Search the Community

As someone who used to religiously purchase both the match-day programme and the Rangers News (I have programmes dating back to the 50�s and 60�s as well as most home programmes from the 80�s and 90�s) and Rangers News (I have most editions from 77 until the early-mid 90�s), I would like to see both publications give space, if not all control to the fans. This would mean the Programme and News would raise and address the issues that currently face our club. Currently, neither tackles any issues that we face and with no disrespect meant, I for one do not want to read about someone�s dog who barks the theme tune to MOTD whilst wearing a Rangers top. Our club publications should be written by the fans, for the fans. It should address topics like the recent UEFA investigation / fine and allow the fans a real insight as to what went on there and what the club are planning to do about this in the short, medium and long term. They should also carry in-depth interviews with the new manager and his staff along with the captain and players. The Chairman should also be questioned regularly on things like debt, transfer budget and process, the youth development fiasco etc, etc, etc. I am sure most fans are more interested in the above than they are of what Burke and Boyd prefer for breakfast and what was the last tune that they downloaded. The Rangers Historian is a sporadic publication that gives great insight to the history of our club and IMO, would be ideal for the programme and News. Robert McElroy knows more about our club than most and would be ideal for writing his thoughts etc in the official publications. Same goes with fanzine contributors, these guys are fans and talk about issues that are fans minds. The official web-site also needs an overhaul and The Rangers Historian MUST have a place on any official on-line site. Where better to give visitors an in-sight to our great club? In saying that, they must also remove the registration to the site as it is a hindrance and no doubt stops casual browsers (who arte potential fans) from easily accessing information. Cammy F

They are looking into it to see if he was pushed!.... Unreal.

Well I have to say I'm a lot more excited about the season coming than I've been for quite some time. It was a crushing blow to lose out on Champions League, but fair play to Hearts, they were better than us and deserve their place, and I hope they do well in the name of Scotland. Here's hoping our starting off in the Uefa Cup, with what will conceivably be a rebuilt team, will blood the side in and give PLG the chance to find his feet without the immediate pressure of the CL. Don't get me wrong, I'd choose the CL every time but end of the day we're not in it so we have to make the best of what we do have. In PLG we have one of Europe's brightest and most coveted managers, whose stock has never been higher. Getting him was one of the biggest signings in our history and he is the man to take us forward, no doubt about that. Our obvious priority has to be taking the Championship out of Celtic's hands, but they're doing rebuilding too, getting in some decent if not outstanding (IMO) players like the Scotland boys and this Sno chap and Jarosik. On the other hand we've brought in a promising Swedish defender to replace Soti, a Czech winger whose performance in Germany in the little time he got was certainly positive, and Letizi who has 4 caps for France apparently. Both the OF are failing to explode in the transfer market so far, settling instead for subtle enhancements and replacements so far rather than major acquisitions. Maybe it's presumptious to say this season could be a battle between the managers rather than the squads, because while both sets of fans could be reasonably pleased with what their managers have brought in, we're not talk about earth shattering signings here. And in that light I think PLG is probably more rated than Strachan. However, Strachan now knows the Scottish game and PLG is a novice even though he's studiously prepared. I would like to think it's a given that we'll take the SPL back in light of the changes. Let's face it, no Rangers fan expects anything less; I know I don't, but that's not to say Celtic will roll over and die. They won't. As for the Uefa Cup, well it looks rather strong this year for once, with some genuinely big sides in there rather than Zenit and Middlesbrough from last year. How well we do is dependent on how much PLG hits the ground running, but he is capable of taking us very far indeed. I have never had more faith in a manager than I do in him, and trust him with the team implictly. I'm still amazed we got him. As for the actual team, well some of the dead wood has been shafted and that remains an ongoing process; PL has gone, Soti's gone - both players I rated quite highly, very highly in Soti's case, but I'm content with Svensson as his replacement. We have bought in fairly shrewdly so far imo, and it's good that the spine of the team seems to be so solid; Svensson (Hopefully he settles quickly, former captain of Gothenburg and part of the Swedish WC squad, can't be bad - then again - look at Du Wei for Celtic...) and Rod (Showed just how good he is when he returned from injury during the second half of the season) at the back, Ferguson (Recovered from all the injuries which plagued him last season and imo the best player in Scotland when on his game), and Prso up front. It's hard to analyse the lot without sounding totally biased and vaguely incoherent, but I will say there are now 3 sides in the SPL capable of winning it and that's not been the case for a very long time. It should be a good season, and I fully expect us to win the SPL back and make another real mark in Europe like last season.

A letter published in The Herald - well done to the Bear who submitted this ; I'Nuremberg rally' has no place in football I write this after having read Graham Spiers' diary piece regarding his experiences in Nuremberg - especially in the Zeppelinfield which, as we all know, has notoriety in the annals of history. I am actually quite pleased Mr Spiers wrote an eloquent article describing his personal emotions when gazing out over the awesome arena and the images which must surely have flashed in to his head at that precise time. He wrote: "Zeppelinfield looks exactly the same as it did in the infamous photographs from the period, with the large concrete podium at the top of the arena from where Hitler shrieked, looking out over a 400-metre parade ground where the stormtroopers marched. "It is the most moving,and disturbing, spot in which I have found myself writing about sport." Until this last paragraph, I didn't feel the need to comment. Hopefully now after having visited the Zeppelinfield Mr Spiers will finally appreciate why so many Rangers fans, including those from the Jewish faith, found his light-hearted comments about Ibrox resembling a "Nuremberg rally," not only distasteful but downright insensitive and deeply hurtful. Mr Smith, via email ----------------------------- Cammy F

