julescotia 11,407 Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 HEAL THE PAIN ... Clifford Healy helps collect cash for Gers DAVID HEALY insists Rangers WILL survive — as long as people like his dad keep on giving everything they’ve got to the Ibrox club. The Gers striker yesterday returned to the home of his greatest moments in one of his final acts as a Gers player. Healy famously scored the winner for Northern Ireland against England here in 2005, and a hat-trick against Spain the following year. But it was his dad Clifford who was the hero as he went around with a bucket collecting donations to try and help Gers’ cause. A crowd of more than 7,000 turned up to see Ally McCoist’s side beat Linfield 2-0 thanks to goals from Alejandro Bedoya and kid Barrie McKay. Linfield will now hand over gate receipts of around £100,000 to their cash-strapped friends. And Healy says it’s that kind of support that can keep Gers alive. He said: “My dad’s a big Rangers supporter and I used to go to the games with him. “He’s involved with the Rangers supporters’ clubs over here and they’ve all got together to try and put some money back into the club. “It’s been like this since administration. Everyone has rallied round. “People said Rangers might go under — but NOT with the people that we have at the club and the fans that we have. It will NEVER happen. “The gaffer famously came out with the one-liner ‘we don’t do walking away’ and the fans have taken that on. “They are not walking away. They are backing the club 100 per cent. “I know the Rangers fans in Northern Ireland were making pennants to be sold at Ibrox last Saturday. “They’ve been raising a lot of money for three or four months now. “Now we’ve brought the team over here to raise a few more pounds. “The reaction over here shows to everyone how big the club is. “I’ve always known it but those on the outside can see how big a club this is and what it means to so many people. It’s not just a football club. It’s a Scottish institution, it’s a worldwide institution and the supporters are and always will be the lifeblood of the club.” Healy fulfilled a boyhood dream when he finally signed for his heroes last year. He now expects to leave the club this summer as he has not yet been offered a new deal to stay. But he hopes US tycoon Bill Miller can help restore Gers to their former glory. And he is optimistic the club will recover from it’s current desperate situation. He said: “I’m confident we will come out the other end. “We are raising money and Mr Bill Miller is coming in with hopefully the right bid and the right money to take the club forward. I’m sure he can. He’s got enough money and he’s got enough business know-how and hopefully the club can put everything into the past and move on.” Allan McGregor, Dorin Goian, Carlos Bocanegra and Kyle Bartley did not travel over. But Healy was part of a strong Rangers squad that travelled over to Belfast. But injured skipper Steven Davis made the trip and signed autographs for fans before the game. Nineteen-year-old Northern Ireland Under-21 international Chris Hegarty made his first Gers start. He played in a back three alongside Ross Perry and Kirk Broadfoot. Steven Whittaker, Bedoya, Mo Edu, Lee McCulloch and Lee Wallace made up a five-man midfield. Sone Aluko and Healy began up front. Linfield went closest to opening the scoring in the first half when Gary Browne curled in a shot which crashed off Neil Alexander’s post. But Gers, sporting their new 2012/13 home kit for the first time, went ahead in the 55th minute thanks to a well-taken goal by Bedoya. In the closing stages McCoist took the chance to blood a number of the club’s youngsters. It was one of those, 17-year-old McKay, who scored the second with 12 minutes left. Healy admitted the win had sealed a good day all round for everyone connected with Linfield and Rangers. He said: “It was nice to play here. It’s always nice to play here. There was a good turnout and the majority of Linfield, near enough them all, support Rangers so they were getting to see their two favourite teams today. “It’s a difficult time for everyone at Rangers but there are so many good things about the club, past and present. “But we need to look to the future now and it’s been refreshing the way the Rangers fans have reacted. “They were probably disappointed that we didn’t beat Motherwell on Saturday but even on 89 minutes they had stayed behind and burst into tune. “That’s the kind of support that we need and that they’ve always given us. “They want to maintain the 140-year history and hopefully that can happen.” Boss McCoist was also positive after being given a huge ovation from the Linfield support. And he admitted the chance to bring on McKay and fellow kid Robbie Caldwell late on had been a huge bonus. He said: “It was great. We’ve always had a great relationship with fans over here and especially with Linfield. “It was great to come back. It obviously gave us an opportunity to give a couple of the young boys like Barry and Robbie a run about as well. So it was a good day all around.”Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/4303262/Gers-will-never-die-my-dad-will-see-to-that.html#ixzz1uELZfID2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
paisleyroad 894 Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 fair play Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thermopylae 15,288 Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 What a great article Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBoyDave 123 Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 Thank you mr Healy and it goes without saying thank you to Linfield for helping us out.AC Milan legends also helped us out while most in the spl seem to want to kick us while we are down.We don't do walking away and we should not forget those who helped us and those who are trying to ruin us. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthernLights 2,529 Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 The Healy family. True blues! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1873bear 192 Posted May 8, 2012 Share Posted May 8, 2012 We as a collective support should appreciate our support from gods country......Ulster bears put loyal is loyalist...Love and Respect. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1873bear 192 Posted May 8, 2012 Share Posted May 8, 2012 .... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1873bear 192 Posted May 8, 2012 Share Posted May 8, 2012 double triple post !!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Jela 21,651 Posted May 8, 2012 Share Posted May 8, 2012 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nachothelegend 1,932 Posted May 8, 2012 Share Posted May 8, 2012 I adnire the Ulstermens loyalty.I worked with a few Ulster boys in the Army and RAF and they where always Loyal and true to their dutys within HM Armed Forces.This just confirms their conmitment to us and we salute you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoatbridgeBear 7,113 Posted May 8, 2012 Share Posted May 8, 2012 Brilliant article.Feel quite sorry for Healy, surely he should have played every game after admin. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
frommetoyou 60 Posted May 8, 2012 Share Posted May 8, 2012 :praise:Well done N.I.lads. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clemdog 39,389 Posted May 8, 2012 Share Posted May 8, 2012 Cliff and David Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian1872 43 Posted May 8, 2012 Share Posted May 8, 2012 Surprised David didn't get more games after scoring a couple in his few appearances. I heard that there was a clause in his contract that if he played another game (after he played those few as we went into admin) that he would be entitled to a pay-rise and contract renewal which we wouldn't have been able to put forward to him. Not sure if that is true or not though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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