Bluepeter9

This forum ain't about politics
We are all Rangers fans, and Halliday has worked so hard to be 'accepted' by us - deserves his place in the squad and I hope he is around for a few year yet.
Cheers for the like!

Jermain Defoe reveals Rangers move was inspired by chat with Graeme Souness
Jermain Defoe has revealed how he grew up idolising Ally McCoist and dreamed of sampling Scottish football after an Auld Enemy clash for England schoolboys.

But a conversation with Rangers legend Graeme Souness this season helped him to make the move north of the border after hearing the former Ibrox boss describe the Old Firm as the world’s best derby.

On-loan Bournemouth frontman Defoe admitted he always does his homework on the strikers he will be walking in the footsteps of at any new club.

At the Light Blues, however, he knew all about record scorer McCoist and now Defoe has been handed the same No.9 shirt worn by the legendary forward.
 
He grew up watching the likes of Ally McCoist
And Defoe’s affection for Scottish football comes from his early days as a kids playing for the Three Lions long before he terrorised defences for England at senior level.

The 36-year-old also recalled a substitute appearance for West Ham in a 2-1 friendly defeat against celtic in a pre-season friendly in 2000 in a match billed as Paolo Di Canio’s Paradise return.

Defoe’s next trip to Parkhead in March will be a little bit different but he can’t wait to sample the white-hot derby atmosphere after speaking to Souness before the first clash of the bitter rivals this season.

Speaking at the club’s training camp in Tenerife, he said: “I have done a few bits for Sky Sports and was on there the day of the first Old Firm game of the season.

“I was talking about the North London derby and Sunderland v Newcastle but Graeme just said ‘Trust me, Rangers v celtic is the best derby in the world. Without a doubt. You will never experience anything like it.’ I was listening to him like ‘Wow!”

Defoe was sold on the derby atmosphere
Defoe’s face lit up as he talked about that prospect at the team’s five-star base in the Canary Island and his excitement at the move.

And he said: “When I was really young, I remember saying I’d like to at some stage play in Scotland, play in those crazy derbies, the best derbies in the world according to Graeme Souness.

“I played in Scotland for England Under-15s. My mum still talks about it now. That was my first experience.

“I was really young then. I played against celtic for West Ham. It was a game where Paolo Di Canio returned.

“I know about the history of the club. When I sign for any club I always think about the strikers that were there before me.


“Ally McCoist is a legend and there’s Kenny Miller, who I bumped into in Dubai in the summer. But I remember watching Ally McCoist when I was a young kid. You can learn off every goalscorer.

“I know all the goalscorers. As a kid, I never really supported a team. I just used to watch the forwards, all the different strikers.”

Defoe lifted the lid on his hugely frustrating time at the Cherries where he failed to get much first team action this season under Eddie Howe.

That has fuelled his desire to be a Gers success and the diminutive forward says he’s ready for Scottish football’s boot boys.

Defoe - in line for a debut at Cowdenbeath in the Scottish Cup next week - said: “I know I’m probably going to get kicked about.

“The lads have told me that already but it’s challenge. I don’t think you can ever look at any league and think it’s going to be easy.

“I remember when I went to the MLS with Toronto, a lot of people said I would smash it and score loads of goals.

“But if you don’t go somewhere with the right mentality, and don’t do what you have always done, that’s when it becomes hard.

“But if you do what you have always done, regardless of who you are playing against, then hopefully you will do well.

“My hunger is massive after the past 18 months. I’m just want to play. To be fair, credit to the manager, Eddie Howe, because he knew it was hurting me.

“There were times when I felt I should have played and it wasn’t happening for whatever reason. I had a conversation with him and said I just wanted to play football. That’s what I do.

“Of course, it’s nice to be a sort of mentor to younger players, but at the same time your own happiness is important.

“I’m not a coach. At some point I will do my badges but I’m not there yet. I want to play football and it wasn’t happening.

“It’s been tough for me to be honest. For the last year and a half, it’s been difficult not playing as many games as I would like or was used to.

“Mentally, it was tough. I have had stages in my career where you are in and out of the team, but when I was younger it was different because I wasn’t a senior player.

“Now, there are times where you are a little bit down and you haven’t got any senior players to pick you up. You can go to the captain, but you are the senior player.

“You sort of have to look after the dressing room and make sure everyone else is okay. You have to sacrifice your own happiness a little bit.

“It’s never easy but you have to do it because it’s the right thing to to. You are helping the team and you are helping the club.

“It’s been hurting me a lot. that’s why having this opportunity now to hopefully play football and do well is something I’m excited about.

“There comes a point when you have to decide what you want to do. I love playing football and I love scoring goals. When I got the phone call, it wasn’t a hard decision.”
 

Politically we may be miles apart but I can't do anything but agree with you on this and give you a like.
Andy Halliday never gives less than his all when he pulls the Jersey on, he is one of us, he knows what it is to love this club and he will celebrate for all of us if we can reach 55 this season.

I have a huge amount of respect and admiration for Andy Halliday and that article shows the depth of character he has! Fantastic. 

I replied to the op without reading the thread - if I had I probably would have gone with ....
’
 
Aye, fight and you may die. Run and you'll live -- at least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom!    

Southampton said they were going to help him do the best they could by him as his contract ends - well done to them 

Aye - To absent friends ( and family) 🥃

Aye - To absent friends ( and family) 🥃

Aye - To absent friends ( and family) 🥃

Aye - To absent friends ( and family) 🥃

Aye - To absent friends ( and family) 🥃

Happy New Year - lets hope this is the year we are celebrating trophies again. 

Happy New Year - lets hope this is the year we are celebrating trophies again. 

Happy New Year - lets hope this is the year we are celebrating trophies again. 

Happy New Year - lets hope this is the year we are celebrating trophies again. 

Happy New Year - lets hope this is the year we are celebrating trophies again. 

Happy New Year - lets hope this is the year we are celebrating trophies again. 

In a word no!
66 died and we must remember that - some of our own need to remember that and fuck the unwashed for their disrespect but no way should we EVER be Forgetful of the remeberance of those 66. 

Wee bits of mumbling in their end and a few starting to shout at them from us ( I’ve never understood how shouting be quiet during a silence helps) but I think the ref ( who had a good game all round ) just decided to help tamp it down. 

Wee bits of mumbling in their end and a few starting to shout at them from us ( I’ve never understood how shouting be quiet during a silence helps) but I think the ref ( who had a good game all round ) just decided to help tamp it down. 

Wee bits of mumbling in their end and a few starting to shout at them from us ( I’ve never understood how shouting be quiet during a silence helps) but I think the ref ( who had a good game all round ) just decided to help tamp it down. 

Wee bits of mumbling in their end and a few starting to shout at them from us ( I’ve never understood how shouting be quiet during a silence helps) but I think the ref ( who had a good game all round ) just decided to help tamp it down. 

Wee bits of mumbling in their end and a few starting to shout at them from us ( I’ve never understood how shouting be quiet during a silence helps) but I think the ref ( who had a good game all round ) just decided to help tamp it down. 

I'd be fine with that! But they might be surprised at how often I play with my bits! 
And since I don't play with my bits in public I'd be happy to be filmed at the football where I go to support my team not cause trouble. 

If they can't behave themselves why should they not be banned - are we now saying we shouldn't try to deter those that would let us down? Football should be a safe environment for all - Supporters, players, managers and officials - and anything we do to ensure that is a welcome move.