oldbear

Horrible, horrible  news. Never shirked  a challenge on or off the park,sleep easy Sir. My thoughts and prayers to his wife and daughter. 

EVERYONE knew to expect the worst, but it didn’t make the news any easier to take when I heard that Fernando Ricksen had passed away on Wednesday morning.
Fernando fought Motor Neurone Disease with such heart, spirit and determination and the legacy he leaves behind as a man, as well as a player, is huge. What a fight he put up and what a guy he was.
When Fernando was first diagnosed in 2013, people were in a state of shock. How could someone who was so fit and healthy during his playing career now face being cut down in the prime of his life?
 
The deterioration in him over the last few years has been so difficult to watch but he defied those who said he would only live for a couple of years and he fought MND with everything that he had.
That didn’t surprise me one bit because that was Fernando. On the park, he was a fighter, a battler, and that strength of character and spirit has kept him alive a lot longer than many thought possible.
I remember when he was diagnosed and he said he was going to fight it. He knew nobody had ever beaten it, but his attitude was to meet this challenge head on and fight until his last breath.
Over the years, he lost the ability to walk and then lost the ability to talk. His mind was there, but his body just wasn’t and it was so difficult to see.
For those that knew him best – his family, his friends and his former team-mates – it was heart-breaking to watch someone get weaker and weaker as the months went on.
I heard on Friday that he might not make it through the night because he was really struggling and his breathing was bad. The doctors and his family were very concerned about him then.
But Fernando never gave up and he fought on for another couple of days. That certainly didn’t surprise me but when I heard the sad news I was just devastated.
I have been at a number of the charity matches and events that have been held over the years to raise money for his family and for research into MND and those efforts meant so much to Fernando and those close to him.
 
He would often get really emotional at these functions but he knew he was making a difference to other people by raising awareness and funds. If he wasn’t going to beat MND, he wanted to give another sufferer the best chance possible.
I saw him a couple of weeks ago and it brought tears to your eyes every time you met up with him. It was so hard to comprehend how such a character could end up like that.
Fernando’s story was tragic but it was inspiring as well. He was struck down all of a sudden and it shows that you never know what is round the corner for you in life.
That is why you have to cherish what you have, because you never know what hand you will be dealt next. It puts everything into perspective and it certainly puts football in perspective.
As a player, Fernando made his name as a terrific leader and he will be so fondly remembered by the Rangers supporters for all that he achieved in his career at Ibrox.
Helicopter Sunday was arguably the pinnacle of his time in Glasgow. He captained the side on that famous afternoon and what a moment that was for the players, the staff and the fans.
Fernando gave everything for the jersey. If he had to be a wee bit nasty at times, he was.
But he was a winner, a man that left everything out there for the club and his team-mates and the fans will always take to someone with that attitude.
You always get players that the crowd don’t like or rate, but I don’t think you will get many that didn’t love Fernando Ricksen as a Ranger.
 
You get players these days that kiss the badge or say things on social media to endear themselves to people. That wasn’t Fernando, he did it where it mattered most and that was on the park.
He did it for his team-mates, he did it for the fans and he did it for the club that he grew to love. Rangers had a special place in Fernando’s heart and he will have a place in Ibrox history forever more.
That will be the case at every club Fernando played for. He had two spells at Fortuna Sittard, joined Rangers from AZ and moved onto Zenit St Petersburg.
He also represented the Netherlands and that tells you all you need to know about the quality of player that he was.
Whether he played at right-back or in midfield, he was a very, very good player and I know he cherished the success that he had during his six years in Glasgow.
This is a sad day for everyone at Rangers Football Club but the tributes that have come in from across Scottish football, and from across the game all over the world, tell you all you need to know about the high esteem that Fernando Ricksen was held in.
It will be an emotional night when Rangers host Feyenoord in the Europa League and Steven Gerrard’s side play their first game since Fernando’s passing.
It would be so fitting if Rangers could win it for Fernando and pay tribute to him at Ibrox.
 
Like everyone, I have felt so sorry for him in recent years. But it is his family that have had to endure this for the last seven years and it must be so difficult for them right now.
They are certainly in our thoughts and prayers at this moment in time. They have lost the number one person in their life but they know that Fernando Ricksen - footballer, captain, friend and father - will never be forgotten.
https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/17911164.amp/?ref=twtrec&__twitter_impression=true
 
Big DJ has had his critics in the past me included, but that's a really touching piece from him. 

