Guest carmylebear Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 just heard some sad news that Gerry Neef passed away last night. had been struggling for a while fighting the big "C" 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mainstandbear 0 Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 That is indeed sad news...RIP 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gers110 0 Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 RIP.WATP:spl::spl: 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zappa 0 Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 I think he left Rangers the year I was born. RIP... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rangers Football Club 0 Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 GERMAN star Gerry was part of 72 Euro squad More... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zappa 0 Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 On the official site - Gers Mourn Keeper Neef by Lindsay Herron RANGERS have been saddened to learn of the death of former goalkeeper Gerry Neef who was part of the European Cup Winners' Cup Final squad in Barcelona 1972. German goalie Neef had been ill for some time and passed away yesterday at the age of 63. Gerry - whose real name is Gerhardt - had been signed by Davie White in the spring of 1968 when Rangers had been looking for the long-term replacement of Billy Ritchie who Gerry Neef with the Rangers players in 1972had been a hERMuge player in the successes of the early part of the decade. He had also tried out for Aberdeen and he was in competition at Ibrox with Norrie Martin and Eric Sorensen, a Swede who had been signed from Morton. Indeed he had to wait until April 19, 1969 to make his debut when Rangers defeated Morton 3-0 with goals from Alex Ferguson, Orjan Persson and Andy Penman. He played two more matches that season - a 1-1 draw with Dundee and then a 3-0 win over Dunfermline. It was in 1969/70 that Neef had his most productive season when he was effectively the No1 choice.He played in 26 of the 34 league matches, six league cup ties, three Scottish Cup matches and four European matches. These were tough times for Rangers as Celtic were enjoying their greatest spell under Jock Stein and there was huge pressure for success. White was sacked during the season and the impressive figure of Willie Waddell came back to the club to shake things up, One of the first things he did was sign a new goalkeeper in the shape of Peter McCloy and that put Neef back into the reserves. Hauntingly, his first appearance of the 1970/71 season was on the fateful day of January 2, 1971 when tragedy hit Rangers in a massive and horrible way. Neef was in goal when the traditional Old Firm derby finished 1-1 with late goals from Celtic's Jimmy Johnstone and Rangers' Colin Stein. However, in the immediate aftermath a nightmare was unfolding on Stairway 13 at the Copland Road end of the ground as an horrendous crush developed. Numbingly 66 people lost their lives and more than 140 were injured. He had come into the side as McCloy was injured and played the next two matches but was out again when the Girvan Lighthouse returned to fitness. Gerry was to play only one more match for Rangers and that was at Gayfield when Rangers beat Arbroath 2-1 on October 21, 1972 with goals from Derek Parlane and Joe Mason. However, as back-up to McCloy the genial German was part of Rangers' fantastic run in the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1971/72 which ended in glory in the Nou Camp. He was on the bench on May 24, 1972 when the Light Blues became kings of Europe by defeating Moscow Dynamo 3-2. He moved back to Germany in 1973 to sign for Nuremburg, who were playing in the regional south league at the time, and he subsequently joined the police force. Gerry's daughter Melanie became a successful athlete in Scotland and represented the UK at the 400metres in the European and World Championships. Neef kept in touch with the Barcelona Bears and other old friends at Rangers. He attended a special 35th anniversary tribute dinner and was the special guest of Rangers in 2007 when the club took the Cup Winners' Cup squad to Barcelona for the Champions League group match against the Catalan giants. http://www.rangers.co.uk/articles/20100224/gers-mourn-keeper-neef_2254024_1976008 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraser54 0 Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 Great tribute there from Rangers. You have your name in Rangers history ! R.I.P 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
redford 0 Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 Sorry to read that. Sad news. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue1 0 Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 RIP to another good friend. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,457 Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 You just know the BHEASTS are going to disrupt this and show them up for what they are AGAIN 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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