26th of foot

I was of the mind that Rangers had never played at Anfield. I looked it up and found we have played an FA Cup tie against Everton on the ground in 1886, we won 1-0. I was NOT in attendance that day, I had a Band of Hope meeting.

Disco Dancing Dick. This evening on BBC Radio Scotland, Big Dick is back in the Chair hosting coverage of Hearts attempts to reach the Europa Cup group stages against Zurich. He leads the discussion with Tom English and Alan Preston and turns attention to this afternoon's Champions League draw. Brian McLachlan intervenes to raise the topic of Hearts newly installed screen(s) and lights. Dick wants to know if the lights are as good as Sellik's disco lights? Tom interrupts with, "to be fair, Celtic's lights are very good and they'll get a run out this Autumn in the Champions League". Back to the draw, Tom concludes Real Madrid is the real glamour and ra Sellik fans will be enthused. Big Dick goes off on one, "it was Murdo and Pat, always saying they were fed up with Celtic playing Barca', they wanted to face Real Madrid". Further, he bangs on about Sellik playing Real forty-odd years ago, George McLuskey scored, then Aberdeen beating Real in the ECWC final in Gothenburg and finishes, "it has been so long since any Scottish side last faced Real Madrid". There's your problem right there, this decades long AberTic take on Scottish football continually falls at the Rangers positive hurdle. It is just a calendar year past that Real visited Ibrox and lost 2-1 to Rangers, Sakala scoring the winner. Satisfaction only arrives in a chain reaction for Yahoos and Dandies.

Top of the head stuff. I have witnessed four Rangers - Ajax Euro games. The very first Super Cup in 1973 was a two legged final. We lost 3-2 in Amsterdam and 1-3 at Ibrox for a 3-6 defeat on aggregate. The third and fourth were Champions League mid-nineties, we lost 4-1 in the Amsterdam Arena and 0-1 at Ibrox. I have attended two Rangers - Liverpool friendlies lost both 0-2 and 0-4. I cannot remember any games with Napoli. Thus, we are buggered. Give us the dosh.

Tell Joey to take the weekend off, AGAIN!

PSV 2 Rangers 3 FGS : Colak.

Hibernian 1 Rangers 3 FGS : Colak.

I suspect Hibs counters will be pinging long diagonals into the gap/space between Barisic and Sands. Further, winning free kicks and corners for cross balls into our box.

Gentlemen, Surely such decisions ie soup accompanied with toasted bread and which baked bean deserves tomassi passata marination are the domain of one's Butler? We are here to discuss the more weighty concerns of the Rangers.

I have had a few folks ask about Hamish? He was commissioned into the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, served for several years, contracted a tapeworm in Oman, met a girl and they sailed the Atlantic in a 30 foot sailing yacht. The last I heard some 25 years past, he was living and working in New Zealand as a Deer Farmer. It all fits because in culinary circles there is bit of hype about kiwi Deer Milk Cheese.

JohnMc, You are correct. Ms Mir aged 44 years had a daughter, five years later Piara Powar asked her for a trial separation. A year later, ie 2020 she filed for divorce. Her Wiki continues to describe her as, "an avid Sellik fan"; perhaps, she is trading Dad's access to his daughter for FARE participation at Ibrox?

