26th of foot

Lorraine Kelly, Ricky Ross, Gary Robertson, Brian Taylor, Jum Spence, .............................................. all Stephen Thompson's bairns. Don't worry, I'm sure Peter will see Stephen all right?

I don't think ra Sellik are due to return from their post season tour of Japan until September?

The cup final of '94 should remain uppermost in the minds of management and players. We won the league with a few games to go, promptly lost a couple including a 3 zip thumping at Firhill, and drew another. It will be okay at Hampden, we will pick up the pace again and secure the first ever back to back treble, won't we? Dundee United won 1-0, scoring a mid first half goal that we never looked like retrieving. Putting the tools away, both physically and mentally is a most difficult recovery. Le Chapeau Magique should tell the players to take the several minute walk from New Love Street to the Airport at the end of the game. Meet their wives/partners and bugger off for a week, and return with the appropriate mindset to win the cup and secure European football.

I believe the extra crispy James Doleman remains inside the lead MASH Panzer.

It will be a forerunner for next season for BBC Scotland. Every Saturday will be an exercise in what does Chris do today? We remember McLaughlin's actions on the first day of the season, against Hibs in the Petrofac Cup. However, there was one he attempted to fly under the radar on BBC Scotland tea time news. He was sitting at his desk introducing an item on the Mike Ashley/Rangers legal to and fro, and he held his I Pad screen to the camera, showing the item leading on Sellik Quick News. The piece was penned by the clearly visible, 'H-u.nskelper'. Back in the Admiral Bar after the newscast, Chris would be lionised and it would be huddle down for another sniggerfest. Remember, a couple of weeks before, he led his match report with, "four Rangers supporters have been arrested on suspicion of sectarian chanting"? Never forget, never forgive Chris McLaughlin.

Interestingly, at Ibrox on Saturday, our grouping were wondering aloud as to O'Halloran's suitability through the middle. It allows him to break both ways.

Rod ra Mod's auld man came from Edinburgh. I remember reading a biography from decades past, and Rod's older brothers revealing their Dad to be a Jambo.

An insightful read. As a schoolboy, I traveled on a supporters bus from deepest, darkest Lanarkshire. It was then described as, 'a church bus'. After a game, the cacophony would grow as the weekly debate took hold, it would become heated. Half the bus considered Doddy to be a corner boy and wanted him nowhere near Rangers. The other half, myself included, loved his drive, dart, and dash. So, he clipped a few opponents on the way, they deserved it. Seeing a clearly distressed Bertie Auld after Dod's attentions, remains a warm memory.

Ronnie is a wanker, he's looking for a wanker's hat. Wear it at a rakish jaunty angle Ronnie, most deserving and becoming.

Our last league match away to St Mirren is a week on Sunday. We have to endure a three week wait for our Scottish Cup final against Hibs. There are advantages to the lay-off, players can get a bit of rest and relaxation, niggles and strains will have time to clear up, and injured players such as Forrester and Waghorn will recover to contribute on the 21st May. The disadvantages are loss of touch and sharpness. I suspect there will be a further loss of competitive edge? Meanwhile, it looks like Hibs will fill the same period in playing four to six highly competitive play-off games. The threat of further Injuries and suspensions will come into play. Last year, Falkirk experienced a similar problem, how did they cope waiting on Premiership ICT finishing their season? I know our current management team will ensure a most professional approach. What do my fellow Gersnetters think we will do over those long three weeks?

It gets better, both BBC Scotland and ra Herald are leading with Neil Lennon's, "I want to return as Sellik manager". I demand an increase in funding for DomesTIC Violence units.

Tonight's fixture at Easter Road has already been predicted by the Hootsmon's, Alan Pattullo back in late December. Yep, immediately in the wake of Rangers 4-2 thumping of Hibs at Ibrox, Pattullo's wishful thinking went like this : "Hibs have earned deserved applause in recent weeks for the way they have cut Rangers' lead at the top. Alan Stubbs' side failed in their bid to overhaul Rangers this week but their manager labelled this attempt as a 'free hit'. They still have to play the Ibrox outfit once more, at home. Expect them to win this one. Expect them to finish first, with Rangers condemned to another challenging play-off experience". I wonder when Alan will revisit his confident prediction?

1. The sound of the clumping fist of Dermot slamming down in Panama? 2. Season ticket renewals being issued next week? 3. Peter Lawwell shooting his appointment before Ronnie points his finger? 4. A sewerage of Declans in the car park(sorry, GCC funded Sellik Way) this coming Sunday? 5. All of the above? You decide?

