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The Guardian with a decent article by Ewan Murray. (Professor Greenslade, devotee of the Rangers' Tax Case blog and arselicker of bombers, will be less than happy.) 'It's incomparable' – Rangers fans' journey from Brechin to another title (Clockwise from top left) Joe Aribo scores against Celtic in January; Joe Aribo and Ianis Hagi celebrate; manager Steven Gerrard and James Tavernier; forward Alfredo Morelos; midfielder Scott Arfield. Composite: Getty Images, PA, Rex Supporters, many of whom feared their club might go under, share their thoughts after a first league title in 10 years Ewan Murray @mrewanmurray Mon 8 Mar 2021 12.00 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/mar/08/its-incomparable-rangers-fans-journey-from-brechin-to-another-title-scottish-premiership The Rangers championship tale cannot possibly begin with the first weekend of this season, but such was the multi-faceted nature of the club’s cataclysmic collapse that perhaps July 2012 and a Challenge Cup tie in Brechin is not a valid starting point either. In the eyes of supporters who have looked on as Rangers – post-administration, liquidation and a level of reputational damage their worst enemies could only have fantasised over – the Premiership flag for 2020-21 absorbs years of pain. And those fans are in many ways a more fascinating case study than the players who delivered this historic moment. Following Rangers, for so long about as difficult a life option as picking wellies over sandals in a snowstorm, suddenly involved domestic drudgery against Berwick, Annan and Montrose. In the background at Ibrox sat, to put it kindly, a series of highly unconvincing characters. “There were times where you began to think: ‘Maybe this is it,’” says David Edgar of the Heart & Hand Rangers podcast that attracts 200,000 listeners to two shows a week. “It sounds ridiculous but if you said the same to Aberdeen fans in 1985, it would have seemed ridiculous to them. “We didn’t want to hear it at the time and people forget but Dave King [later Rangers’ chairman] said just before it all happened that there would be administration and liquidation. He also said the blows to the club were so serious that it would take 10 years. Who wants to hear ‘10 years’ at that point? You don’t want to take that in. “This is the 19th time I’ve seen us win the league. It’s incomparable to any of those. This one is so different because of where we have been. We have lost a lot of people in 10 years. We came close to losing our club a few times, including spiritually. The pilot light nearly went out.” There is always “the moment”. For Jonathan Watson, a Rangers supporter best known in Scottish football circles for his starring role in the cult series Only An Excuse? it arrived as the team sheets landed for October’s Old Firm fixture. “I hadn’t been confident at all at the start of the season,” Watson says. “I looked at the Rangers subs that day and for the first time thought ‘Wait a minute, we have a better bench than they’ve got.’” Rangers went on to win 2-0 at Celtic Park. Like Edgar, Adam Thornton was in Brechin for that 2012 cup tie. Rangers were the champions in the summer of 1994 when, aged eight, he collected his first Ibrox season ticket. Another 10 titles – and multiple other honours – arrived until Rangers’ 54th, and hitherto last, in 2011. “I think everybody thought when this one came along, it would be another nail-biter,” Thornton says. “Since 2 January I have made peace with myself; it’s happening. In a way when you gear yourself up for a while, you have been celebrating a little bit already. It’s huge, the most important of my lifetime and you could argue in the club’s history.” Thornton references “scar tissue” as attached to events since 2012; and no wonder. “It’s not just a case of coming back, it’s about all the charlatans that there have been along the way,” Watson says, adding that what the club has gone through to get back to winning the title is “why it means so much more. I also think it will mean a great deal to those players; one thing the management have done is show what it means to the people who come and support them. This is a huge achievement for everyone.” Nine years ago, Rangers supporters were consumed by anger. The intervening period distorts what precisely that related to but a sense of unjust treatment – by their own board, by football authorities, by other clubs – was once a fundamental theme. With Rangers as champions, revenge lies somewhere in the mix. “We understood that we were hated as the biggest