In the Age of Ange'. 'We Never Stop' is the new mantra at ra Stade de Gadd and it has come as no surprise that many of PQ's usual suspects have adopted the nuance in their approach to Rangers and Rangers supporters. In the fifteen months since our Club secured title 55 and as a result, stopped ten in a row; I have come to realise how much this has hurt the Gang Hut members. The winning margin of 25 points received scant mention until Ange' regained the Premiership for the Happy Hoopsters and, suddenly we were told continually of the 29 point turnaround. Ange' has restored dominance. Of course, not everything Ange' touches turns to gold. PQ never mentions Ange' was stopped, specifically in three separate European competitions in the one season, last season. There is another unwanted narrative running alongside Ange's unique failure, Rangers have improved their European fortunes in four successive seasons, if we defeat PSV next week and, qualify for the Champions League, it will be five. Think about it, Rangers have had to play nearly two dozen qualification games to reach the Europa Cup group stages. Throw in the games played in the groups, the knock-out rounds and, the Europa Cup final and, the arithmetic surpasses seventy. It would appear in Europe, Rangers never stop. The most heard Rangers related phrase across BBC Scotland these last several weeks is, "over the last couple of seasons". They seek to minimise the multi season European achievement. The pertaining narrative is to reduce Rangers success to a couple of years and ignore ra Sellik and Ange's participation completely. It is what is known as, 'A Celtic State of Mind'. This brings us to last Sunday at Balmoral Park, Cove, Aberdeen. The SWPL Champions, Rangers ladies are playing their second game of the season away to Aberdeen and BBC Scotland decide to once again cover the match live on their i-Player. This week after a five minute black out, BBC Scotland's i-Player worked throughout. Commentating was Amy Canavan and co-commentary was proved by Pauline MacDonald. The first 30 minutes was all Rangers possession but the Dons Keeper had not been worked. The next ten saw Rangers notch a quick double and Amy was NOT happy. She was opining the injustice the Dandies must be feeling on the cusp of half time when Rangers knocked in a third, Pauline agreed Aberdeen do not deserve to be 0-2 down when Amy squealed, "the Referee has awarded Rangers a penalty" It was a disbelieving squeal? I do not know if Amy was upset at Pauline not keeping up or, Rangers had the opportunity to go in at the break four ahead? I should point out Amy Canavan has been a Presenter and regular contributor these last several years to a Podcast - A Celtic State of Mind. After a few years of being in funding conflict with UEFA, the organisation known as FARE(Football Against Racism in Europe) has been returned to Ibrox. Representatives were seated in the Broomloan Front for Tuesday evening's CL qualification against PSV Eindhoven. FARE last visited the Stadium in 2011. Correctly, once again the Club warned elements of our support reference the songs being sung. Any report of sectarianism( defined by FARE as ant-Irish racism) will lead to either partial or full ground closure. These last five years(or a couple of seasons in BBC Scotland-speak), we have become used to Euro wide reports of the fantastic atmosphere generated at Ibrox on Euro evenings. BBC Scotland deliberately boycotted the Stadium for seven years, they preferred to sit in a PQ studio watching a satellite company's live coverage and, make mundane comment. They chose to divorce themselves from the atmosphere generated. I should point out that FARE's first representative was BBC Scotland's own, Alex O'Henley. The Gaelic commentator from South Uist participated in Spanish practises in Villarreal. FARE's Executive Director is Piara Powar and he is married to Glasgow born and bred Aashma Mir. The Sellik minded Ms Mir has worked at Aunti Beeb for thirty years in numerous senior positions. BBC Scotland's Chief Sports Writer, Tom English returned to Ibrox on Tuesday evening for the PSV clash. Tom did not mention the atmosphere but he did post match conclude Rangers got what they deserved. I do not think we can disagree, we failed to defend two corners because of our new adoptation of zonal marking. Tom expanded, Rangers were sloppy, Rangers were fortunate with their second goal and, Rangers were hanging on in the last several minutes. Again, hard to disagree. However, in the Age of Ange' Tom's Sellik state of mind came to the fore reference Ryan Kent. Tom decided the Rangers winger was not all that. It was the manner he chose to discredit Kent that gave the game away. He thought Kent was decent first half but disappeared in the second period and concluded, "he is not good enough, he should be dropped". Further, he compared Ryan with Sellik's explosive game winners, "if this was Jota or Abada, they'd be ripping it up". Realising his state of mind had spoken he added quickly, "Rangers supporters won't thank me for saying that". Why did Tom say it? Think about it, a player that has participated in over 50 of those Euro games these last four seasons. We have watched him take it to numerous well known respected Euro sides. Only three months past, he played well in the Europa Cup final, nearly winning it for Rangers in the last moments. I suspect the vast majority of Rangers supporters are more than happy with Kent's Euro contribution? It was Tom's choice to compare Ryan with Jota and Abada, how did they perform in Sellik's last Euro outing, were they both ripping it up? I can tell you the Norwegian minnows from the Arctic circle, Bodo Glimt defeated Tom's beloveds 1-3 on their own midden and a week later won 2-zip at home for a 5-1 aggregate victory in the Europa Conference Cup. Should FARE launch an investigation into BBC Scotland's Celtic State of Mind?

