Vanguard Bears - just who are they?

[DAVIE8CH 296]

a great piece on the work of the V.B. and a tremendous gesture with the sponsorship of one of our young players and the large cheque for the club. keep taking the fight and the truth to our many haters.

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

VB are a members only club formed to get at TWB (Alledgedly! - as they never return my emails - so I go on what I read on RM)

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

Similar to many Scottish based Bears, in the last number of years I’ve found myself disillusioned by events in Scotland pertaining to my beloved football club, how it was perceived and how it was such an easy target for its enemies. After reading a few articles on-line from Vanguard Bears I decided to apply to their web based forum at http://www.vanguardbears.co.uk/ to join them in the hope of redressing the balance.

The 20th of October 2012 was a defining day for the group of Rangers fans known as the Vanguard Bears, and I’ve penned this article because I believe the work that VB do should be available for the wider support to view.

It brought the group into the public eye for many supporters of our club, and many within the media pack for the very first time.

On a day when Rangers football club set a new world record of 49,486 for an attendance in a fourth tier football match, many Vanguard Bears were in the crowd. Many thousands of people would have opened their match day programme and seen that the young Rangers first team player Robbie Crawford has been sponsored by the Vanguard Bears for the season. At half time a highly respected and prominent member of Vanguard Bears and member of the supporters group RTID NI presented two cheques with a combined total of £46,050 to our club. This amazing donation was raised by Rangers fans in Northern Ireland to support our club in its time of need.

Half time also saw the unveiling of a new banner, from the Vanguard Bears. The flag was a reward to the group, by the group, for all the hard work done by members past and present. It’s size, its message and its beauty drew many remarks from supporters who were quite rightly impressed by this fantastic banner, created by and for a supporters group who many of them had never heard of. Many supporters, so impressed by this banner, asked the people around them who the Vanguard Bears were.

So who exactly are the Vanguard Bears?

If you would believe the ramblings of the mentally-ill wannabe Irish, but definitely Scottish, blogger Phil - The Failed Journalist, we, as Rangers supporters are an underclass, a Klan, bigots and hooligans. Rich indeed, when you consider that those words have been written by a discredited journalist who has been described by the mainstream media as being “tarred with the sectarian brush”.

- The Failed Journalist isn’t the only one to have expressed an opinion on the group though; an on-line forum "FollowFollow.com" run by someone who purports to be a Rangers supporter, Mark Dingwall, but which allows supporters of not just Rangers, but of Celtic and other Scottish clubs to post, has used his forum to launch attack after attack upon the Vanguard Bears. He describes members of the group as bullies, hooligans, terrorist sympathisers, bigots and self proclaimed Uber-fans. He has put in place a filter which will not even allow the name of the group to be published within his forum (example below).

Aided and abetted by his small group of moderators, they censure posts and remove all reference to the group. On his forum, Vanguard Bears are a group not to be spoken of, and his reasons for this?

The Vanguard Bears dared to challenge him when he proclaimed himself as the voice of the Rangers Supporters. They highlighted his rather shady financial dealings in the past, and questioned whether he was a fit and proper person to be entrusted with funds raised by loyal Rangers supporters during our clubs darkest hour. This was particularly relevant due to the very nature of Rangers off field problems, and the much highlighted issues surrounding our last owner in this regard.

So, if you would believe the mentally ill, sectarian pseudo-Irish blogger, or the self proclaimed voice of the Rangers support, you could be forgiven for thinking that the Vanguard Bears are some sort of extremist group. You would be very wrong.

Vanguard Bears are not terrorist sympathisers, bigots, self-seeking publicity junkies, hooligans or bullies. They are not some kind of Klan, nor do they consider themselves some kind of Uber-fans group.

Vanguard Bears, are a group whose members come from all walks of life. Its membership includes professional people and also includes some of the most talented bloggers and writers in the United Kingdom. They are predominantly members of the Protestant Unionist Loyalist community, and as their banner proudly proclaims their primary aim is to “Defend our Traditions”. Being a Vanguard Bear carries with it a great deal of responsibility. Vanguard Bears defend our traditions, defend our football club, and defend our way of life. They are armed with a formidable weapon, a weapon which those who would kill our club, our traditions and our way of life truly fear above anything else. The Truth!

While our enemies rely on unsubstantiated propaganda and biased media reporting from their carefully orchestrated sympathisers within the media, the truth is far mightier. To them, the truth truly hurts. When they call for trophy stripping and accuse our club of committing the greatest sporting scandal in Scottish football history, we remind them that there can be no greater sporting scandal in any countries history than that which saw a club in Scotland deliberately conceal child abuse.

We live in a time where being proud to be a Protestant is almost considered a crime, and to openly proclaim it, may see you cautioned by the police.

