duncan1957

Quick update on the Rangers memories book that I’m trying to put together. At the start of the week, with all this administration / liquidation stuff, I was of a mind to just abandon the project; I was frankly just too hacked off with the situation. But I then realized that doing that was just like chucking Rangers, and that’s something I’ll never do ... Rangers ‘til I die, is not just a slogan, it’s a way of life. Ally McCoist’s statement about not walking away was the clincher, so it all systems go again. Tomorrow will I suspect be a time of reflection for most of us, a time when memories will flood back, thoughts of favourite games, favourite players, special moments etc. If you want to be part of the book, try and jot those memories down and fire them off to : rangers_memories@hotmail.co.uk , or leave a message here. If you don’t think you can write a proper story or think you can’t do it justice, get in touch anyway. I can meet you some time and have a chat, together we can get your story out. There must be Rangers people out there with some great memories that deserve to be recorded. I’ve now got a publisher interested in taking the book on (Thanks here to Brent, Manchester Brace yourself), but to get it going I need your input. My intention is to gather the stories, hopefully from the 1960s, or earlier up to the present day, and link them with a narrative. To produce something that we can all enjoy. All proceeds of the book will go to the Scottish War Blind’s Linburn Centre in West Lothian. I’ll be outside Ibrox tomorrow, from about 2.15, next to the Blue Gates at the Copland Road end, wearing that yellow and black trackie top, I won’t be hard to miss. So if anyone fancies a chat about the book, or wants to ask any questions, feel free. WATP Rangers ‘til I die.

Yes, with you on that. Not forgetting a lot of good honest hard working people behind the scenes, will in the next few weeks, be told that they no longer have a job ... cleaners, cooks, groundmen etc ... its heart breaking.

Doesn't really matter if the player is on a long contract or not, if we are still in administration when the transfer window opens, then all players are up for grabs. Derisory offer, if the player agrees to go, then the administrator will sell. I think a lot of people thought administration would be painless, pay off 10p in the £1 for the debts and just carry on. Wont be that way

We did it to Dundee eight or nine years ago, Dundee were in administration and we stepped in and took Gavin Rae for peanuts. Slightly different now with the transfer window closed.

GF7 ... We are the people.

Remember, you could be part of a book celebrating your favourite Rangers memory. Just write about that moment, anything from a few lines to a few hundred words. Did anything unusual happen that day, how'd you get there, how did it feel ... anything really to show how special it was. Send by PM here, or to rangers_memories@hotmail.co.uk All proceeds from the book will be going to the Scottish War Blind's Linburn centre in West Lothian See www.its-off-to-the-match.co.uk for some more details on the book, and Linburn.

There is no cut off point or deadline at the moment, to be honest I only really thought of the idea a few days ago, so I'm still trying to pull it all together. So far I've had about a dozen contributions ... and some of them are absolute crackers. But I'm going to need a lot more, to get a good spread of the years and to let the book flow, rather than just be a bundle of unrelated stories. Thats why the little ones, a paragraph or two on favourite players, snippets from games are most useful. So basically, at the moment, take your time and make sure you are happy with what you write. Thats how I'm taking it just now, I want to get this right, to produce something that we can all enjoy. I'm generally next to the blue gates, at the Copland Road end on match days, from 2.30, so if anyone fancies a chat about the project feel free ... just look for the yellow and black trackie top. I've added a RANGERS MEMORIES page to www.its-off-to-the-match.co.uk , and will try to update that as often as possible.

I shall ... and ask him how Sir David of Weir played that day.

Fire in your stories: rangers_memories@hotmail.co.uk , or PM here. I intend having about half a dozen pages of colour photos in the book, stuff that will illustrate what the book is about. So yes, looking for photos as well, space will be limited though. I've had some really cracking stories in already, getting quite excited about this project now. If however, you are serious about doing your own book, than use your stories there. Writing is a bit tricky at first. but once you get into the flow its easy, and memories start to flood out. I'm sure you have a book in you! If I can do it ( Its off to the match I go, www.its-off-to-the-match.co.uk) then anyone can ... see what I did there There can never be enough books on the Rangers

Indeed I do, row D If you watch back on the Dundee United game ( I know, I know ) ... you will see me, all on my own, wearing the rather loud yellow and black Uphall Diamonds trackie top

Go on, go on, go on ... you know you want to

I just got a message from someone who said that they'd like to submit a story, but they weren't sure if their writing style would be okay, or good enough. Dont worry about that, its the memories and stories we need. ... everyone has a good story about the Rangers I'll update progress on the Rangers memories page on www.its-off-to-the-match.co.uk

That sounds like a brilliant story for a book See the New Rangers book project thread rangers_memories@hotmail.co.uk

One does ones breast ... I mean best

Quick bump for the RM Nightshift, just to try and get the ball rolling. I did some of my best writing when on nights.