I am sure older Gersnetters will remember? Dele Alli reminds me of the wonderfully mercurial Laurie Cunningham. In the days when Leyton Orient were a second tier club, there were reports of an elegant gazelle amid their midfield. He was a balanced blade of a player on mud heap surfaces. West Brom signed him in 1977 and they pitched up at Ibrox for the pre-season Tennant Caledonian tournament. The Baggies met Rangers in the Sunday final and we were lucky to get off the turf having only conceded two. I remember Cyrille Regis, Bud Johnston and, Laurie Cunningham running us ragged. Laurie gained a transfer to Real Madrid, unheard in the seventies. He became an English internationalist, the world was his oyster. The next dozen years were the law of diminishing returns - Manchester United, Marseille, Leicester City, Rayo Vallecano, Wimbledon, ........... He died in an early morning Madrid car crash at the age of 33.

Rangers 2 PSV Eindhoven 1 FGS : Colak.

Rangers had drawn Juventus in the first round of the European Cup, it was curtains because Juve' contained nine members of the Italian world cup squad just returned from Argentina. John Greig was in his first season as Rangers Boss, moved directly from the dressing room to the Manager's hot seat. Ham and Egg decided Derek Johnstone should take over as Club Skipper and return to centre half. In European games, this left Gordon Smith as a loan striker, the left over space in the team was for Sandy Jardine playing Euro sweeper. A credible 1-1 draw in Turin was surpassed by a comfortable two-zip victory at the Stadium, thus Rangers had progressed 3-1 on aggregate against the pre-tournament favourites for the big eared cup. The next favourites were the UEFA Cup holders, PSV Eindhoven and they had NEVER lost a home European match in the Philips Stadion. The first leg was at Ibrox and the scheduled Wednesday evening game had been postponed because of fog. The match kicked-off on the Thursday and finished nil-nil. It could have been so different before half time, Tam Forsyth played two quick one-twos that took him through the high PSV off-side line. He was one on one with the Goalie and managed to shoot high and handsome over the bar. I have the above information from a telephone conversation with Old Man. I had attested at the RMA Sandhurst in the second week of August and had endured ten weeks of character building within the walls of Old College. I had applied to attend Victory College, the Graduates' College and had been accepted; however, Victory College was also responsible for running what was known as, 'the Vicars and Tarts Course'. A short eight weeks commissioning course for professionally qualified Lawyers, Accountants, Clergymen, Veterinarians, Doctors, ........ etc entering the various appropriate administrative Corps as Captains. We marked time in the Queen Ann block house until the accommodation for ninety Cadets became available. My course had already binned 29 applicants in ten short weeks. The Vicars and Tarts had a midweek passing out parade and we were given four days leave, from Monday until Friday morning. Surrey to Harwich then a ferry to the Netherlands. I traveled with Hamish, an Old Etonian whose family owned most of Caithness. He knew nothing of football but enjoyed adventure and cheese. As the snow flurried, we arrived at the temple to Philips electrical prowess to find nearly five thousand Rangers supporters, mostly in short sleeved shirts singing the praises of a 17th century Dutch King. The Dutch inside the Stadion were signing the praises of the Van de Kerkhof brothers, van der Kuijilen, Deijkers, Poortvliet, ......... etc. Spirits were high on the terrace behind the goals. The mercury plummeted within the first minute, PSV drove forward on the flank and a low cross was met by Lubse without breaking stride, his shot found the Rangers net. Honestly, I do not think the majority of Bears registered the goal, they continued to sing. The team quickly found their metre, a Parlane header drew a wonder save from Van Engelen, then he eclipsed it by fisting a Kenny Watson thirty yarder over the bar. Either side of the break, the rookie PSV Keeper finger tipped a DJ nod and scrambled a Forsyth attempt off the line. The break through arrived courtesy of a McLean chip being met by a diving Doddy header. There was half an hour left to play and we were through on away goals, game management please? Two minutes later, PSV restored their lead. A bouncing ball in our box had been met decisively by a Deijikers overhead kick. Rangers were awarded a free kick wide outside the box. McLean lined to cross the ball, instead slipped it right for Watson to drive. DJ provided the deflected header into the roof of the net. Again, it is 2-2 with twenty remaining on the clock; game management please? You know the gig, the entire terrace was heading and kicking every ball clear. We were shouting for every decision. The Rangers goal was under heavy siege then, with less than two minutes to go. DJ towered above everyone to win a defensive header in our box, the ball looped to Gordon Smith who flicked it on the Tommy McLean. The scream was, "hold it, take it in". Calimero saw Bobby Russell making a diagonal run into the PSV half and played it down the line. The scream became, "take it into the corner". Bobby looked up, saw the advancing Keeper and decided to curl the ball fully forty yards around Van Engelen, one bounce and into the back of the net. Hamish wrapped in a Barbour was slumped and burst. Everyone else went into a state of exuberant celebration. Russell's exquisite goal kept me warm for the ensuing eight months in Camberley. I hope we can find a hero tomorrow evening?

