Our yesterday is our tomorrow

[D'Artagnan 13,319]

Once upon a time a wise man said...

“I have been lucky — lucky in those who were around me from the boardroom to the dressing-room. In time of stress, their unstinted support, unbroken devotion to our club and calmness in adversity eased the task of making Rangers FC the premier club in this country.

To be a Ranger is to sense the sacred trust of upholding all that such a name means in this shrine of football. They must be true in their conception of what the Ibrox tradition seeks from them. No true Ranger has ever failed in the tradition set him."

Our very success, gained you will agree by skill, will draw more people than ever to see it. And that will benefit many more clubs than Rangers. Let the others come after us. We welcome the chase. It is healthy for us. We will never hide from it. Never fear, inevitably we shall have our years of failure, and when they arrive, we must reveal tolerance and sanity. No matter the days of anxiety that come our way, we shall emerge stronger because of the trials to be overcome. That has been the philosophy of the Rangers since the days of the gallant pioneers. “

Perhaps our familiarity with the greatness of these words, and their constant repetition amongst the Rangers support, causes us to fail to truly ruminate and meditate on the significance and entailment of our forefather's foresight. They are worthy of revisiting and exploration...in fact if they are to claim the greatness which we attribute to them, then they MUST give us both meaning, explanation and encouragement given our current predicament.

The first paragraph speaks of unstinted support and unbroken devotion from the boardroom to the dressing room. It is a sad reflection of the times...and the chairmanship of Sir David Murray.... that the unstinted support at boardroom level which Mr Struth alludes to..has been sadly missing in recent years. Loyalty should not be to a charismatic and ebullient owner, but solely to Rangers football club. The saying that “no man is bigger than the club” is as applicable at boardroom level as it is in the dressing room.

End of.

The second paragraph could have writers waxing lyrical for page upon page. But I will cut to the chase, because after all...we welcome it.

It bestows upon us an allegiance to a sacred trust...a kind of covenant. An adherence to a set of standards which requires an almost mystical, even ethereal understanding of our traditions, they are not written down.... but by virtue of something, way beyond this writer's understanding, they appear to be imbued in those who are called. Perhaps Mr Struth's words are epitomised in this following popular saying....

Bluenoses are born, not manufactured.

We do not choose, we are chosen.

Those who understand, need no explanation.

Those who don't understand, don't matter.

Mr Struth attested that no true Ranger had ever failed in the tradition set before him. I would respectfully suggest to you that our current predicament has come upon us because the men representing us, charged with guarding our traditions and heritage, have not been “true Rangers”. Perhaps there is a lesson here for Duff & Phelps...its not the content of your wallet which is important...but your love and understanding of the Rangers.

In essence...have you been called.

Mr Struth's third paragraph requires no vindication. The whole of Scottish football has benefited from Rangers success. In a country where our defeat of the “auld enemy” serves as an almost “opiate for the masses”..... a Wee Blue Devil and a Slim Jim were at the forefront of some of those memorable victories. Not particularly surprising for a club whose players have accrued more international caps then any other in history.

That of course takes no cognisance of the financial benefit to every Scottish club, who host the Rangers, and their travelling support, a support who have never fallen short of the traditions set for them.

“We will never hide from it. Never fear, inevitably we shall have our years of failure, and when they arrive, we must reveal tolerance and sanity. No matter the days of anxiety that come our way, we shall emerge stronger because of the trials to be overcome. That has been the philosophy of the Rangers since the days of the gallant pioneers. “

But we do fear.

Because we have deviated so far from Mr Struth's vision that we do not know what tomorrow will bring for our club.

His vision spoke of a unity from the boardroom to the dressing room. But it was more than just a unity of purpose. It was something far deeper. It spoke of men steeped in the Rangers tradition running the club from top to bottom. Men who did not choose but were chosen. Men who never failed in the tradition set them.

Mr Struth's words are not a reflection of yesteryear....they are a guarantee of our tomorrow.

The concepts of which he spoke are not our history...they are our future.

It wont happen tomorrow, or the next day, but it will come to fulfilment.