In Northern Ireland, many politicians sold out the members of the PUL community in their rush for power within the Assembly. Protestants have become more and more marginalised, the Orange Order have been under almost constant attack by the Parades Commission and IRA supporters and former members, who have gained positions within the corridors of power.

The vast sums of money raised by the Orange Order and the flute bands, and the positive impact the bands and Orange Orders have within the communities is ignored. A propaganda war is being waged by the media and pro IRA groups, against the PUL and the Loyal Orders.

At the same time, Republican groups are able to incite violence, promote terrorist groups and openly display firearms in public. Biased media censorship ensures that the Republican groups attract no negative publicity.

Vanguard Bears made a stand where others would not. Members of the group highlighted the disparity between how the Orange Orders, flute bands and the PUL community in Northern Ireland were being treated in comparison to the Republican element within the community. Those members compiled a detailed portfolio of hard evidence which supported this and published it. I suspect many people out-with the group were unaware that it was Vanguard Bears who led the way.

In Scotland, the PUL have been under constant attack for a number of years. The Scottish Assembly is run by a party determined to bring about a break up of the Union. It has sought and been granted a referendum vote, to decide on the fate of the Union, and it will use any means at its disposal to try to ensure they get the decision they are desperate for.

The ruling Scottish Nationalist Party, assisted by a concentrated and biased media campaign, were able to push through their parliament; sectarian laws which were not only unnecessary, but cleverly designed to suppress and isolate the PUL community in Scotland. Vanguard Bears have actively highlighted the disparities in the way the law is being applied within Scotland, they have challenged the powers that be, and provided hard evidence to support their claims. Again I suspect that few out-with the group itself, actually realise that it was Vanguard Bears who were at the forefront in exposing this.

Although Vanguard Bears are primarily a Rangers supporters group; supporters of the biggest and best supported club in Scotland, a club who have won more domestic championship titles than any other club in the world, as you have read, they are more, much more.

Despite all that our club has endured in recent times, Vanguard Bears have supported the new owners, the management team, the playing squad, and the many support staff at the club, ranging from the people in the ticket office to the people who serve the food on match days. They have bought the plot and headstone of Rangers founder William McBeath, who rests in peace in Lincoln. The Vanguard Bears have donated money to the club, they have supported their fellow Rangers fans by donating money to allow them to attend games, they have challenged biased media reporting against the club, they have challenged heavy handed policing of our supporters on numerous occasions this season, they have taken the fight to those who would destroy our famous club. They have protested against the biased BBC, and will no doubt do so again as the attacks on our cub continue. They have promoted unity amongst a sometimes divided support, and have demanded answers from those who put the very existence of our club into doubt.

Of course; if you are a Vanguard Bear, you already know this. If you are not, then I suspect you were unaware of exactly how much this supporters group has done for our club and the PUL community in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Vanguard Bears do not openly seek any recognition, nor do they class themselves as better than any other supporters group. They would much rather work away, for the benefit of our club, our traditions and our way of life behind the scenes. It is only those who know nothing about the group who denigrate and attack it.

Vanguard Bears, Defending our Traditions? Most definitely!

Hated but Rated? Hated by those who know nothing about us, but rated by all!

The Ref

A Proud Vanguard Bear

http://www.vanguardb...st-who-are-they

Thats a political speech hidden inside comments about supporting Rangers - nothing more - nothing less - Football,andRangers would be a lot better if people took the politics and religion out of sport.

[bluechip 359]

Well done Vanguard Bears. The TRUTH is the best weapon you could possibly use against these lying corrupt rhats . Keep up the good work and ignore all those f*****g handwringers.

[BLUEDIGNITY 33,638]

So who the fuck are you working for? I been feeding you info for years now!

ps.....I'm still needing 1 ticket, what do you need to know?

Is that as well as yourself ? Or just you ?

[WVB 2,560]

Is that as well as yourself ? Or just you ?

I just need the one, for my chaffeur.

[minstral 5,375]

Thats a political speech hidden inside comments about supporting Rangers - nothing more - nothing less - Football,andRangers would be a lot better if people took the politics and religion out of sport.

In what way would it make Rangers better.

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

In what way would it make Rangers better.

It would make it better in my opinion!

[WVB 2,560]

Thats a political speech hidden inside comments about supporting Rangers - nothing more - nothing less - Football,andRangers would be a lot better if people took the politics and religion out of sport.

Whilst what you say is not wrong in some respects at least, the fact that the enemies of our club have mobilised against us brings the need for us to unite as one to the fore. When the battle is won, I'm sure nobody would mind you returning to your Jacobite saber-rattling, but for now, everything is political.

Sad but true.

[CanadianBacon 2,088]

It would make it better in my opinion!

It's all about opinions.

I don't agree with yours on this occasion.

Surprised?

Nah.....me neither.

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

Whilst what you say is not wrong in some respects at least, the fact that the enemies of our club have mobilised against us brings the need for us to unite as one to the fore. When the battle is won, I'm sure nobody would mind you returning to your Jacobite saber-rattling, but for now, everything is political.

