I would probably say I've been a fan since my early teens, the first time watching Rangers play football was on TV when I was down south visiting relatives. Although born here, I was raised Protestant and have Ulster Scots ancestry (my Grandma's last name was Glasgow), and sometimes you don't have a choice of your team, the team chooses you.
Luckily it was Rangers for me! I try to follow the best I can up here (a few of those years were fairly bleak as the internet was in its infancy) but there are a few challenges. If I'm able to find a live feed of the match on the internet I' ll watch it on a computer, otherwise there is a possibility the local sports bar will be showing it. When we made it to the last European Cup Final I phoned up and asked if they were able to show it. As luck had it, I was able to get my own corner booth and big flat screen TV to watch it on (and they were able to serve alcohol a few minutes after the game started, always a bonus). Even if things didn't work out for us (no thanks to the SFA..) it was amazing to see the 250,000 that did make the trip to Manchester to support.
I take some solace in knowing the rest of western North America suffers along with me watching those early morning kickoff games (4:30 in the morning anyone?) so its either stay up all night or to bed early so you can wake up for the match. I'm still looking for a "friend with benefits" (aka someone with a satellite dish) so I can watch it on a bigger screen than my computer.
I check the official site as well as FollowFollow and a few others on the internet for news, and for the days I can't find a live feed on the net I will keep hitting the refresh button on the screen to get the play-by-play. Obviously nothing like seeing them playing live, but I take what I can. I was able to see Rangers play a friendly against Dynamo Zagreb in Toronto (I lived there for a few years - cheers to Toronto Rangers #1, Toronto Central and more often the Toronto MidTown Supporters Club) and it was the first time I got to sing the songs in the presence of the team. Unfortunately the game was on a Tuesday night or otherwise there would have been a larger turnout (that 'other' team played a little while before on a Saturday, I blame the pope) but the supporters that did show up made for a great atmosphere.
The expense of flying can get rather expensive, you basically pay for a flight to a major city and then the same amount again to get to your final destination. I've flown to Calgary, Alberta and Niagara Falls, Ontario to attend the North American Rangers Supporters Association weekends and had the chance to have my picture taken with the League and Scottish cups as well as meet a few of the former players such as Peter McCloy, Ian Durrant, Colin Stein, Derek Johnstone and Willie Johnston.
Next year I hope to make the exodus to the holy altar of Ibrox to watch an OF game win against the great unwashed. I'll be the one waving the Yukon Loyal banner, come and say hi! (oh and and of course offer to buy me a pint).
I may be far away, but I'm Rangers Til I Die. WATP, and we are everywhere!
YUKONBEAR