Giopeople has lost an old pal
My dad took me and my brother to a match v Dundee at the end of the 83-84 season so when he came to see cheerio to us on the opening day of the following season I knew where he was going.
Me 'Are you going to the football?'
Dad 'Yes'
Me 'Can I come?'
Dad 'Ok'
And that was it. I was signed up for the life long journey that is Rangers FC. I was 8. If memory serves me right we drew 0-0 with St Mirren that day. Not the ideal start to the season, but then again it wasn't the ideal season, although I did attend my first Cup Final that year with the 1-0 win over Dundee Utd.
More importantly than the result that opening day was my dad's purchase of a Bar Scarf for me. Simple design but it was a Rangers Scarf and declared to the world I supported Rangers and that was the main thing. I wore it everywhere, Ibrox obviously, but also school, paper round, Grandma's, anywhere really.
I'd twirl it around my head at Ibrox on the great occasions, as Dynamo Kiev, Leeds Utd and Celtic (numerous times) were swept aside. Sure I bought the odd souvenir scarf like the '9 in a row' one from 97 and the half and half Barcelona Scarf in 07. But only one scarf was worn to the games and that was my old favourite scarf. The scarf that had seen me through those great triumphs, Wilkins Volley v Celtic, Gazza's hat trick v Aberdeen, Parma at Ibrox.
It also went into Europe for my debut Euro trip in Paris and I've a picture of me waving on top of the Eiffel Tower in 2001. Naturally it was round my neck as we came with in a whisker of my holy grail and a European Trophy. It mopped up some tears in a hotel room in Stockport that night let me tell you. Finally it was with me for the climax of last season as we stepped back from the brink and won a well deserved title before adding the cup a week later.
Is it wrong a 33 year old should be so attached to something so simple? I'm not sure but it spanned the 26 years I've regularly been going to Ibrox. Russell, Cooper, McCoist, Walters, Laudrup, Mols, Albertz, Prso, Novo, Boyd. All acclaimed by me and my scarf and now it appears gone. Possibly left behind in the Viceroy pub at Paisley Road Toll before the Hamilton replay. To say I'm gutted is putting it mildly.
If anyone picked it up that night or has come across it I'd be so grateful to get it back through a PM on the messageboards. The tassles at the end are coming away a wee bit and maybe it looks its age. It's still great though. Sure I can buy a new one, maybe thicker and better quality but will it be the same?