The Forgotten Ones...

[D'Artagnan 13,319]

I entered his street and immediately I knew which house was his?without looking at the numbers. His garden was his number?his identity.

Red, blue and white flowers carefully pruned, giving a show of a bygone age?perhaps gone but obviously not forgotten. The vibrant colours of blue, red and white told their own story. Carefully nurtured and carefully tended?and they told me so much about the man I had come to see. The basics had not only been done well?..they had been strictly and faithfully observed?followed to the letter?.resulting in a show of pure magnificence.

Before I even chapped his door he was there inviting me in. And as we walked through his hallway I felt I was in a time warp?framed portraits dawned the wall?triggering my memory to remember players both my father and grandfather had spoken of. But furthermore there were pictures of players and managers I had never even heard of.

As we entered his living room I caught a glimpse of our former monarch gazing down at me and immediately recognised it as Annigoni?s portrait from the 1950?s of Queen Elizabeth the Second. And around the room I was taken back through time?some from my early years?but some even from before even my grandfather?s time. For there above the fireplace hung a picture of William of Orange on his white horse?victoriously crossing the Boyne.

At this point I knew my paper?s researchers had done their job well. This Ranger?s supporter was most certainly one who we would refer to as ?old school??and that was exactly what my remit was. To interview one of the ?forgotten ones?.

As I spoke with this old gent it was hard to believe that anyone could ever have taken issue with him?.or the things he honoured and defended could ever be seen as offensive. His manner was assured?and his voice steady?.you knew the moment you spoke to him that nothing but truth emanated from his lips.

?So how did it start I asked him?what was the catalyst ??

He thought long and hard before he spoke.

?Well it wasn?t just one thing? he said. ?More a combination of factors?.

I asked him to elaborate.

?At the time there was fairly vitriolic campaign against Rangers by certain sections of the media?no matter what Rangers fans did it would be reported in a negative fashion?

?Such as ?? I asked.

?Well when I was younger I attended a European match and we had a huge card display before the game?one of the biggest ever?with Saltires and Union Flags?it looked magnificent, but afterwards all the press would say was that Ibrox looked like a Nuremberg Rally?

How ironic I thought. In a country where immigrants received classes in ?Being British? that home grown British citizens showing their loyalty to flag and crown could be compared to Nazis.

?And it went on? he continued?bit by bit they kept chipping away?and the more they chipped the more defiant we became. We loved our club and refused to let it be tarnished by the negative press and their lies. We were fighting for more than a football club?we were fighting for a set of beliefs?.a way of life?

As I listened to the old gent speak my memory was taken back and I remembered conversations with my grandparents about ?the old Rangers?. To a time where supporting the club was not orchestrated like a directed play?tedious and predictable, lacking feeling and passion but was instead spontaneous?imaginative?colourful and not forced. To a time when banners and songs said so much about the people who sung them and what they believed in. When to be a Ranger truly reflected the person you were.

?And then of course there was the anti-sectarian initiative?. ?he continued. I listened in awe as the old gent recounted the impact of Holyrood?s legislative impact. I almost had to pinch myself to ensure I was hearing correctly. My sense of disbelief was due to the revelations years afterwards regarding the same Labour Party who had been the architects of this legislation. How could it be the same party whose ?west coast mafia? was commonly spoken of in journalistic circles?.whose own sectarian scandals exposed in places like Monklands?could have the gall to drive through such legislation. ?

?It was another time?another place? the old gent retorted. ?Spin doctors and a favourable press ensured a smooth passage?

Ah ?spin doctors??.it had been years since I had heard anyone use that term?.its use nowadays in politics was political suicide?for since this old gents day the spin doctors had been exposed for what they were ?.professional liars who dressed up bad news or even worse? twisted and distorted the truth and misled the public.

?And what of those inside Ibrox?.those with the power?what did they do to defend the club ?? I enquired.

He looked at me ruefully and thought long and hard before answering. ?They say time is a great healer but I find it hard to forgive them. They were warned time and time again about the consequences of their failure to respond to the lies?to the accusations against the club. But they did not listen and they did not defend the club. Instead they pursued an agenda of appeasing the press and their lies?the only time they responded was when they themselves were criticised.?