Frankie, I am basing my comments in the aftermath of last year's League Cup semi-final. Remember, the Green Brigade had quite an elaborate display? The coffin banner, the four horsemen, Rangers date of founding, culminating in 'Huns RIP'. At half time, they lit 30 green flares and unveiled another banner depicting, 'the monkeys are deid' and, 'Huns RIP'. We were told then about the need for both Fire Officer and Match Commander rep' to okay banners before display. It came out this had occurred the night before, a couple of dozen members of the GB had been allowed into Hampden the evening before, to prepare both displays. There was an attempt to do Rangers for the supports songs last year, it fizzled out quickly because of the GB's time to prepare revelations. The Lord Advocate let it be known, one of the sources was Cosgrove on BBC Scotland, that he was NOT interested in pursuing anyone on the useage of the H term. Further, last week, Cosgrove was banging on about missing something because he was working for the Scottish Government. He stated he was attending an all day seminar at Hampden on Hate Crime. Combine this with the lunches he has had with the Lord Advocate, and I suspect our club and support have trouble brewing.

As I understand it, a banner must be presented to both the Fire Officer and Match Commander(or their respective reps') before being allowed access to the ground. What do the Lord Advocate and Justice Minister say reference that banner?

Neil Cameron is Yahoo supporting journo. He came through the Record some 15 years past, the last couple of years has seen him join Alison McConnell at ra Herald/Evening Times. Of course, one bitter Yahoo of a journo will reach for the well worn comfort blanket of Rangers supporters singing, in the wake of a Sellik defeat. Usually, it's Alison, Chris McLaughlin, Andrew H Smith, ....... etc that thumb that particular blanket. It must be Cameron's turn to be het. Interestingly, his nick name in the press box is, 'Spook'. A dozen years ago, he had taken his car containing his bird into a grave yard late at night for some nocturnal gymnastics. The Polis caught him and his colleagues drew the correlation with the market company, 'Spook Erection'.

No doubt, Forrester has skill and quick feet. He has an eye for a pass and has a decent dig that has seen a few important goals scored. Further, there has been a few impressive performances. There is a but, I suspect getting and keeping him fit might be a problem. I know he did not see much action at Doncaster, I hope a full pre-season resolves my concerns?

Reference Killie. I attended the Scottish Cup replay at Rugby Park(along with 11,000 fellow Bears) because Michael Johnson decided to abstain. I attended despite the Killie Trust apologising to the rest of Scottish football because their Chairman took the correct action. I did NOT attend Tynecastle, Easter Road, Tannadice, St Mirren Park, of Fir Park etc these last four seasons. I will NOT attend any of the other clubs that passed responsibility to their fans, knowing the result.

Do Drybrough Cup, Tennents-Caledonian Cup, Glasgow Cup, and Super Cup finals count?

Well, Peter's go to megaphone, Paul Brennan of Sellik Quick News, has spoken, 'Dermot Desmond is not Celtic'. If the 29.9% majority shareholder of ra Sellik, Mr Desmond is NOT sellik, then I'll eat my Panama Hat!

A fellow anorak tells me that Thomson has red carded 7 Rangers players in 44 games, and issued nine of the same colour to ra Yahoos in 77 matches.

He sent off Kevin Thomson at Tynecastle. Didn't he send off Wilson and Thomson at Hampden in the League Cup final against St Mirren?

Despite the efforts of the local masonic referees.

When MON arrived at ra Stydome, Sellik devised a media strategy to ensure he had the time and space to effect change. Wee Poison Pen Phil and Kevin McCara were tasked to get around all those in both print and broadcast media sympatheitic(Sellik Minded) and ensure a disciplined approach. Remember MON's constant mantra about Rangers being the benchmark? Expectations were managed, ra Sellik the vicTims against the establishment, and their favourites, Rangers. The only mistake they made was at the end of the season, ra Sellik acknowledged the value and usefulness of the Tim media raft by hosting a slap up boozy lunch at One Devonshire Gardens(Hotel du Vin). They rewarded them for providing what was demanded, and paid willingly. It was accepted that eighteen journos benefited, all the usual suspects, including Spiers. Of course, he was the one that let it out the bag, he is a garrulous drunk. Should our club cultivate a similar raft of opinion?

After McCann rescued ra Sellik, he set about formalising their media profile. He wanted all ra Sellik minded inside the tent pissing out, including Matt McGlone of the Alternative View. He was rewarded with a column in ra Sellik View for the next five years. The Murricane family, heavily involved with Radio Snyde's head honcho, Jimmy Gordon; began organising Sellik TV, and Joe Sullivan took over as Editor of ra Sellik programme. An overseer was needed to tie the various media sections together, step forward old Aloysiusian, Phil Gordon. Poison Pen Phil had been spitting venom at all things Rangers for a decade or more, began at the Evening Times, moved up to the Herald, appeared regularly on STV, .............................. arrived at ra Sellik for a couple of years, moved to the Times, various Sunday broadsheets, ............................. has been freelance the last decade. There is some serious competition for uber hater status, Phil challenges fiercely, year in, year out.