The Clutha tragedy has put Ibrox strife into perspective

[Bothwellbear 1,392]

Rangers manager Ally McCoist: The Clutha tragedy has put Ibrox strife into perspective

10 Dec 2013 07:23

WITH the battle for power in the Rangers boardroom showing no sign of abating, McCoist reckons recent events outwith football have brought home to everyone what really matters in life.

Rangers boss McCoist

Danny Lawson/PA Wire

ALLY McCOIST awoke on Sunday to screaming headlines about the delay in finalising his wage reduction as Rangers boss.

By the afternoon, he was soaked through to the skin and flashing a trademark grin after scoring in a rain-lashed charity game which delivered a huge doze of reality.

It was a rare day off for the Ibrox gaffer and he admits turning out for an East Kilbride Community Trust side against Dukla Pumpherston once again put the chaos and turmoil at the Light Blues into perspective.

The reminder of life’s priorities came as he pulled on the boots to raise funds for the family of EKFC coach Rab McMillan who died last month aged just 53 after suffering a heart attack on the training pitch.

Also benefiting from the charity match was Kilby Sunday Club, which supports children with special needs.

And McCoist insists boardroom battles and wage cuts were the last thing on his mind as he netted a trademark strike in front of his hometown fans at the weekend.

After showing his penalty box instincts are still well-tuned, the Rangers boss admitted the Clutha helicopter crash in Glasgow brought another jolt to the senses about overstating the importance of strife within a football club.

He said: “Sometimes you need to take a step back and look at the real tragedies some people are confronted with.

“We have been given a stark reminder of that recently with the helicopter crash in Glasgow.

“I think we could all be doing with taking a small reality check, especially coming up to this time of year.

“Whether that is underprivileged kids or those people out there who are less fortunate than ourselves.

“The tragedy at the Clutha pub does give you a jolt about what really matters in life.

“If ever you start to get carried away with your own problems and you start saying to yourself, ‘this is a disaster’ a reality check every now and again doesn’t do you any harm.

“These are two great causes. As a regular visitor, I know how much The Sunday Club means to the children and I think everyone in the East Kilbride football community was touched by the loss of Rab.”

McCoist’s support of the East Kilbride Community Trust does not just consist of personal appearances in celebrity football games as he’s more hands on than he’d care to admit.

But the Gers gaffer is adamant he takes more out of his involvement with the charity than he puts in.

Fresh from a weekend win over Ayr United which has taken his Rangers side 16 points clear at the top of League One, McCoist admits that statistic mattered little to the children he had given up his time to support.

He said: “From a selfish point of view, I come to functions such as the one on Sunday and I get a huge boost from them.

“I do get a reality check and I’m reminded there are more important things in life than football.

“In a selfish way, we feel good about being involved in this initiative which isn’t really the idea.

“It’s about seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces and with the greatest respect to them, they couldn’t give a monkey’s that we beat Ayr United 3-0 at the weekend or that we have drawn Dunfermline at home in the Scottish Cup.

“They just want to see Santa and want to be happy. That, in the grand scheme of things, is more important than anything.”

Hundreds of spectators gathered at East Kilbride’s K-Park for a game which gave McCoist the chance to get back to his roots for a very good cause.

The Rangers legend’s family still live locally and he insists it’s a labour of love for him to return to the town of his birth to raise money for local charities.

He said: “It’s absolutely fantastic to come along and see all the kids enjoying themselves and having the chance to meet Santa.

“This is basically all about putting something back into the community. I am born and bred in East Kilbride and my mum still lives in Calderwood so I come back to the town at least a couple of times a week.

“A lot of my mates still stay in Calderwood so this is really important and it’s something which is very close to me.

“There are a lot more people behind the scenes who put in a whole lot more work than me.

“My role here is effectively to turn up and smile while I get my photograph taken.

“There are loads of people who put in so much of their own time to help improve the lives of other people who aren’t so fortunate.

“The work which goes on behind the scenes is fantastic and I only play a small part in what is a terrific charity which helps so many.”

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

Ally: keeping it real!

[AlCapone 7,678]

sad though it is we are turning into a nation of proffesional grievers

[Redwhiteandblue 3,330]

sad though it is we are turning into a nation of proffesional grievers

Some people seem to revel in it. How many times are we going to hear that death puts football into perspective?

It's getting ridiculous now.

[danger ranger 922]

Some people seem to revel in it. How many times are we going to hear that death puts football into perspective?

