The incessant downpour did much to keep the green and grey hoops about town covered up, although it might have surprised our nearest and dearest neighbours to find their colours regarded with some disdain by the Seville fans. After all, their fiercest rivals Real Betis also play in the unspeakable colours and I allowed myself a smile when, with the George Square marquee sponsored by Carlsberg, the hostesses sought to win brownie points with those hanging around outside by handing out umbrellas. They didn't look too pleased when a chorus of boos filled the air when the Spaniards saw the colour of the brollys.
I chose to spend much of the afternoon at Merchant Square with the Espanyol fans, mainly because it was under cover and, having earlier listened to a couple of old tossers telling some Seville fans that they had been in their city four years ago, I took great pride in reminding the Catalans of a wee trip I'd made to Barcelona back in 1972. And I was asked to explain the difference between Rangers and Celtic, to which, avoiding the obvious, I answered: "We travelled to your country to win a European trophy, the other lot didn't."
The game itself was as good a European final as I've seen in recent years. By this time I was back in my local and again my blood started to boil at the TV pictures of McBungle and Alex Salmond sitting up close and personal alongside the great Michel Platini. On a positive note, I'll bet Wee Joke was livid. In the end, I wish Espanyol had won it, if only because I felt a wee bit sorry for them having a player harshly sent off. But it was not to be and, instead of Oor Baz, it was that big bampot Navarro - Kyrgiakos with attitude! - who got to lift the trophy.
Next day, the TV cameras focused on the farewells at the airport and again I felt the need to spit when I saw so many of the visitors leaving with bulging Septic merchandise bags. Any attempt to bring this to Rangers' attention would probably be greeted by a shrug of the shoulders and a few mumbled words about that being JJB Sports' problem now. What chance have we got? Not for the first time, and probably not for the last, a great opportunity to promote Rangers had been lost.