Rangers are known for their family-like supporters. The kind of people who look out for one another, help each other out and stand together whenever possible. But I would never have expected what happened when I posted my story on Follow Follow’s message board...
There I was, heading to Ibrox as usual to support the mighty Gers against Motherwell, with my boy at my side. At the back of the bus, doing our usual “name the starting line up” routine and having a laugh at my bad jokes. Every game my boy is excited to see his beloved Rangers, wearing his favourite Rangers Poppy scarf his papa gave him a few years ago with badges he’s been collecting every game, and proud to wear the scarf for his papa who couldn’t make the games anymore because he is in Erskine Hospital. We arrive at Govan and he runs off the bus full pelt, I chase after him in case he gets himself into bother. Before we know it we are in the underground station waiting on a train, and I realise he doesn’t have his scarf. Cue the tears and frantic running up the stairs to try and catch the bus. It was gone. My sons face was one of sheer distress. “Papa’s scarf dad, PAPA’S SCARF” he screamed and wailed. It was gone.
We had no choice but to continue to the game as time was pressing towards kick off. My boy was not saying a word with me trying to reassure him and take his mind off it. I asked him if he wanted me to buy him a new scarf and badges. He simply shakes his head and says, “I want papa’s scarf”. We watch the Gers win 6-0 easily against Motherwell, but my boy didn’t cheer once: He just sat in his seat with tears in his eyes, with me feeling completely useless and upset for him.
We leave Ibrox and I phone the bus company to find out if the bus I was on is still out. Luckily I had kept the ticket with the bus number etc on it. Found out the bus and driver is indeed still out and will be finishing at 6.30. So the Mrs came to pick up the wee man and I waited at Govan to hopefully catch the same bus and driver and pray the scarf had been handed in. Bus after bus stops, but not the one I wanted. I asked one driver if a scarf had been handed in, and the response I got was, “Naw, and even if it had I would wipe my a**e with it.”
Raging, cold and slightly emotional, I volley the side of the bus as it sets off from the bus stop. But it’s not making me feel any better. A sore toe is all I got from it. Then THE bus appears: Same driver and all. I ask the driver but he looks at me like I was talking a different language. Well I was; he was Polish. He just shook his head. I give up, go to the back of the bus half-hearted and looked for the scarf. Not there either. Gutted, I sit down, and I look down the bus and I see a glimpse of blue and white. I jump up off the seat and run down the bus: THE SCARF.
It’s there but the badges all gone, with just pin-holes where they once were. I get home and my boy looks up at me with hopeful eyes, “Did you find it Dad, did you?” I gave him the scarf and explained the badges were gone. He tried to look happy and said, “Well at least I have the scarf back” but I knew he was still upset at losing the badges.
As usual I go on the computer and head to Follow Follow to read about the game and peoples’ thought and comments. I decide to post my story of what happened and ask if there were any websites where I could buy badges for my wee boy. The response I got wasn’t quite what I was expecting. I get an offer from someone to send their personal badges to my son. I couldn’t believe people would part with their own possessions and send them to a stranger on the internet. Then another offer and another, eventually my inbox was full of people offering to send badges for me wee boy. I tried to tell them to not send their badges but they were all insistent. They wouldn’t even let me pay them for them.
Overwhelmed I shout my boy upstairs and sit him down on my knee. “This is why we are Rangers Fans son” I said. I read out the comments and messages. A smile spreads across his face and the excitement returned in his eyes.
The next few mornings the postman rings the doorbell and my boy belts downstairs like its Christmas morning. I still didn’t expect the response I got. Dozens of letters and jiffy bags with badges, notes, patches etc. Each one I opened the bigger the lump in my throat.
Over 100 badges were sent to my boy from people all over the country, from Linwood to London. We even had bears bidding on eBay for badges just to send to my boy.
I again want to take this opportunity to thank every single one of the Bears and Bearettes who sent a badge or gift to my son. You have reinstalled the love of Rangers Football Club in his heart.
Womble 2011