D'Artagnan 13,319 Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 “Ray. People will come, Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. "Of course, we won't mind if you look around", you'll say, "It's only $20 per person". They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good and that could be again. Oh...people will come Ray. People will most definitely come.”(James Earl Jones – Field of Dreams)Apologies for leading with a quote I have used in a previous blog. My excuse is that no other narrative seems more apt on this occasion, in fact, it ran through my mind constantly last night as I sat in wonderment. Replace Iowa with Ibrox, baseball with Rangers and you will catch my drift.For an extraordinary thing happened last night in the world of football. You won’t find it written about in today’s football columns, and you certainly won’t find it on the BBC Scotland website. But people are talking about it, some in hushed whispers. Over 50,000 sold out Ibrox last night for a televised match featuring a club who are not even in the top tier of Scottish football. To apply the icing on a considerably succulent cake – even an odious creep paid money to be there.But it was more, far more than just a sell-out. It was a ringing endorsement for a regime and board who have swept to power in the most bitter of power struggles. Not only have they applied some much needed navigation to what was a rudderless ship in terms of the football side of things, but perhaps more importantly, they have signalled an intention to defend the club with a course of action which resonates amongst those of us who wish to see a defence of the brand from within Ibrox itself. It is something I, and many others have pleaded and argued for over 20 years. Credit where its due, this board have delivered to the inevitable flak from the Scottish press and beyond. It worth remembering however, the latter don’t buy season tickets – those who care about this club do.I’m no Dave King acolyte, and you don’t have to be, all that is required is an exercise in judgement as to whether our club is heading in the right direction. If last night didn’t tell you that it clearly is, then I would respectfully suggest to you that pessimism or cynicism is clouding your judgement.Last night was fantastic. Within the Copland Rear I felt I had been dipped in those magic waters. I sat where once I had stood as a boy but felt myself continually standing as a cacophony of noise gave way to yet another chorus, only the verse dedicated to the man born to be King of Ibrox Park gave way to a new successor, one whose crown is a magic hat.I could apply many adjectives to describe last night, but perhaps most poignantly and importantly, it reminded me of the Rangers I grew up with. A support, acting in concert, to cheer on the greatest team in the world. It perhaps worth remembering that whilst we may get a few things wrong, when it comes to supporting our club – nobody does it better. It’s why we are who we are – lest we forget.Let the haters and malcontents do their worst. Let those who would compromise journalistic integrity take their best shot. In fact, I invite you, and implore you, give it your best shot. It won’t be enough. For your worst case scenario is upon you – a Rangers board which beats with the same heart as the Vanguard and Sentinel of Rangers Football Club – the support itself. That same support you have never been able to conquer and never will. You sent us to Elgin and we closed grounds, the backwaters of Scottish football and we broke records.“Lo, a voice is calling in the wilderness”Last night it was heard by those who are born, not manufactured. It comes from deep within and cannot be explained. Like 50000+ selling out a Friday night televised game in a lower league.“People will come”We are the people. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ger77 742 Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Amen to that D'art Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BridgeIsBlue 66,655 Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 As always D'Art,particularly liked this bitLast night was fantastic. Within the Copland Rear I felt I had been dipped in those magic waters. I sat where once I had stood as a boy but felt myself continually standing as a cacophony of noise gave way to yet another chorus, only the verse dedicated to the man born to be King of Ibrox Park gave way to a new successor, one whose crown is a magic hat. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wullie72 151 Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Fantastic as usual!Things are finally taking shape, we are on our way back and I hope everyone is ready for the next few years, bears and enemies alike! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loyal-Bear 229 Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Always a great read D'Art. Thanks for posting! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyinroyalblue 16,478 Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Feels like we're finally on the road back to the promised land Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
markem 7,326 Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Great read D'art.If we are doing movie quotes I have one for the rest of Scottish Football: 'You can't stop what's coming' (No Country for Old Men) Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEFTONG 60,492 Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Outstanding D'art..No Club or Support deserves a fair crack of the whip more, But we expect no handouts or help. We The Rangers will get there thru Hard work and Sweat. And the spoils of Victory will be ours again and how sweet will it be..???....It will be TREMENDOUS... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wullie72 151 Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Outstanding D'art..No Club or Support deserves a fair crack of the whip more, But we expect no handouts or help. We The Rangers will get there thru Hard work and Sweat. And the spoils of Victory will be ours again and how sweet will it be..???....It will be TREMENDOUS...Fuck them all.WE ARE THE PEOPLE Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jintybear 8,660 Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Well said D'Art. I don't buy papers but I take it no-one reported out magnificent support on a Friday night? I'm loving being a Rangers supporter right now. We are playing lovely football and although I don't expect to win every game I do expect we will be the envy of all clubs in Scottish football. We will shortly be back to where we belong and once again teams will fear the mighty Rangers WATP Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
there'sonlyoneamoruso 1,724 Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Great read. I'm itching to get back over to Ibrox. One of these days I'll manage to get my permission slip signed... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluenoz 31,297 Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 brilliant Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
72barca 1,788 Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 There must surely not be a bluenose alive who has not felt the effect of the tectonic shift taking place within the hearts of the Rangers' supporters.To have been so close to the abyss and yet to have survived everything that the haters and sp*vs have heaped upon us, and now to feel the unquenchable spirit pushing us upwards and onwards.We - our club and our support, cannot be stopped. We have but one motivation - No Surrender. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wullie72 151 Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Great read. I'm itching to get back over to Ibrox. One of these days I'll manage to get my permission slip signed...Just escape mate, more than worth it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dummiesoot 16,118 Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 The choir was on full voice last night, it was magnificent. The entertainment on show was great, St Midden played their part, I was not on tenter hooks, even before Thommo took two steps for his penalty, even better, the odious one put money in OUR coffers.Great OP D'Art. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
there'sonlyoneamoruso 1,724 Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Just escape mate, more than worth it! I'll have to go to charm school to see if I can talk myself into a wee trip back over the water. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianb1547 3,767 Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 D'art....I was simply proud to be a Ranger Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clemdog 39,389 Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Amen, indeed. Great post, Dart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
minstral 5,375 Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Fantastic Dart, and they tried to kill us but failed, and make no mistake, we will soon be back to where we belong. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prince George 601 Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Well said D'art, we are definately on are way back and it is great to see bears all united again. The good times will return, credit to the board and the man with the magic hat. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebluedoo 2,652 Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Fantastic stuff D'art, your words capture the mood of The People Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemesis 277 Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Outstanding post. Bravo Sir. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siam69 27,346 Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Gave me tingles reading that.Roll on the Hibs game, so I can soak up in person what I think will be an even better atmosphere.We truly are the People Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
murzo 7,449 Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Great read, the juggernaut is slowly building up its speed and, when it hits the ones that wanted us dead, it'll go right through them and won't be looking back at the debris. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corky True Legend 2,682 Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 To me, the attendances are the big thing. Going by official figures, the mhanks had 43k for a CL match, today's so called top tier totalled 19 1/2k for 4 games and we posted over 49k for a televised 2nd tier game. If that doesn't prove that its all about the Rangers, nothing will. Now come on the Jags. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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