26th of foot

Arabs, the 'Well and, the Buddies. We were a month into the Miners' strike, the three day week was biting and, power was being rationed during evenings into three hour blocks. The latter fortnight of February'72 saw a new phenomenon. Newspapers no longer began on the back page; pages four, five, six, .... etc carried lists of streets in every village, town and, city - informing you of the hours that evening your home would receive power. I seem to remember power was allocated in three hour blocks and doing homework at the dining room table by candle light. Such ambience did not make Latin any more attractive. Mood music aside, the real soundtrack in the background was provided by Harry Nilsson(Without You), Paul Simon's self titled album and, Chicory Tip(Son of my Father). I had bought the Apple label's first signing, Welsh power chorders, Badfinger had released 'Day after Day'. The NME announced Stevie Wonder would ope for the Rolling Stones during their Stones Touring Party tour of the USA. I couldn't get a ticket. Similarly, I missed Dundee United's visit to Ibrox because of a Noon kick-off. The teams ran out, Rangers - McCloy, Jardine, Mathieson, Greig, Jackson, Smith, McLean, Conn, D Johnstone, A MacDonald and, I MacDonald. Dundee United - McAlpine, Rolland, J Cameron, Markland, Smith(Walter), Gray(Andy), Kopel, Knox(Archie), K Cameron, Fleming and, Traynor. The attendance was reported as 25,000 and Dave Smith stroked the only goal of the game in the 84th minute. My Diary for the day contained two entries, Rangers one-nil victory and my school time had triumphed 1-2 away at Our Lady's High School in Motherwell. I remember the Daily Record had featured that particular all Boys denominational school as being the largest school in Scotland, in excess of 2,200 pupils. Excitement was growing at school, Rangers were to visit Fir Park and several of us played for Fir Park Boys Club. We were a mixture of Bears and 'Well fans, brilliantly coached by the Claret and Amber's Joe Wark and Northern Ireland international winger, Paddy Campbell. After schools football and our Amateur game, we were accommodated in the Fir Park Enclosure with a pie and bovril. The Bears' half of the grouping were confident. Seventeen thousand squeezed in and the teams entered the field as follows : Motherwell - MacCrae, Muir, Wark, Forsyth(Tam), McCallum, Watson(Bobby), Campbell, McInally(Jackie), McCabe, Lawson and, Heron. Rangers - McCloy, Jardine, Miller, Greig, Jackson, Smith, McLean, Conn, Stein, D Johnstone and, I MacDonald. The Motherwell side is worthy of further comment. Keith MacCrae succeeded Peter McCloy at Fir Park and he was being promoted as the new Lev Yashin, not only because he wore an all black kit. The next year MacCrae was transferred to Manchester City for £100,000. John(Jumbo)Muir was a big laconic centre-half come centre-forward. He scored a fair number of goals and enjoyed cult status among the 'Well fans. Joe Wark was probably one of the best players never to have been capped by Scotland. Tam Forsyth would arrive at Ibrox in three months time, Kirky Lawson was the epitome of a poacher and, both Bobby Watson and Brian Heron were former Gers. Bobby Hewitt was the 'Well boss and he had kept the side in the top eight for several years. There was an Anglo-Scottish trophy at the time, the Texaco Cup. Those teams finished just short of European qualification on both sides of the border entered and the competition was fierce and well attended. Motherwell had vanquished a host of English first Division clubs such as, Spurs, Coventry City, Norwich City, ...... etc. They had a silky midfielder, Jim McCabe; the claret and amber crowd loved him, they sand, "E for B and Jim McCabe". Eggs for breakfast and Jim McCabe were the vitals for life. Sadly, Jim was the classic Lanarkshire lad. Sellik bid £50,000 for him later in the season, it was accepted but it took Motherwell a day to track him down. He attended the medical drunk and the move was off. The view from the Enclosure was a deteriorating one, the fog crept in and Rangers froze in the conditions. Heron ghosted in at the back stick to strike a low drive past McCloy in the 8th minute and that goal separated the sides at half-time. Rangers wrestled control at the beginning of the second period but a one-two breakaway from Wark and Campbell saw Lawson run on to the through ball to knock past big Peter. It finished 2-0, we retained our third place in the league, nine points behind leaders, Sellik and, trailing six points to second placed Aberdeen. The depression was lifted by the intervening fourth round of the Scottish Cup. Love Street was a big bowl of a ground, capacity was 40,000. St Mirren were suffering a decade in Scotland's second tier, Sir Awex's intervention was still two years down the line. Thirty thousand crowded in and the vast majority were waiting on a goal rush. The Saints had just appointed Willie Cunningham as their new Gaffer and he was promising resolute defence, a money spinning replay at Ibrox would be the very dab. St Mirren lined up - Stevenson, McLaughlin, Munro(Ian), Millar, McQueen(Gordon), Murray, Borland, McLeod, Prentice, Bryceland and, McKean(Bobby). Rangers - McCloy, Jardine, Mathieson, Greig, D Johnstone, Smith, McLean, Conn, Stein, MacDonald and, Johnston. The word on the supporters bus was the Miners' strike would end on Monday, the vote had been taken that Saturday morning. Sunday evening would still be illuminated by candle light and Latin. Clearly, the Rangers players in the first half at Love Street were communicating in Latin, it was 'O me miserum' as Gordon McQueen and Ian Munro stood firm. Nil nil at half-time was relief. rangers found their venom in a six minute second half spell, running in three goals from Doddy, Colin and, Calimero. McLean added a second from the penalty spot and the Saints notched in 86th minute for a consolation by Ally McLeod. Traveling home on the bus, the relief of a 1-4 victory was short lived, the draw for the fifth round was live on BBC Radio Scotland. We drew Motherwell away in a fortnight's time. In a ten day spell, we were to experience two quarter-finals, one in Turin against Torino, the other at Fir Park against a rampant Motherwell. The sky was falling.

