It's back to the
future for Yanks

Bombers' new digs will look like scene from Ruth's heyday

By T.J. QUINN
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

From the outside, it'll be 1923 again.

Limestone walls rising like a fortress, standing sentinel in refurbished parkland. It's the view Babe Ruth had when he went to work in the house they built for him.

On the inside, a mix of modernity and antiquity has officials from City Hall, Albany and the Bronx gushing: the old frieze hanging from the roof like copper lace, bullpens back in the outfield where they used to be, but with open concourses (with six times the space for concession sales) and sight lines to the field from almost anywhere in the park.

This is the new Yankee Stadium, almost ready for prime time, all but signed, sealed and to be delivered by Opening Day 2009.

Lawyers for the city, state and the team are completing a "memorandum of understanding," sources told the Daily News, and an announcement is expected around May 1.

As of now, the new stadium is designed to seat 50,800, less than the current capacity of 57,478, but with 50 to 60 luxury suites.

It will be located just north of the existing stadium, between 161st and 164th Sts. and between Jerome and River Aves.

The stadium itself, funded entirely by the team, will run about $800 million, while the total project will cost about $1.1 billion with the city and the state providing the extra $300 million for a new Metro-North station, parkland along the now decrepit waterfront and better parking facilities around the stadium.

Yankee President Randy Levine and city and state officials would not comment directly about the plans or the pending agreement, but confirmed they are in the final stages.

"We're working very closely with the city and the state and trying to finalize our current plan," Levine said. "We expect to announce it in the near future, and we hope to break ground in 2006 and be ready to play in 2009."

Officials familiar with the plans gave The News an exclusive preview of the designs for the new park, which includes all the amenities of a state of the art shopping mall:



The stadium will be comprised of two separate structures: one, the exterior wall, constructed to replicate the original Yankee Stadium, built in 1923, and the other the interior stadium itself, rising over the top of the exterior. From the outside the structures will look like one building, almost identical in materials and design to the original stadium. There will be a "great hall" between the exterior wall and the interior structure, featuring five to six times more retail square footage than the current stadium.


The signature frieze, the lattice work that once rimmed the original stadium roof and was recreated in the outfield of the current stadium, will be added to the new stadium's roof. The frieze (commonly but incorrectly known as "the facade") was painted white during the 1960s, as it now appears above the outfield. But the new stadium will return to the original copper.


The city will provide $50 million worth of infrastructure for the new stadium. But the city and state, depending on the agreement, will build and control all 11,000 parking spaces in the area, a cash cow for taxpayers that one consultant told the Yankees was "too generous," a source said.


Perhaps best of all for the parties involved, there is no significant opposition to the project.

"We expect this project to be one that is supported by all," Levine said.


:eek2:

http://www.nydailynews.com/images/heads/rope0416.jpg

Are they scrapping the retractable roof? or was that the Mets plan I am thinking of.

Now pay attention people. THIS is a throwback park. Not Camden Yards. When one looks at pics of old baseball parks they resemble Tiger Stadium, Ebbets Field or the new PNC Park in Pittsburgh. Beautiful, unique facades. Most without brick. Even those with brick had very elaborate designs.

This will be great, the old stadium design with the amenities of a new age park. But, i will be sad to see the old stadium go, its been a great place to watch the best team in baseball.

most well paid

What a great place for the Sox to win the next AL Championship.

So they won't win one until 09?

Are they scrapping the retractable roof? or was that the Mets plan I am thinking of.

Now pay attention people. THIS is a throwback park. Not Camden Yards. When one looks at pics of old baseball parks they resemble Tiger Stadium, Ebbets Field or the new PNC Park in Pittsburgh. Beautiful, unique facades. Most without brick. Even those with brick had very elaborate designs.

The retractable roofs were part of the plan for both Yankees and Mets in Guiliani's parting shoot as mayor. He released two models at this time.

Right on about retroparks. However, I think they may be running their course. New ball parks, like the one in Philly, don't try to replicate the old parks anymore.

Of all the retroparks, the one that really got it right was SBC (Pac Bell).

this story has been mysteriously quiet in the NY and national media (we're talking about Yankee Stadium here!). Does anyone know why?

I think the disdain causes many of us to simply not pay attention to them. I didn't realize they were so low in the standing until Sportscenter decided to spend a whole day on the subject.

Yeah here's what rantanamo's referring to:

"Yankee Stadium II" Proposal:

http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/future/yankeenew.jpg

"New Mets Stadium" Proposal:

http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/future/mets703.jpg
(Supposed to resemble Ebbett's Field exterior.)

Each would've cost $800M each, both had retractible roofs.

It will be a shame to see, how such an historic stadium for America will bee out of use or even demolish.

It will be a shame to see, how such an historic stadium for America will bee out of use or even demolish.

Yankee Stadium's renovation in the 1970's was so massive and so complete that it virtually was a new stadium (save for the steel beams and the exterior). The current Yankee Stadium is not the glorified house that Ruth built and a lot the alure is the for the baseball played at the site for almost a century, not the current structure.

^ I agree, they destroyed the facade in the 70s, since then it's been an overrated shadow of a classic. Hopefully this new park'll bring back some of the charm of the old Yankee.

I'll like to know how good are the amenities in the current Yankee stadium, like how are the restaurants, or team store, club level, skyboxes, jumbotron, etc? in comparison with modern ballparks (Seattle or Arizona for example).

Building a new stadium in old style seems very 80s to me. With this budget they could make something breathtakingly unique and futuristic. But that´s just my opinion....

^ True since Oriole Park at Camden Yards went up in Baltimore in 1992, most everyone's jumped on the "retro ballpark" idea. I figured a storied franchise like the Yankees would need an old-fashioned looking home.

Luckily, I heard that the ballpark they'll build for the Nationals in D.C. will NOT be retro! Yaaaaay! :)

futuristic would intail that we know what style things will be in the future, and usually ends up looking silly in 5 years. I still maintain that there are not many retro ballparks. Brick is not retro. Its brick. PNC's limestone is retro. Oriole Park's seemless connection with surrounding buildings is retro. I would call St. Louis' new park retro. But I wouldn't call Safeco or Ameriquest retro. They just have brick exteriors. This new Yankee Stadium is retro.

Hopefully when they come up with a final design, they get it right. It would be a real shame to see the Yankees move into park that didn't have some feel of the old stadium. No matter how big the renovations in th 70's were, it's still YANKEE STADIUM! The House that Ruth Built!

Anything new on the Yankees stadium?

Tenant: New York Yankees (AL)
Opening: April 2009
Status: Announce on June 15, 2005
Capacity: 51,800
Style: Open air
Surface: Grass

Architect: HOK Sport
Construction: Undetermined
Owner: New York Yankees
Cost: $1.02 billion
Public financing: $220 million from New York City for parking facilities ($75 million), parkland along the waterfront ($135 million) and other work related to the stadium
Private financing: $800 million from the Yankees

Location: Just north of the existing stadium, between 161st and 164th Streets, and between Jerome and River Avenues.

Dimensions: Same as Yankee Stadium

Fences: Same as Yankee Stadium

The Yankess will begin construction on a new stadium across the street from the current Yankee Stadium in the spring of 2006. Completion is scheduled for the 2009 season. The project is part of a larger redevelopment plan that includes a hotel, conference center and high school for sports-related careers.

The stadium will feature an exterior facade which will replicate that of the original Yankee Stadium. The interior of the stadium will be a separate structure, rising above the top of the exterior. From the outside the structures will look similar to the original stadium. A "great hall" between the exterior wall and the interior structure will feature five to six times more retail square footage than the current stadium. The signature frieze, the lattice work that once rimmed the original stadium's roof, will adorn the new stadium's roof in the original copper.

Just before leaving office in December 2001, former Mayor Rudy Giuliani reached a tentative agreement with both the Yankees and Mets to build them each an $800 million, retractable-roof stadium. Upon becoming mayor, Michael Bloomberg made it clear that he had other priorities and the ballpark plans were put on hold indefinitely.

The proposed Yankees ballpark would seat 47,000 people and feature a retractable roof. The interior would include the facade, as well as the original field dimensions, from Yankee Stadium. Soil from the outfield would be moved to the new stadium.

The city would finance the stadiums by issuing $1.6 billion in bonds, and the teams would have to reimburse the city. Giuliani emphasized that the stadiums would pay for themselves and made good business sense.

In the summer of 2004, New York newspapers reported that the Yankees were on the verge of announcing plans for a new ballpark next to Yankee Stadium. It was rumored that the Yankees would forgo the retractable roof and increase seating capacity to approximately 56,000. As of January 2005, the Yankees have said nothing on the subject.

In January 2005, it was reported that New York City planned on spending $1.1 billion on three sports complexes: $600 million for a Jets stadium on Manhattan's West Side, $300 million toward a new Yankees ballpark and $200 million toward a Nets arena in Brooklyn. The Mets have said they expect to receive the same $300 million subsidy as the Yankees.

In April 1996, the city and state of New York and Yankees owner George Steinbrenner completed a study of four possible sites as a future home for the Yankees. One of those is now the site of the proposed Jets stadium. The other sites studied were Van Cortlandt Park, Pelham Bay Park and the site of Yankee Stadium, all of which are in the Bronx. The study also found that renovation of the Yankees' present stadium in the Bronx would cost at least $770 million (1996 dollars).

Several years ago, New Jersey gave the New York Yankees a plan for a new baseball-only stadium that would hold about 50,000 people and cost about 50 percent less than a multipurpose sports stadium in Manhattan.

http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/american/nyybpk.htm

Some renderings.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/Aviller71//yankees1.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/Aviller71//yankees2.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/Aviller71//yankees3.jpg

How can they have glass where the "batter's eye" is supposed to be???

http://premium1.uploadit.org/Aviller71//yankees4.jpg

Yankee Doodle Dandy. Looks good. Famous team, so good luck with the stadium.

They better spend some money on the infrastructure around the stadium. Driving home after the game was/is a bitch.

http://www.nydailynews.com/boroughs/story/379534p-322297c.html
Bronx beep playing hardball on new Yankee Stadium plan

BY BILL EGBERT
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

As the approval process for the new Yankee Stadium plan winds up, Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión made his pitch last week to leverage the project for support of his broader development agenda.

Ten days after a stormy public hearing on a plan the local community board voted down, Carrión signed off on the proposal to build a new stadium on parkland across the street from the House That Ruth Built.

But the approval came attached to a wish list of initiatives long championed by the borough president's office, plus a demand to preserve community access to parks and athletic fields.

"We can't miss this opportunity to get this right," Carrión said.

The centerpiece of Carrión's development plan is conversion of the historic Yankee Stadium into a community ballfield complete with a Yankees Hall of Fame, hotel and convention center, and a High School for Sports Industry Careers across the street from the new Yankee Stadium complex.

Carrión is also demanding that interim park facilities be completed before construction begins on the new stadium. While the current proposal includes replacement for Macombs Dam Park and Mullaly Park, many of those facilities won't be finished until after the stadium and surrounding parking garages are completed.

Carrión's proposed revision would require a new ballfield and running track be completed on Yankee Parking Lot 1 before the city parks are dug up.

"One of the big concerns of the community is that there should be a seamless transition from the old to the new," Carrion said. "Those facilities can't be lost during the interim."

The borough president's stipulations are nonbinding, and most of what Carrión is asking for would have to come from the city and state budgets, such as a new Metro-North station and an expanded ferry terminal.

Many community opponents of the city's and Yankees' current plan felt shut out of a Dec. 12 public hearing Carrión hosted. Seats were packed early with chanting building trades workers shouting down opponents, and some who sought to give testimony felt blackballed.

Lukas Herbert, an urban planner serving on Community Board 4, contends that he and other well-known opponents were not selected to speak while supporters who registered after them were. The borough president's office has denied that there was any effort to prevent opponents from speaking.

"This is an important step in creating a win-win situation for the host community," said Carrión, himself an urban planner, "which has been on the short end of the deal."

Carrión's approval sends the project to the city Planning Commission for consideration, the last step before a vote by the City Council.

Originally published on January 3, 2006

http://www.nydailynews.com/boroughs/story/381395p-323869c.html
Bottom of 9th for Stadium

BY BILL EGBERT
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

The City Planning Commission will play umpire at a public hearing tomorrow as plans for the new Yankee Stadium head into the final innings.

The controversial proposal to build an $800 million stadium and retail complex on city parkland directly north of the House that Ruth Built was voted down by local Community Board 4 but approved by Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión with a raft of conditions and pet projects attached.

"This is a real environmental justice issue," said Lukas Herbert, a Board 4 member and an urban planner. "I'm taking the day off work to go down there."

