duncan1957

UPDATE. The printers have been in touch, and I now expect to have the books in my possession on Thursday 11th December. Should be able to start despatching, hopefully on that day, or more likely the next day, Friday December 12th … in plenty time for Christmas! NEXT STEP. I’ll be uploading a website very soon with full details, and methods of payment. Pre-orders can be taken, with items despatched as soon as I receive the books myself. Any questions, comments, PM or e-mail on: a-rangers-story@hotmail.com Thanks to all who left messages, or sent PMs ... I'll be in touch when I can confirm everything.

No problem with that. I'll contact govanblue when I get a minute.

My Rangers memories book is finally finished, now titled “It’s a Glasgow Rangers story” The book looks at 75 years of Rangers history, from the countries dark days of World War 2 up to the club’s dark days of 2014. Fortunately there are a few highlights in between. With over one hundred contributions from the general Rangers support, it tells the story of Scotland’s # 1 football club. Not the full story of course, one book could never do that, that’s why it’s just “a Glasgow Rangers Story” The release date is planned as the 8th of December, though that may move backwards of forwards by a couple of days. If anyone fancies a copy as Christmas stocking filler, let me know on here, or PM and I’ll reserve a copy to guarantee delivery before Xmas. All proceeds of the book, after expenses, will be split between the Rangers Charity Foundation and the Scottish War Blind. The book will be available from myself, either at Ibrox, or by post, I’ll be setting up a website soon with all the details. It will also be available on Amazon, but in order that the charities benefit, it would be better to order direct. The economics of publishing means that a book sold direct will give £5 or so to the charities, a book sold through Amazon only £1. More details soon. I’ll be messaging or e-mailing all contributors soon with details of their submissions.

McCloy Jardine Mathieson Grieg Jackson Smith McLean Conn Stein MacDonald Johnstone Early 1970s Rangers ... Still rolls off the tongue some forty years later. Old Codgers Loyal www.its-off-to-the-match.co.uk

Perhaps not my best ever moment againt them, but its up there ... May 1999: Youth League final game of the season: Celtic 0, Rangers 2 At the end of May, I went over to Bathgate for the final youth team game of the season, and the chance to see another trophy presentation. Unfortunately not this time to Rangers, but to the Celtic youngsters who only needed a draw to clinch the title. The Celtic support clearly wanted to witness at least one trophy in their so far barren season, and turned up in their thousands. That made watching the game somewhat uncomfortable for the Reserve Team Loyal as we were outnumbered by at least 100:1; twenty of us in a crowd of over two thousand. What followed though was as good a game as I’d ever seen. The young Rangers team battled and scrapped, determined to deprive Celtic their moment of glory, and they succeeded, winning 2–0. It was deeply, deeply satisfying. www.its-off-to-the-match.co.uk

You dont play as many games, and for as long for Rangers without being a good keeper... Saturday November 18. 1972 Sunday Mail McCloy, One-man Miracle! A few months later, McCloy repeated his performance at Easter Road in a Scottish Cup Quarter Final replay. He was magnificent that evening, he won us that game, and without that performance we wouldn't have had the 1973 Scottish Cup final, and that Tam Forsyth goal. www.its-off-to-the-match.co.uk

Same jacket Wully Different seat, Copland Rear thesedays.

Quick update on the Rangers Memories book I’ve been putting together, taken about two and a half years, but I’m all but done now. Just trying to finalize the last paragraph, but the off field shenanigans are making it difficult to get a suitable completion. Apologies to all the contributors for not keeping you fully updated, but life has been a bit hectic in the last year or so. Book should hopefully be out for the start of the new season, August or thereabouts. All proceeds to be split between the Rangers Charity Foundation and the Scottish War Blind. www.its-off-to-the-match.co.uk

Willie Johnston sat on the ball at least twice in high profile games, Vs Celtic in the League Cup final, and against Bayern in the CWC semi. The Hearts guy did it at Ibrox, ball twas then crossed in for Donald Ford to score ... their only attempt at goal that day. www.its-off-to-the-match.co.uk

Did the same, watched on STV. At half time, with Rangers leading 2-0, they went back to the studio. Anchor man Bill Tennant then announced ... well its been a great game so far, and you have another three goals to look forward to! Kind of destroyed any enjoyment of the second half. www.its-off-to-the-match.co.uk

Have to disagree, DJ was outstanding at centre half, though better as a centre forward as you said. No way Carlos would have ousted him from the team. All about opinions though.

Albertz missed the game because of a red card for violent conduct in the previous weeks game at Tannadice. Going back to the final Vs Hearts, the Rangers support were magnificent that day. www.its-off-to-the-match.co.uk

It was Bill Tennant in the Glasgow studio... "Its been a great game and you have another three goals to look forward to"

The attendance given at the time was, if I remember correctly, 26,000. A decent turn out considering that easy European travel was a thing of the future, and virtually no Russians were present. I wasnt there... me mammy wouldnt let me go. Watched in on delayed transmission later that night ... damm you Bill Tennant.

Had mine since the early 1970s www.its-off-to-the-match.co.uk

He is co-author with Ian Stewart (who did the helicopter Sunday book) I know Ian and the book had been under research for at least two or three years, so its not a rushed job. Went to the preview evening at Ibrox and was impressed with their presentation, it all went very well, with Johnny Hubbard the star of the show, eighty-two years old and still going strong. A man who played under Bill Struth, with some great stories to tell. Book looks good, only a few pages in at the moment, but enjoying it ... some superb never seen before photos as well.

Looking back, Willie Waddell was of course the Rangers manager at the time. www.its-off-to-the-match.co.uk

It was the 1972 Scottish Semi-final, John Grieg was crocked, as a poster above said he had a bandage round his boot. Jock Wallace wanted to substitute him, but Greig wanted to play on, to try and help drive Rangers into the final. The game ended 1-1, and the injury nearly kept Grieg out the CWC final. Should Grieg have come off, probably ... but his will to win, his commitment to Rangers was too strong.

This was the fourth serious incident on stairway 13 in just over ten years. Railway was long gone in 1971, but Rangers still had a lot of questions to answer regarding that stairway ... not a great time in our history.

You have to remember that these were the days of 80,000 crowds at Ibrox, 130,000+ at Hampden. Crushing on the terracing and on stairways was not unusual ... its very possibe that the old guy saw some incident and thought nothing more of it. Lets face it, even then, no-one thought that a tragedy of such proportions could happen. It was also pre-internet, mobile phones, so supporters would simply make their way home, thinking no more of the matter. I was at the game myself and went home, totally unaware of any problem, it wasn't 'till I got home that I heard about the disaster. I went that day with my dad who got enclosure tickets, if he hadn't bought those tickets I'd have gone onto the trerracing and most likely left on stairway13 ... on such small decisions do lives change.

Ultra Bear will be there. Copland Road Blue gates before kick-off.

I gave my original scarf away in the 1970s to some Juve fan, regretted it ever since. In the last few weeks I've been building myself up, to be disapointed, to open the parcel and see something that looked nothing like the original. If I was ready for the disapointment, then it wouldnt be so bad. Just opened the parcel, and there is no disapointment whatsoever, the scarf is superb. Its not quite the same as my old one, how could it be after all, but its a fine and wonderful replacement. To be worn with pride on Saturday. Well done guys

Add me for one ... just paid PAYPAL

Thanks John, There should be a filter on the wesite comments ... he must have slipped through the net.

Hopefully it lives up to expectations ... your Berwick recollections are in there