Well, we're off and running again and it is great to see the improved website - thanks to those concerned for a great job.
My start to the season has been as hectic as the end to last season (or so it seems!). A pre-season jaunt to Germany for the Schalke friendly was most enjoyable except for a woeful 90 minutes. I strongly recommend Dusseldorf for anyone who wants to have a weekend of partying in a fantastic atmosphere - head for the Old Town - it is amazing. Next up was the Raith Rovers friendly at Kirkcaldy where we scraped a 2-1 win. I was surprised to see the home end full but all was revealed when the local plod suggested that any Rangers fans move to the away end - when nearly everyone got up to move they had to rapidly reverse the plan - there's a lot of bears in Fife. On the evidence of these two friendlies, my level of optimism for the Champions League qualifier was not good. The home leg was a non-event - the 17 Kaunas fans must have left saying "how did that mob get to the UEFA Cup Final?" The Liverpool friendly was the HTBs first coach trip of the new season. Good to see all the troops again especially our Chairman making a welcome return following his sabatical due to business commitments. Suffice to say we got well mauled by the scousers - interesting to note that the first time the match ball went into the away end, we never saw it again but, of course, it would be wrong to stereotype the visting fans as being expert at relieving people of their personal property!!! The trip to Kaunas was next up - arrived late at night and the first person I see sitting in the hotel lounge is our old friend Graham Spiers - thought my mate was going to walk straight in and biff him. We needed a beer to get over the shock but Kaunas around midnight on a Monday night is not exactly buzzing - anyway, we found a casino - well it was a room full of slot machines but at least we managed a couple of beers by putting some loose change in the slots. I had a slight hope that we could respond like last season and win the tie but my confidence was low. However, we took the lead and I thought "here we go". However, the illusion was shattered and the rest is history - what a let down. The only thing for it was a few beers (on top of more than a few beers before the match) so usual result. Early dark and unconscious sleep until it was time to head for home.
The weekend revolved round the Rangers Supporters Assembly AGM. A visit to Murray Park on Friday for a tour then a Q and A session with messrs Murray, Bain and Smith - bet they all looked forward to that after the Kaunas result. Fair play though - they took it on the chin and answered the questions. Friday night was a Player of the Year dinner at Ibrox and Carlos Cuellar accepted the award he so richly deserved. One of the after dinner speakers was former referree John Rowbotham (or was it his Italian twin Collina?). He was hilarious and he relayed a tale that the referees supremo had said that now Hugh "True Blue" Dallas, Willie "The Bear" Young and John "The Hun" Rowbotham had retired, that was Rangers "F****D. An enjoyable evening and great to see so many friends from round the world.
The Falkirk game was not pretty to watch but we'll take the 3 points. It's serious though when we are completely outplayed by Falkirk. The "bears" were growling for long spells. It was bad enough for us that watched the whole match but spare a thought for the two HTBs members that travelled from Hull thinking it was a 3pm kick-off - oops!!
In conclusion then, I sincerely hope that future blogs are less hectic and more positive in terms of the team but I am fearful that the problems we have at the moment don't get fixed overnight.
WE ARE THE PEOPLE - KEEP BELIEVING!
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