Rangers 3 Motherwell 1 FGS : Morelos.

A BIG FOKKER. This thread is now running into for a fifth year and it's time to remember as Rangers supporters we pay our license fees to receive a service from BBC Scotland. A Europa League tie between Borussia Dortmund and Rangers is big news for Scottish football. Two games home and away and BBC Scotland's Sports News Correspondent, Chris McLaughlin and BBC Scotland's Chief Football Writer, Tom English have collectively written not a word. Comparatively little has been broadcast either. Both games coincided with Sellik's entry into the European Conference League, two games home and away against Norwegians, Bodo Glimp received live commentary from Liam McLeod with Pat Bonner and James McFadden adding colour. BBC Radio Scotland was, "right across events at the Rangers games' ie Richard Gordon and Richard Foster view a monitor in a studio and make occasional comments. Borussia Dortmund were favourites for the Europa League, they sit second in the Bundesliga and, they travel everywhere in their own liveried Airbus aeroplane. From memory, Rangers have faced Borussia in European competition on four previous occasions and only lost the one tie. Sellik were bullish on the Conference tie, they were in it to win it, going all the way. Bodo were from inside the Arctic Circle, a town's population ten thousand less than the Stade de Gadd's capacity. The first games were played, Rangers kicked-off early in Germany and the 2-4 victory was quickly dismissed in favour of live commentary under the disco lights at Sellik Park. After a 1-3 defeat, BBC Radio Scotland was off air at ten O'Clock. The next day and the day after was radio silence, no mention on BBC Scotland TV either. Saturday had a full list of fixtures but again no mention. Sunday saw Rangers visit Tannadice and PQ spirits picked up. A 1-1 draw had United's centre back, Ross Graham eulogised and his partner, Charlie Mulgrew lionised for telling BBC Scotland's interviewer that Rangers penalty claims were, "made up". Sellik defeated bottom of the table, Dundee 3-2 at Parkhead and the Dee's penalty claim in the last minute was not discussed. Monday's TV news carried footage of both games with the strap line, "Celtic move further ahead". Thursday saw a reversal, ra Sellik live commentary up first. PQ's favourites fielded a weakened team and McLeod, Bonner and, McFadden lauded Ange's expediency for prioritising the league over Europe. Whatever happened to in it to win it? Sellik were out of Europe for the third time in one season having been vanquished 5-1 on aggregate. Across events at Ibrox was up next and Richard Gordon groaned at the penalty award. Half-time was quite perky, Dortmund were leading 1-2. BIG Dick was happier when McFadden said, "Dortmund have got the second, it will be whatever they want it to be". It took thirty seconds for Big Dick to announce the equaliser, stuttering whilst viewing, hoping for an offside. The game finished 6-4 on aggregate to Rangers at 21.53hrs, BBC Radio Scotland's football coverage was finished at one minute to ten. BBC Scotland's news the next day(Friday) did show the Rangers goals and told the result but no discussion. The draw against Red Star was reported but no discussion. It is Saturday and BBC Radio Scotland have Off the Ball with RAB and Cowan opining the money spent by traveling Yahoos to visit the Arctic Circle, only to be confronted by a reserve team. Cowan praised the atmosphere at Ibrox and congratulated Rangers on the result. RAB Cosgrove stated, "Yep" and they moved on. There is another BBC Scotland production on football, 'A View from the Terrace'. It is a one hour show with an eclectic take. I like it, the Host, Craig Telfer is a Stenhousemuir fan, the panelists are taken from a grouping including Craig Fowler(Jambo), Joel Sked(Jambo), Robert Borthwick(Jambo), Shaughan McGuigan(Raith Rovers), Robert Thewliss(Well), ....... The Producer is David Harron(Jambo). Promoting Scottish football is the show's raison d'etre, at all levels. Two shows straddling the tie and they don not mention the games, we would not know the tie took place. They did mention Bodo Glimt and they spent several minutes continuing the lionisation of Charlie Mulgrew and Dundee United's, "Dee-lightful defending against Rangers". As stated, the tie was a BIG FOKKER for Scottish football and for PQ to arrive eventually at a passive state at best will be remembered. A View from the Terrace to entirely ignore the tie is as a result of pressure from Production. These several paragraphs are a record proving posterity will not be kind to BBC Scotland.