Rangers 4 St Johnstone 0 FGS : Colak.

2014 at Ibrox, it was the Scottish Cup semi-final between Rangers and Dundee United. We were a League 1 side playing a Premiership top three team. We lost 1-3, United getting a late third clincher. The Arabs milked it, I remember BBC Scotland's Richard Gordon's summing up, "ah want to acknowledge Jim Spence, I know it means a lot to hami. After what he has been through, Jim will cherish today's result". I looked on from the main stand at the finish to see the entire Broomloan doing the Zombie. I remember Dundee United were the first Scottish club to demand our removal from the Premiership. I could go on. At this moment AZ are leading 6 - zip, I hope it goes to at least eight. Oh and, the fact Michael Stewart on BBC Scotland's live coverage is struggling to accept this justified humping, makes it even more sweet. It has just gone seven and Michael continues to reflect on the first twenty minutes when United appeared to be in control. Alkmaar was the Netherland's historic cheese town, Aged Alkmaar was a must on every cheese board. AZ have delivered a sweet nutty after taste, United are a solid processed tubed Dairylea.

Imagine the main players on the SPFL Board addressing this issue? Ian Maxwell and Neil Doncaster in normal circumstances would congratulate the Dutch FA for doing the right thing on behalf of a member club. Further, they would point out that PSV qualification for the Champions League would benefit all of Dutch football. However, it is Rangers and we are the wrong type of Scots. The SPFL do not want any member clubs to be beneficiaries of Rangers progress - it is a bad look. There is far more chance of both Maxwell and Doncaster throwing their weight behind St Johnstone's Ultras grouping, Fair City Unity's boycott of Ibrox this coming weekend because of away ticket pricing. Anyways, should elements of either broadcast or print media support similar practice for Rangers, Doncaster and Maxwell are safe; Peter provided both, 'PostSeasonTriptoJapan' capes.

Rangers 4 Union Saint Gilloise 1 FGS : Colak.

I suspect I witnessed one of Jimmy Millar's last game for Rangers? It was the 1966 Scottish Cup final replay. Of course, King Kai was that particular evening's hero with his 25 yard pile driver; but I remember my Old Man becoming most excited when Jimmy was named in the starting eleven. To an eight year old Primary schoolboy, Jimmy appeared most sturdy.

Well done you. Does this mean we have to instigate a whip round to purchase you a suit, shirt, necktie and, a camera? Further, do you intend to be a mild mannered Reporter?