One day Rangers men, steeped in the tradition of their calling, will stand at the helm of our club.

And how will that happen ?

Because those who have and guarded and cherished the precepts from yesteryear, will ensure they become our tomorrow.

That is the power and potential of the Rangers support.

Awake and realise your potential, fulfill the traditions expected of you.

[3Proddie1690 132]

Awesome post, have a rep

[minstral 5,375]

Top class once again Dart.

[Mr Struth 137]

I said all that

[D'Artagnan 13,319]

Excellent stuff D'Art. Let's hope this can become a reality sooner rather than later.

On a side note, can I use this on the homepage?

Of course - all my stuff can be used by RM Media wherever they see appropriate.

[dummiesoot 16,002]

Powerful D'Art sadly i think for the moment true Rangers men with the wherewithall, money and stature are reticent to come forward. I fear for the club, our club, my club certainly in the short term. If fans can start to act as one with no agenda then we have a chance.

Unfortunately our enemies are sticking the knife in with no one to defend us apart from our manager another rangers great Mr McCoist, he needs help the burden he has carried this year is nothing short of disgraceful.

[eosmhdo 1,879]

Of course - all my stuff can be used by RM Media wherever they see appropriate.

Great stuff mate, well deserved rep.

[D'Artagnan 13,319]

Powerful D'Art sadly i think for the moment true Rangers men with the wherewithall, money and stature are reticent to come forward. I fear for the club, our club, my club certainly in the short term. If fans can start to act as one with no agenda then we have a chance.

Unfortunately our enemies are sticking the knife in with no one to defend us apart from our manager another rangers great Mr McCoist, he needs help the burden he has carried this year is nothing short of disgraceful.

I concur.

Though what has transpired has only cemented Ally's legend status. He has been left totally in the lurch but his understanding of the traditions of which Mr Struth has spoken have only served, in this time of adversity to give birth to yet another immortal phrase.

"We dont do walking away."

Cometh the hour cometh the man.

And Ally is not on his own....7,000 Rangers supporters proved that the other week.

And I believe there is a lot more to come.

Chin up brother.

[southcoastbear 1,639]

Unfortunately I cannot forsee a return to the Struth ethos in the boardroom in particular until the the day when rangers fans can again unite and return the ownership and control to the the fans again. Could this have been an opportunity missed, I guess only time may tell.

[dummiesoot 16,002]

I appreciate the fans help however he needs help at a higher level lets face it no one listens to the fans we are just a bunch of bigots afterall...

[D'Artagnan 13,319]

Unfortunately I cannot forsee a return to the Struth ethos in the boardroom in particular until the the day when rangers fans can again unite and return the ownership and control to the the fans again. Could this have been an opportunity missed, I guess only time may tell.

Its our job as fans...South coast... to ensure those who have custody of our club live up to such ideals. Yes they will fall short if they have not been chosen...but we have a duty to tell them what they should at least aspire to..

[stuart54 218]

Superb article.

[Eric_Caldow 60]

Excellent as always, D'Art.

[Carsons Dog 9,878]

That article needs to be read by Mr Green

[delamonty 992]

Magnificent post D'Art. Perfection.

[Ger for life 199]

Mr Struth's words should be enlarged,framed and clearly displayed on the wall behind the reception area so that every person who enters Ibrox Stadium via the front door has the opportunity to read them and be aware of what an institution we are.

A suitable photograph of the Great Man alongside his words would not go amiss either.A subliminal message that rogues and vagabonds should have no truck with Glasgow Rangers Football Club.

Mr Struth must be spinning at the charlatans who have done so much to damage our proud club.

He shall also, of course, be smiling down favourably on our current esteemed Manager, Mr McCoist who has done so much to maintain our pride and dignity.

Well said OP!

[Saddam Ghandi 17]

Great article D'Artagnan.

[D'Artagnan 13,319]

Mr Struth's words should be enlarged,framed and clearly displayed on the wall behind the reception area so that every person who enters Ibrox Stadium via the front door has the opportunity to read them and be aware of what an institution we are.