Neither the community board vote nor Carrión's wish list are binding, but the planning commission vote will be when it takes up the issue in late February.

The CPC hearings come after a raucous hearing held by Carrión last month, with the rotunda at the Bronx County Building packed with construction workers chanting, "We want jobs!" and Yankees President Randy Levine denouncing opponents of the new ballpark as "professional protesters."

Many area residents said they couldn't get into Carrión's hearing because the construction workers - most bused in from outside the area - took all the seats.

Several vocal stadium opponents complained they were deliberately passed over during the time allowed for testimony.

The city Parks Department has committed $110 million for new parks in the area, but residents complain the replacement parkland - on smaller, scattered sites or built on top of parking garages - is not a genuine replacement for the 22 acres of greenspace the community is giving up.

To appease opponents, Carrión wants interim parks completed before work begins on the new stadium.

His proposed revision calls for a new ballfield and running track on Yankee Parking Lot 1 before Macombs Dam Park and Mullaly Park are dug up.

The planning commission's hearings will start at 10 a.m. tomorrow in Rector Hall, at 22 Reade St., but the stadium project will not come up until about 11:30 a.m.

Those wishing to testify should sign up at the speaker desk in the lobby before the hearing, said CPC spokeswoman Rachaele Raynoff.

She stressed that everyone who wants to will be given a chance to speak.

"There will be no 'selection' [of speakers]," Raynoff said. "We will be there as long as it takes."

Originally published on January 10, 2006

http://www.nydailynews.com/boroughs/story/382018p-324368c.html
Stadium foes cry foul ball

They threw us curveball, foes charge

BY BILL EGBERT
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

A public hearing on the new Yankee Stadium plan went into extra innings yesterday, as 85 speakers lined up to sound off and gave testimony until late in the evening.

Construction workers and local residents traded dueling chants of "Build it now!" and "Not on the park!" outside the City Planning Commission hearing on the plan to build a new Yankee Stadium complex on top of two city parks across the street from the historic ballpark.

Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion opened the hearing with a call for Gov. Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg to get more involved in what he called "a project of legacy proportions."

To reap the project's full potential, Carrion said, it should include the laundry list of pet projects from his own vision for the area. He called for a new high school for sports careers, a hotel, a convention center and a Metro-North station, among other things.

Later, speakers opposing the stadium plan lauded the borough president's ideas, but pointed out that none of them are actually included in the current Yankee Stadium proposal.

Joshua Laird, director of planning for the city Parks Department, the lead agency on the project, took to the podium to reassure locals that the city will replace all 400 mature trees lost to construction with thousands of young ones to ensure no loss of greenery. He also said the department supports Carrion's idea of interim parks for the community to use until replacement facilities are finished.

Yankees President Randy Levine touted the proposed $800million project as "the largest private investment in the history of sports and in the history of the Bronx."

But opponents such as Michael Levy Trotter of the community group Nos Quedamos, painted the plan as a "backroom, giveaway, sweetheart boondoggle" because the use of park land was arranged in Albany last year before the community was told.

"I'm a member of Community Board 4, and they never told us anything about it," said Pasquale Canale. "We found out about it in the newspaper."

Many, including Greg Bell of Bronx Voices for Equal Inclusion, said they felt sold out and abandoned by elected officials.

"The common denominator is that we recognize that our parks have been taken, and no one asked us," he told the commission. "A project is about to impact our community, and we were not informed. Individuals we have trusted to represent us have disrespected us."

Tony Costa, 44, who can hear game-day crowds cheering from his home five blocks way, couldn't believe the city plans to tear down the House that Ruth Built.

"Who would want to destroy such an icon of sports Americana?" he said. "How can we take a public good away from the poorest congressional district in America and then give it to the richest sports franchise in the country?"

Originally published on January 12, 2006

Beautiful stadium for the Yankees. Cannot wait to come to NYC and see a match.

BTW, a quick question to you Americans. Is that English ball kicking game where there are basically a goal or two in a whole afternoons play and no tackling allowed called soccer in your parts just like in Australia or is it called something else completely? The Brits get really grumpy if you call it 'soccer' for some reason. They keep on insisting that it is football and the ONLY football in the whole world.

Beautiful stadium for the Yankees. Cannot wait to come to NYC and see a match.

BTW, a quick question to you Americans. Is that English ball kicking game where there are basically a goal or two in a whole afternoons play and no tackling allowed called soccer in your parts just like in Australia or is it called something else completely? The Brits get really grumpy if you call it 'soccer' for some reason. They keep on insisting that it is football and the ONLY football in the whole world.

how sneaky Bob,going off to ask the Yanks a question that you know what the answer is going to be.

This is going to be the greatest stadium ever built in sports history. Although it will be a sad day the Yankees leave the original House that Ruth Built.

Beautiful stadium for the Yankees. Cannot wait to come to NYC and see a match.

:D

Everyone will want to come to the greatest sporting arena in the entire world. :)

Didn't they rebuild Yankee stadium back in the early 1970's once before? So it won't actually be the same stadium they built in the 1920's anyhow.

I suppose it will be on a different site to the original.

How long does it take to get up to the stadium using the underground from downtown?

This is going to be the greatest stadium ever built in sports history. Although it will be a sad day the Yankees leave the original House that Ruth Built.

Wembley's better. And the stadium has the charme of a 70s ballpark because it is one.

New York Yankees new stadium design looks a hundred years old, there is no orignality at all. I thought America had tons of these kinds of stadia. I do like old style new buildings made of stone or other traditional materials but with a stadium it has to be inspiring if it's going to look impressive.

Didn't they rebuild Yankee stadium back in the early 1970's once before? So it won't actually be the same stadium they built in the 1920's anyhow.

I suppose it will be on a different site to the original.

How long does it take to get up to the stadium using the underground from downtown?

It was renovated in the 1970's but not rebuilt.

New York Yankees new stadium design looks a hundred years old, there is no orignality at all. I thought America had tons of these kinds of stadia. I do like old style new buildings made of stone or other traditional materials but with a stadium it has to be inspiring if it's going to look impressive.

a.) Yes it looks a hundred years old. That's the purpose of creating that facade. They are mimicing the original Yankee Stadium facade. The bowl, however is as modern as it gets. Make no mistake. Being a baseball stadium in one of the world's wealthiest cities for one of the 5 most valuable franchises(this stadium will put them in a battle with the Dallas Cowboys and their new stadium for that title) it will likely be one of the nicest, most modern bowls the world has ever seen.

b.) To say there is no originality is false. Name the stadium with that facade? I can think of two that are kind of like that with the limestone and mortar, but they are not an Art Deco design like this. If anything it will stand alone in MLB and world of sports outside of a few smaller designs built in the Yankee Stadium era. Its certainly original amongst major sports stadiums in the world. If you're referring to the shape, then you could say there are very few original stadiums in the world.

c.) Awe-inspiring is pretty much opinion. For the baseball fan, to have that facade is like walking up to the Taj Mahal. Modern isn't everything and can certainly be a detriment to originality.

a.) Yes it looks a hundred years old. That's the purpose of creating that facade. They are mimicing the original Yankee Stadium facade. The bowl, however is as modern as it gets. Make no mistake. Being a baseball stadium in one of the world's wealthiest cities for one of the 5 most valuable franchises(this stadium will put them in a battle with the Dallas Cowboys and their new stadium for that title) it will likely be one of the nicest, most modern bowls the world has ever seen.

b.) To say there is no originality is false. Name the stadium with that facade? I can think of two that are kind of like that with the limestone and mortar, but they are not an Art Deco design like this. If anything it will stand alone in MLB and world of sports outside of a few smaller designs built in the Yankee Stadium era. Its certainly original amongst major sports stadiums in the world. If you're referring to the shape, then you could say there are very few original stadiums in the world.

c.) Awe-inspiring is pretty much opinion. For the baseball fan, to have that facade is like walking up to the Taj Mahal. Modern isn't everything and can certainly be a detriment to originality.

Okay, you've convinced me. I like it and look forward to seeing it completed. People in England were sad to see the old wembley demolished because of the famous twin towers. Even though it would have been nice if they had been saved the New modern wembley more than makes up for any loss. We've always got photos and videos of the old wembley for nostalgia.

Went and saw the "old" Wembley in 2000. It was pretty average. It is located out in a landscape of factories, pretty bleak. Nothing like Twickenham which is superb in comparison in a nice setting.

The reason why people hated the new stadium was b/c they either didn't want to be the ones paying for it, or they feel that the current stadium is still usable and could be rennovated.

^^^^^^^

What is actually wrong with the current stadium? It looks pretty decent to the casual onlooker.

Does it require more leg room, larger seats, better corporate facilities, disabled access etc...?

I hate those yanks so I don't care. GO O'S AND NATS!!!

^^^^^^^

What is actually wrong with the current stadium? It looks pretty decent to the casual onlooker.

Does it require more leg room, larger seats, better corporate facilities, disabled access etc...?

You mean that current stadium that had concrete panels collapsing not long ago?

But on the other hand, what's big now are revenue producting facilities. I imagine the current Yankee Stadium can't compete with newer parks in that regard. Just think how big of a margin there will be between their payroll and the rest of the league after this thing is built.

I hate those yanks so I don't care. GO O'S AND NATS!!!


i agree mate :bash:

Can anybody answer my question about the batter's eye? How can they put a glass facade right there?

Can anybody answer my question about the batter's eye? How can they put a glass facade right there? I guess it'd be darkened once they build it. I think that's how Cincinatti is...

Here's a genuine 100+ year old stadium facade (Ibrox) -

http://img455.imageshack.us/img455/4502/ig9h078fn.jpg

http://img164.echo.cx/img164/9076/aussen111mf.jpg

http://img31.echo.cx/img31/5045/ibrox36xh.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=210325&page=5&pp=20

This new Yankee stadium will be interesting.

^ I don't get what your trying to say

Rangers, 1st class stadium, 2nd class team playing in a 3rd class league.

Rangers, 1st class stadium, 2nd class team playing in a 3rd class league.

Wrong

2nd class stadium occupied by a 4th placed team supported by 6th rate fans.

^^^^^^

My apologies, I stand corrected.

:cheers:

Rangers - 51 league titles, 55 Cups and 1 European trophy.
Celtic - 39 league titles , 44 Cups and 1 European trophy ( I will admit a better European trophy compared to Rangers one).


I can't wait for this one, new territory for any Scottish club -

http://www.uefa.com/Competitions/UCL/FixturesResults/Round=2202/match=1102857/index.html

I doubt we will win, but imagine if we did - Quarter Finals of the Champions League!!!


I'm not saying anymore on this Rangers/celtic stuff. It's bad enough in Glasgow let alone on a stadium forum. Back to the Yankees -

Where is the stadium, is it far from Manhattan?

Rangers - 51 league titles, 55 Cups and 1 European trophy.
Celtic - 39 league titles , 44 Cups and 1 European trophy ( I will admit a better European trophy compared to Rangers one).


I can't wait for this one, new territory for any Scottish club -

http://www.uefa.com/Competitions/UCL/FixturesResults/Round=2202/match=1102857/index.html

I doubt we will win, but imagine if we did - Quarter Finals of the Champions League!!!


I'm not saying anymore on this Rangers/celtic stuff. It's bad enough in Glasgow let alone on a stadium forum. Back to the Yankees -

Where is the stadium, is it far from Manhattan?
I think the institution that is Rangers has been unsurpassed in 132 years in terms of dignity - Alex McLeish : May 05

The Players


Having dopehead pill-popper Willie Johnstone sent home in shame from the World Cup (Argentina ’78) for failing a drugs test. Drugs cheat Johnstone embarrassed the entire Scottish nation by testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing steroid. Thankfully his chums in the Rankers-friendly meeja were able to deflect criticism from their brother, by suggesting his cheating was, erm, ‘an error’ before hastily sweeping the entire episode under the carpet.

Sandy Jardine’s son being arrested and charged with the production and supply of drugs.

Graeme Souness's horrific two-footed tackle on a Steaua Bucharest player which nearly ended the player's career.

Junkie thug Willie Johnstone being sent off in 1980 for deliberately stamping on the throat of fallen Aberdeen player John McMaster. Even some huns were disgusted at Johnstone's cowardly violence.

Andy Goram turning on the Xmas lights in 1995 in one of the most vile, Catholic-hating, sectarian cesspits of the entire globe - the Loyalist Shankill Road.

The Beast being sent off in his very first game for Rankers, as they were gubbed 2 - 1 by Hibs. The Rankers goal predictably came from a penalty, in a game which saw nearly every single Rankers player booked except the goalkeeper. After the game, Edinburgh resembled a war zone as deranged thugs went on a wrecking spree, terrorising foreign tourists who were over for the Edinburgh Festival.

