Rob Mason pays tribute as ex-Sunderland and Rangers forward sadly passes

The former Sunderland and Rangers player has sadly passed away at the age of 91 away aged

Former Sunderland and Rangers player Don Kitchenbrand has sadly passed away at the age of 91.

Kichenbrand was born on 13 August 1933 and made his mark in British football during the 1950s, playing for Rangers and Sunderland. Known affectionately as The Rhino by Rangers fans, Kitchenbrand was a trailblazer in many respects. At a time when an unwritten rule discouraged Catholic players from joining Rangers, Kitchenbrand defied the norm, quietly setting aside his faith to pursue his footballing career.

In his first season with Rangers (1955–56), Kichenbrand made an immediate impact, scoring an impressive 24 goals in 25 league appearances and helping the club secure the Scottish League title. His contributions included a memorable winning goal in a 1–0 victory over Old Firm rivals Celtic in January 1956, and a remarkable five-goal performance in an 8–0 win against Queen of the South at Ibrox in March 1956.

Though his time at Rangers was brief due to the rise of Max Murray, Kitchenbrand’s legacy remained intact. He later moved to Sunderland in March 1958, continuing to display his talent and passion for the game. After leaving Rangers, Kichenbrand continued his career at Sunderland, where he played 54 competitive matches and scored 28 goals. In November 1958, he netted a hat-trick in a 4–0 win over Rotherham — Sunderland’s first hat-trick in two years.

In 1960, Kichenbrand returned to his homeland to play for Johannesburg Wanderers and several other teams. He later came back to Scotland for a brief spell with Forfar Athletic in 1962. Don was also honoured to represent his country. In March 1956, he played for a South African representative side made up of British-based players, including his Rangers teammate Johnny Hubbard. The team faced a Scotland XI at Ibrox, narrowly losing 2–1.