club, we get that,” Edgar explains. “That’s fine. Have a laugh at our expense, absolutely. That summer – and people lost friendships because of this – it went beyond banter. People genuinely wanted Rangers to die. Other football fans, who know how important their club is to them, wanted to take that away from us. We found that too much, it crossed the line. It was cruel. Turn up at games waving tenners by all means but actually saying: ‘It would make me happy to see you lose this thing that means so much to you’? We as supporters were victims.” Including during matchdays. Time-honoured rivalries created to varying degrees with Celtic, Aberdeen and Hibernian were placed into cold storage. “How do you recreate that against Stenhousemuir?” Edgar asks. “It’s like bullying. We have guys running about out there on 10 grand a week. How can you talk down to others? You feel like the much bigger kid playing football with the primary threes. Your options were boring, unenjoyable, unfair football … or humiliation. Not great. The novelty wore off quickly. It was a jail sentence we just had to get through.” The League One campaign in 2013-14 is a case in point. “We went unbeaten but you wouldn’t really have known it from general perceptions,” Thornton says. “It had become a slog.” He shivers when recalling the 1-0 Challenge Cup final defeat by Raith Rovers in April 2014. “We were crying out for any bit of success. You couldn’t really see any way out at that point.” By early 2017, Rangers were back in the top flight but suffered huge European embarrassment at the hands of Progrès Niederkorn. “I was doing a play in Birmingham and listened on the radio,” says Watson. “Pumped by the might of Luxembourg.” Watson later called his friend, the Celtic-supporting Scottish comedy writer Phil Differ. “He picked up and just couldn’t stop laughing.” That, of course, is a harmless side of a routinely bitter Glasgow rivalry that many don’t see. The reason smiling is the best option is that success for Old Firm clubs is cyclical. Celtic are only now being reminded of that. “When I was at school Celtic were winning the European Cup and going for nine titles in a row,” Watson says. “I remember going to Easter Road in 1975, Rangers ‘won’ one each and that stopped the run. It’s all part of the Old Firm seesaw. “When it’s your team, it’s fine. But if you are brutally honest and take an overview, it’s not healthy for the game in Scotland [to have these title-winning sequences]. Then again, you look at leagues around Europe now – England is an exception – and it’s so often between two or three teams.” Stark improvement in Rangers’ recruitment has been key to success. Watson delivers typically sharp humour when illustrating how both halves of the Old Firm used to shop in familiar markets but the underlying point is a serious one. “Nowadays, not only have you not heard of the player but you haven’t heard of the club they’ve come from either,” he says. “Encyclopaedic knowledge of Charles Buchan’s Football Monthly and you’re still struggling.” Crucially, the Rangers support has a squad with whom they can connect. It wasn’t ever thus. Basic though it may sound, fans like their team again. “People talk about footballers being overpaid; there were never footballers as overpaid as the ones in the Third Division for Rangers,” Edgar says. “There were guys playing for the club you felt no connection with. There were people running the club you actively despised. Beyond the stadium, the badge, the fans this wasn’t a big team. There was nothing there to indicate that.” Thornton concurs. “This is the best version of Rangers I have seen since Dick Advocaat [manager from 1998-2001] with the style of football, the success in Europe, outstanding players in every position,” he says. “I remember watching Rangers in Europe and we couldn’t get a kick of the ball. Now we are dominating Benfica for large parts of a game.” The jibes from Celtic’s contingent won’t abate. That wouldn’t be natural. One remains constant. “‘Your club died,’” smiles Edgar. “Well, in that case it took nine years for this club to beat you. Is that better?” The Fiver: sign up and get our daily football email. At a point in the future, packed stands at Ibrox will hail the group who broke Celtic’s spell. “I’ve sat next to my dad since 1994 but haven’t watched a game with him for a year,” Thornton says. “You take for granted that you visit this place once a fortnight for most of your life. Adding a title win to that means it will be a special day.” It is hardly football cliche to suggest this really is for the masses.