Supporting the Ladies Game in Scotland? I suppose the beginning of the thaw between PQ and Rangers began last season in the SWPL? BBC Scotland decided to support women participating in the Scottish professional game. A thirty minutes weekly highlights show was scheduled for Monday evening on the BBC Scotland channel and, a number of selected games were broadcast live on Sunday afternoons. Rangers played their home matches at the Training complex at Auchenhowie and BBC Scotland attended on half a dozen occasions. Rangers won the league , much to the chagrin of PQ's Alba commentator, Alex O'Henley. You may remember Alex, he was the sports correspondent for the newspaper, West Highland Free Press owned by Sellik Director, Brian Wilson? Alex hail hails from South Uist and received quite a step up when UEFA decided he was perfect to be a neutral Observer at the 2006 Champions League fixture between Villarreal and Rangers. Alex submitted the desired report that saw Rangers punished and became a cause celebre among the Graham Spiers, Jum Spence, RAB Cosgrove, ........ etc set. Yesterday saw the start of the SPWL season 22-23 and since Rangers are Champions and we are in a Friends Again situation, BBC Scotland decided to cover Sellik v Hibs live on the BBC Scotland channel. Sellik and Hibs finished third and fourth respectively last season. Rangers opening fixture was against the newly promoted Glasgow Women at our new home ground of Broadwood. PQ promised live coverage of this game too, on the BBC Scotland i-Player. Beeb Scotland's digital build up included the line about picking up on the Lionesses success in winning the recent Euros. BBC Scotland were determined to support the game in Scotland and provide the necessary exposure to the SWPL. Both the Sellik and Rangers fixtures kicked off at the same time and BBC Alba broadcast live from Airdrie's Excelsior's ground. Sellik raced into an early two goal lead. Rangers had also notched early at Broadwood but those of us tuned to BBC Scotland i-Player did not know. We had a blank screen. Then, we were informed, "Back Soon" and, "588 were viewing". After twenty minutes with Rangers leading 4-nil the message on the i-Player changed, "We are aware of some technical difficulties which are preventing viewers from watching Rangers v Glasgow Women. We are working on it". On the thirtieth minute the working on it bit ended and BBC Alba's broadcast of Sellik v Hibs arrived on our i-Player screens. During Sellik's 7-zip hammering of Hibs, we were kept up to date on the Rangers game by off screen text messages, each goal informed of time and scorer. At half time, because Sellik have signed a player called Gallagher, PQ treated us to a comparison with Sellik legend, 'Patsy Gallagher' - the mighty atom. We were not told if the Rangers game was going to be broadcast and the failure to do so was not addressed. Despite live coverage from Broadwood being available on other means, BBC Scotland stuck with their preferred green'ngrey hooped heroines. Today, there is still no explanation. Apparently, 588 of us do not exist and are not worthy of an explanation. Rangers won 14(fourteen) - nil and there is a full sixteen minute highlights package available on YouTube should you want to indulge? Last week, BBC Scotland's Sportscene under Michael Stewart's guidance did not show or discuss incidents favourable to Rangers, this was rectified after the club had a word on the Sunday show when Michael was not present. Supporting and promoting the Ladies game here in Scotland indeed. I wonder if there is an ad hoc policy among PQ's usual suspects of more careful hate? You know, do not slander Rangers or the fans with untruths, just treat them with utter contempt.

Club 72 - Bar'72; whatever it is called this week. Anyways, before the Spurs game, I received three e-mails within a period of four days. Each contained an attachment for downloading and printing a ticket. The second e-mail informed me to ignore the first, the third informed the first might be okay. Obviously, communication ie say what you mean and, mean what you say is NOT alive and in rude health within Ibrox. The second and third e-mails were particularly badly written and confusing. I printed off all three tickets, arrived at the door, placed all three under the scanner and, they all failed. The chap took my name, leafed through a log of club members and, allowed me entry. I fear we are heading down the pick a card, any card route at the Stadium?

Last night's performance was akin to watching Rangers in European action forty years past. A brief period of optimism eradicated by over an hour of reality. The first twenty minutes were encouraging, on the front foot, three attempts on goal comfortably dealt with by the Union Keeper. The Belgians realised any forward movement by Rangers began with several square passes, they stepped up and began to intercept. They played for several minutes, scored and, got comfortable in playing balls down the channels. They were happy to continually turn us. Berliner did warn Gersnet. I thought the second period called for two subs, Scott Arfield's grit was needed in midfield and, Scott Wright reprising Aribo's last season role as the false nine. Both would have thickened a midfield being overrun. The VAR decision is correct by the laws but, it is hard to take. A deflection hits a raised hand on the very edge of the box. We could not change it, a McLoughlin save in the last minutes ensures we have a small chance of progressing. We learned the Union centre backs do not enjoy direct running. Perhaps Gio can work with this for Ibrox next Tuesday? I fear, like Malmo last season; we have blown this tie?

Union Saint Gilloise 2 Rangers 2 FGS : Colak.

My first Old Firm match at Parkhead, it was 1st January'66. The pitch was a sheet of ice, the trackside contained a couple of dozen hay bales. Davy Wilson notched in the first minute and the half time the score remained nil - one to the good guys. As stated, a couple of Sellik layers came out in the second half in trainers, John Hughes was wearing white baseball boots. He demolished us in the second period, they hit the net five times without reply.