The week just gone has been so enjoyable culminating in the great victory at Ibrox on Saturday that puts us in pole position for the SPL title. A wee summary.
SUNDAY 3 MAY - A good victory against Hearts but there was important business to see to pre-match. A number of HTB members went along to the Wee Rangers Club for lunch and a few refreshments to acknowledge a couple of very special milestones for one of our stalwart members. Maxie MacNaught celebrates his 75th birthday in July and he and wife Anne celebrate their Golden Wedding this summer. We had a great time and Maxie was chuffed to bits. To add to a special day, it was great to have the opportunity to salute the magnificent efforts of our Armed Forces when the Marines paraded at half-time.
MONDAY 4 MAY - I had the pleasure of being invited to the Rangers Player of the Year Dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow. It was a great night but the absolute highlight for me was meeting a very special Rangers fan. At dinner, I was seated next to a man called Andy Bain. Andy told me that between 1946 and 2000 he only missed 3 first-team matches - an amazing feat when you consider that travel was not what it is today - his tales of European trips in the early days were amazing. The only reason Andy then had a period when he missed a few matches was when he was seriously ill and he told me that he was not expected to survive. He did, and he continues to be a regular at every first team match normally accompanying his great friend, Andy Cameron (although to hear the banter between them you would wonder!!). Meeting and listening to guys like Andy Bain make you so proud to be a Rangers fan.
TUESDAY 5 - FRIDAY 8 MAY - The mundane world of work was interspersed by the usual ticket frenzy ahead of an Old Firm match but also some dialogue with friends from the North American Rangers Supporters Association (NARSA). They had been fortunate to win the massive first prize in the Rising Stars Lottery in memory of Garry Lynch but, not content with that, they won it again at the Hearts match. Their main office bearers were coming over for the Old Firm match to be presented with their winning cheque. However, I found out that two great friends I had met at previous NARSA Conventions were also coming over. Wullie Paton and Al Ditchburn are two fantastic guys and their love of the Club from their adopted home in Canada is second to none.
SATURDAY 9 MAY - The culmination of a great week with the win against our old rivals. I hope Wullie, Al and the rest of the NARSA group had a fantastic day - the members and friends of HTBs certainly did. What a boost at such a crucial time. There are now three crucial games coming up in the league followed by the Cup Final at the end of the month to define our season.
NOTE - Can all HTB members please note that the AGM will be held immediately after the match against Aberdeen on Saturday. Full details will be provided on the bus on the way to the match.