Deep depression at half time, I could not see how we could change it? We could not retain possession, blind clearances from our box had no depth, we were failing to turn Dortmund, .......... etc. It was a procession towards our goal. Bassey's move to left back gave us an out ball. He takes it in, a couple of give and goes and your fifty yards up the park. Further, he is quite cute at winning free kicks. As soon as Alfie and Kent had the ball, Dortmund were turning. Even the Subway Loyal stayed to the end last night and joined in the post match celebrations.

I took my Nephew to Glasgow Airport late morning and because of weight of traffic on the M8, I took the Renfrew -Inchinnan - Abbotsinch road to the terminal drop-off point. Circumnavigating North and East of the runways, I received excellent views of the Borussia Dortmund Airbus. The livery is a distinctive black and gold and the tailplane has a 'BVB' roundel upon it. Suffice to say it's a BIG FOKKER. I demand the Board and Club'72 fund a BEARFORCE ONE.

This story has rumbled around for the last three days. It began when a woman living in Dalkeith awoke Sunday morning and looked at her door-cam footage. A designer wreath attached to the doorway in memory of her late Mother who had passed as a result of alzheimers had been taken during the night. The footage showed a grouping including Ryan Porteous removing the wreath. Apparently, Porteous ensured the wreath's return, minus a broach(incorporated into the floral reminder) belonging to the deceased and telephoned an apology. The glass assault is a new event being reported on quite an evening. Now, this is Hibs so the PR is already out there - a grouping staying close to their working class roots, drinking in the local Miners' Welfare up to daft boayness. Another round of exuberance? You know how it goes, another Hibby, Leigh Griffiths enjoys lounging in Minors' Welfare(requesting naked photos of 14 and 15 year old girls on Facebook) and it's a laugh. We await Irvine Welsh and another machete analogy?

The first half has been pretty unique. We have 75% possession, 2 corners, and 10 attempts on goal. Not one of those attempts was on target, not one troubled the Keeper and, only once have we delivered when in behind. United have had 4 corners and four attempts and, one deflected from just off the line, the other found the net.

Dundee United 1 Rangers 2 FGS : Morelos.

