Ibroxblue 131 Posted May 8, 2010 Share Posted May 8, 2010 Rangers ditch Old Firm clash in US for tournament Down Under Published Date: 09 May 2010 By Ewing GrahameRANGERS have withdrawn from the proposed meeting with Celtic in Boston this summer and will instead pursue an invitation to take part in a tournament in Australia.The Fenway Sports Group had been keen to stage the very first Old Firm match outside Scotland at Fenway Park, home of baseball's Boston Red Sox, in July.Several factors, however, convinced Ibrox officials to plump for making money as opposed to history as they plan their pre-season schedule.A summer visit to the USA had been under serious consideration, with games in Dallas and Washington provisionally arranged before the clash with Celtic but Rangers have now opted to head Down Under.The Glasgow giants had been tipped to fill Fenway Park to its 39,928 capacity, mainly due to the large Celtic diaspora in the New England area.Yet the potential for crowd trouble, which increased when the Boston Globe published an article recently listing a long list of offences by Rangers supporters away from Scottish soil, was only one deterrent.Rangers were unhappy with that slur and the newspaper published a partial apology but there were fears that the piece may have provoked trouble between rival supporters attending the match.Instead, the SPL champions will head to Sydney, where they will play three matches, with their opponents looking likely to be Boca Juniors from Argentina, Blackburn Rovers and local team Sydney FC. The about-turn was confirmed last night by Rangers chief executive Martin Bain."In recent weeks the club has been discussing the possibility of a US tour and an Old Firm game in Boston," he said. "However, after all the facts had been considered we have decided not to pursue that. "Instead, there is the possibility of matches in Australia and an announcement on that will be made in the next couple of days."A Rangers visit to Australia's largest city, where all three games are likely to be played, would attract huge interest from Scottish expatriates in the area.It's believed that the financially troubled club would also earn more money by heading for New South Wales than they could expect in New England.Going to Australia has the added benefit of allowing Rangers, who go straight into the Champions League at the group stage, to re-start their pre-season work slightly later than if they go to America.http://sport.scotsman.com/football/Rangers-ditch-Old-Firm-clash.6282446.jp Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bombaybadboy08 15,660 Posted May 8, 2010 Share Posted May 8, 2010 Great news,facing the English team i follow as well,pity it aint over here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty657 1 Posted May 8, 2010 Share Posted May 8, 2010 Yas!!Was hoping this wouldn't go ahead. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu1993 101 Posted May 8, 2010 Share Posted May 8, 2010 thank god, a friendly with them should never be put on the table anyway. Hopefully this happens for our bears down under.and then we can get a glamour friendly back here, chelsea again Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hutchy14 4 Posted May 8, 2010 Share Posted May 8, 2010 Finally! The club sees sense! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimfanciesthedude 25,637 Posted May 8, 2010 Share Posted May 8, 2010 good shit, get as far away from this boston pish as possible Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu1993 101 Posted May 8, 2010 Share Posted May 8, 2010 thank god they will be so far away, with that Utd scum to. they two are suppose to be playing a friendly over there Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingKirk 26,501 Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 A trip down under will need to do then Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmytto 220 Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 Good news for the Aussie bears and also hopefully good for the marketing Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozblue 4,332 Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 If this tour comes to fruition then it will be like scoring a lottery win.The timmy fans here in Oz will be spewing about this...I can feel a wind-up coming on...GIRFUY.There are a lot of mhanks fans here in N.S.W. who hate Sydney F.C. because they play in Blue but because they want to go to a football match, they just support whoever is playing against Sydney....This is going to fuck their tiny brains up:lol:will they go and support Sydney or stay at home? PRICELESS. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjkerr 1 Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 Bring it on it would be Epic for me to show my sons the Gers!! :wink: :praise: :praise: :praise: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
canadian_bear 1 Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 Hopefully this change will benefit Rangers FC financially and, ultimately, that is what this is all about. I must sdmit it is disappointing though, as Rangers have not been to North America for awhile, whereas Celtic are coming for the second or third year in a row. Glad I didn't book a ticket to Boston in advance! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidCF2 29 Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 Excellent news.A part of me died inside when I heard we were even considering a "Friendly" with that lot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roboscot 1,204 Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 A bender of a weekend in Sydney will do me and Mrs R nicely. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kplfishtank 4,746 Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 Hopefully this change will benefit Rangers FC financially and, ultimately, that is what this is all about. I must sdmit it is disappointing though, as Rangers have not been to North America for awhile, whereas Celtic are coming for the second or third year in a row. Glad I didn't book a ticket to Boston in advance!did we not play in los angeles a few years back Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommy2212 151 Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 Its sounds as if that boston globe article played a big part in our decision. I hope Bain told fenway park tae get tae fuck after that article Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueballss 3,037 Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 good news, why feed the gutter mhedia with non news to slur our club again!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OzGers 425 Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 get in!if this is true, cannot wait, and there are plenty of gers supporters in oz, so will be a good turnout...ALL BEARS WELCOME! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeautifulSeas 10 Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 This would be incredible if it happens. I'm very hyper about this right now!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kplfishtank 4,746 Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 This would be incredible if it happens. I'm very hyper about this right now!!its a pity theyre not doing it over christmas and new year as i would also make it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boab 73 Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 thank god, a friendly with them should never be put on the table anyway. Hopefully this happens for our bears down under.and then we can get a glamour friendly back here, chelsea again I think it'll be Birmingham at home on the 7th of August.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kplfishtank 4,746 Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 thank god, a friendly with them should never be put on the table anyway. Hopefully this happens for our bears down under.and then we can get a glamour friendly back here, chelsea again I think it'll be Birmingham at home on the 7th of August..my workmates a birmingham fan and i said we may be playing them on 7th but he said theyre playing real mallorca that day Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozblue 4,332 Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 This would be incredible if it happens. I'm very hyper about this right now!!You ain't Robinson Crusoe,BS....Party time at the SFS. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboyrfc 296 Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 fantastic. Hopefully the wembley cup is confirmed soon also! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boab 73 Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 Seems the most appropriate thread for inserting;Official Website:Rangers have pulled put of a proposed tour of the USA - including an Old Firm game in Boston - and may now head to Australa in pre-season.The Light Blues looked at a match and training tour of the States which would have included matches in Dallas and Washington.They also looked at the possibility of facing Celtic on July 21 at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox.However, Rangers have pulled out and are now looking at the prospect of a glamour four-team tournament in Sydney involving Blackburn Rovers, Boca Juniors and Sydney FC.Rangers chief executive Marin Bain said: "In recent weeks the club has been discussing the possibility of a US tour and an Old Firm game in Boston."We have decided not to pursue that. Instead, there is the possibility of matches in Australia and an announcement will be made in the next couple of days."http://www.rangers.co.uk/articles/20100509/wizards-of-oz_2254024_2047297 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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