I find myself reflecting on all those in the Rangers family who didn't make it to the end of this journey. The many fans and ex-players who passed away during these ten years who can't share this achievement with us. Some were prominent names, others who were extraordinary only to their own families. I hope every one of them is raising a glass wherever they are tonight. It's also remarkable how many ex-players have echoed our delight over the last few hours, some of whom haven't pulled on a Rangers shirt in many decades. I find that quite touching.

Tommy and I? Yesterday, I watched ra Sellik huff and puff around Tannadice. The newly appointed interim manager, John Kennedy looked quietly terrified as he walked along the track at half time. Like me, I suspect he had seen enough. The wife announced her intent to create a seafood pasta, linguini vongole. I decided to head out for an appetite improving perambulation. We all have individual and collective memories of the Journey, on the cusp of securing the title, I decided to take the car to the West End Park. After the Empire Exhibition of 1901, the West End Park was renamed, 'Kelvingrove Park'. Whatever the name, it's where our club was founded. Those teenagers from Clyder, Roseneath, and Garelochead had moved to Gibson Street by their mid-teens, apprenticeships and study were the means. They trained on the slopes of the park, running from the river up towards Park Circus. Such was their enthusiasm, they trained six days and nights a week and became known as, 'The Moonlighters'. The final whistle blew in Dundee as I alighted from the car in Park Quad. I follow followed in the footsteps of Moses et al, as I headed down Hill Sixty towards the Highland Light Infantry Memorial. I passed fellow bears, holding mobiles aloft to film detonating fireworks. There was a Police presence, pairs were approaching folks and inquiring of reasoning for being in the park in groupings? I turned right and walked along the river towards the Gibson Street bridge. I remembered Glebe Park, traveling to the Ramsdens Cup tie, not knowing if the SFA had granted the club the necessary license. Brechin topiary gave way to hospitality at Peterhead. Four of us journeyed to the Blue Toon and sat in front of half-a-dozen dandies, who kept up a steady stream of vile abuse. Receiving no reaction, they quickly resorted to Disaster ditties. We maintained discipline, even as Kevin Kyle equalised in injury time, we applauded politely. I had concluded polite applause was so yesterday when I exited from under the bridge, into the Kelvinbridge Subway car park. There was more of a crowd milling, apparently the Subway had been suspended? Two Coppers approached and asked my intent? As the pyro' increased, I assured them I was not intent on using the Underground. The older Copper asked if I was celebrating? I told him I was, "very much so". He smiled, his partner scowled; so I elaborated, "it's Brother Tommy's fifty-fifth birthday today". The chorus was, "WHIT"? I informed them of Tommy Sheridan and departed with, "up the Workers"! As I headed back to the car and my Sunday repast, I wondered why Brother Tommy had not regaled his 55th with a celebratory video?

We have that many fucking partners we should have DUREX on the jersey.

Ally McCoist to Mark Warburton to Pedro (might skip that one) to Super Stevie. Kenny McDowall, Stuart McCall and Graeme Murty all playing roles in temporary charge. Im going to go back and have a look at some of our match day squads in the last ten years, Im sure there be plenty of unsung hero's who played in the lower divisions.

You sure you wasn't watching the women's game?

Today. BBC Scotland has constructed a raft of cross political opinion. Gary Robertson led the narrative, John Swinney(SNP), Alison Johnstone(Greens), Wullie Rennie(LibDems), Douglas Ross(Conservative) and Anas Sarwar(Labour) were all asked a first question to condemn both club and support. Moral leverage reference funerals, visitation rules, NHS workers, ......... etc was liberally exploited. Gary Robertson comes from Elgin, I do not know his footballing allegiance? Sandra White MSP(SNP) and Ross Greer(Greens) demanded more from Police Scotland. They do not specify how much more, but I suspect baton charges and water cannon would suffice? Calum Steele(Police Federation and Sellik supporter) has recovered from his post Scottish Cup final(2016) comments ie Rangers supporters were throwing their children under police vehicles to stop them responding; to mitigate for the Polis. you see, BBC Scotland can play objectivity when it suits them. Inviting Frankie, and I know of two others who have been invited to appear(like Frankie, both have refused), just means they are still trying to appear objective. We are several weeks out from a Holyrood election, kicking Rangers and Rangers supporters, even better being seen to kick Rangers and Rangers supporters is a good political look in Scotland. As always, BBC Scotland are just as anxious to be seen to facilitate the kicking.

We'll have a podcast on Slavia on Wednesday night with one of their youth coaches on to give us the lowdown...

Just took a call from Frank Henry at BBC Scotland asking me to appear on tonight's Sportsound. Politely declined.

