Going into Saturday’s game with Alloa with 14 goals to his name, James Tavernier’s leveller in the match set a new club goal scoring record.
Tied on 14 with John Greig and Sandy Jardine, Tavernier’s 15th of the season sets a new record for Rangers when it comes to goal scoring fullbacks, and to achieve that in his first season with the club, well the 24 year old was delighted.
Speaking to the Official Site after hoisting the Championship trophy aloft at the full time whistle, he joked that the banter with Greig in recent times had been good over the record.
‘Before this I had scored five as my most goals, I started off the season by scoring a lot of goals and there was talk of how many I was going to score. When I was getting to the record of John Greig we started to have a little bit of banter and it began to be something that I had set my sights on. When I began to miss chances, especially at the beginning of the game knowing it was a crucial game and I wanted to break it at Ibrox. It`s been an incredible journey and I am happy to set a record now as well. I saw John before and he gave me a good clap around the head because he thought I might have just levelled up with him but he`s trying all sorts with me, saying that because I`ve scored an own goal too it cancels one out.’
He added.
‘Yes I scored today but it was quite disappointing we lost points, we want to finish strongly and we have to do better. After that it has been a great day and the fans were here supporting in numbers so it`s been fantastic.’
Having lifted the Championship trophy at the full time whistle after the disappointing draw, he went on to say that lifting the League One title with Bristol City last season, this celebration was extra special to him.
‘Just to walk around the pitch with my kids and to be able to savour it and soak it all up. I was thinking this morning when I got in the shower just how quick this season has gone so I knew I had to take today in and soak it up as much as I could and I`m sure I did that. It has been incredible even from the first pre-season game against Burnley and the entire season here has been fantastic. Playing in front of all those fans is amazing, it is some stadium and it has a lot of history and I can`t wait to get back here next season.’
With promotion clinched and the possibility of European football, he ended by saying.
‘There are exciting times ahead, there will be a lot of Old Firm games which we are looking forward to but we need to finish the season strongly now. There is a potential place in Europe so we need to work hard and we`ll go from there.’