Thought Iââ?¬â?¢d leave it a couple of days before I commented on the joint club and supporters statement of yesterday concerning the UEFA indictment of two weeks ago. Like most Rangers fans I was disappointed but not surprised when the UEFA charge was ââ?¬Ë?partially upheldââ?¬â?¢. I also believe our club should have backed our fans more and appealed the decision. I donââ?¬â?¢t want to waste anyoneââ?¬â?¢s time debating what songs are ââ?¬Ë?sectarianââ?¬â?¢ and what songs merely offend. We would be here all night. In the event of the UEFA judgement thatââ?¬â?¢s a pointless exercise and although some may be correct in their defence of the contested words and songs, essentially what UEFA says goes. For that reason we all have to realise the club and the criticised supportersââ?¬â?¢ groups had to choice but to make Fridayââ?¬â?¢s statement. No one, least of all the likes of the RST or TBO want to see our historic anthems and heritage destroyed. But sometimes we have to accept the inevitable, regroup, and then move on. ââ?¬Ë?Hullo Hulloââ?¬â?¢ or the ââ?¬Ë?Billy Boys as UEFA has described it is a rousing song. Itââ?¬â?¢s a great tune and its simplistic words never fail to arouse passion amongst the support particularly at bigger games. Unfortunately though, the lyrics (like many of our proud chants) have become bastardised. The official club version has been corrupted to, depending on your opinion, a song glorifying the victories of a notorious Glasgow gang leader or a historic regal figure, both whom fought their own very different battles against the ââ?¬Ë?feniansââ?¬â?¢ of their day. Now, no one is denying Protestant heritage and legend shouldnââ?¬â?¢t have their place in connection with Rangers. Like Celtic are fiercely proud of their Catholic background we too should appreciate our roots. No one, least of all UEFA, should be able to stop people expressing themselves freely. However, football matches at todayââ?¬â?¢s modern stadiums are not necessarily the place for such political viewpoints. Working class sports have always been connected to public opinion but in the days of all-seated stadia and family sections do we really need to listen to chants of FTP and fenian blood? I donââ?¬â?¢t think we do. No matter our opinions we have to move on. The song has been banned and ignorance or stubbornness is no longer an option. The line has been drawn and it can no longer be crossed. Itââ?¬â?¢s not being melodramatic to say that if we do cross it our club will no longer be the famous and proud institution it is. Can we afford to lose it? Because, make no mistake, thatââ?¬â?¢s what will happen if we choose to ignore the directive. Some will argue weââ?¬â?¢re surrendering to our enemies and to an extent I sympathise with that opinion. But, sometimes it takes the bigger person to admit their ills and move forward. Unlike others, Rangers FC and our fans have never hid from our problems. Now, we have a chance to really fix them and rid ourselves of them forever. Yes, it may require a loss of initial pride but we can recover from this. Indeed Iââ?¬â?¢d suggest our position will be stronger if we can accept this ban, educate and help each other to move into what is a new era in Scottish (and if the same rules are applied evenly ââ?¬â?? World) football. Our position will be stronger because we have made the first sacrifice. We will have shown our many detractors that we are capable of change. On an almost daily basis hypocritical people, with their own biased agendas attack us. That wonââ?¬â?¢t end completely ââ?¬â?? we canââ?¬â?¢t be so naive to think so. However, we will have paid our penance and they will never be allowed to forget that. Moreover, at the same time, if we can accept this judgement, the very least we should expect is a change in policy from the other clubs who are as equally guilty of sectarian, bigoted and offensive songs. Going by the UEFA charge, no club or national team is safe from similar sanction. Weââ?¬â?¢ll be watching to make sure this is not an unfair one-off. Weââ?¬â?¢ve already been tried twice and now the sanctions have been placed. We can move forward with a clear conscience. Can the others who sing about terrorists, stadium disasters and horrific injuries do the same? Of course not despite what their very public mouthpieces may suggest. If we do accept this ban, then other will have to come into the firing line. Weââ?¬â?¢ll no longer have the problem. We also have another positive. By standing by our club we will have shown just what Rangers FC really means to us. Of course our club should rightly be considered as a symbol of our past. Ibrox stadium is also a memory to our absent friends and as such we should never treat it lightly by allowing stands to be empty because of our mistakes. Are we really that selfish to lose these magnificent and unrivalled symbols of our faith and history? For one song that we can still sing anywhere else we like? I donââ?¬â?¢t blame anyone for being upset and disappointed by what appears to be a capitulation on our clubââ?¬â?¢s part. But look a bit deeper. Examine the bigger picture. Itââ?¬â?¢s not a big thing in the grand scheme of things. We may have to give a bit of ground here. In fact, we have no real choice. But, if we stand together, we can come out of this stronger. Or we can squabble, fall out, ignore and deny. But thatââ?¬â?¢s never been a winning strategy. It wasnââ?¬â?¢t for the Billy Boys of centuries past. It shouldnââ?¬â?¢t be now either. Season 2006/07 is almost upon us. Weââ?¬â?¢re pretty much debt free; we have an incredible new manager and new players have and will continue to arrive. An exciting new dawn has started. We can reclaim any lost ground on and off the pitch by sticking together. Letââ?¬â?¢s not spoil it by fighting and arguing over little things. We are the people. Letââ?¬â?¢s show it.

I noticed this hasn't transferred over. Do we all start from scratch again, ie number of posts etc?