?And what affect did that have ?? I asked .

For the first time during our interview I saw emotion in the old gents eyes?not just sadness but a deep sense of pain. ?In the end we came to realise that the club?the institution?the way of life we were fighting for bore no semblance to that which masqueraded as Rangers Football Club. They continued to appease the press and politicians to the point that they drove and banned their very own supporters from Ibrox itself?

Had it not been for my previous research it would have been difficult to believe what the old gent was saying, but I knew it to be true. The difficult bit was trying to understand it. Hindsight only made it more difficult to understand exactly what the ?guardians? of Rangers were trying to achieve.

For they had at their disposal this priceless gem?this body of people who lived for the Rangers?whose lives embodied everything which this club stood for?who were wonderful ambassadors for this once great club?and not only did the fail to hold onto this priceless gem?they actively threw it away. Unforgivable.

And of course the rest as they say is history. Rangers became a club without a soul?without traditions and lacking in heritage no longer an institution or a way of life. Ibrox?when fans bothered to attend?was like a morgue?devoid of spontaneous atmosphere?and the only singing was when the ?customers? bothered to respond to the screen prompts pleading with them to sing.

It?s a true saying?. sometimes you only truly appreciate something when it is gone.

[justiston 91]

I certainly dont miss the sectarian signing policy or singing

(But sorry to piss on your chips, was bit drunk last night, stand by most of what I said, but to each their own )

[davyh27 0]

More importantly , can he play right back ?? ...just kidding , I certainly agree that Rangers ways have been unfairly singled out in many quarters , not all but alot of them.

[D'Artagnan 13,319]

I certainly dont miss the sectarian signing policy or singing

(But sorry to piss on your chips, was bit drunk last night, stand by most of what I said, but to each their own )

Accepted (beer1)

[jiffyh 0]

I certainly dont miss the sectarian signing policy or singing

(But sorry to piss on your chips, was bit drunk last night, stand by most of what I said, but to each their own )

away and read your bible if you have one.no malice intended.

[justiston 91]

I certainly dont miss the sectarian signing policy or singing 

(But sorry to piss on your chips, was bit drunk last night, stand by most of what I said, but to each their own  )

away and read your bible if you have one.no malice intended.

Can't see why it matters, but don't have one here

[minstral 5,375]

fantastic post one of the best thats been on here.

[gers_boy_john 2]

fantastic post one of the best thats been on here.

Here Here

[Muff 245]

That is a quality post

[gers_boy_john 2]

?Well when I was younger I attended a European match and we had a huge card display before the game?one of the biggest ever?with Saltires and Union Flags?it looked magnificent, but afterwards all the press would say was that Ibrox looked like a Nuremberg Rally?

Reading that pissed me off BIG TIME

Was it Hugh Keevins who said it?

[Dado 334]

?Well when I was younger I attended a European match and we had a huge card display before the game?one of the biggest ever?with Saltires and Union Flags?it looked magnificent, but afterwards all the press would say was that Ibrox looked like a Nuremberg Rally?

Reading that pissed me off BIG TIME

Was it Hugh Keevins who said it?

Speirs.

[Dado 334]

Great Post BTW

[gers_boy_john 2]

?Well when I was younger I attended a European match and we had a huge card display before the game?one of the biggest ever?with Saltires and Union Flags?it looked magnificent, but afterwards all the press would say was that Ibrox looked like a Nuremberg Rally?

Reading that pissed me off BIG TIME

Was it Hugh Keevins who said it?

Speirs.

How does that not surprise me

Some Rangers fans still think he's a decent guy

am sure Hugh Keevins had a dig at us once (more than once)... but hey who hasn't

[ricardopatrese 0]

I don't get it?

[Coopermania 1]

Rangers, our club, stitched up more than a few times. Recently made to look the bad guys. Pisses me off !!!!!!!!! A great post D'Artagnan.

we will be back.