Andy Goram wearing a black armband during a Celtic –v- Rankers match at Celtic Park in 1998, to mourn the ‘loss’ of Loyalist terrorist, and convicted drug-dealing thug Billy Wright. Bigoted Goram claimed the overt display of solidarity for the hated thug, known as King Rat, was a ‘delayed’ expression of mourning for his elderly ‘Aunt Doris’ who had passed away nearly one year earlier.

Andy Goram posing for photographs alongside numerous UVF Loyalist terrorists and thugs in front of their hate-banners. Rankers players including Jorg Albertz, Artur Numan, and Ronald De Boer also later attended a social function in the Middle East where numerous Loyalist terrorists were in attendance. Curiously, but not together unsurprisingly, the photographs of Goram were only printed by the Scottish media after he had left Rankers for another club.

Andy Goram's persistant alcohol abuse, gambling problems, sinister Loyalist associations, bankruptacy proceedings, womanising and marital break-ups – all done in the full glare of the media. Some folk really are short on dignity.

Andy Goram being arrested at gunpoint after becoming embroiled with drunken thugs on a flight from Italy, which was forced to make an emergency landing at Manchester Airport. This was just one week prior to him joining his new club…………Manchester United.

Paul Gascoigne’s disgusting and brutal domestic violence that left his wife bruised, battered, and physically injured. Staff at a Scottish 5* hotel were so horrified they immediately called the police, whereupon Sheryl Gascoigne was taken to hospital to have her injuries – including a fractured wrist and two black eyes - treated.

Paul Gascoigne's continuous drug and alcohol abuse culminating in him being sent home in shame from France 98 after he had hurled abuse at England manager Glenn Hoddle before storming out of the team camp at La Manga in Spain, leaving his luggage behind.

Paul Gascoigne defecating in the Away dressing-room jaccuzzi after a Celtic -v- Rankers game at Celtic Park.

Paul Gascoigne mimicking a Loyalist flute player in 1998 at Celtic Park, as bigoted Rankers fans sung an anti-Catholic hate anthem in time. Not just a bigot, but a dangerous one to boot. The clown-prince’s darker side was becoming harder to keep hidden.

Tore Andre Flo and Ronald de Boer posing for photographs with convicted sectarian murderer Michael Stone. Their claims of ignorance looked a little hollow in light of the fact that the murderous Stone was the much publicised ‘Star Guest’ that night.

Club Captain Lorenzo Amoruso racially abusing Nigerian striker Victor Ipkeba on the field of play, as they suffered yet another European humping – this time a 3 - 1 away exit to Borussia Dortmund. Amoruso first denied that any such incident had ever taken place, before being forced into a humiliating climbdown, after learning the incident was recorded by a TV camera. Falsely claiming that he 'had only swore in Italian' TV pictures clearly showed him mouthing racist obscenities in English. A thug, a coward, a rascist, and a liar.

Club Captain Terry Butcher being caught on camera, kicking the Away dressing-room door off it's hinges after a 2-0 defeat at Celtic Park. Calm down Terry, it’s only a game.

Elephant Man, and unanimous winner of The Ugliest Man In Football Award – EVER !! Davie Dodds being flung out of the family home in Bearsden, and divorced by his wife, after he was caught cheating behind his wife’s back with a groupie called Jackie Webster. Quite what Miss Webster’s guide dog thought of the situation, is as yet unclear !!

Ally Maxwell singing ‘The Sash’ and rousing the gutter-scum during a substitute's warm-up against CSKA in the early 90's. Maxwell who was on the touchline, could clearly be seen singing the hate anthem, and encouraging his fellow simpleton reprobates to do likewise. This sort of disgraceful encouragement of sectarian degenerate behaviour would later be repeated by numerous bitter Rankers morons like Roberts, Durrant, Gascoigne, Ferguson, Malcolm, Vignal, Prso ……….

Club Captain Barry Ferguson getting embroiled in a drunken brawl at a local hotel with rival supporters, after his team had lost to Celtic. Instead of attempting to maintain a low profile - for professional as well as personal reasons - Ferguson went home, got changed, and went back out drinking at the same hotel where the previous incident had occurred. Predictably, further trouble ensued, and Ferguson was involved in a drunken brawl, and physical assault at a nearby fast-food takeaway.

Club Captain Barry Ferguson throwing an ice-pack at Celtic manager Martin O'Neill during a defeat at Ibrox. Calm down Barry, it’s only a game.

Fernando Ricksen having to be physically restrained by Strathclyde Police officers after they arrested him at his Newton Mearns home for drunk driving. Ricksen first claimed he could not speak English, and then that he had been at home all evening. The felled lamp-post, and damaged Telecom box - as well as the testament of a number of neighbours - suggested otherwise. Ricksen was later convicted of drunk driving and banned from driving for one year.

Fernando Ricksen viciously kicking Aberdeen player Darren Young on the field of play. Ricksen denied there was any malicious intent, until he was caught blatantly lying after having posted on his own website, that his primary intention was 'to teach him (Young) a lesson by straightening him out.' Ricksen was subsequently banned for three games for his act of thuggery.

Fernando Ricksen brutally albowing Hibernian youngster Derek Riordan in the face during a CIS Cup semi-final. Rankers showed their disgust at this kind of onfield violence, and vowed to stamp out such thuggery. They demonstrated their intent by fining Ricksen a whopping......er.....£10k – or half of one week’s wage.

Fernando Ricksen pushing club Chairman John McLelland into a hotel swimming pool, ruining his designer suit, mobile phone, digital camera, and £12k Cartier watch.

Fernando Ricksen being warned by police to curtail his nocturnal revellery after being reported by neighbours on his quiet residential estate for setting off extra-loud firework displays at 4:00am. Ricksen further showed his contempt for the law by replacing his nocturnal pyrotechnics with rowdy 5:00am trampolining sessions with a gaudy Page-3 model he picked up whilst his wife had left the marital home on the grounds of his infantile behaviour. He thanked his neighbours for their concern by slagging them off in a Rankers-friendly down-market tabloid, and accusing them of the heinous crimes of 'being in bed by 11:00pm' and being ‘too quiet.'

Graham Roberts orchestrating bigoted Rankers fans in a rendition of a sectarian anthem at Ibrox. The game resulted in a brawl that included two Rankers players being charged and convicted of Affray, and Incitement To Cause A Breach Of The Peace. The convicted thug would later go on to establish himself as a firm favourite with the club’s gutter-scum element by repeatedly behaving in an exceptionally thuggish, provocative, antagonistic, and aggressive manner whenever he and his fellow ‘hammer-throwers’ (© Jan Bartram) came up against Celtic.

Nuno Capucho being ejected from a Glasgow nightclub after exposing himself to a female guest, and then accosting her by attempting to have her participate in his drunken sexual act. The fact that he is a married man seems to have been lost on him. Onfield, Capucho proved to be one of the worst players ever to pull on the tarnished blue jersey.

Kevin 'Billy' Muscat blatantly diving and feigning injury during a match at Firhill in order to have a Partick Thistle player (Gerry Britton) shown a red card. Self-proclaimed hardman Muscat, was nick-named Billy by his team-mates because the name Kevin sounded 'too Catholic' - a kind-hearted gesture they had previously bestowed upon Kevin Drinkell, and Kevin ‘Ted’ McMinn. In later years, Muscat was made Team Captain of Wimbledon FC by Dennis Wise. ‘Nuff said.

Duncan Ferguson being convicted and imprisoned for his brutal and unprovoked head-butt attack on Raith Rovers player John McStay at Ibrox in 1994. Ferguson was sentenced to three months in Barlinnie, and banned for twelve games by the SFA. In total, Ferguson has been convicted of assault, no less than four times. That is aside his other convictions of course, which include drunk driving. His convictions mean't he was unable to travel to America with new club Everton, due to being a convicted felon and repeat offender.

Graeme Souness being involved in numerous onfield incidents, in which he was frequently red-carded. His brutal style of play earned him the nickname of 'The Beast', and many players (George McLuskey, Billy Stark, Frank McGarvey) were the subject of his particularly nasty and brutal blend of football tackle. His brutality wasn't reserved purely for the football field however, and he once had to be physically restrained after lunging towards, and threatening a 60 year old tea-lady, during a heated confrontation at McDiarmid Park, just before a game –v- St Johnstone.

Graeme Souness - not being able to buy European success – deciding to try building a team of brutes who then sought to kick their way to victory. His signings (and legacy) included some of the most over-physical players in the entire game at that time (Terry Hurlock, Basile Boli, Derek Ferguson, Graeme Roberts...... narrowly failing to capture Stuart ‘Psycho’ Pearce) Thankfully for football's sake he failed miserably, and even ex-players slated his brutal tactics, with Jan Bartram once commenting that Souness “wasn’t trying to build a footballing side, but a team of hammer-throwers” and had told his players to “deliberately kick opponents.” In a scathing attack, Bartram also denounced Souness as “a beast” and “a hooligan.” No-one likes them, they don’t care.

Ian Durrant and Ted McMinn assaulting a man in Dumfries during an argument in the early hours of the morning. It was probably coincidence that the man happened to be wearing a crucifix.

John Brown singing '..up to our knees in Fenian blood..." as he joined in with the sectarian hate-mongers after a game against Club Brugge in 1993.

The provocative and undignified 'mock huddle' by Rankers players on winning the League title. Far from being content and celebrating their win, they obviously felt the requirement to antagonise their opponents by stooping to new depths and confrontational gestures. The condemnation by football authorities was deafening in it's silence.

Club-Captain and serial grogger Lorenzo Amoruso being found guilty of spitting on Ayr United striker James Grady and hammered with a four-match ban. The greasy-grogger seems to have a problem keeping his big ugly gob shut, after being caught live on TV committing one of the cowardliest, most dispicable acts one can, atop a football field. Amoruso was slammed with a mandatory two-match ban, but because his disciplinary record was so dire, the additional 12 disciplinary points incurred a further two-match ban. Rankers only comment on the subject was by Gingerbaws bemoaning the ‘loss’ of this thuggish, cowardly, excuse for a human being.

Lionel Charbonnier attending Hamilton Races with, getting 'inside' betting tips from, and posing for photographs with convicted gangster Paul Ferris.

Alex Rae’s disgusting and brutal assault on CSKA Moscow player Sergei Dadu in a UCL qualifier in August ’04. In a dangerous and unpardonable assault - when Dadu was lying vulnerable and defenceless, face-down on the ground - Rae twice aimed kicks to the player’s head – leaving him with concussion, in a act graphically captured by TV cameras. Rae’s later denial and sickening justification for his act of thuggery just added insult to injury, insulted the intelligence of anyone who witnessed the brutality, and merely confirmed his lack of restraint and remorse. Claiming that "their player put his head down. If anything, it was a dangerous act on his part. That's the end of the matter as far as I am concerned" – Rae failed to mention that it was him who had fouled the player to the ground in the first place. Despite receiving the backing of his under-fire manager, in a sickening act of tacit approval, Rae was charged with Gross Sporting Misconduct by UEFA and hammered with a 5-Match European ban. In a further act of remorselessness, desperation, and outright refusal to accept responsibility for such a thuggish assault, McLeish and Rae appealed the ban. They needn’t have bothered. Luckily for Rae the assault never happened outwith a football stadium, or he would have rightly been facing a lengthy prison term. Rae later boasted in an Xmas interview on Radio Snyde that “if I’d meant to kick Dadu at close range, he would never have gotten up again”. Obviously talking from experience.

Bob Malcolm autographing a fan’s match programme with the initials FTP below his signature. This is the self same Bob Malcolm who told disgusted travelling fans to ‘go fuck themselves’ after they had the temerity to complain about Rankers pathetic 1-0 humbling by Portuguese minnows Maritimo – a privilege for which those fans had forked out some £500.00 each for. Malcolm seems oblivious to the fact that it is those people who pay his grossly over-inflated wages, and those self-same people that are constantly being asked to be ‘the 12th man’ in vital games. On arrival back at Glasgow Airport, Strathclyde Police were waiting for Malcolm with a warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear in court for trial over a motoring offence. He later appeared handcuffed in court, where he was convicted and fined for his criminal conduct.

Shota Arveladze being shown on live TV racially abusing Bobo Balde on the field of play.

Stephen Hughes being stopped for speeding outside a local school, only for police to find out he didn’t have any insurance either. He was later convicted, fined £450.00, and had his license endorsed. Hughes’s previous plaudits include being punched in the face whilst involved in a mass brawl inside a Lanarkshire nightclub, and having a stand up fight with a woman who had to take off her stiletto shoe to defend herself. Six weeks later his cousin died on the same spot after leading a local gangfight between two sets of tooled-up rampaging hooligans.

