duncan1957

Not only that, they are even starting to write books about us. Phil Mc 3 names has a book coming out about "Rangers downfall" , the RTC guy also bringing out a book on us it seems ... their obsession has no limits.

Thanks pcbear, Sold about 250 copies now. Having done it all myself, I bought an initial batch of 200 and sold out, then got another batch of 60, down to my last dozen or so copies. I can order in more if there is a sales surge though! I enjoyed writing the book though it was hard work, the good reviews I've received have also been pleasing, though I think I could have done better in places; I suppose no writer is ever happy. My only disappointment in the whole process was the attitude of the mainstream publishers; no one was willing to take a chance on the book. I've no complaints in that, they are after all only looking to turn a profit, it was the comments that I got from more than one ... No-one is interested in a book on Rangers and their supporters, that attitude astonished me.

A wee bump for those who weren't online this afternoon

Ordered PAYPAL on Wednesday and got an e-mail conformation right away. No ticket yet, hopefully witing for me when I get home

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Its-Off-Match-Go-ebook/dp/B008MYP7U4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1342771881&sr=1-1 I've been dragged kicking and screaming into the electronic age, and got the book onto Kindle and e-book formats. So if anyone fancied a wee read on holiday, you know where to go. All proceeds, once the setup fees have been covered, will go to the Scottish War Blind. www.its-off-to-the-match.co.uk

Any other memories? Keep them coming. Need a lot more from the 9 in a row years as well, there have to be some good stories out there. Get your 15 minutes of fame, and help a good cause ... advert over

It would be great, but unfortunately we can’t play any games, of any sort, until the SFA give us our licence to play football. This is the SFA whose job it is; to encourage and develop football in Scotland ... They have a strange way of developing the game.

Wee bump for those up early, or like me, at work.

Rangers memories book update I'm needing a wee story or two from the Hampden riot cup final Vs Celtic, preferably from someone who got some grass on their shoes if you get my drift! Its too big an event not to cover. PM here, or e-mail on rangers_memories@hotmail.co.uk All proceeds of book going to the Scottish War Blind www.its-off-to-the-match.co.uk

I already have, and called CH4... I’m contacting you to draw your attention to a cartoon/GIF posted on the twitter account of your journalist Alex Thompson. This shows a picture of the Ibrox Disaster memorial at Ibrox, there is a speech bubble coming from the mouth of the John Greig statue, saying “we don’t do walking away”. Alex Thompson’s tweet states … This should amuse all fans of all colours who've a sense of humour http://i48.tinypic.com/2s1rh8p.gif Now I realize you can’t control everything your journalists post on their twitter page, but I hope you do realize that his comments are, in the public eye, linked with CH4 news. This tweet is grossly offensive to all Rangers fans, and should be to all decent people, regardless of their affiliations. Sixty-six men, women and children died at Ibrox on the second of January 1971. A nine year old boy died in that accident … and Thompson thinks “This should amuse all fans of all colours who've a sense of humour” Now I believe Thompson has now deleted his tweet, claiming that he didn’t realize the significance of the statue at Ibrox. Well, I’m sorry, but that just doesn’t wash. I refer you to a previous CH4 blog, when he states: Outside one corner of Ibrox a monument stands to the 66 who were crushed to death on a cold, foggy January night in 1971. Today an empty area, concrete bollards and a small street mark the area where Stairway 13 once stood and those supporters died in the crush. Link : http://blogs.channel4.com/alex-thomsons-view/rangers-rack/818 Thompson clearly knew the significance of the statue, he must have understood the significance of his tweet, yet he went ahead and posted it anyway. Are you happy with this man reporting on the Rangers situation when he clearly doesn’t understand the emotions and the sensitivities of the people involved. In closing, I urge you to go onto You-tube and search for a BBC documentary on the Ibrox disaster, look for an interview with Gisela Easton who lost her 13 year old son, and ask yourself where the humour is.

Sixty-six Rangers supporters died on 2nd January 1971. The memorial was placed at Ibrox to remember them. Thomson used that memorial to mock Rangers, to mock our support, to have a laugh. I was at Ibrox on that day, Sorry, I dont find it funny.

Many thanks to everyone who has posted their memories here, or sent me PMs and e-mails. I’ll try to reply and keep you all updated with progress. There are some harrowing stories, and I won’t be able to use everthing, but the contributions will hopefully allow me to convey the horror and despair that January 2nd 1971 brought to the entire Rangers family. This chapter is going to be out of character with the rest of the book which will be more light hearted and nostalgic, but there is no other way to do it, and the story needs to be told. I should have said in my initial post that all proceeds of the book will be going to the Scottish War Blind.