It's getting ridiculous now.

Death is part and parcel of being a human, people die every day, that doesn't put our strife in perspective, Ally needs to keep his mouth shut and concentrate on subjects about Rangers. The only time they comment on us is when they are putting the boot in, or dreaming up some other punishment to lay at our door.

[NixonRFC 1,328]

I don't really see how the two are linked, I fully agree that what happened at the Clutha was tragic and so many stories that have came to light since show what Glaswegians (when football takes a backburner) are all about

BUT I hate when folk use a tragedy to make light of other situations that hundreds of thousands of people in this Country will care passionately about, every Rangers fan cares about Rangers, they might not give two stuffs about the board or the requesitioners or Dave King or anyone, some might just care about the team but whatever they care about its always the club at heart

[danger ranger 922]

Does anybody think rangers would have been dealt fairer if the Clutha accident had happened when Rangers were in trouble, no way, business as usual. Ally has a habit of talking pro -everybody, who have shit on Rangers. No more mr nice guy that's what I want to hear from anybody connected with Rangers.

[MisterC 12,269]

Calm down folks, he says only one thing about the Clutha Bar tragedy, most of the article is about his links with EK's football team and charity initiatives which is what he was being asked about. Some right moaning fuckers within our support who love nothing more than to moan,be negative and find fault with something or other. Its true though, football IS just a game, its not the be-all and end-all. Those that think it is, really need to get a grip.

[Zulu 981]

Ally once more running off at the mouth

[elephants stoned 2,994]

Calm down folks, he says only one thing about the Clutha Bar tragedy, most of the article is about his links with EK's football team and charity initiatives which is what he was being asked about. Some right moaning fuckers within our support who love nothing more than to moan,be negative and find fault with something or other. Its true though, football IS just a game, its not the be-all and end-all. Those that think it is, really need to get a grip.

This some people are unbelievably negative, MisterC brings sanity to the situation, not often that can be said

[The Godfather 71,861]

Think everyone knows football is just a game and not the be all and end all.

It's rather obvious...

[MisterC 12,269]

This some people are unbelievably negative, MisterC brings sanity to the situation, not often that can be said

Even I have my moments of wisdom

[MisterC 12,269]

Think everyone knows football is just a game and not the be all and end all.

It's rather obvious...

Try telling that to some of the fucktards out there....

[*Manticore* 1,893]

Calm down folks, he says only one thing about the Clutha Bar tragedy, most of the article is about his links with EK's football team and charity initiatives which is what he was being asked about. Some right moaning fuckers within our support who love nothing more than to moan,be negative and find fault with something or other. Its true though, football IS just a game, its not the be-all and end-all. Those that think it is, really need to get a grip.

What a boring pishy post

[The Godfather 71,861]

Try telling that to some of the fucktards out there....

I'm way too busy for that.

Good luck though C.

[centenarystand 2,227]

There are some disappointing comments on this thread.

[Hamie 4,841]

Some folk seem to actually hate Ally McCoist and everything he does.

It's becoming a bit of a joke.

[AlCapone 7,678]

Some folk seem to actually hate Ally McCoist and everything he does.

It's becoming a bit of a joke.

I love him

[MayboleLoyal_atb 3,679]

Some folk seem to actually hate Ally McCoist and everything he does.

It's becoming a bit of a joke.

This.

[Bothwellbear 1,392]

A good few will use any excuse to take a pop at our manager. Nothing wrong with what he says here at all.

[Sweetheart 8,458]

I agree with Ally, Keep it real. The Clutha helicopter crash was tragic, but Ally also goes on to promote The Sunday Club and the great work they do. Maybe the papers should be more focused on reporting these charitable stories, rather than reporting on what goes on in our boardroom, when no other clubs boardroom matters are publicly published.

[Tumshie 205]

Ally could say absolutely anything and some folk would take it the wrong way.

[Smile 26,600]

I don't see why any tragedy can make what happened at our club any better you cant equate the two.

[johanhentze 14,086]

Calm down folks, he says only one thing about the Clutha Bar tragedy, most of the article is about his links with EK's football team and charity initiatives which is what he was being asked about. Some right moaning fuckers within our support who love nothing more than to moan,be negative and find fault with something or other. Its true though, football IS just a game, its not the be-all and end-all. Those that think it is, really need to get a grip.

This!

[johanhentze 14,086]

There are some disappointing comments on this thread.