Half a dozen times a month, I help out my Nephew and his partner by taking their 4 year old daughter to Nursery. I love her but she can be a bit of a Madam. I was listening to BBC Radio Scotland's Sports Desk this morning and the first thing that struck me was, 'the line' has NOT been established. I was getting her out the car seat when the second Sports Desk began and the semblance of, 'the line' appeared, "of course Borussia Dortmund are not the team they once were". I missed who said it and a crisis had arisen with the merits of melon over chocolate buttons to get one through a day at Nursery. BBC Scotland are always moaning about folks not taking every opportunity to talk up the Scottish game, but Rangers winning away in Dortmund needs serious time(is there enough time) to find any degree of comfort. Anyways, 'the line' will be found. I await long time Journo, Hugh MacDonald's take - he and family are long term Borussia Dortmund supporters, regular attendees at the Westfalenstadion these last dozen years. Reference the Curling at the Winter Olympics, RAB Cosgrove was spitting venom at the weekend. He noted all Curlers attending are Scots, why are the not representing Scotland? It's like Rangers, fellow countrymen and women performing well but not worthy of support because of the colours being worn.

Tonight, after Rangers 2-4 victory in Dortmund and ra Sellik's 1-3 collapse to Bodo Glimt the PQ Gang Hut has concluded : Borussia Dortmund are an excellent side but they are no Bobo Glimt. Seriously, is Bodo Glimt a character from the Hobbit?

On a night when Rangers traveled to Germany carrying the Scottish standard, allowing the flag to flutter in a strong compelling breeze. The hope is that the AngeBall Cavaliers can consolidate upon Rangers solid 2-4 thumping of Borussia Dortmund in the Westfalenstadion to further improve the Scottish coefficient? An expectant flag fell limp in a strident Nordic breeze at ra Stydome. A team that had not kicked a ball competitively in three months arrived from the Artic Circle. They had to fight off polar bears and minus 20 temperatures to get on board the aeroplane. We know because we are constantly told that AngeBall is irresistible. BoBo is now forty-eight years of age, his diminutive Gimp replete in his Latex splendour; could hardly be expected to withstand the white heat of ra Stade de Gadd? Thank God for the Groin Brigade, continually singing the praise of the Egyptian Sun God, Ra. Oh ah up the Ra was a welcome refrain for BoBo and his bondage costumed chum. Such a thoughtful ditty ensured no one heard the air escaping from the burst AngeBall. I believe Sellik are now condemned to the Inter-ToTo Conference YoYo Cup. Ange has it all to do next week but, he is intent on signing Edvard Munch. BoBo and his Gimp know no ine can hear you scream in the Artic Circle.

When French Ref', Clement Turpin awarded that penalty, I thought he had changed his name to Dick? On seeing the VAR, a stonewaller.

Dortmund 2 Rangers 2 FGS : Morelos.

After securing the Dee's Scottish Cup progress at Peterhead(0-3 victory) just last Sunday, John Nelms has bulleted manager, James McPake. A home quarter-final Scottish Cup tie awaits against Rangers and the Dark Blues next Premiership match is a visit to Sellik Park. Of course, matters football are a mystery at Dens Park. Missing E-Mails turn up days later in SPFL's spam folder and the chain of command can be confusing. Gordon Strachan is Dundee's Director of Football and also a Consultant at Sellik, where his son retains a coaching job. Owner, John Nelms remains a self confessed BIG Sellik man and has always done exactly what Peter told him; but Peter has gone, hasn't he? Whatever, my money is on Neil Lennon getting off the bevvy and being appointed in time for Rangers quarter-final Scottish Cup visit.