Someone once said a journey of 1000 miles starts with one small step well our journey on the Ibrox Express began at Peterhead central we had a few breakdowns on our travels a few changes of drivers but as we get ready to pull into Ibrox central I wont forget our fans and their part on this journey they have spent small fortunes following the team and filling stadiums up and down the country, so well done lads .

Indeed so, my dad is never from my thoughts but currently he is slap-bang in the forefront. He left us when we were at the bottom. I promised him we'd be back, in amongst my other final farewells. It is doubtful he knew anything of what I was saying, but I hope so - especially now the relief of not having falsely promised is a reality.

Had that thought too, and find some solace in the song below ... Have you seen the Glasgow Rangers Have you seen the Glasgow Rangers, Have you seen the boys in blue? They're admired by all who know them, If you knew them so would you. Oh they have played way in Monaco, They have played in the USA, But the greatest game in history, Is the game on New Year’s day. For it's the home of famous heroes, And their praises have been sung, Willie Waddell, Torry Gillick, Alan Morton, and George Young. And when all my life has ended, And when death has made it's mark, Will you scatter all my ashes, On the slopes of Ibrox Park. And with the angels I'll be singing, Up in heaven there up above, I'll be singing Follow Follow. To the Rangers that I love. And with my flute I will be playing, In the valleys and the glens, I'll be happy and contented, When the Rangers win again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7Ce714tvWU

Sorry to burst everyone's bubble but I know you have all been waiting patiently for Ryan Christie to break his silence on Rangers winning 55. He insists it's just a blip... Yes...a 20 point blip young man. GIRFUY!!!

Thank you Mr King and the board of directors. Thank you Steven Gerrard and your excellent backroom staff. Thank you Captain James Tavernier and all the players, yous have been utterly relentless this season, and are well deserved Champions. Yous have all elevated yourselves to legend status, the immortals, the ones who regained the title and delivered 55 and ensured a special place in our deep, rich history. To those we have lost along the way (especially Sandy Jardine), I hope you are up there celebrating today and we offer a toast to absent friends. To us, the fans, the lifeblood of the club, we never gave up hope, we followed near and far and we have just completed stage 1 of the journey. The journey never stops / ends. Enjoy this, oh really enjoy this and make sure everyone hears / sees you celebrating. However it should be the beginning and not the end (Yeah, I'm emotional ? ). ??⚪?????????? ?? #55times #scotlandsgalantfew #followwewill

IMO this will be our hardest game of the season. Discuss...

Ten years they've laughed at us and mocked us. Understandable, given we're the most successful club in football. However, some of the actions, comments and behaviour of many we might expect better of have demonstrated how much we are hated and how much standards in Scotland have fallen (denigrating opponents is more fulfilling than being successful, apparently). In the space of twelve months, we have gone from crisis to a team on the verge of winning a title we thought we might never hold again (and having a terrific run in Europe). The players, management and custodians of Rangers FC all deserve much credit but the fans have really shown how loyal and true we are during the toughest period in the club's history. I can't wait to actually win the title but I can feel it already and it feels great. Cheers.

Is there anything the SNP don't lie about? Hopefully we can find more ways to annoy them in the next few weeks.

On hearing the result in Dundee yesterday, I socially distanced myself into a shop for a carry out and can't recall much after 7pm. Being honest, it hasn't really sunk in yet. I feel more disbelief than joy. ?⬜?

I think that Frankie should have taken their money and shagged their women.

They know my reasons and understand why I can't do it. Hopefully that will change in the future but I won't lose any sleep in the meantime.

Red Star Belgrade, Sporting Lisbon, Slavia Prague and we ... are the only teams so far unbeaten in their league fixtures this season. Czech teams can be rather difficult when they are up for it. That said, if we are up to it, we can be a handful or two for anyone.

How much did they offer you?

Hugely difficult game and yes the biggest test of the season so far. we really are excellent in europe and only Leverkusen and spartak moscow have achieved scorelines that would have put us out over 2 legs since gerrard arrived. We re also getting progressively better.