Bob ‘FTP’ Malcolm being escorted from the Ibrox dug-out by 2 police officers during a CIS Cup tie for making an obscene gesture towards the Celtic officials in the Away dug-out. Malcolm escaped further censure but was given a stern warning by the Match Commander who pointed out that any repeat of his offensive and inflammatory conduct would result in immediate police action.

Celtic reject Nacho Novo deliberately stamping on Stephen Pearson's neck, as the young Celtic player lay on the ground. Think he might still be a wee bit bitter at being told he wasn’t good enough to get a starting place in the Celtic team.

Fernando Ricksen’s airey-fairey, pie-in-the-sky notions that he is regarded as some kind of folk hero back at his former club AZ Alkmaar. Ricksen was brought back to earth with a bump after some scathing revelations from his former team-mates. Current players at the Dutch ‘giants’ (capacity 10,000 !!!) were’nt slow to reveal what they thought of the man whom the scum-buckets idolize. Indicating the sort of sentiment with which Ricksen is held in the AZ dressing room, midfielder Barry van Galen described Ricksen as ‘a raving lunatic’ and ‘crazy’, whilst Striker Jose Fortes Rodriguez revealed that after spotting Ricksen and his vulgar-looking wife in Amsterdam recently, he actually crossed the street to avoid having to talk to them. Rodriguez went on to further slur Ricksen as ‘the least respected player in Holland’ after describing how he had deliberately and viciously stamped on the neck of AZ team-mate Barry Opdam during a training match. This was corroberated by pictures shown on Dutch TV. On returning to Alkmaar for a European tie in Nov ’04 – in which the huns predictably got gubbed – Ricksen was jeered repeatedly, and got so much stick from the home fans, he must have wondered if Neil Lennon had strayed onto the park. No-one likes them, they don’t care !!

Former hero Scott Nisbet being charged with two counts of common assault after beating up his girlfriend Jaqueline Rae at their home in Bonnyrigg, after worried neighbours phoned the police. Cowardly Nisbet slapped Rae repeatedly, punched her on the neck, and flung her against a wall, causing her to be physically sick. The shamed coward only escaped a jail sentence when Rae miraculously decided she no longer wanted to proceed with the charges. This remarkable u-turn of course, had nothing to do with the engagement ring that Nisbet cynically introduced to the proceedings. Nisbets first wife divorced him amidst bitter allegations of violence, assault, spousal abuse, and property damage. He joins a shameful list of notorious, cowardly, wife-beating, Rankers players including Gascoigne, Goram and Ricksen.

Craig Moore being questioned by police after racially abusing a Glasgow taxi-driver outside Queen St Station on Hogmanay. Moore attempted to barge ahead in the queue, and launched a tirade of rascist abuse at the driver who refused to carry him, when others had quite obviously been waiting longer. Moore’s arrogance got the better of him, and he called the driver ‘a greedy p*ki bastard’. A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said : "We can confirm that a 35year-old taxi driver has made a complaint against a man who allegedly racially abused him. It is alleged that the incident took place around 3.30am on Saturday, 1 January, in Royal Exchange Court, near to Queen Street Station in Glasgow. Police inquiries are ongoing."

Sleazy creep Nacho Novo having an illicit affair with the girlfriend of a team-mate who had taken him into his home when he first arrived in Scotland. Novo was unfamiliar with the country, and struggled to speak the language, until Raith Rovers midfielder Ross Mathieson invited him to stay at his home until he became a bit more familiar with life at the Kirkcaldy club. Slimy Novo thanked him for his hospitality, by having an illicit affair with Mathieson's girlfriend of six years, Donna Clark, in his own home. The tawdry affair cost Mathieson his relationship. With friends like Novo, who needs enemies, eh ?!

Gregory Vignal assaulting a ballboy at Celtic Park, by pushing him out of the way as the boy was retrieving the ball. The lad was left shaken and visibly upset, after being bundled out of the way by the French defender, who now adds bullying children to his list of pastimes which already include diving, and antagonising rival fans. Another wannabe jaffa, who plays to the gallery, knowing that the Death Star is one of the few places on the planet where talentless thugs like him are lionised.

David Robertson walking out on his wife and two kids, to set up a plush love-nest with one of his wife’s best friends. Just to make sure he shat on her good and proper, he chose the day of her birthday to do it.

Club Captain Fernando Ricksen causing a near riot at Celtic Park, by antagonising opposition fans with inflammatory gestures as he prepared to take a corner kick. Simply taking the corner kick would have been too easy for the man with the wild staring eyes, so to stir things up a bit, he decided a few inflammatory gestures were the order of the day. In the ensuing rage, Ricksen claimed he was struck by a small object thrown from the crowd. Whilst any form of missile-throwing cannot be condoned, has it ever entered this whacko's thick head, that if he continues to behave in a hostile, provocative, and inflammatory manner, it should come as no surprise that people respond angrily ?!

Stephen Hughes being arrested for breach of the peace, police assault, resisting arrest, and urinating in a public place, after a drunken night out in his home town of Motherwell. Hughes repeatedly shouted and swore at two officers as they questioned him for urinating in a shop doorway, after a win against Celtic in November ’04. When warned about his behaviour, Hughes became abusive and was subsequently arrested. As the officers escorted him to a police car, he lashed out at them, kicking, and punched one of them in the neck. The incident was considered serious enough for a Sheriff to demand that Hughes appear before him for sentencing. Hughes was later warned about the seriousness of his conduct and fined £200.00. Even in victory these scumbags lack dignity.

Being slated by Captain Shellsuit, on his return after a failed sojourn at Premiership strugglers Blackburn, as ‘a disgrace’ and ‘not fit to wear the Rankers jersey’ after yet another woeful league performance. You know you’ve hit rock-bottom when a failure starts criticising you !!

Diving cheat Sotirios Kyrgiakos being slated by SFA Executive Referee Brian McGinlay after his theatrical leap at Tynecastle, which resulted in the huns being awarded a 93rd minute penalty. The award enabled them to cheat their way to a win, at a time when they were under intense pressure from Hearts – and were hanging on to their SPL hopes by their fingernails.

Gordon Durie being charged with assaulting a British Transport police officer (Keith Lang) at Waverley Station in Edinburgh, by punching him, and grabbing him by the throat. Durie was also charged with committing a breach of the peace, by struggling with police officers, shouting, swearing, behaving in a disorderly manner, brawling with someone unidentified and making violent threats. Durie's accomplice hooligan, Paul Mooney, was charged with the same breach of the peace, punching and kicking transport police officer Graham Miller, and headbutting transport police officer Steven Pitblado in the face.

Club Vice-Catptain Alex Rae cheating on his wife, fathering a love-child, and then denying all knowledge of the affair, or that the child was his. After being reported to the CSA, Rae was forced to take a DNA test, and was subsequently confirmed as the father of the child he ignores and rejects. Rae was later forced to pay £10,000 per annum towards the girl's upkeep and schooling - and still rejects the child as his own.

Dado Prso being filmed on the official Rankers team bus singing ‘Hello Hello’ as the sectarian hate anthem blared in the background. This is despite a large percentage of those on board being Catholic. Bizarre people.

Sandy Clark trying to con parents into buying school sports uniforms from a company he owns, by getting his sister-in-law (a head-mistress) to slag off Asda, and suggest that parents buy from Clark's company (the imaginatively titled SC Sports Clothing) instead. What she failed to mention was that she was on Clark's payroll, and was receiving back-handers for touting his company as the 'official' uniform supplier. Huns and sleaze, eh – they make Tory politicians look like Boy Scouts.

Spanish misfit Mikel Arteta being pursued by Sheriff Officers and having litigation proceedings instigated against him after he failed to pay a £592 electricity bill from Scottish Power. Despite earning £35k per week, and despite numerous letters and attempts at contact, the sheepish midfielder remained evasive, and failed to offer payment for the outstanding debt.
Gingerbaws slating superstar dud Peter Lovetodive for refusing to GTF despite being told he has no future at The Death Star, but is still eating up a wage that the cash-strapped huns can ill afford. Describing Lovelypants as in need of “a fresh challenge” and “needing to restore his tarnished reputation” Gingerbaws tried to be diplomatic, whilst trying to tell the over-rated duffer that he was nothing but an over-paid liability, who simply can’t, or won’t take a hint. Interest in Lovelypants from other clubs has been deafening by it’s silence, yet this is the same Lovetodive that the Daily Retard told us was being tracked by Barcelona and Inter Milan. Slating the embarrasing dud, Gingerbaws went on to state “Peter Lovenkrands lost his form last season. He knows that we think it's right that he goes for a fresh challenge somewhere else. He has a lot to prove to get to the level of wages he is at next season. If he has another season like the last one then his reputation will plummet."

Former player Stuart Beattie being suspended from his current job after serious allegations that he brutalised and battered youngsters in his care, whilst employed at Kerelaw secure unit for problem children. Beattie – who played in the 80’s alongside the likes of McCoist, Ferguson, and Durrant – is accused of using outlawed restraining holds and participating in a regime of brutality wherein children were battered into compliance by those supposed to be helping them.

Andy Goram being convicted - again - of drink-driving and being banned for 3 years, and fined £1250. The Loyalist-terrorist-sympathising, wife-beating, Ibrox icon was stopped near his home in Langbank, and found to be more than two times over the limit. After discovering to his cost that not every constable in the Traffic Police is a member of The Brotherhood, Goram was arrested and charged. The Flying Pig was first convicted of drink-driving in 1995, when he was banned for 18 months. Some people simply never learn.

Former defender and dressing room wallet-thief Hugh Burns being barred from Dalmilling Golf Club after he hurled sectarian abuse at two elderly club members. Burns turned up late for a tournament, and when told that he could not play, went into a sectarian rant, and hurled bigoted abuse at the elderly tournament officials.

Dado Prso being charged with dangerous driving, after he cut up another motorist and jumped a red light on Crow Rd, near his home in the hun enclave of Bearsden. PoorShow, who pled guilty by letter, was ordered to appear for sentencing on October 12th, when he was fined £250 for his dignified behaviour behind the wheel.

A desperado Captain Shellsuit being booked for diving in the box as the huns slipped 11 points behind Hearts in a 1-0 gubbing at Swinecastle.
Clown prince Paul Gascoigne’s PR firm going bust and leaving a trail of unpaid debts. The fat boozebag wife-beating bigot isn’t quite as popular as he once was with the Brit arse-lickers and loyalist hun hoardes who laughed at him in his hey-day. Now that demand for the junkie washout has dried up, and sales of his dreary autobiography have slowed to a crawl, his imaginatively titled company Paul Gascoigne Promotions has been forced into liquidation with debts on the wrong side of a staggering £100,000.

Gordon Smith and Mark Hateley refusing to accept any form of responsibility for their bankrupt company which left Scottish tax-payers with a £15,000 bill to foot. At the hint of a penny to be made, Smith and Hateley were quick to accept directorships of the disasterous 'Legends' footballing series company, but weren't quite so visible when the company crashed leaving others to foot the massive Strathclyde Police bill. Dignity all the way brothers.

Desperado cheat, Dado Prso being booked for diving – yet again – after taking a blatant swan-dive against ‘pub team’ Artmedia Bratislava.
Peter Lovetodive being awarded 0/10 for his match performance against ICT by the Sunday Times Sport Section.

Fernando The Commando being threatened with legal action by his property agent for continuously and selfishly using his neighbour’s private parking space – as well as his own. Neighbour from hell Ricksen has ignored repeated requests not to park his car in his neighbour’s space at Lancefield Quay, and now faces the prospect of legal action.

Peter Lovelypants and Derek ‘Pieman’ Johnstone conducting a public slanging match after The Fat One dared to criticise Lovetodive for being a hopeless duffer, impersonating a footballer. Lovenkrands hit back by accusing The Fat One of biting the hand that feeds him, and for not having a clue as to what he was talking about. If you ask me, they’re both right ! Two Rankers legends washing the club’s dirty laundry in public – doesn’t get any more dignified than that.

The Fans


Attacking the Moscow Dynamo players (before the full scale riot) during the 1972 ECWC Final in Barcelona. As Moscow Dynamo coach Konstantin Beskov stated, "We had the advantage and momentum at the end of the game - they were trailing 3-2 - when the Rankers fans broke onto the pitch and attacked our players."

Being called ‘savages’ by UEFA President Gustav Wiedekehr after rioting huns shamed themselves in Barcelona in 1972. In a scathing attack, Mr Wiedekehr angrily stated “ The Rangers fans behaved like savages. We must find ways to keep such people from football stadiums.”

