Remembering David Hagen

Sad news hearing about the death of David Hagen at the age of 47 after a battle with Motor Neurone Disease. Couldn’t say how many times I watched David play, certainly over fifty and maybe closer to a hundred. David joined Rangers from Grahamston Boys Club, he first came to prominence as a member of the Scotland U16 Squad that lost on penalties to Saudi Arabia in the 1989 World Championship at Hampden.

Scotland Under 16’s 1989 – David is on the extreme right front row

A regular in Rangers reserve and youth teams he was a member of the Glasgow Cup winning side of 1992, who beat Celtic 1-0 at Firhill on 15th January. He made his first team debut as a substitute against Hearts at Ibrox in September 1992 a game Rangers won 2-0.

He went on to make around twenty competitive appearances for Rangers, scoring three goals, against Hibs (March 1993), Partick Thistle (April 1993) and Hearts (August 1993). The highlight of his Rangers career would have been his late substitute appearance, replacing Ian Durrant, in Rangers 2-1 Champions League group stage win over Bruges at Ibrox on 17th March 1993.

David at Rangers

On leaving Rangers he joined Hearts where he made around thirty appearances scoring four goals. His home town club Falkirk followed with almost 150 games. David scored the only goal in Falkirk’s 1997 Challenge Cup win over Queen of the South at Fir Park.

Kevin McAllister, Alex Totten, David Hagen and Walter Kidd celebrate Falkirk’s 1997 Challenge Cup win.

A further 150 games followed for Livingston, Clyde and Peterhead. In 2006/2007 season he played his final season in the Junior ranks with Boness United before retiring.

He gained seven Scotland Under 21 caps.

Falkirk announced in July 2018 that David was suffering from MND. David’s “Last Game” was a testimonial on 21st October 2018, when a Rangers XI took on a Falkirk/Hearts select at The Falkirk Stadium. It was a disappointing turnout for the 4pm kick-off. Rangers played a league game at Hamilton on the same day, kicking off at 1.30pm. I felt the clubs could have found a more suitable date and time for the game.

David with Cammy Palmer at his benefit game.

A quick dash from New Douglas Park got us to The Falkirk Stadium in time for the kick-off and you can read my report on the game below.

https://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/david-hagen-benefit-match/

RIP David.