40 years on: Terry Butcher's Rangers move, the weight of history, standards that must be met & James Tavernier

On a rare return to Govan earlier this year, it brought those memories flooding back. Butcher had arrived in Glasgow in 1986 with a fearsome reputation as England’s captain and one of the most formidable defenders of his generation. What followed was a difficult beginning before Graeme Souness’ side found their stride.

It is a story he sees parallels with in the present, particularly when considering Emmanuel Fernandez’s shaky form so far this season and the demands placed upon a Rangers defender.

“There’s no similarity with me because I wasn't quick, so don't worry about that,” Butcher says with characteristic humour. “He's got nothing to live up to there!”

The comparison is less about playing style and more temperament. Fernandez, at 6ft 4in, possesses the physical attributes expected of a modern centre-back, but Butcher believes the greater challenge is understanding what wearing the Rangers shirt demands.

“It will be a big test of character for Manny because he’ll now understand a little bit more of what's expected of him at Rangers,” he says. “But you've got to carry that all through the season. So there’s another eight, nine months that he’s got to hit those standards.

“The thing is though, to play for Rangers, you must have the right temperament, because you're up there with the big boys and you're treading on history every step that you take on that football pitch.”

Butcher points to Mark Hateley as proof that even players of considerable pedigree can require time to adapt. Hateley endured a difficult opening period after joining Rangers from Monaco, with doubts quickly emerging over his value.

“When someone like Mark, with that sort of strength of character, struggles, it shows it can happen to anyone,” Butcher says. “He had a very difficult few months too and a lot of people were saying it was a waste of money.”

His message to Fernandez is therefore less a warning than an encouragement. The qualities are there, but they must become consistent.

“He’s got the attributes, and it's just the players around him that he needs possibly help from - some support,” Butcher reckons. “But he's got a good manager who is top when it comes to one-on-one leadership and man management, so I wouldn't have any worries about that. I'm sure he will get better. ”

Fernandez is part of a Rangers side still finding its balance under new boss Derek McInnes. Butcher recalls his own difficult introduction to Scottish football: defeat by Hibs at Easter Road, followed by another loss to Dundee United at Ibrox.

“You’re right in the deep end then because everyone is saying that it was a pretty catastrophic start,” he recalls. “I think anybody who goes to Scotland thinks it's going to be a bit of a stroll because it's not going to be like the English Premier League. Sometimes when you pull that jersey on, players might think, ‘I've made it now, I'm playing for Glasgow Rangers.’ But you can't think like that.”

However, history shows that difficult beginnings need not determine the ending.

“You can recover from a difficult start,” Butcher adds. “It’s not about how you start; it’s how you finish. This season especially, it'll hit every player right between the eyes because they’re expected to do better, they want to do better.”

The responsibility, he insists, is collective. “It’s not about individuals when you’re playing for Rangers and Celtic. You’ve got to stick together as a team.”

Butcher’s own experience gives those words particular force. He remembers the moment he first entered the Rangers trophy room and understood the scale of the institution he had joined.

“Nothing prepares you for actually walking through those doors,” he admits. “But you want to be a part of Rangers’ history, and going into the trophy room is when it properly hits you. It’s a big responsibility. You’ve got to pull your finger out and you’ve got to play well each week. That was the mantra. It was a big honour to be there, and I wanted to justify Graeme’s plunge into the transfer market to get me.”

Butcher was handed the captaincy almost immediately, an honour he describes as a “natural progression” after leading Ipswich Town and representing England. Yet the armband was almost incidental. “You didn’t need an armband,” he shrugs. “To be captain was special, But I always said, anybody I played alongside was a captain anyway.”

That sense of collective responsibility also informs his assessment of James Tavernier’s departure at the end of last season. Butcher never met the former Rangers skipper and is careful not to claim an insight into the decision-making behind his exit. But purely as a footballer, he believes Tavernier offered qualities that are difficult to replace.

“The goals he scored were unbelievable for a full-back,” he says. “I know he took a lot of penalties, but he got forward very well and finished very well. You need goals to stay up, you need goals to win titles, you need goals to win cups. Plus, he has a lot of experience.”

Tavernier’s penalty-taking, delivery and attacking instincts made him an unusual weapon from full-back. “Maybe there would have been a place for him in my team,” Butcher replied when asked if he would have retained the Englishman. “I thought he had a great career at Rangers. I don’t know the ins and outs, but he certainly gave his all on the pitch.”

Butcher’s priorities have changed profoundly since his playing days, particularly through his work with Combat2Coffee and the veteran community following his son Christopher's death. “Everything that's gone before, including Rangers and Ipswich and England, it doesn't matter,” he says. “But you have to live with that. He’s gone, and it leaves such a void.”

*Tickets for An Evening with Terry Butcher at Edmiston House on Friday 4th September are available from www.edmistonhouse.co.uk