Bahrain Bear

Daily Record must have been itching to get a negative story out about Warburton. Far to much positivity surrounding the gaffer. It was only a matter of time. Won't be the last they'll drag up.

It's getting beyond a joke. The article is full of suggestions that the guy is lying and pretending not to support Rangers. "... claims to be a Leeds United supporter, but is known to attend football games where Rangers are playing". "... describes himself as a Leeds Fan ... but is also photographed with Rangers fans". Do you think if the guy said he was a Rangers fan the Daily Record would question it? "Says he's a Rangers fan, but he is pictured wearing a Leeds United strip"? Would they f*ck. Unless of course it was a positive piece. For too long now any stories about Rangers fans (alleged or actual) have been negative and usually involve crime. Any stories about Cel*ic fans have been positive and usually involve Rod Stewart, Gerard Butler or donations to charity. The club need to act. Rangers fans who refrained from going on the pitch for a mass brawl, despite severe provocation, should have been roundly commended for their behaviour. But for a few sentences, it was more or less ignored in the mainstream media. The Daily Record would have started a campaign with the SPFL and nominated the Cel*ic fans for a UEFA Fair Play award if it had been them.

Graham Roberts against Dundee Utd as the snow fell on Ibrox. Never shirked a tackle or took a prisoner. Had Roy Aitken bricking it in his first Old Firm game. Hard as nails and could play a bit.

I don't post often, and this may be my first 'non-football' post, but I seriously doubt the sincerity of the OP. It's beyond belief that anyone would suggest Rangers fans or any individuals for that matter should abandon any heartfelt loyalties and latch onto a cause they don't necessarily believe in. A cause or stance that has the populist vote, so to support it openly will reflect well and win favour with wider society, here and abroad. Is that really the proposition? Irrespective of whether you agree or disagree with many Rangers fans whose sympathies and support are with loyalists, unionists and the monarchy, it's their beliefs and they are entitled to them. Leave the bleeding-heart sentimentality, the abandoning of games for ex-players who pass, the donating of money to charity and never tiring of talking about it, and the glorification of terrorist atrocities to others. Otherwise we'll need a big car park to fight over who gets first dibs on supporting the next seemingly opressed faction.

It's been suggested on an earlier post, but ELO's Mr Blue Sky would be a good shout, but maybe just for first game back in Premier League and first game against them. Don't want it going the same way as Penny Arcade. Sun is shinin' in the sky There ain't a cloud in sight It's stopped rainin' everybody's in a play And don't you know It's a beautiful new day hey,hey Runnin' down the avenue See how the sun shines brightly in the city On the streets where once was pity Mister blue sky is living here today hey, hey Mister blue sky please tell us why You had to hide away for so long Where did we go wrong?

My abiding memory of Davie McKinnon was his amazing performance against Inter Milan in the 3-1 UEFA Cup game at Ibrox in 1984. My memory tells me Cooper was dropped, but maybe he was injured. In any case, Wallace tinkered with the formation. McKinnon was playing almost as a winger with big John McLelland making rampaging runs forward. It worked a treat. Not a failure in the Rangers team that night, humbled a decent Inter team and had them rattled. Atmosphere that night was up there with the best. Liam Brady took some stick.

Michael Ball. The former Everton left back, not the fat singer. Strange because although the guy was a seasoned pro in the top flight in England and had been capped for England (I think), there were clauses and trigger payments in his contract with us that saw him side-lined for months. Rangers would be liable to pay Everton half a million after a certain number of games. Rangers were rationing his appearances, picking and choosing the games as the trigger number drew nearer. Farcical, and the type of situation that wouldn't have looked strange in the last couple of years, but at that time (early 2000's) we were spending big. With hindsight, maybe an early sign of things to come ...

Barrow for the Glen Skivington (aye, who?) Testtimonial and Sunderland for the Gary Bennet (ditto, who?) Testimonial. Roker Park was rockin! Very proud to be a Rangers man that day, irrespective of how the mhedia painted it the following day.

Hearts, 2-2 at Tynecastle, 1984. Sure they equalised late on. Remember the aftermath on the way back along Gorgie Road to the train station. Had to shelter in a shop to avoid all the coins and other stuff being chucked as both sets of fans converged and it kicked off a wee bit.

Hugh Burns! Maybe limited ability, but had heart and hated them. He would have been right up for tomorrow's battle. I'm sure he fell out with Souness at almost the first training session he took.

Broke his leg if I remember rightly. Wasn't that also the game when Jimmy Nichol was sent off while on loan from Toronto Blizzard?

I couldn't have been far away from you mate, in the West Enclosure. Remember it like it was yesterday. You're spot on. Don't get me wrong, Big Dunc thried his best to nut him, but failed, as you say by a few inches. John McStay (cousin of Paul and Willie), didn't have a mark on him. Obviously. In the media a few days later he said this was because the cut was in the inside of his lip. Aye. Oh, and such was the SFA's hatred of all things Rangers at the time he was banned from football for a dozen games or so, but the ban didn't begin until he came out of jail, then they struck a deal with the English FA to ensure the ban transferred with him to Everton. And some question why Dunc declined ever to play for Scotland again ...

Watching Scotland Today in amazement as Souness was unveiled as the Rangers manager The final whistle at Pittodrie in '87 and running onto the park, hoping a wouldn't get lifted, as ma Dad would've killed me Durrant running onto a sublime reverse pass from Cooper and cooly slotting home against them, cannae mind the year - 88? Beating Inter Milan (Rumenigge, Brady, Altobelli, Bergomi, etc.) 3-1 at Ibrox in '85 with a poor but gutsy Rangers team Atmosphere versus Kiev, Leeds Utd, Marseille, Bohemians of Dublin, Sunderland Gazza first on the pitch and last off it, every game home and away for the warm-up - ball boy in goals. Entertainer. The Laudrup cup final The drive down M74, M6 to Manchester - biggest mobilisation of people since the 2nd World War Pre-match UEFA Cup Final, Manchester

Brilliant piece and brings back great memories for me. My first 3 games were a 2-2 draw at Tynecastle in the league, the 2-2 draw at Dens Park in the cup you mentioned and the 2-3 reverse to Dundee at Ibrox. I was 14 years old and the older guys on the bus had me down as a jinx. The "Ally, Ally Get Tae F*ck" was scary as I sat in the Copland Rear and I remember thinking why people would come just to hurl abuse. He did miss some sitters that day all the same! I went to that League Cup Final - Rangers had the battle fever on - and Ally changed many peoples opinions of him. I sincerely hope he does the same again as a manager. If he doesn't, then let's hope he's not subjected to the abuse I heard 30 years ago. Ally McCoist the manager may have his failings, but Ally McCoist the man has dignity and class in abundance. He deserves the greatest respect.

Roy Aitken's still trying to work out how Coop executed that reverse pass! Cooper brilliant, Durrant probably best young midfielder in Britain at the time. I was in the Copland Rear. Also recall it was the first ever live televised Scottish league game. Great memory.