Jack, Season 1970/1971 was my first real season supporting Rangers, I'd lived abroad for a good few years before that. I was 13 and it was my first Old Firm game. I too have thoughts of guilt and remorse which have never left, and I dont suppose ever will. Taken from "Its off to the match I go" ... Saturday 2nd January 1971 was a very cold, misty, grey day. My dad and I set off for Ibrox, not really sure if the game would be on, such were the poor conditions. To my great relief the turnstiles were open and we made our way in, our tickets, significantly, for the East Enclosure and not the terracing where I would normally have stood. At my insistence we stood next to the trackside wall, it wasn’t the best position for my dad to view the game, but it meant that I could see the whole ground, and I didn’t want to miss an instant. Ninety minutes came and went, with the game heading for a 0–0 draw, then Celtic’s Jimmy Johnstone, the smallest man on the park, scored with a header. It was a devastating moment and the noise from the Celtic end that accompanied the goal was deafening, like nothing I had ever heard before. Through the mist I watched as their supporters celebrated and felt stunned, but, within a minute, that Celtic roar was eclipsed. Colin Stein equalised and it was the Rangers fans making all the noise. Despair to ecstasy in the space of sixty seconds; it was football drama at its very best. Considering the timing of the goals it was a most satisfying 1–1 draw, and we left Ibrox happy. Our journey home took us into Renfrew, and across the Clyde on the ferry. A somewhat convoluted route and not one I would personally have chosen, but my dad had paid for the tickets, and was paying for the travel, so I wasn’t about to complain. It meant however that we were very late in getting home, and it must have been about eight o’clock. On arrival, I was surprised to find my house full of relatives, friends and neighbours, all waiting for our return. My mum seemed very angry and shouted at my dad, lashing out at him. She sobbed and demanded to know where we had been. I didn’t understand. I was confused. Why was she so angry? What had we done wrong? Of course as a parent now, I fully understand. She was scared witless, and anger was her only outlet. We were updated with some devastating news. There had been an accident at Ibrox. Supporters were injured, supporters were dead. We gathered in the living room and listened to the news on the TV and radio, as rumours of the death toll mounted. The underlying thought, unsaid by all was: What if our tickets had been for the terracing instead of the Enclosure? What if? As the evening drew on my uncles and aunties told stories of ‘the good old days’ and we had, what kind of passed off as a New Year party, though it was anything but a celebration. We were just a family, happy to still be together. Sunday dawned, and the full enormity of the disaster emerged. Sixty-six people were dead, with scores more injured. The night before I hadn’t really understood, or even appreciated what had occurred. In fact, I’d been a bit annoyed that the football highlights hadn’t been on the television. I wanted to relive the game, to see Colin Stein score that last gasp equaliser. However, as the days followed, I started to read the names of the supporters who died and their ages. Five young boys, thirteen, fourteen and fifteen years old from Markinch in Fife, a man from my own home town of Clydebank, a nine year old boy from Liverpool … the list seemed heartbreakingly endless. I felt then, and still feel to this day, deeply ashamed of those Saturday night thoughts. Bill Shankly, the famous Liverpool manager, was once quoted as saying: “Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.” Well, Shankly was a great man, and a great football manager, but as a human being, he could not have been more wrong.

Thats a harrowing story Jim, I'm going to be in Glasgow this week doing some research, after reading your piece, I think I'll go along to the memorial at Ibrox and spend a few moments of reflection. I've read the names of the sixty-six victims many times, but when you hear their own individaul story ... it really brings the whole tragedy closer to home. Your comments about businessmen and corporate games is spot on. The John Grieg statue is a focal point for remembering the victims of the disaster, but Ibrox as a stadium now stands as a memorial for those men women and children ... and thats why we must not lose the financial fight, thats why Rangers must continue. Do Duff and Phelps, Craig Whyte, Charles Green, David Murray understand that ... I dont think they do, and it makes me sad and very very angry.