A Fortnight past, we lost 3-zip at ra Stydome. A garrulous Tom Anguish was the most excited I have ever heard him, he could not decide between AngeBall and, "the white hot atmosphere unique to Celtic Park" as the reason for our downfall. The next meeting between the clubs is due at Ibrox. Tom will not set foot in Ibrox because he is a BBC Scotland employee; however, he and fellow members of the Yahoo Media Shamrock CSC know the Green Brigade with their, "witty banners" are a preferred preference in the Broomloan. The campaign, the co-ordinated campaign to get, "the masked revellers" back into the Ibrox has been growing momentum for a fortnight. Look at those demanding a green'n'grey presence, Rod Stewart, John Hartson, Chris Sutton, Paul Cooney, Hugh MacDonald, Alison McConnell,.................. etc. These are folks that tell us what language is appropriate, only present Sellik convenient facts and, only see our existence as something to be preached at. Last season, saw the first old firm match at Sellik Park as match dat 11(eleven). Traditionally, the first meeting was always between first and third; why eleven and why were all those mentioned saying nothing? Let's start with comparing like with like. Whether it's 7,500 tickets for the entire Broomloan Stand or it's 900 for the Broomloan - Govan corner; all these seats have unrestricted views. Compare and contrast with the reciprocated at ra Stydome? When was the last time - only time Rod Stewart, John Hartson, Chris Sutton, Paul Cooney, Hugh MacDonald, Alison McConnell, ......... etc sat in the away section at ra Stydome?

Annan Athletic 0 Rangers 3 FGS : Roofe.

Rangers 2 Hibernian 0 FGS : Morelos.

I served for 16 years in a Regiment where young soldiers having survived eight months basic training, P Company(a 3 week assessment on suitability for the Parachute Regiment) and, two weeks parachute training at RAF Brize Norton; found it hard to resist to run down the Tattoo Parlour and receive an inking. A decade later, those same soldiers were spending ten times the amount getting laser removal treatment. We had a CSM who had a Tattoo of a fox hunt that covered his entire back, the fox's tail disappearing up his arse.

We await outrage from Falkirk's MSP, BIG BIG Sellik man, Michael Matheson? I suspect as long as Leigh does not do the Hokey-Cokey(remember Michael wanted the hokey-cokey banned because he deemed it anti-catholic), he will be alright. Sexpesting on Twitter and Facebook a 15 year old Edinburgh girl and a 14 year old girl from Fife is okay though, Leigh was only asking for naked pictures. How about Falkirk's MP, John McNally is he outraged? Given both elected representatives are SNP; perhaps it's better if a party donor was to be outraged, or maybe a Stirlingshire based crime fiction writer who is the First Minister's Bestie could express outrage? How about Val's Gals refusing to play Falkirk Ladies?