I'll look out my Holland top from the final. No chance it's fitting but I'll give it a bash

Maybe just a bit tight time wise.
But our next home league game is against Aberdeen which when you recall the oranje final then that may be more fitting 

30k is excellent at Wembley when the game is at Southampton 😁

If celtic come on sunday and are as attack minded and open as they have been in other games this season then he could absolutely murder them on the break.

Maybe just shades Edu's goal. They scenes were absolutely fucking pandemonium when that went in. 
I sat elsewhere the night and didn't know anyone. By full time I knew the guy 14 rows in front of me.
Absolutely love this club what a fucking night.

There are 2 things we can take out of this sham. 
1.this punishment is part of a totting up situation for stuff done in the past, negates their sevco new club pish. 
And 
2.every time we beat these bastards and every trophy we win from now and forever they will hate it even more than we love it, and by fuck will we love every single minute of celebration. 

No.
General sports please

What would you rather he said? You’re way off the mark if you think Marshall’s the bad guy here. The bad guys are that shower a corrupt inbred cunts from the east end who are repeatedly trying to hamstring our club with sanctions and demonise our support. They’re the ones we all need to be united against...reprehensible paedo-protecting scum of the highest order!

Hi guys, just a quick message to say that I won't be uploading any videos for the foreseeable future.
I have always kept my private life, and that of my familys, exactly that - private.
What I will say though, is that my wife hasn't been keeping great, that's why I've not made many videos this last couple of months or so.
There has been some games recently I haven't even seen, let alone make a video of.
And unfortunately the news we got this week wasn't what we were wanting, so this is just going to intensify.
So all my time, effort and energy will be going towards caring for her for now.
I know some of you like these videos, and are grateful for them, but I hope yous understand.  Who knows, I might post one out of the blue, but they'll be rare for the foreseeable.
Cheers
Scott

Apologies if already posted but couldn't find a thread anywhere for it
 
Rangers have won the MoD gold award for the work and backing of the armed forces 
 
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/17852083.amp/
 
Today at 9:48 AM 
Rangers have won an award from the Ministry of Defence for its support of the armed forces.
It is the first UK football club to get the Gold Award in the Employer Recognition Scheme.
The club has regularly hosted serving military personnel and reservists at Ibrox and also offers a 20% discount on it Tickets for Troops scheme.
The Ibrox club also works with veterans charities including Erskine and PoppyScotland and provides community programmes for veterans via the Rangers Charity Foundation.
Manager, Steven Gerrard, added: “This is proud moment for everyone at the Club and Foundation, who I know work hard to support serving Armed Forces personnel and veterans each season.
“I hope that the fans will join us all in celebrating this special award, it’s well deserved.”
Managing Director, Stewart Robertson said: “Achieving the Gold Award is a wonderful recognition for both the Club and Foundation and I would like to pay tribute to everyone within Rangers, as well as our supporters, who have contributed to this work over many years.
“We are committed to doing whatever we can to support those who serve and promote an armed forces-friendly environment

Yip, they’ll both be on the pitch celebrating the title at the end of the season.

Hamish McAlpine?

Done deal.
Goal scoring midfielder. Good pedigree. Extra option for a 60+ games season. What’s not to like. 

Operation Desert storm is about to begin. 

When Morelos cuddled Defoe after the final whistle today it looks like he’s never been happier at Rangers 
Even losing his starting place to Defoe today, despite his huffy persona, he was like a man possessed. fucking love his attitude, I won’t even begrudge him his move when he goes for silly money

Go yourself mate I can assure you. You won't be on your own for too long or you will meet someone you know.  Or go on a supporters bus and by the time you get to the ferry you will have a bus full of new mates.

Was the best I have been at in a while from an hour before kick off right to the final whistle. Not sure how it came across on Rangers TV. 
The home fans must have looked at us at HT and wondered what was going on  was nuts  
No other support comes close. 

https://www.vanguardbears.co.uk/article.php?i=287&a=truthful-journalism-at-last-------

Dear Kilmarnock FC........................
Can you please tell me why your seats are empty and covered in posters, whilst I and thousands of other bears are in the house ticketless with cash in our pockets on matchday?
Is it perhaps because you are a bunch of useless fuckwits?
Enjoy playing in the Championship next season.
Signed: Rangers fans x

https://www.vanguardbears.co.uk/article.php?i=284&a=celtic-–-international-class-paedophiles
Tick...tock...tick...

I really really don't get the negativity with this kid.