Certainly looked a decent side and their results in Europe this season have been impressive. Are they really going to be any better than the sides we have already beaten? Are they better than Galatasary, Benfica, Liege, Antwerp? I dont think so, so it will come down to who has the best game plan, who takes their chances, who gets a bit of luck. But the biggest challenge we face for the first leg is the weekend of partying and the relief to get over the line and win our title back. The scenes from within the club over the last couple of days, with the booze flowing and the release of the built-up nerves and tension, was clear to see. As well as our management team have done this season, this will be a herculean challenge to get the players back to their full focus and to park the celebrations now until trophy presentation day. There is still so much to play for, an unbeaten league season, a perfect home league record, European prestige (and money and coefficient points) and the Scottish Cup that we have to really focus on. On our best form we could still lose this two-legged tie if the luck doesnt go our way, but turn up without the proper focus and we could be in for a very tough night. I would love us to keep ourselves in the tie after the away leg but I fear the 55 party could cost us.

Yeah good point. Has helped us be less vulnerable to a slip up when we have some injuries as well.

yeah was always likely well done.

... I would say the same about Goldson`s balls from back to front. Likewise, Alfredo doing the link-up job, dragging defenders out of position and laying on what, 12 assists thus far. You almost don`t know where to start here. Some improvements possible and probably even required, but what can you say if the results getting our way due to hard work and everyone being relentless and keeping as high a standard as possible.

The scorelines in this league are so unpredictable. I thought Fulham were outstanding against Liverpool and playing like that they will stay up. They hit Liverpool on the counter every time and barring a bit of composure would have been out of sight at half time. In the second half they defended superbly. Not only have Liverpool lost their last 6 games, they drew the previous two matches to WBA and Man Utd and in that 8 game run they have only scored twice at home (WBA and City) - incredible stats. Something wrong big time at Anfield - Mane and Salah look like they want away. Man Utd - I think thats 4 wins out of the last 5 away to City. A total off day for City in front of goal - didnt help not bringing Aguero on.

Wow. Im sure there is a few sore heads this morning. For some reason I knew our first trophy back in the top flight would be the league title before any cup. But this will kick us on and we will start lifting the domestic cups again. I have no doubt SG will be here next season. A few more aims now - relax and try go the 38 games unbeaten. / A lot of eggs can go into the Europa basket now. / Scottish Cup and league double would be some icing on the cake. Enjoy everyone. 10 years is massive, I was trying to get my head around that.

I think Klopp will be offered another year if he wants it. He just lost his mother and couldn't get back to see her before she went. Clearly it's affected him and the players which is totally understandable given the circumstances. I suspect he will get time to grieve over the summer and will come back next season. That would seem the correct thing to do. Not something I would worry about at the moment but then again I'm hardly and expert?

I don’t want to ruin everyone’s party but this has got to be a bit of a worry. Liverpool are in freefall at the moment. Something has to happen sooner or later. And as well as winning the league Gerrard’s European results won’t have gone unnoticed either. Not just by Liverpool. The Rangers board need to be ready if something does happen & we’re looking for a new manager

Congratulations to a fantastic team and a great wee forum, so glad I could spend the journey with all you guys , hope your having a ball .

I'll bet you £1,000,000 we don't get any points next weekend.

Big Dick was stuck between a rock and a hard place today. Couldn't wait to bring up the scenes at Ibrox, but instead of his usual gang of miscreants, Ferguson, McCall and Dodds were his buddies, all agreeing that 'you canny really blame these fans, after the years they've had'. He even agreed, but you could hear him choking back the bile. Up ye ya c###

Wullie Miller was born and bred in Bridgeton. Those that schooled with him agree, he was a Rangers supporter. In saying that, he has utilised the platform provided by BBC Scotland on several occasions to give thanks for his perception of good fortune. He was signed by Aberdeen on an S Form and resided in Aberdeen from the age of 15 years. His continual conditioning is such, he happily tells of being removed from the pressures of sectarianism. Reference Roy Greenslade and the Guardian's apology to Mairia Cahill, there is a grouping of arch feminists who would normally be storming the barricades over such treatment handed out to sister, quite rightly so. However, the likes of Lesley Riddoch, Anna Smith, Jeanette Findlay, Angela Haggerty, ...... etc have said? You will find the answer at the centre of a dougnut. Actually, you'll find the majority of those gals have homes/holiday homes in the same coastal Donegal village as Roy.