Jambos, Fifers and, the Bairns in the Scottish Cup. Mark Feld was a Face from Stoke Newington. By the age of 14, he had accounts at several Tailors and a regular model for clothing catalogues. He was the epitome of the Modernist approach. Initially, as a 15 year old he played guitar in Helen Shapiro's backing band but graduated to his own beat combo whilst worshipping at the altar of the Modfather, Steve Marriott. He took a bit of acid, read a bit of Tolkien, found a bustle in his hedgerow and, emerged as a fully formed Peer of Glam Rock. Electric Warrior was the number one album and Telegram Sam was the toppermost of the singles chart. Marc Bolan had arrived eulogising Purple Pie Pete and Jungle Faced Jake. As the Jambos ran out at Ibrox on the 22nd of January'72, a few dozen Bears behind me in the Enclosure serenaded them to the tune of Telegram Sam, "Alfie Alfie Conn, he gies a haun tae his local flute bon". I don't think it caught on? A bigger talking point was the news of Wullie Henderson storming out of training midweek, promising never to return. Thirty-five thousand of us had stormed into the Stadium to watch Rangers - McCloy, Jardine, Mathieson, Greig, Jackson, Smith, McLean, Conn, D Johnstone, A MacDonald and, Johnston. Hearts - Garland, Sneddon, Kay, Brown, Anderson, Thomson, Renton, Ford, Winchester and, Murray. The Hearts Gaffer was former Rangers Assistant Manager, Bobby Seith and the general consensus was the Jambos were on the rise. At half time the Boys in Maroon were the talk of the Toon, Donald Ford had been the most spirited forward on show in a no scoring first period. The next forty-five saw a 20 minute DJ hat-trick, with further goals from Bud Johnston, Alfie Conn and big Ham and Egg. A six - zip thrashing, easily our best League performance of the season. The cacophony on the Tannochside RSC bus on the way home was all about Big DJ, he was maturing nicely. Derek had just turned eighteen. He must keep his place for next week's visit to Bayview. Methil was, maybe still is a dour town. Bayview was an electric venue to view football. An attendance in excess of several thousand created a crackling atmosphere. The high terracing behind the goals allowed for excellent vistas of Largo Bay and games against the Fifers tended to be hard fought. Schools football was back and the mate's Brother with the Tunnock's wagon was required to transport three of us from deepest, darkest Lanarkshire to coastal Fife. The lunch of champions was included, half-a-dozen of Tam's finest pastry enclosed mince pates went down a treat. The newspaper was a harder swallow, Flying Pickets and Three Day Week were new terms, notification of power cuts was a new experience. Bayview was surrounded by members of the NUM(National Union of Miners), all toting collection buckets as the Strike was at the end of it's third week. Thirteen thousand watched East Fife - Gorman, Duncan, McQuade, McLean, Martis, Clarke, Honeyman, Love, Hughes, Hamilton and, McPhee; Rangers - McCloy, Jardine, Mathieson, Greig, Jackson, Smith, McLean, Conn, Da Johnstone, A MacDonald, Johnston. It was blood and snotters in a stiff breeze and the glaur. Rangers dominated the first forty-five, Bud's pace continually got him to the bye-line and, DJ obliged in the 35th minute by nodding the opener into the net. The second period was a game of attrition. The Fifers Gaffer, Pat Quinn was a devotee of the Offside Trap and the Linesmen had sore arms. Bud beat the collective step forward, was hauled down by the Keeper and, Bud stroked the resulting penalty past the post. playing into the wind resulted in Tommy McLean being paired up front with Bud and the nicely maturing DJ was back with John Greig in front of our back four, heading and swinging at every East Fife lumped forward ball. We held on for a nil-one victory. The Scottish Cup third round draw saw us paired with Falkirk at Brockville. Another atmospheric ground where we had been vanquished the previous season 4-3. We were on a one week warning, a State of Emergency would be declared if the NUM Strike continued for a further three to four days. Conserving energy had seen nearly 2 million workers on a three day week, a number of the bigger companies were predicting large scale temporary redundancies and, the nationalised power authorities had drawn up plans for nine hour long power cuts. Twenty thousand squeezed into Brockville to keep warm. Falkirk - Donaldson, Jones, Gibson, Cattenach, Markie, Shirra, Hoggan, Ferguson, Jack, Young and, McLeod; Rangers - McCloy, Jardine, Mathieson, Greig, Jackson, Smith, McLean, Conn, D Johnstone, A MacDonald and, Johnston. Apparently, the tie was a fizzer, the game ended 2-2 after the Bairns opened the scoring through Jack(34). We notched either side of the break with DJ(42) and Greig(49) to go ahead 1-2 but could not hold on. Former Ranger, Alex Ferguson was the head of the Players Union in Scotland and he had released a statement in full support of the Miners then subsequently stuck one in the Gers pokey on the 72nd minute to take the tie to a replay under the lights at Ibrox. I missed all the excitement, did not even know the result until early evening. I had embarked on my Duke of Edinburgh award through the auspices of the Scouts. I spent the entire weekend in Lochgoilhead and on the Loch, kayaking and sailing. I was one of the 45,000that made the replay, it was allowed to go ahead despite the State of Emergency being called that very day, 9th February'72. The power cuts would begin the following Sunday evening. We lined up the same apart from Colin Stein returning in place of Bomber Jackson, DJ moving to central defence. Falkirk made three changes, Wheatley, J Scott and, Harley replacing Cattenach, Hoggan and, McLeod. CThe Loan Ranger, Colin, Colin Stein came to the party early, finding the net on the 2nd minute. Bud missed another penalty and the Bairns, Jack could not see green cheese, obligingly missing his spot kick too. Tommy McLean used his height to nod the clincher with 15 minutes left. We were drawn away in the fourth round to St Mirren, then solidly mid table in the second Division. It would be a week of contrasts, visiting Paisley and Turin. Ironically, the then Love Street had a greater capacity than Torino's Stadio Comunale. Anyways, that was three weeks in the future. We had the Arabs at Ibrox and two away days at Fir and Rugby Parks to negotiate in between and, we did not know if the floodlights would be on. The SFA were meeting to discuss moving Saturday kick-offs forward to Noon. How about us playing schools football, how were we going to get to the match?