A suitable photograph of the Great Man alongside his words would not go amiss either.A subliminal message that rogues and vagabonds should have no truck with Glasgow Rangers Football Club.

Mr Struth must be spinning at the charlatans who have done so much to damage our proud club.

He shall also, of course, be smiling down favourably on our current esteemed Manager, Mr McCoist who has done so much to maintain our pride and dignity.

Well said OP!

Fully agree GFL

Ally has been an absolute colossus during all of this. He has had to take the role of figurehead while at the same time manage a football club.

We should really show our appreciation of him at the start of next season.

[BRICKY1872 118]

Wonderful analogy of what the Rangers are all about, past and present. I just had...

Bluenoses are born, not manufactured.

We do not choose, we are chosen.

Those who understand, need no explanation.

Those who don't understand, don't matter.

...tattood on my arm on Saturday. Every time I look at it reminds me of what makes me love our great club. It smacks of a certain arrogance, that's for sure, but we have plenty to be arrogant about. We are the Rangers. Always have been, always will be.

[OlegKuznetsov 10,816]

Top notch stuff mate, as ever.

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

Once upon a time a wise man said...

"I have been lucky — lucky in those who were around me from the boardroom to the dressing-room. In time of stress, their unstinted support, unbroken devotion to our club and calmness in adversity eased the task of making Rangers FC the premier club in this country.

When I read that line my immediate though was for Ally - he has got little around him in the way of support - oh I am sure he chats to Walter - but he has no one in that Chairman role or board room to help him deal with all the financial shit and other corporate crap that goes on around him. At least in the dressing room he has Durrant, Big Lee - Shagger and in the background Sandy Jardine to some extent.

I am sure Mr Struth would have coped just as well as Ally with the current situation but I doubt he would have done any better.

Ally has been a rock during all this and no matter what he wins in football - his handling of the current situation is definately Struth-esque.

[D'Artagnan 13,319]

When I read that line my immediate though was for Ally - he has got little around him in the way of support - oh I am sure he chats to Walter - but he has no one in that Chairman role or board room to help him deal with all the financial shit and other corporate crap that goes on around him. At least in the dressing room he has Durrant, Big Lee - Shagger and in the background Sandy Jardine to some extent.

I am sure Mr Struth would have coped just as well as Ally with the current situation but I doubt he would have done any better.

Ally has been a rock during all this and no matter what he wins in football - his handling of the current situation is definately Struth-esque.

Would agree wholeheartedly bp.

Disgusting that he has been left in such a position.....some should hand their heads in shame.

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

Would agree wholeheartedly bp.

Disgusting that he has been left in such a position.....some should hand their heads in shame.

Yep those that left him high and dry like SDM - I wonder what Ally thinks of him now !?

BUT when called - Ally has stood up - and for that I am (and we all should be) grateful.

Mind you he did have the support of next seasons only new squad member - our new number 12! :21:

[D'Artagnan 13,319]

Yep those that left him high and dry like SDM - I wonder what Ally thinks of him now !?

BUT when called - Ally has stood up - and for that I am (and we all should be) grateful.

Mind you he did have the support of next seasons only new squad member - our new number 12! :21:

I suspect after tomorrow BP...it will be the beginning of the end for the aforementioned SDM. I think both his integrity and credibility will be fatally wounded.

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

I suspect after tomorrow BP...it will be the beginning of the end for the aforementioned SDM. I think both his integrity and credibility will be fatally wounded.

I used to stick up for him all the time (yes I know we have had sertain discussions on some of those subjects!!) - I have had a season ticket for 25 years and SDM was chairman for 23 of those years (Yep I am a glory seeker I got my season ticket the year Souness joined!! - I was in the Army before that) ) and during that time we have had wonderful fun and times - BUT selling out to that Charlatan Whyte - when AJ etc. said dont do it - blew my respect totally away.

His legacy will not be the 23 years of sucess when he backed the club. His legacy will be the disgust of the support and the shame of his incorrect decision to sell out to Whyte - and that is before we even see tomorrows program!