Rioting inside and outside Old Trafford during a ‘friendly’ in 1974, causing the stadium to witness some of the bloodiest violence in it’s history, as bigoted huns attacked and bottled United fans, simply because some of them were Irish.

Trying to start sectarian riots in Dublin before and during a game against Bohemians in 1984, which the huns lost 3-2. Rankers fans attacked police and Bohemians fans outside and inside the ground, until they were beaten back, and forced to spend the rest of the game cowering in fear, as they got a taste of their own medicine. Half of the huns never even made it in the first place, after being thrown off the Liverpool / Dunloghaire ferry for rioting. The ferry was turned back, halfway across the Irish Sea after drunken huns started running amok and fighting with other passengers. The Rankers fans thought it would be a good idea to link up with those other paragons of tolerance Linfield, who were playing Shamrock Rovers the following evening, and wreak havoc in the south of Ireland. Unfortunately for them, they didn't bank on the spirit of the Irish people who turned their little wrecking jolly, into a day of fear the huns would never forget. Even to this day, Rankers fans experience a cold shiver when asked about their memories of the trip. Most have conveniently chosen to forget.

Convicted Loyalist terrorist, and UDA Godfather John Gregg being ambushed and shot dead by fellow Rankers fans in 2003 after returning to Belfast from a match at Ibrox. Gregg, who was sentenced to 18 years after a failed assassination attempt on the life of MP Gerry Adams, was slain by a number of gun-totting masked men wearing Rankers shirts, who then fled the scene in a stolen taxi.

Brutally assaulting sports photographer Eric Craig as they invaded the Hampden pitch after the 1980 Scottish Cup Final. Craig was left deaf in one ear, and with a gruesome dent in his head after he was beaten and struck with a Pomagne bottle 'hurled at him by a Rangers fan.' He also had to undergo an emergency six-hour operation at the Southern General Neurosurgical Unit, and still suffers from headaches and dizziness. He also gave up attending football matches after the huns attack which left him traumatised. As Mr Craig later commented "You can still feel the hatred from these people, even after 25 years. I don't know if they'll ever be able to be cured."

UVF Loyalist Godfather William Taube being murdered at Ibrox Stadium in a revenge attack, on a Sunday night in April, 1999, during a Loyalist [Blue Mist] function. The function was held to celebrate the release of, and was attended by, several Loyalist prisoners from the Maze Prison. Security was provided by Taube's UVF friends, including a leading member of the UVF in Glasgow. Despite this, Taube was attacked and head-butted down a flight of stairs before having his head smashed on the marble flooring of The Edmiston Suite. He later died at Glasgow's Southern General Hospital. In a sworn statement to the Crown Office, a witness claimed he had been threatened with knee-capping if he failed to tell police the attack he saw was 'a drunken accident'. Following the incident, the witness received death threats and now lives in hiding, terrified of retribution. Taube's assailant was chased and beaten up in the car park before managing to flee. He has never been caught.

Members of the BNP arrested for Loyalist agitation and recruitment activity outside Ibrox stadium. The BNP feel they have a natural empathy with the politics of Rankers fans with whom they share certain racist, bigoted, homophobic and xenophobic ideals.

Barcelona 1972 : The only fans in European history not to witness their club receiving the trophy in a post-match presentation. Rankers fans were too busy rioting on the field of play at the time, so the ceremony had to take place.............in a dressing room. Following the match Rangers fans rioted in the streets outside the ground, clashing with Spanish police and causing extensive damage in the city. Rankers fans also vandalised the exterior of the city's Catholic cathedral, which was daubed with sectarian graffitti. Similar anti-Catholic sentiments were expressed on buildings, in later years on visits to the Italian cities of Parma and Turin. The scenes of mayhem and violence caused by rioting huns in the Nou Camp remain some of the most disgraceful ever witnessed at a football match.

Repeated hate-posts on FF containing sickening homophobia, with thread titles like ‘Homophobic And Proud’ and ‘101 Uses For A Dead Gay’. This is in addition to numerous repeated sick posts about injured, dead, or disabled people including Stephen Hawking, Christopher Reeve, Emlyn Hughes, Brian Clough, Jordan’s (the topless model) blind toddler son and many others. The list – in no way exhaustive - extends to Mother Teresa, Harold Shipman’s victims, footballers who have died in tragic circumstances, P & O Ferry drowning victims, the Tsunami victims, and those who died on Piper Alpha. Is no-one immune from these brainless morons ?

The only club in football history to be unable to defend their trophy due to the behaviour of their fans. After the rioting that occurred in Barcelona, Rankers received a UEFA one-year ban from European competition.

Being outed as sectarian bigots by one of their own - fellow Rankers fan, and American tourist, James Armstrong, in 1998. During his tour, Armstrong spent a day socialising with Mark Dingwall and some of the other Loyalist FF keyboard bretheren (SMac, SM, & SJ). He attended the day's match v Kilmarnock at Ibrox (Walter Smith's last home game in charge, which Rankers lost 0-1) after Dingwall had got him a ticket for the Club Deck. After an evening's revelry in the Auctioneer's pub, followed by a trip to the curry house, Armstrong caught the last train back to Edinburgh, where he was staying. Onboard the train, he describes the sectarian singing of his fellow passengers, and how he was disturbed by the bigotry they espoused. "There were about ten other Bears singing drunkenly the entire trip back. 'Hello! Hello! We are King Billy's Boys! We're up to our knees in Fenian blood, Surrender or you'll die!' There were other sectarian songs. The bigotry was disturbing."

Throwing a golf-ball with nails projecting out of it at Peter Grant during the notoriously hooligan-hun mid 1980’s. According to Grant himself, the deadly missile only missed his head ‘by a couple of inches.’

Saying that El Hajj Diouf 'deserved a knighthood' after the disgusting and vile episode when he spat on football supporters. This serial low-life has been warned, fined, and banned numerous times, and is a disgrace to both the footballing fraternity in particular, and the human race in general - unless of course you're a Rankers fan, in which case he's a candidate for investiture. Funny, the sort of people these huns look up to ?!

The outrage by huge sections of the club's support after Rankers ended their sectarian signing policy - eventually - and signed a Catholic after almost a century. The arrival of the said Catholic was met with protests, derision, boycotts, and the surrender and burning of numerous Season Books. Fans' leaders appeared in television documentaries in later years, proudly displaying their full and unused Season Books, as a result of their continued non-attendance protest at the presence of a Catholic player at the club.

Rioting before, during, and after the notorious Villa Riot game in 1976 where 8000 drunken huns went on an orgy of robbery, violence, and hooliganism which brought Birmingham to a standstill. People's doors were kicked in, pubs wrecked, shops looted, and Villa fans bottled and stabbed as rampaging huns brought an orgy of drunken violence and terror to Birmingham. Hooligan huns without tickets broke down the gates of the Holte End, and rampaged onto the terracing attacking the Villa fans with bricks and bottles. The violence was so serious that it was reported live on World Of Sport just after kick-off, with Dickie Davies warning Villa fans not to go into their home end for the threat of being attacked. The game was marred by dozens of rampaging fights as drunken huns attacked the home fans, and was eventually abandoned at half-time in the interests of crowd safety - with the huns typically on the losing end of the 2-0 scoreline.

Using child abuse as a cheap weapon in a tawdry point-scoring exercise, whilst seeking to slander the memory of Jock Stein. A sickening t-shirt stunt was planned which sought to denigrate Scotland's most successful manager, at the expense of innocent children who were the victims of a heinous crime. Thankfully, those in charge of the club recognised that particular cancer in time to exterminate it's malignant influence, by threatening life bans for any degenerate perverted enough to carry out their twisted plan. The stunt was no empathy for those who suffered abuse - it was a way of using their suffering to fabricate lies about someone who isn't here to defend himself. Psychologists call it the 'Theory Of Cognitive Dissonance' whereupon one seeks to denigrate another in order to make themselves feel better, and tries to justify their actions by a twisted rationalisation that their victim 'deserved it.' It was the same tactic that the Nazis used on Jewish holocaust victims, and is the same reasoning that wife-beaters use to justify their cowardly violence, in their own minds. The intentions of the deranged low-lifes at Ibrox was to try and tarnish the status of a footballing giant, whilst wading in a cesspit filled with the remnants of human suffering and broken lives. What could be any lower than sullying the reputation of a dead man with lies and fabrication, at the expense of children who were the victims of a heinous crime. This truly is the lowest of the low - and another benchmark for these vile reprobates.

The sectarian murder and homicidal violence perpetrated on Celtic fans, by Rankers-supporting bigoted maniacs. Once investigated and convicted, the perpetrators have often been found to have grown up in an anti-Catholic environment that encouraged sectarianism and division along football and religious lines. One of these thugs, Jason Campbell (who murdered Mark Scott in 1996) is the son of a convicted Loyalist UVF terrorist. He is also a diehard Rankers fan, and was defended during his trial by the Rankers FC Vice-Chairman Donald Findlay QC - himself later forced to resign after a shameful sectarian hate incident. In 1998 Findlay also defended another Rankers-supporting, Loyalist thug, Thomas Longstaff (who cut the throat of Sean O’Connor) is an almost copy-cat attack to Campbell’s. Police later admitted, that in the two-year period between these attacks, 38 similar assaults had taken place in the area, all directed at Catholics or those wearing Celtic colours. The learned Mr Findlay was happilly singing his hate anthems on the same day in May 1999 that 16 year old Thomas McFadden was being stabbed to death by two Rankers fans in Govanhill after they watched the huns play at Hampden. His ‘crime’ was to be wearing a Celtic top. Also in 1999, Carl McGroarty, was shot in the chest by a bolt fired from a crossbow as he left a pub wearing his Celtic top. On the same day, another young Celtic fan, Liam Sweeney was stabbed repeatedly after leaving a Chinese takeaway. His green jersey and the calling of his name to collect his food order was enough to identify him as a Catholic from an Irish background. Later the same evening in Ayrshire, three young Celtic fans - one female - were viciously attacked by a large mob of Rangers fans. All three were hospitalised, one of the men had receiving horrific head injuries, and the other a broken jaw. In 2003, Celtic fan Thomas Loughrey was stabbed to death by James McCormick in an unprovoked attack in Pollokshaws. Thomas had made the fatal error of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, as McCormick – high on drink and drugs, took offence to his Celtic top. In October 2004, Ian Gray was stabbed to death by convicted thug Brian Cooper after he had spent the day getting acutely more drunk after watching an Orange Walk, and then attending a match at Ibrox stadium. Cooper, who received ten years for his act of bigoted murder, admitted sectarianly abusing Mr Gray, before striking him with a wine bottle and repeatedly stabbing him in the back. How many more innocent Celtic fans are to be butchered before something is done to curtail these sectarian animals – and the hatemongers who defend them ?

Having 15 hooligan fans jailed in September 1999 by a Dutch court after they were convicted of mobbing and rioting before, during, and after a European tie with PSV Eindhoven. The hun thugs - all from Scotland - were convicted by the court in Den Bosch, and sentenced to periods of imprisonment ranging from 4 weeks to 24 weeks. Afterwards, they were immediately deported upon release. No one likes them – they don’t care !

Being so sectarian that they've had a play dedicated to them because of their bigoted and anarchic perceptions of society. In James Barclay's 'The Bigot', Loyalist, Royalist, Rankers fan Andra Thompson is the sash-wearing embodiment of a typical west of Scotland hun, who worships Rankers, Ulster, Ian Paisley, The Orange Order, The Freemasons, and The Royal Family. At the same time, he hates Catholics, Celtic, Irish people, and anything green in general. The play is an accurate depiction of a hackneyed and twisted old sectarian dinosaur from days gone by, still applying those same tired old bigoted concepts to every second of his waking life. It is a scathing social comment and a damning indictment on a huge percentage of the Rankers support, and how they continue to conduct themselves. Despite the advancement of society, they continue to live their lives in a bigoted and intolerant manner as if they were still living in 'the grand old days of yore'. In Scotland the clocks go forward an hour every year - unless you're a Rankers fan – in which case they go back three hundred years !

The repeated sight and sound of numerous thousands of Rankers fans racially abusing the players of opposition teams, simply because they are black. This behaviour is widespread, blatantly obvious, and as yet unpunished by those who administer the ticketing of Rankers fans. This inaction is viewed by many as tacit complicity.

Starting a FF thread on the 25th anniversary of John Lennon's assassination to praise psychotic murderer Mark Chapman for 'cooly pumping 5 bullets into him'. Added posts went on to denigrate the victim's memory, whilst praising and showing appreciation for the cold-blooded killer who murderered him. Not to be outdone, further posts went on to heap praise, and urge others not to forget, 'the sterling work done by' other deranged assassins including 'Lee Harvey Oswald and Sirhan Sirhan', who assassinated John F Kennedy and his brother Robert.