I did get it proof read, but no matter how hard you look the odd mistake does creep in ... must try harder!

I should have thought about that before posting, it was a kind of a spur of the moment thing. I would intent putting in an introduction to each section, decade, or era, sfter that it would be up to contributions. My Its off to the match I go book had about 330 pages, roughly 100,000 words, which was a nice size I think. Contributions of anywhere up to 1000 words would seem okay, about three pages. But smaller sharp and short memories would be fine, if its a good story then could be longer ... its really a developing idea at the moment. That format would allow for at between 100 and 150 contributions. Hope that helps.

After two and a half years of work, I finally got my book “It’s off to the match I go”, into print and out to the big wide world, hopefully to be enjoyed by the great Rangers support ... copies still available! I’ve got itchy typing fingers again and decided to embark on a new project. Having read and enjoyed Helicopter Sunday (Iain Stewart) and Manchester Brace yourself (Brent MacFarlane), I am considering a book of that style i.e. stories, anecdotes and memories from Rangers fans. My plan is to compile a compilation of memories of supporters favourite games, and to do that I need contributions. The initial problem will probably be that 90% of contributions will be from Cup Finals and Celtic triumphs, so I’m looking for alternative games, ones that have quirky moments or personal connotations. Ideally from as big a span as possible, I’m sure there must be supporters from the 50s and 60s who have stories to tell, as well as the more modern fan. Anyway, anyone who fancies being part of this get in touch, either by PM here, or at the e-mail I’ve set up. rangers_memories@hotmail.co.uk It’s really just an idea at the moment, and I can’t do it without your help. Apologies if anyone has already had this idea, but hey ... we can’t have enough Rangers books out there. My intention is to donate 100% of all proceeds to the Scottish War Blind Linburn Centre. If anyone has any questions, comments etc then fire in. www.its-off-to-the-match.co.uk

... and yes, his questions need answered.

Listen to the tone of Alistair Johnston's voice as he answers the question at about 13 mins 30secs in the clip. He made mistakes as Chairman, he even mislead us at an AGM, but his voice says to me that he still cares ... and it worries me intensely what he knows, and what is still to be revealed.

I was over at the Scottish War Blinds Linburn centre yesterday, presenting them with a cheque for £200, the proceeds of my first batch of books ... thanks again to everyone who bought one and made it all possible. With it being so close to Burns Night I also passed on a bottle of Malt for them to enjoy at their Burns supper, which I have to say seemed to excite the guys more than the cheque did! It was, as ever, a humbling experience to be in the company of a group of men and women who have accepted their fate and have tried to make the best of their lot. A group have recently been to a special screening of Steven Speilbergs Warhorse, and on their return expressed a desire to go horse riding. That has now been arranged and they will shortly be on the gallops ... fair play to them, you wouldnt get me on the back of a horse for love nor money. It is an example though, of what the centre does for the ex-soldiers and their dependants. It would of course be remiss of me not to point out that Ill be at Ibrox on Saturday for the Hibs game with a few spare books just in case anyone still fancied one. www.its-off-to-the-match.co.uk

Ian Durrant 55 apearances? ... I need clarification

Dont know why the link above didn't work, trying again. www.its-off-to-the-match.co.uk That looks better, the internet ain't easy for us old codgers !

£11.99, next to the Blue Gates, look out for the yellow and black trackie top, hard to miss. Hopefully it'll be dry for a change!

No probs ... It’s my story, growing up as a Rangers fan, from the mid 1960s to the present day. With tales and anecdotes of going to the football, the good times and the bad times, the joy and the sorrow. Old Ibrox, European adventures, the kind of stuff we have all been through. Hopefully showing that as a support we are just normal folk ... not the knuckle dragging Neanderthals that so many in the media like to portray.