Defeating Glasgow City 3-1 is a significant result, particularly since we had our Keeper red carded midway through the second half. There's a 30 minute highlights show on BBC Scotland this evening to allow us to see how yesterday's events at Auchenhowie unfolded. Of course, the vast majority of media coverage over the weekend has been focused on the former Raith Rovers Ladies team. Val McDermid withdrew her club sponsorship, two Directors resigned and, the female Skipper left the club. All as a result of Raith signing David Goodwillie from Clyde. Raith Rovers Ladies have formally disassociated from the club and are now called, 'McDermid Ladies'; the crime Author has transferred her sponsorship too. I would have thought, 'Val's Gals' would have been a snappier name? The point I am attempting to make is I viewed two TV reports and listened to one elongated radio report on McDermid Ladies. There are numerous newspaper articles on the game too. However, you will be lucky if any of the broadcast or print reports tell you who Val's Gals were playing and the result? It was Livingston Ladies and the McDermids lost 0-4. It's amazing the coverage available if you are one of the First Minister's Besties. Val's sensitivities trumped the Ladies game.

Rangers 2 Hearts 1 FGS : Morelos.

Cap'n Cook Endeavours. Today, BBC Scotland announced their successor to Sarah Smith as Scotland Editor. Sarah has decided to cast off for the calmer waters of the USA. Of course, her Father was former Labour Leader, John Smith and her six years at PQ have been largely ignored by the Gang Hut. She is very much the old establishment and her designation is in reality the liaison link to BBC UK. Further, she has criticised Nicola for using the Covid pandemic as a means of control, lots of air time handed over for daily briefings. Most importantly to the Gang Hut, she appears not to have hated Rangers and Rangers supporters. Her successor has very real Rangers hating credentials, his determined approach in this regard is probably only trumped by James Cook's naked ambition. You may remember Ally McCoist's tenure as Rangers manager? It was turbulent and in those days the club continued to converse with PQ. Dairmid O'Hara(brother of SNP MP Brendan) was News Editor and he was responsible for showing stock footage of the Rangers support singing, with a bouncing ball along the bottom of the screen highlighting the lyrics. He sent James to interview McCoist at Ibrox. BBC Scotland broadcast a three-four minute piece that showed Ally laughing off tough questions on supposed sectarianism. It also showed Ally looking off camera and raising his eyebrows(not taking the question seriously) after James Cook had pleaded for the issue to be addressed. McCoist's reaction to the broadcast was genuine anger, he disagreed with both content and presentation. He and the Club submitted a complaint. It took a few weeks but James Cook and his Producer both apologised. They admitted they had Edited the footage to make it look like McCoist did not take sectarianism seriously. They had cut the film and inserted clips of McCoist laughing before the interview began, as reactions to questions. James Cook was promoted for giving his Editor what he wanted, he headed off the States as BBC's USA Correspondent. BBC Scotland followed by broadcasting opening credits to a live Rangers match, heavily influenced by the Mad Men series. It was a graphic depicting Ally McCoist throwing himself through the second storey Ibrox window. PQ apologised for that too as they have had to do on a dozen occasions since. I am told James Cook supports Dundee United, he has navigated and satisfied his burning ambition upon the troubled waters of Rangers hate. He should be reminded at every opportunity.

Viewing the game on Sky last evening let us know ra Sellik sensitivity. Andy Walker was relentless and ruthless in continually stating, "Celtic are relentless and ruthless". It was his preferred comfort blanket, saying it one more time than his three appeals for ra Sellik, "to go on and get a fourth and fifth". Maybe, the Rangers management team and players should listen to a clearly excited, garrulous Andy and take inspiration? As a Rangers supporter, I was seated well back on my sofa after 20 minutes. I thought we were insipid, spiritless, vapid, abject, ................. etc. We start again at 4 O'Clock on Sunday against Hearts at Ibrox, by which time we could be 4 points behind? We must regain our competitive spirit.

Sellik 1 Rangers 2 FGS : Roofe.