I’m still working away on my Rangers memories book, not easy in the present circumstances it has to be said. Currently doing a few chapters on the 1970s, and that era obviously includes the Ibrox Disaster in 1971. It’s a huge piece of Rangers history and one that deserves inclusion and for that reason I’m setting aside a chapter to commemorate the tragic events. I’ve got some basic background to the events of the day, but I’m looking for a few contributions from supporters who were at the game, your own personal experiences of what happened and how it affected you. I was at the game, but have already used my own experiences in the previous book. Obviously this is a very sensitive subject and many may not want their thoughts published, and I understand that. But if anyone would like to contribute then contact me though a PM on RM, or e-mail at rangers_memories@hotmail.co.uk I want to get this particular chapter 100% correct, to justice to those supporters who, went to a game and didn’t come home. www.its-off-to-the-match.co.uk

If anyone asks, you are heading to the Scottish Football museum at Hampden. The Scottish Football Museum Hampden Park, Glasgow, G42 9BA Tel: +44 (0)141 616 6139 for enquiries & bookings Email: info@scottishfootballmuseum.org.uk Open Seven Days Mon-Sat 10am-5pm Sun 11am-5pm Its a very popular place at 2 o'clock'ish on a Saturday ... or so I'm told !

I like it Going in ! PM sent.

Just a wee reminder that I’m still looking for your memories of supporting Rangers, favourite player, game, trip, supporters bus experience, anything really that sums up being a Teddy Bear. This is for the book I’m putting together, a look at Rangers history, through the eyes of the support ... Our story, by us and for us. It's a trying time for the club, and for the support, but lets look forward, and lets plan for the future, because Rangers have a future ... and a past, lets celebrate it. Got some good stuff in already and the book is starting to take shape, but I need a lot more. Stories don’t have to be long and involved, and could simply be little anecdotes. Ideally I’d like to have contributions in by the end of April, that way I can cracking on it. All proceeds of the book will be going to the Scottish War Blind. See www.its-off-to-the-match.co.uk for some more details and updates. My first book, It’s off to the match I go, is still available, about 15 copies left of the last batch I bought. For these ones I’ll be donating £5 each to the Scottish War Blind and the Rangers Fighting Fund. PM stories here, or send to rangers_memories@hotmail.co.uk

Just a wee reminder that I’m still looking for your memories of supporting Rangers, favourite player, game, trip, supporters bus experience, anything really that sums up being a Teddy Bear. This is for the book I’m putting together, a look at Rangers history, through the eyes of the support ... Our story, by us and for us. Got some good stuff in already and the book is starting to take shape, but I need a lot more. Stories don’t have to be long and involved, and could simply be little anecdotes. Ideally I’d like to have contributions in by the end of April, that way I can cracking on it. As a teaser, I got a good one today explaining why a man dressed in a Celtic training jacket was out of his seat at Parkhead ... roaring his approval at a Brian Laudrup goal! All proceeds of the book will be going to the Scottish War Blind. See www.its-off-to-the-match.co.uk for some more details and updates. My first book, It’s off to the match I go, is still available, about 15 copies left of the last batch I bought. For these ones I’ll be donating £5 each to the Scottish War Blind and the Rangers Fighting Fund. PM stories here, or send to rangers_memories@hotmail.co.uk

Thanks ... that kind of thing is ideal

If anyone has any stories about this game that they'd like included in the Rangers Memories book, then sent them to rangers_memories@hotmail.co.uk, or send a PM here www.its-off-to-the-match.co.uk

Just another reminder that I’m still looking for your Rangers memories ... stories about favourite player, game, trip, supporters bus, anything really. I’m looking to produce a book that looks at Rangers history, through the eyes of the supporters, and to do that I need input. I’ve got some good tales from the 1950s and 1960s, but need a lot more ... surprisingly; I’m very short of tales from the 9-in-a-row years. Stories don’t have to be long and involved; a couple of lines could be fine as well. At the moment I’m setting an end of April deadline for contributions,. Obviously these are trying times for our club, but I’m being optimistic ... hoping to herald a new era for Rangers with a new book that will celebrate our past, with all its trophies, and look forward to more of the same ... send a message out to our enemies ... WE’RE NOT GOING AWAY! All proceeds of the book will be going to the Scottish War Blind. Send any contributions to rangers_memories@hotmail.co.uk Still got a few copies of my original book available see www.its-off-to-the-match.co.uk Available outside Ibrox at the St. Mirren game. For the remaining sales, I’ll be contributing £5 to the Scottish War Blind and £5 to the Rangers Fighting Fund. Rangers 'til I die

Some good match footage ... but not Willie Waddell's finest moment it has to be said.

The Under 18s were 3-0 down at Broomfield in the BP youth cup final, round about the 1990s, came back to beat Airdrie 5-3.