The disgusting and blatant sectarian abuse by Rankers fans towards Celtic player Neil Lennon. The player has been victimised, brutalised, assaulted, had his property vandalised, and most sinister of all, has had his life threatened. All of these incidents have come from persons later proven to support, or have links to Rankers FC, or have had blatant Rankers connections. How serious need this get before something is done about the cancerous hatred of these people ?

The club being forced to refrain from playing a popular chart song over the Ibrox PA system at matches due to Rankers fans hijacking it, distorting the words, and turning it into a sectarian club anthem. The song was later to be repeatedly sung by tens of thousands of Rankers fans for numerous seasons, dispelling the myth that Rankers cancerous sectarian hate was simply the practice of ‘an unrepresentative minority.’ Indeed, if this was the sectarianism of their minority, heaven knows what depths their majority would sink to.

The persistant and widespread mobbing, looting, and fighting by Rankers fans whenever they attend Away matches involving Rankers FC. A recent, but by no means exhaustive list includes : Munich, Rotterdam, Birmingham, Newcastle, Sunderland, Fulham, Liverpool, Bucharest, Paris.......... The above is an obvious reason why Rankers are exceptionally rarely invited to play in testimonial and friendly matches.

Rankers fans being involved in widespread violence and sectarianism during a European tie in July 1998 in Liverpool. The match - against Irish club Shelbourne - had to be moved to a neutral ground (Tranmere Rovers / Prenton Park) because club officials knew that the sectarian Rankers fans could not be trusted to travel to Ireland without the genuine fear that they would cause mayhem and injury – if not murder (See Bohemians 1984). It so proved that they couldn't be trusted to travel to England either, where they had to be baton-charged by more than 150 fully clad riot police, as they tried to attack the Irish fans. Amidst mopping up the carnage that Rankers fans caused - including smashing the windows of the Shelbourne FC team bus - Liverpool police commented that Rankers fans would never again be allowed to freely roam the city. If they ever again, did have cause to visit the city, severe policing restrictions would be applied. This has later been proven to be the case as numerous English cities have faced severe alcohol licensing restrictions when Rankers are scheduled to play there. The above is another obvious reason why Rankers are exceptionally rarely invited to play in testimonial matches.

The embarrassingly shameful booing and vitriolic hounding of Shota Arveladze by his club's own fans, because he had the temerity to bless himself before entering the field of play, during a recent trip to play Linfield in Ireland. For good measure, the Catholic-hating, sectarian, Loyalist hate-mongers of Linfield abused him as well.

Printing the personal details in a Rankers fanzine of those certain people suspected of having handed the ‘Donald Findlay’ video tape over to the meeja. The inference was that most fellow huns wouldn’t be too bothered if ‘some harm’ befell the culprit(s).

Having three hooligan fans jailed for 20 months each in March 2004, after they brutally attacked an Aberdeen fan in Glasgow as he returned there to catch a train following a Scottish Cup tie in Dumfries. Video footage showed pedestrians diving for cover and the fight was only stopped when police arrived. Damning the Rankers hooligans, Sheriff Linda Ruxton said jail was the only option in the interests of the public. "This was an incident associated with football violence, which brought about a serious disturbance. It took very little to lose control and, as a result, you behaved like hooligans. It must have been a frightening experience for those that were witnesses. Your actions made Glasgow city centre a very dangerous place. Public interest demands that a custodial sentence must be passed."

The shameful desecration of silence tributes to football legend Sir Matt Busby - because he was a Catholic - and assassinated President John F Kennedy for the same reason. Not even the dead are immune from sectarian vitriol it would appear.

The shameful displaying of Loyalist paramilitary banners by sectarian Rankers fans, who glorify those convicted of sectarian murder, and that mock the deaths of their victims. Banners have also been flown denigrating the memory of deceased Celtic players, and of a young Catholic man (Robert Hamill) who was kicked to death by a sectarian hate-mob wearing Rankers shirts. To recreate the assault in which this young man died, sick Rankers fans invented a terracing dance called 'the bouncy' in which they emulate the sickening attack. This was later revealed as being so on FF when a poster admitted to ‘joining in the celebration of the death of a Catholic.’ This act represents a hatred and a depravity that is hard to quantify.

Having Rankers fans describe the terrorist attacks in New York on September 11th - and in particular the deaths of hundreds of NYPD & NYFD members - as 'deserving' because some of these brave citizens may (or may not) have been part of the pipe band that welcomed MP Gerry Adams to the USA.

Rankers fans deliberately aiming and setting off a pyrotechnic firework in the direction of the Family Section at Celtic Park in October 2002. The device, which police described as ‘a large firework which contained a smaller series of firecrackers’ was set off in an act of blatant hooliganism, with a blatant disregard for the children and families who were seated there. Thankfully no-one was seriously injured by this wanton act of thuggery.

Convicted sectarian, drug-using, drug-dealing, thieving, receiving, criminal-damaging, knife-carrying, fraudulent, car stealing, electronically-tagged, vandalising, burgling, fire-raising, peace-breaching, disqualified-driving, neighbour-from-hell, Lotto thug Michael Carroll who is Rankers daft and their self-confessed 'greatest fan'. Carroll, who has over 50 convictions for almost every kind of degenerate sociopathic disorder recently invested £1million in the club he most identifies with, and which he feels most at home in. A neighbour (Ruth Leeks) who recently collapsed with an asthma attack due to the toxic fumes caused by one of Carroll's customary caravan bonfires, commented 'I feel sorry for the guy because he's obviously so stupid that he has a screw loose and needs help'. As she said this, Carroll and his tattooed hoardes were busily obstructing firemen who had been called to extinguish yet more of his toxic-plumed handiwork.

The repeated vandalism of the Away support section at Celtic Park following a 'visit' by Rankers fans. Although Celtic FC refuse to discuss the cost of repairs, it is believed to run into thousands of pounds for each and every game. The fact that all damage is then has to be paid for by the very club they claim to ‘support’ seems totally lost on these reprobates.

Numerous arrests and subsequent detention of a number of Rankers fans who fraudulently tried to pass off counterfeit Euro currency in Stuttgart before a recent European tie. They were later convicted and sentenced to various periods of imprisonment, bringing further shame on an already notoriously thuggish and hooligan criminal support.

Rankers fans causing a near-riot on the stadium concourse at Ibrox after the refreshment stalls were found to be offering green and white straws (part of an assortment) to customers. Threats of violence and sectarian abuse were hurled at junior catering staff before police and stewards were called in to restore order. Because of this incident, there are now no green and white straws anywhere to be seen at any of the Ibrox vending stalls. Who says the bigots aren’t in control ?!
Using 120 forged tickets to gain entry to a league match at Celtic Park and stealing the seats of fellow Rankers fans, leaving them locked out and unable to see the game. There is nothing much lower than stealing from your own people. Possessing no morals whatsoever, the thieves – incredibly - later tried to shift blame for their dishonesty by suggesting that Celtic FC were responsible for not preventing them from gaining fraudulent access in the first place. As CS Kevin Smith (Match Commander) pointed out “The match saw a number of Rankers fans with genuine tickets turned away because other, so-called, fans entered the stadium with forged tickets. Every person entering with a forged ticket deprives a genuine fan with an authentic ticket of the chance to get in.” Are there no depths to which these gutter-scum won’t sink to ??
Being branded ‘shameful’, ‘filth’ and ‘ a disgrace’ by Bobby Robson after a pre-season match at St James’s Park where they persistantly abused Alan Shearer to such an extent, that Robson took him off the park. Robson later commented that he had plied his trade for decades, in numerous countries around the world. This was the first time he had experienced such malice, on such a vile scale, and the first time he had ever felt needing to take one of his players off the field of play. Yet another ugly first for the gutter-scum who support Rankers. Seems the hypocritical hate-mongers only love Engerrlunnd when it suits them.

