket to watch the Springboks play against the All Blacks at Ellis Park or Cape Town Stadium this year?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
R0 - R200
33% - 1818 votes
R200 - R500
32% - 1781 votes
R500 - R800
19% - 1084 votes
R800 - R1500
8% - 461 votes
R1500 - R2500
3% - 187 votes
I'd pay anything! It's the Boks v All Blacks!
5% - 254 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE