News
Foundation And Club Staff Step Aboard HMS Defender
Tue 20th June 2023
The Rangers Charity Foundation and Rangers FC were delighted to be welcomed aboard HMS Defender as she made her final port visit to Glasgow before entering an extensive period of re-fit.
Rangers staff were invited to a reception and capability demonstration as Navy officers gave attendees a guided tour of the vessel. After being shown around the state-of-the-art Type 45 destroyer, attendees were able to watch on as officers lowered the stern flag in a ceremony known as sunsetting.
We have an official affiliation with HMS Defender, and the crew that serve aboard the ship. As a gesture of thanks, the Foundation was delighted to welcome serving crew members for a tour of Ibrox Stadium earlier this week.
Built in Glasgow and launched in 2009, HMS Defender has toured the globe on various exercises since completing sea trials in November 2011. After a short stay in Glasgow, the ship will make another journey south before docking once more for an extensive re-fit.
The Foundation continues to offer strong support to members of the Armed Forces through our Armed Forces Fund which this year benefitted: SSAFA, Combat Stress and Poppyscotland and we also continue to offer free community programmes for veterans including Glasgow Veterans United (GVU) and GVU – Extra Time.
We also are joint signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant with Rangers Football Club and are fully committed to advocating the role that reservists play across the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and British Army.
Through signing the Armed Forces Covenant, the Foundation and the Club were presented with the Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award from the Ministry of Defence to recognise the club and Foundation’s commitment to serving personnel and veterans, making them the first British football club and club charity to be given the ERS Gold Award.