Rankers fans continued and repeated racial and sectarian abuse of Neil Lennon over two adjoining fixtures which prompted Martin O’Neill to publically comment on his utter disgust at the situation. Despite condemnation from the media, politicians, and the wider Scottish public, Rankers refused to condemn their bigoted and sectarian fan-base who continue to bring shame on their club. On the very day Martin O’Neill’s comments were reported in the media, he himself was viciously abused by the Ibrox hate-mongers during a match with Austrian minnows Grazer AK. Hollow claims from the Ibrox hierarchy that any abuse was made by ‘a minority’ were publically dispelled when a near full house was broadcast on live television heard to repeatedly abusing Martin O’Neill as ‘a Fenian bastard’. Later, and displaying a deporable ignorance of the facts, not to mention a typical and wholly predictable display of Ostrich Syndrome, David Murray attempted to claim that ‘generalisations of Rankers fans as racist bigots, were inaccurate’. In his view ‘the vast majority of Rankers supporters are decent, respectable people’. Pity none of them were amongst the 50,000+ that were inside Ibrox that night, Mr Murray – or perhaps you just need to take your head out of the sand. Having said that, when you’re drowning in a sea of debt, the bigot’s pound is as good as any, eh ?!
A Rankers fan (Derek Hume) being arrested and charged with verbally abusing Bobo Balde in a racist and sectarian manner during a game at Ibrox. At the same match another Rankers fan (Alan Martin) was arrested, charged, and later plead guilty to verbally abusing Momo Sylla and Bobo Balde in a racist and sectarian manner. He also admitted making ‘monkey noises’ and shouting racist abuse.
Rankers fans attacking a Glasgow Merchant City bar (Locomotiv) filled with Celtic fans and pushing two of them through a plate glass window. The thugs, many of them with Rankers scarves pulled up over their faces were caught on CCTV attacking the bar, throwing bottles and missiles at it, and attacking the customers inside it by punching and kicking them, whilst chanting sectarian songs. Another blatant example of the hate-filled, sectarian hooligan culture that pervades those who support Rankers.
Having a list of ‘famous’ fans that includes human pig-sty Andy Fordham, Scotlands unfunniest man Andy Cameron, convicted Lotto thug Michael Carroll, washout junkie bigot Martie Pellow, and Shellsuit Bob from no-mark telly show River City.
Sectarian abuse being hurled at four Catholic priests in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis by local hooligans wearing Rankers tops. The priests were warned to leave the island ‘before they were cremated’. One of the priests (Father Paul Hackett) was later mailed a death threat before his parish (The Church Of The Holy Redeemer) was burned to the ground as he slept. Other preists were threatened with ‘having their throats slit’ and ‘being strangled’. It would appear that in the minds of some hate-filled bigots, merely being a Catholic is justifiable grounds for execution.
Organising a poll on FF to canvas support in order to get the telecommunications company Orange to become Rankers new kit sponsors. Posters were asked to sign their vote of approval – many did. Another blatant display of Rankers inextricable links with Loyalism, and the Anti-Catholic Orange Order.
British Transport Police having to board a train in Ayrshire after Loyalist thugs returning from a Rankers game began vandalizing the carriages after having subjected the terrified occupants to mile upon mile of sectarian bigotry and drunken thuggish behaviour. Two young male passengers on the train were also assaulted. A number of arrests were made before the passengers were allowed to resume their journey, grateful in the knowledge that their safety now wasn’t quite so precarious.
Starting a near riot at Pittodrie in a brawl with Aberdeen fans that caused many people to be injured before riot police had to be called in to take control. As stated in The Telegraph " Trouble began when fans in the Rangers section hurled coins and bottles at Aberdeen's Robbie Winters as he prepared to take a corner kick. The home fans invaded the pitch to confront their rivals. Rangers followers tried to meet them half way, but were prevented by 50 police officers in full riot gear. The referee took both teams off and the match was held up for 17 minutes. Nine supporters received minor injuries, two requiring hospital treatment. Police made 13 arrests before the game and one during it, and others were ejected from the ground."
When canvassed for their opinions on how the Unofficial Rankers fanzine 'Follow Follow' could be better improved for the fans, the following were some of the most popular replies : naked page 3 girls, a porn section, a 'faggot' section for all the weirdos and gays, naked female Rankers fans photo section, a section on football thugs and violence, a gossip column. Nice to know their readership are real football fans, who are interested in the genuine issues that affect the club.
Racially abusing two Muslims in Stuttgart Airport, shouting at them : ‘You murdering c**ts shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near a f**king airport.’
Numerous members of Rankers much trumpeted ‘anti-sectarian’ joke mob The Blue Order being arrested for both sectarianism and overt rascism. Far from discouraging bigotry, these resident hate-mongers have been a catalyst for it’s expansion. The most recent exploits of this ‘family friendly’ environment include members being arrested for calling Mark de Vries a ‘n*gger bastard’ during a recent match –v- Hearts at Ibrox. So cancerous is the environment created by these bitter individuals that the club has had to resort to planting undercover stewards within their designated seating area to try and quell the intimidating and malicious atmosphere. To date, numerous members have been arrested, ejected, warned, or banned. If that’s what goes on in their much trumpeted ‘anti-sectarian’ section, one shudders to think what goes on in their sectarian sections.
Singing a song that glorifies committing the sectarian murder of Neil Lennon. The song ‘Hang Neil Lennon’ which Rankers fans admit to singing on their buses en-route to Ibrox, includes the lines ‘Hang Neil Lennon, Hang him high, That I may see that Fenian die..’ They’re nice people, really.
Verbally abusing young cancer victims to score cheap points against Celtic footballers who were at a Cancer Unit trying to brighten up the children patient’s Xmas. The Gub’s ‘baldy headed weans’ diatribe – backed up and supported by his bitter little clique of twisted cronies - was one of the most malicious, disgusting, and vile comments ever uttered by a Rankers fan. Thankfully, some decent Rankers fans had the courage to take this scum-bucket to task over his degenerate hatred. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, they were the ones who were banned from the board. Hypocrasy and suppression are alive and well on Fascist Fascist. Shame on you, ya twisted, evil, bitter bastard.
Suggesting to eachother that Rankers should try and cheat their way to further progress by deliberately throwing their forthcoming UC group match against Auxerre, with a view to securing an easy draw in the next round of the tournament. If Rankers finished 2nd in the group (Alkmaar were favourites for 1st place) they would face the likes of Real Madrid, Valencia, Porto, Deportivo, Liverpool, Ajax etc. If they came 3rd – which would happen if they conveniently ‘lost’ to Auxerre – they would face the likes of Lille, Dnipro, Seville, Bilbao, Zaragoza, Partisan Belgrade etc. With seedings for the next round based on where a team finishes in their previous group, the 1st eight would play the 3rd eight placed teams, and the 2nd eight would play those who parachuted in from the Champions League. Bearing that in mind, the following post appeared on FF. “I personally believe that if we are hearing that Alkmaar are coasting it against Grazer (for example 3 goals up) we should deliberately lose the match to Auxerre. Progress in Europe is vital for the club and coming 3rd instead of 2nd enhances our chances of further progress and to me it is a no-brainer - the club must act in their own best interests”. Aside the fact that Rankers are living in cloud-cuckoo land by considering others as minnows, it seems the hun would rather cheat his way to ‘success’ rather than face the prospect of playing a decent team, in an honest and fair manner.
Being criticised for their constant moaning, and arrogance, by their own Chairman, who said he sometimes wished they “could be more like Celtic’s fans”, who back their team through thick and thin. He was referring to their constant negativity, whinging, getting arrogant after a decade of domestic success, and forgetting about what’s really important to the club.
Being the first club in Britain to have a fan convicted of religious bigotry after one of their sectarian hooligan fan-base was arrested at a match v Copenhagen at Ibrox in Aug 2003. The bigot was arrested for singing vile sectarian songs promoting Loyalist murder gangs and was charged with 'A Breach Of The Peace, Aggravated By Religious Prejudice'. He was convicted and sentenced in March 2004, when he received 120 hours community service and a one year probation order. He also received a banning order from Ibrox, and joins another 14 sectarian bigots who are serving life bans, and a further 82 who are serving 'indefinate' bans. In addition to this, a further 191 bigots have been issued with written warnings for contravening Rankers better-late-than-never 'Pride Over Prejudice' arrangement, and a further 1257 have been warned for 'behaviour deemed inappropriate, offensive, or unsocial'.
Refusing to acknowledge that as a schoolboy, true-blue Alex Rae used to play for Celtic Boys Club, is married to a Tim, and has a number of lifelong Tim mates (many of them from his CBC days). Tut Tut – and him one of ‘the peepil’ as well ?! Seems it’s just too painful for the great unwashed Kinning Parkers to countenance the thought that their numero-uno, arch idol, and Uber-Prod is anything other than a 100% dyed-in-the-wool jaffa. Anything less would be treason, wouldn’t it ??! Maybe if they just refuse to believe it, it’ll all just go away !!
Being described by MSP Donald Gorrie as ‘bigoted and abusive’ after bombarding him with hate-mail after he refused to back their twisted, biased, Rankers-based, Anti-Catholic, Pro-Loyalist agenda. For the crime of remaining neutral over a highly complex and bitterly entrenched issue, Mr Gorrie has now - along with other anti-sectarian campagners - become a figure of hate for the bigots. In other words, if you’re not with us, you must be against us. Not that they’re blinkered or anything like that !
The RSA & RST proving just how weak and impotent they really are during their much-publicised and much-vaunted showdown meeting with Graham Speirs (The Herald) at Ibrox. Despite re-assuring the scum-buckets baying for Speir's head on a silver platter, that 'those representing them will be thouroughly prepared' - they came back after three hours of trying with their tails between their legs, and a whole bunch of nothing. During the meeting Speirs reiterated his belief that Rankers fans' "bigotry is worse at Ibrox than elsewhere, and is greater in it's frequency" and that that his article in support of Neil Lennon was wholly justified. The fact that he again 'attacked the Rankers support as a whole' merely re-iterates what a wasted exercise this was for the beleaguered bretheren of the RSA. No doubt they had a bit of explaining to do when they returned to face the blood-thirsty hoardes in Kinning Park ?! Ah well, back to slating him on FF it is then.
The disgraceful and cowardly verbal attack by a number of drunken Rankers fans on Jean-Alain Boumsong inside an Ibrox hospitality suite, after a European tie –v- Auxerre. Boumsong, who was sitting with his girlfriend and family, was confronted, and subjected to a torrent of personal abuse, before being told to 'F*ck Off To Newcastle'. The Tyneside club had earlier in the day, entered a £7.5m bid for him - something he could neither prevent, nor influence. Confirming the nasty incident, the player's enraged agent Willie McKay, said the bust up left Boumsong's girlfriend 'very upset by what was said' and and he himself stated the ugly confrontation 'left a very nasty taste in the mouth'. If this is how they treat one of their most popular players, heaven knows what vitriol is reserved for the out of favour ones ?!
Wishing Jean-Alain Boumsong a ‘career-ending leg break’, ‘permanent blindness’, and ‘malignant cancer’ after he left Ibrox for St James’s Park. Hell hath no fury like a hun with a grudge.
Posting a thread on FF asking which splinter faction of degenerate, homicidal, drug-dealing, Loyalist psychotics they supported and favoured most. The favourites - which ran into scores of replies - were South Belfast UFF, West Belfast UVF, East Belfast UVF, Cluan Place UVF, Tigers Bay UFF, 'C' Company UFF, East Belfast Protestant Boys, South East Antrim Defenders, Ulster Young Militants, Protestant Action Force, Red Hand Commandos, and the Young Calvay Volunteers. Anyone who doubts a direct link between this Loyalist hate-mongering on FF, the gutter-scum who frequent Ibrox every other week, and their ‘influence’ all the way to the top, need only read one of The Gub's veiled boasts about how tight FF is in the corridors of power at Ibrox'. “Murray phoned up GS (Grandmaster Suck = Mark Dingwall = Editor : FF) and asked for a pow wow earlier this year.” This demonstrates explicitly that a direct line of communication exists between David Murray and Mark Dingwall at FF.
Denigrating those who died in the Tsunami tragedy by suggesting it was their country(s) own fault for not having proper sea defences, and then saying that the charity money should be "spent in Britain, not used to bail out those who'll probably be over here soon as asylum seekers."
Attacking a disabled Dundee United fan before the New Year's Day game at Tannadice this year. The fan, who is well known to Arabs as Charlie, was kicked and punched by two hun neds as he came out of the toilets beside the George Fox Stand, just before the kick-off. Other fans who witnessed the cowardly attack, chased the low-lifes, before giving their description to the police. Sad day when a disabled person can't go about their business without being assaulted by hun scum-bags.
Having another of their vile, sectarian, bigot fans convicted of ‘Breach Of The Peace - Aggravated By Religious Prejudice’ when he (Scott Primrose) was sentenced to 240 hours Community Service and placed on probation for 1 year. Primrose was arrested inside Ibrox as he spewed his bigoted hatred during a game against Celtic in 2004. The judge instructed that Rankers be asked to ban the knuckle-dragger for life.
Having yet another bigoted sectarian Rankers fan (Stuart Davies) being convicted of a religiously aggravated assault. Davies was caged for 22 months after subjecting his victim - a Celtic fan - to a prolonged and vicious attack as he was sitting in his own front garden. Afterwards his victim needed 16 stitches in a gaping head wound. Sentencing him, Sheriff Alfred Vannet said : "I cannot see any other form of disposal other than that of a custodial sentence. You viciously attacked an innocent man, for no other reason than religious prejudice. I further order that Rangers Football Club be informed of your conviction." Also convicted in the same attack was fellow bigot, and fellow Rankers hooligan (Stephen Baxter) who will be sentenced at a later date.
Having 27 fans arrested at the Celtic –v- Rankers game in Jan ’05 despite being fore-warned that their embarrasing sectarian hatred would not be tolerated. Not a single Celtic fan was arrested during the same fixture. The huns were later convicted of a multitude of various unsocial, violent, and sectarian offences. Should we have expected anything less ?!
Being slated by Ibrox legend Ally McCoist for the vicious and fickle way they turned on former golden boy Barry Ferguson, after he left them for a bigger club. When rumours of his possible return to The Deat Star surfaced, McCoist slammed the ‘fickle fans’ who continued to abuse Ferguson – although poignantly highlighted that they’d soon change their tune should he actually return. Another former hero Andy Gray chipped in his tuppence-worth by saying Ferguson would be ‘crazy to even consider going back to Ibrox.’
Having their hooligan neds attack Chris Burke while he was out for a meal, and then subsequently try to blame Celtic fans. The neds spotted Burke at the China House restaurant in Shettleston and proceeded to cause a disturbance and smash the plate glass window of the restaurant, causing terrified diners to run for cover. After Rankers number one fanzine (The Daily Retard) had printed ill-informed, sensationalist lies – including inventing a bizarre hammer fabrication - the truth was only brought to bare when the player's own family issued the following statement : "There was no hammer, no Celtic fans, and none of the teenagers wore Celtic strips. They were all Rangers fans with Rangers tops, and they were knocking on the window when it smashed." Ah, well, at least The Retard tried, eh ?!