Sad but true.

Just political - Not religious??

Or is everything really about the football ? ???

[Edmiston Drive 3,846]

It would make it better in my opinion!

Strange when that Fleetwood Mac lyric in Edinburgh mixes , religion and politics into football.

[WVB 2,560]

Just political - Not religious??

Or is everything really about the football ? ???

If it was just about the football (and I wish it were), our club would not be under the sustained attacks that it is.

No sporting rivalry can bring this level of obsessive social engineering about, it obviously goes much deeper with our haters.

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

It's all about opinions.

I don't agree with yours on this occasion.

Surprised?

Nah.....me neither.

Na not surprised - I would come and discuss it at home games but your always in intense discussions with someone - and ignoring us wannabe disciples, those of us who would bow and swoon just to be granted eye contact ... but sadly you ignore us acolytes - and I am to polite to butt in! (No seriously I am!)

[Fastrax 274]

Thats a political speech hidden inside comments about supporting Rangers - nothing more - nothing less - Football,andRangers would be a lot better if people took the politics and religion out of sport.

Perhaps you would be better off following a different sport as politics/religion go hand in hand with football in almost every country the game is played

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

If it was just about the football (and I wish it were), our club would not be under the sustained attacks that it is.

No sporting rivalry can bring this level of obsessive social engineering about, it obviously goes much deeper with our haters.

...but do we have to take up an opposite religious view, or political view (or percieved views) based on what the detractors of the club may be (or percieved to be)?

.. Is that not allowing 'Them' to define who we are ??

.... do we really lack the wit and intelligence to defend our football club without having to also become followers of a big man in the sky (or even those wee gay lads in Downing Street)?

[CanadianBacon 2,088]

Na not surprised - I would come and discuss it at home games but your always in intense discussions with someone - and ignoring us wannabe disciples, those of us who would bow and swoon just to be granted eye contact ... but sadly you ignore us acolytes - and I am to polite to butt in! (No seriously I am!)

I've got a cunt of a memory and putting faces to names in the mellee that is pre-match fanzine selling isn't 'eye-contact' territory I'm afraid.

Why not be bold - thrust forward - your hand offered outward - palm open in that "let's shake" mode and say, "Hi CB....I'm B-b-b-b-blue......P-p-p-p-peter-n-n-n-n-nine and I'm p-p-p-p-petrified to m-m-m-m-meet you!"

[Fastrax 274]

...but do we have to take up an opposite religious view, or political view (or percieved views) based on what the detractors of the club may be (or percieved to be)?

.. Is that not allowing 'Them' to define who we are ??

.... do we really lack the wit and intelligence to defend our football club without having to also become followers of a big man in the sky (or even those wee gay lads in Downing Street)?

We don't have to "take up an opposite religious view"... because... well, we already have done for 100+ years. Why does that bother you so much and why do you not choose to follow another club with no real political/religious background?

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

Perhaps you would be better off following a different sport as politics/religion go hand in hand with football in almost every country the game is played

Really ??? - my Barnsley supporting mate says he never sees any political or religious stuff at his games!

[Fastrax 274]

Really ??? - my Barnsley supporting mate says he never sees any political or religious stuff at his games!

Ah, I must be lying then.

[Carsons Dog 9,878]

I've got a cunt of a memory and putting faces to names in the mellee that is pre-match fanzine selling isn't 'eye-contact' territory I'm afraid.

Why not be bold - thrust forward - your hand offered outward - palm open in that "let's shake" mode and say, "Hi CB....I'm B-b-b-b-blue......P-p-p-p-peter-n-n-n-n-nine and I'm p-p-p-p-petrified to m-m-m-m-meet you!"

I'm gonny dress up a a priest and do just that

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

I've got a cunt of a memory and putting faces to names in the mellee that is pre-match fanzine selling isn't 'eye-contact' territory I'm afraid.

Why not be bold - thrust forward - your hand offered outward - palm open in that "let's shake" mode and say, "Hi CB....I'm B-b-b-b-blue......P-p-p-p-peter-n-n-n-n-nine and I'm p-p-p-p-petrified to m-m-m-m-meet you!"

The big guy your were chatting to on Sat would probably flatten me - and that snarl you have on your face ..........

but one of these weeks I will have enough (dutch) courage to say Hello, - I'll be the one asking you to marry me and can I have your babies.

[Leeds_Bear 8,101]

Insightful piece. Just given it a tweet through the Rangers Unite account, 3800 more people who will hopefully now see the great work that VB do.

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

Ah, I must be lying then.

Perhaps you just dont get away from the west coast enough?

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

I'm gonny dress up a a priest and do just that

Imagines goingup to CBnext home game to be told

"Fk off your the 11th BP9 today - although the first in a Nuns outfit - geez a shag"?