BHEASTS Fans Travel To Ibrox To Back Albion Rovers

[ian1964 10,486]

Ex-Albion Rovers boss Peter Hetherston: Coatbridge is Celtic daft.. but all the town is talking about now is Rovers' trip to Ibrox

11 Feb 2014 08:23

 

HETHERSTON still owns a pub in his hometown and says the Celtic supporters' club which runs buses from his boozer will be diverting to Ibrox to back Albion in the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup.

 

PETER HETHERSTON insists Albion Rovers can count on the backing of the Celtic-daft people of Coatbridge in their Scottish Cup clash with Rangers.

 

With the Hoops now out of the competition, Hetherston revealed the Celtic supporters’ club that runs out of his Silky’s bar in the town are already planning a trip to Ibrox to cheer on the League Two side.

 

The former midfielder, who once bossed Rovers, admits the minnows are the second team for most people in Coatbridge with the majority Celtic fans.

 

But after the Parkhead men were dumped out by Aberdeen, one of Hetherston’s former clubs, he knows those fans will be desperate for their local side to upset the odds at Ibrox.

 

The Cliftonhill outfit’s reward for reaching their first Cup quarter-final in 80 years was a dream draw to face Rangers.

 

Hetherston is delighted for Rovers and reckons their travelling support will be swelled by Hoops fans.

 

The 49-year-old said: “I was born and bred in Coatbridge and have a great affinity with the club but here in the town Albion Rovers is your second team because most people support Celtic.

 

“Coatbridge has always had a big Celtic fan-base and I believe Rovers get a bigger crowd when they play on a Friday night because it doesn’t clash with Celtic’s games.

 

“But with Celtic out of the Cup the whole of Coatbridge will be supporting Albion Rovers that night. I think the locals would want anyone to beat Rangers – even if it was Silky’s football team!

 

“The Phil Cole Celtic Supporters’ Club is almost as old as Celtic and the bus runs from my pub each week.

 

“They’re all brilliant guys and I believe they will run a bus to Ibrox to cheer on Albion Rovers since Celtic won’t be playing.

 

“It’s a magnificent draw for Rovers and it’s captured the imagination of the town.

 

“We were all delighted when they got through against Stenhousemuir on Saturday and for a team from Coatbridge to be facing Rangers is the dream draw.

 

“It doesn’t matter where you go in Coatbridge whether it’s the pubs or local gym they’re all talking about this game. The place is buzzing and the tie can’t come quickly enough.

 

“It really captured the imagination when they got through to the quarter-finals after such a long time.”

 

Hetherston’s stint in the Cliftonhill hotseat was his second job in management after a spell in charge of Raith Rovers and he realised then just how passionate the people are who run the club.

 

He said: “In my time there David Shanks and Andrew Dick both served as chairmen and guys like David Wright and John Reynolds all worked so hard behind the scenes.

 

“It’s been passed down to Frank Meade who is a nice man and I know him well.

 

“Those in charge now have taken it that step forward and are trying to do the stadium up and make things happen.

 

“It’s just little things like the initiative where fans could pay what they wanted at the gate which was a great success.

 

“When I managed them I quickly realised just how enthusiastic the people were and how hard they worked to make the club a success.

 

“It’s a brilliant achievement to reach the Scottish Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 80 years.”

 

Hetherston knows few will give James Ward’s troops a chance but he says they’ve got nothing to lose facing the Light Blues on their own patch.

 

He added: “I played many times at Ibrox and Parkhead and the Albion Rovers players will love it.

 

“Someone pointed out that Rovers haven’t lost a goal in this competition and beat a top-flight team in Motherwell so they shouldn’t fear anything.

 

“We all know it’s a massive task and nobody will give them a chance but the manager will fire them up and there will be a good support from Coatbridge heading through to Ibrox to cheer them on.”

 

Hetherston was in the last Aberdeen team to win a trophy when they beat Dundee in the 1995-96 League Cup Final and he has backed the Dons to go on to secure this season’s

Scottish Cup.

 

He added: “You’ve got to fancy Aberdeen and Dundee United as the two favourites.

 

“I know Rangers are doing well in their league but it’s a different level.

 

“I watched the Celtic game on Saturday and Aberdeen were different class.

 

“And it’s good to see my old team Raith Rovers still in it.

 

“They pulled off a shock by beating Hibs and it would be great to see them going far.

 

“That’s three of my old clubs – Albion Rovers, Raith Rovers and Aberdeen – all in the last eight and I would like to see them all do well but I fancy Aberdeen to win it.”

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ex-albion-rovers-boss-peter-hetherston-3132868

[the gunslinger 3,366]

used to talk to his brother all the time in universe.

 

i do doubt yahoos who can't be arsed turning up at savilerow will bother paying to go to ibrox.

[Bluedell 5,366]

They don't go and support their own team these days and I can't imagine too many will want to:

1. spend money that goes into our coffers, and

2. go to a game that should see us winning by a good few goals.

 

I doubt that there will too many on Hetherstons's bus.

[Anchorman 0]

Good they can watch 'their' team get pumped out of the Cup twice then :-)

[Zappa 0]

My guess is that there might well be a few dozen turn up who support both ra poops and the wee Rovers, but he seems to be suggesting that droves of Celtic fans are going to go, which just isn't going to happen for Bluedell's 1st reason.

[JTP 0]

So will Rovers or Septic pay for the ripped out seats then?

[Scott7 5,324]

I'm not so sure. OK, they don't bother to go to cp but it's their chance to rant and rae their political rubbish at the home of the Great Satan and then complain about being offended when the Rangers score. The makings of a good song in that last phrase?

[Super Cooper 0]

It's all about the Rangers.

[compo 6,273]

as long as they pay their money I don't have any problems with that

[andy steel 0]

"Crap ex-footballer lodges advert for (probably) dingy boozer in national press"