[Ibroxblue 122]

Rangers moves on and changes. Always has done.

I'm willing to bet only a minority of fans ever had any real attachment to the Boyne and the Orange Order etc.

I'm sure it's a reducing number now - just as it's a reducing number throughout society.

Just as a reducing number of people throughout society (Protestants and Catholics) are genuinely religious.

[minstral 5,375]

Rangers moves on and changes. Always has done.

I'm willing to bet only a minority of fans ever had any real attachment to the Boyne and the Orange Order etc.

I'm sure it's a reducing number now - just as it's a reducing number throughout society.

Just as a reducing number of people throughout society (Protestants and Catholics) are genuinely religious.

yes i can see that by the mess we are in, it was a well thought brilliant post.

[polar bear 0]

fantastic post one of the best thats been on here.

I'm with you Minstral,great post.

[polar bear 0]

fantastic post one of the best thats been on here.

I'm with you Minstral,great post.

Ive just read it again,and what I feel now is total sadness,because I could have been that old guy with exactly the same response.The way I see it now-a-days we can take the No out of No Surrender.

[californiadreamin52 339]

Nice to see that you recognise that the days you speak of are numbered and that Rangers had to evolve and moved on. Ultimately it society that decides what is acceptable behaviour

[BLUEDIGNITY 33,685]

Rangers moves on and changes. Always has done.

I'm willing to bet only a minority of fans ever had any real attachment to the Boyne and the Orange Order etc.

I'm sure it's a reducing number now - just as it's a reducing number throughout society.

Just as a reducing number of people throughout society (Protestants and Catholics) are genuinely religious.

Very politically correct my man ?

[Ibroxblue 122]

Rangers moves on and changes. Always has done.

I'm willing to bet only a minority of fans ever had any real attachment to the Boyne and the Orange Order etc.

I'm sure it's a reducing number now - just as it's a reducing number throughout society.

Just as a reducing number of people throughout society (Protestants and Catholics) are genuinely religious.

Very politically correct my man ?

Just the facts.

[D'Artagnan 13,319]

Nice to see that you recognise that the days you speak of are numbered and that Rangers had to evolve and moved on. Ultimately it society that decides what is acceptable behaviour

Society ?

Who is society ? Do you mean a popular representation of the masses ?

What happens when that society is split over a decision...for example the Iraq War ?

The vast majority of the British public are in favour of capital punishment....yet parliament refuses to sanction it. Therefore to say society decides what is acceptable/unacceptable behaviour is erroneous.

Furthermore what if a particular society is ignorant or deprived of the facts when deciding what is acceptable and unacceptable ?

Your answer fails to determine what exactly is "society"

Its fails to account for the many variables inevitable in a human race where there exists various belief systems many of which are not complimentary to one another.

[californiadreamin52 339]

Sorry mate clean out of lectures on Social Science, but going by your replay I think you`ve got the idea what Society is

[Boab 73]

''And of course the rest as they say is history. Rangers became a club without a soul?without traditions and lacking in heritage no longer an institution or a way of life. Ibrox?when fans bothered to attend?was like a morgue?devoid of spontaneous atmosphere?and the only singing was when the ?customers? bothered to respond to the screen prompts pleading with them to sing.''

It is the fans own fault if they`re not singing loudly enough for their own liking then that is their/own fault. I really do hate when people - it seems manticore is one among others - that think `im a rangers fan, im protestant but oh I dont go to church` and would probably ferget Wales if somebody asked them (sa a snap question) what the countries where in the UK.

Its just like the Orange Order when folk say `were upholding the protestant religion` and I say that that they should go to Church.

Yes, I`m a Rangers fan, don`t think i'm not and am a season ticket holder but as I was brought up to sing the proper songs then I can say such. To say such anti catholic lyrics would have been hypocritical as my Mother is a Catholic and the worry is that there are some rangers fans or people in general that would think less of me doing a reading at my Grandmother`s funeral at a Chapel with me going to Ibrox the following day.

Im a protestant but it dosnt hold much cop with me to combine that with my status as a Rangera fan