Verbally abusing HIV-positive Labour politician Chris Smith, saying he deserves to die of AIDS for being gay. Some of them even volunteered to pull the trigger to 'finish him off early.'
Suggesting that Tony Blair (and his Papist wife ?!!?) should be executed, hung, and given the 'Kennedy treatment' after he publically apologised to Irish miscarriage of justice victims who had been wrongly imprisoned for over 15 years of their lives.
Hooligan thugs endangering the lives of other fans by deliberately starting a fire in the toilets at Celtic Park - after smashing them up first. The deranged lunatics burned all the toilet rolls and paper towels causing an alert which had to be extinguished by security staff, resulting in the area being hurriedly cleared and cordoned off. In the resulting panic, people were in danger of being crushed, as fans tried to use the toilets, not knowing they had been set on fire by Rankers psychos who don't even care if they endanger their own fellow fans.
Slashing a steward at Celtic Park during a match v Celtic. The steward – a Rankers fan – was called a ‘fenian bastard’ before he was cut with a blow to the face. His injuries were tended by medical staff at Celtic Park before he was rushed to hospital.
Having one of their violent, sectarian sewer-hole pubs closed after police, and the licensing board slammed it for being ‘sectarian, abusive, and violent’. Walkers in the east end of Glasgow had it’s licence summarily revoked, and it’s owner was banned from holding a drinks licence. The pub has been the scene of numerous violent, sectarian incidents, and numerous arrests have been made on the knuckle-draggers who frequent it’s bigoted environs. In February ’05, a Celtic fan was chased out of it, and stabbed repeatedly after making the fatal mistake of not knowing it was a violent, bigoted, sectarian, hun-filled cesspit.
Stealing the handbag of a fellow female fan during a match at The Death Star, which contained her ID, purse, house keys, and car keys. Probably why she tried to use the FF messageboard to track the culprit down and ‘have the bastard slashed’.
Causing mayhem, rioting, and battling with rival fans during a testimonial match at Roker Park, in 1993, which included a number of Sunderland fans being slashed, and one being thrown from a moving train.
Having one of their violent, drunken, bigoted, knuckle-draggers arrested at Celtic Park after he sneaked into a Celtic section, and subjected opposition fans to a torrent of religious and sectarian abuse. Robert Reid was almost too drunk to stand, but still found the energy to spout his hate at those who were seated around him. As he was arrested, Reid – filled with dutch courage - challenged fans and police to fight, and hurled a torrent of bigoted abuse. His drunken thuggery cost him a £500 fine and 2 years probation at Glasgow Sheriff Court. At the same match, another of their sectarian, violent drunken louts (John Johnstone) was fined £250 after being arrested, after he was refused entry. Johnstone was found to be drunk and incapable, and lashed out at police and stewards who arrested him as he provoked rival fans with bigoted abuse. Maybe these sectarian cretins took their lead from some of the sterling examples set down by their onfield icons ??!
Showering the Inverness Caley players with a barrage of coins, after Brian Prunty equalised in the 90th minute during a game at The Death Star. This was only 3 days after hooligan Rankers fans threw coins at Mark Burchill after he equalised for Hearts at Swinecastle. Rankers only stole the points in that game, after notorious assistant referee Andy Davies (a Rankers fan with a history of making dubious ‘genuine’ errors) awarded a non-existant penalty after a theatrical dive by Sotirios Kyrgiakos. Not a single other – including the huns themselves - had claimed for, nor saw any incident, but in a truly mystifying and bizarre joint decision, Hugh Dallas (who had earlier failed to award Hearts what looked to all as a stonewall penalty) overturned his earlier award of a goal kick, and pulled a 93rd minute penalty out of the hat, to give the huns a 2-1 victory. Hearts chaiman George Foulkes – like many others - called for an immediate SFA inquiry, and questioned ‘the integrity of the decision’ and wether or not ‘anything untoward’ was present in making it.
Being slated by club Chairman David Murray for being Catholic-hating, sectarian bigots who weren't welcome at The Death Star (or anywhere else for that matter !). In a scathing condemnation of the hate-filled knuckle-draggers who frequent Legoland every other week, The Grand Imperial Knight Dragon Wizard FINALLY amassed the courage to openly admit that Rankers fans have a disgusting, bigoted, and hate-filled element who espouse nauseating, anti-Catholic, sectarian hatred. In a BBC interview, Murray summed up the Rankers fans’ deep-rooted and longstanding problem with sectarian hatred when he stated "There's simply no place at Ibrox for the FTP brigade and those who would have us wading in Fenian blood. We have a proud history and heritage, but this is not what gets us in trouble. It is the 'baggage' of foul singing and sectarian references during, and at the end of traditional Rangers songs which causes me and everyone at this club a problem. We cannot defend it and we must get rid of it." In the same interview, Murray slated and warned those elements within the Rankers support who espouse rascism, fascism, and support for paramilitary sectarian murderers. No one likes them - they don't care !!
Having an additional 28 Blue Order reprobates banned for sectarian and rascist chanting. The bigots - referred to by the club's own chairman as 'the FTP brigade' - were ejected from the ground after making anti-Catholic, and sectarian chants during the club's tarnished (and previously banned) anthem 'Simply The Best.' The (better late than never) strategy was sanctioned by the club's security chief Lawrence Mackintyre, who was finally embarrassed into taking action, in order to begin eradicating the club's woeful and dire sectarian problem. In addition to the 28 banning orders, the remaining 300 members of this bastion of tolerance received warning letters, threatening them with draconian sanctions, should they fail to desist from spouting their virulent and nauseating hatred.
Naming a Cup Final in memory of a bigoted and embittered individual, who stated that Rankers first high-profile Catholic signing (Mo Johnstone) "shouldn't be here." The so-called 'Cooper Final' was such a tribute to his memory that his name wasn't even mentioned until the 88th minute. Curiously, Bobby Sands, and King Billy were accoladed from almost the first minute onwards, and even Derry’s Walls managed a mention before him – just as one of their hooligan supporters was holding up the match, by invading the field of play.
Claiming that the banning of scores of nauseating Blue Order sectarian bigots from The Death Star, was only so that David Murray could re-sell their seats to his fatcat cronies, for the final -v- Celtic game of the season.
Hun bigot Scott Campbell being sacked for gross misconduct from his job as an airport fireman after sectarianly abusing Neil Lennon and Chris Sutton at Inverness airport. Ex-RAF bigot Campbell - a Season Ticket holder at The Death Star - subjected the players to a hate-filled torrent of disgusting sectarian bile, before being confronted by a club security official. His appeal against the sacking was dismissed almost as immediately as he was. Officials at Inverness airport, later issued a full and unreserved apology to Celtic Football Club, for the actions of this dim-witted nugget.
Celebrating the death of Pope John Paul II – less than 24 hours after his passing - with some of the most repugnant, deranged, moronic, sectarian bile ever to have eminated from within the sewers of red, white, & blue repugnance. Whilst his death was being mourned globally by billions of people from all creeds and denominations, the sectarian hate-mongers from Kinning Park were singing their loathsome repertoire of hate-filled intolerance, and Anti-Catholic venomous bigotry. Rankers opponents (Motherwell) had proposed a minute silence, but this had to be over-ruled by police who feared ‘a riot’ if the tribute went ahead. What a truly sad shower of lost souls.
Verbally abusing Bob 'FTP' Malcolm during a 0-1 defeat to Dundee Utd at The Death Star. Malcolm was the target of sustained abuse after the huns failed to overturn the SPL's bottom-placed team this season, despite three attempts. Malcom was jeered and swore at by huge sections of the 'loyal' support, and was applauded finally ........ when he got subbed.
Assaulting Stilian Petrov with a plastic drinks container filled with ice cubes after he had scored a goal at Ibrox. As Petrov turned to celebrate scoring, he was struck in the face and felled by the missile, launched by one of Copland Road's resident hooligans. As Petrov lay injured receiving medical treatment, the bigoted hate-filled hoardes could be clearly seen in the background - and by millions on TV - mouthing sectarian obscenities and making threatening gestures at the injured player. On learning that the culprit – if found – would face a life ban from The Death Star, enraged huns were up in arms and professing support for the deranged one. Whilst some felt he ‘deserved a medal’ and that Petrov had ‘got off lightly’ - others suggested that next time the psychotic thug should throw ‘a half brick’ ….. ‘a golf ball with nails in it’ ….. or a ‘heavy ball-bearing.’
Having the BNP handing out leaflets and selling their publications on Edmiston Drive before the final –v- Celtic game of the season in April ’05. The hate-filled, nauseating, rascist, bigoted intolerants of the BNP feel they have a natural affinity with Rankers fans, and know that Ibrox is one of the last corners of the land where they are embraced.
Having to be seperated by stewards from battering eachother because some of them couldn’t be arsed holding up the Bill Struth banner. Those super-cool, know-it-all, superfans of The Blue Order did their bit of course, but the wasters in the Govan Front were nearly beaten for not giving a toss about this so-called legend. The Blue Order – don’t you just love them ?! – just got their Season Books back after being banned, and now they want to punch everyone’s lights out.
Letting of a smoke grenade at Pittodrie and causing scores of fellow fans to run for safety from the blinding, acrid smoke. The plan was to throw the missile at the Aberdeen fans, but the gormless hun who ignited it, panicked and ended up causing chaos in amongst the Away end, filled with travelling huns.
Causing a total ban on all football shirts to be imposed at Glasgow SECC concerts after they started a fight at a Rod Stewart concert. Five bitter huns were arrested in the ensuing brawl, started because they couldn't stand the sight of seeing a Celtic fan enjoying himself.
Being so bitter and bigoted that they smashed 114 green-light lenses (in a 16-month period) from traffic lights in Larkhall, where people's safety obviously comes secondary to hating anything coloured green. This is in addition to the local chemist (Moss Pharmacy) having to change the existing colour of it's shop front from green and white, after vandals repeatedly attacked the shop, and locals refused to shop there. This would be hilarious if it wasn't so pathetic.
Bigoted Argyll Chief Fire Officer Ronnie Souden being arrested and charged with a religiously aggravated assault, and Breach Of The Peace after a huns defeat. This upstanding pillar of the community - married to a police officer - was arrested after attacking a Celtic fan and screaming sectarian abuse at him, in the aftermath of yet another drubbing at Legoland. No matter how you dress them up, or what cloak of respectability they masquerade under, a hun will always be a hun.
Being slated and condemned by Club Chairman John McClelland as rascists, after a disgraceful barrage of rascist abuse was hurled at Bobo Balde and Momo Sylla during yet another defeat at Celtic Park. McLelland was forced to speak out after a global audience of millions could clearly hear on live TV, the despicable and moronic chanting of Rankers loyal fans. "I do not condone this kind of behaviour, I deplore it," stated a clearly embarassed Mclelland. "There was such a crescendo during Saturday's match. I heard noises of this kind, and it is unacceptable. It is a difficult problem to deal with, but we will do everything we can to make sure the message gets across to our fans. We do not want people who come to games to indulge in racist behaviour like this. Steps will be taken to make sure we weed these people out and I urge fans not to conduct themselves in this fashion."
Having four of their hooligan fans arrested on the P & O Troon - Larne ferry after they rampaged and fought with other passengers, whilst returning from a match at Legoland. Riot police boarded the ferry after the hooligan huns fought a running battle and assaulted three members of staff who tried to prevent them from attacking other passengers.
Having one of their bigoted hooligan season-book holders arrested and charged with two counts of Breach Of The Peace (Aggravated by Religious Prejudice) after he assaulted a Celtic player on the field of play. David Galbraith admitted assaulting Stilian Petrov during a match at The Death Star by felling him with an ice-filled drinks container, as Petrov celebrated scoring a goal. Seems some huns just can’t stand the sight of seeing someone in a Celtic jersey, without wishing to inflict physical harm upon them. Galbraith – who has a number of previous convictions for drunken, sectarian and loutish behaviour - was later sentenced to 100 hours community service for his vicious act of bigoted thuggery.
Having three of their sectarian bigot hooligans fined and sentenced to 200 hours community service each, after they were convicted of attacking a number of people in a campsite at Loch Earn in Perthshire. The victims – one of whom was attacked with a saw – had objected to the hooligans blaring out their sectarian Rankers clubs songs in the early hours of the morning, but were brutally attacked after they complained.
Having Follow Follow slated and condemned by an independent report (The Extent Of Online Sectarianism) on internet forum bigotry, which highlighted a sickening culture of blatant bigotry, sectarian hatred, pro-Loyalist sentiment, and fervent anti-Catholic antipathy. The findings were backed and accepted by Nil By Mouth, and the Scottish Executive’s Cross Party Working Group On Religious Hatred.
Having one of their violent thug fans described by a judge as ‘one of Scotland’s worst football hooligans.’ The ned, Janet ‘The Gannet’ Smith – a 20 stone, loathesome, toothless hag from Ayrshire – was sentenced to 200 hours community service after she was convicted of leading a mob of over 100 violent hun thugs into a pitched battle, in which bottles and bricks were hurled at fans of a junior football club in New Cumnock, Ayrshire. The Gannet arrived for sentencing in her trademark unwashed huns top.
Fighting with Dynamo Zagreb fans outside the Toronto SkyDome after being gubbed 1 – 0 by the Croats. Inside the stadium, the Croatian national anthem had to be sung twice due to booing, and a silence tribute to the London bombing victims was marred by the drunken sectarian bile of the hooligan huns.
Having one of their hooligan bigoted sectarian reprobate fans convicted of threatening an 11 year-old girl, and screaming sectarian abuse at her – all because she had a Celtic top on. Ryan Buchanan was convicted at Perth Sheriff Court after he admitted hurling sectarian abuse at the child, and committing a religiously aggravated Breach Of The Peace. Before fining him £650.00, Sheriff John Miller told the hun, “This was a despicable offence that involved you threatening a small girl with physical harm, and shouting and swearing at her. Furthermore, it was aggravated by religious prejudice, and I hope that you are suitably ashamed of your conduct. You placed a young girl in a state of fear and panic, and the entire circumstances of the incident are quite deplorable.”
Having two of their bigoted sectarian knuckledraggers fined €6000 each for organising an illegal Orange march in Benidorm. Despite Spain being a Catholic country, Bryan and Catherine Sheeran, who own the Ibrox Bar in Benidorm, thought it would be quite alright for them to bring their anti-Catholic hateful intolerance to mainland Spain. Etelviná Andreu Sánchez, the Alicante government delegate who imposed the fines, said: "They defied the ban and even went ahead after the London bombings, which shows how insensitive they are." Benidorm's municipal police chief, Juan Fuertes, insisted the march hadn't been authorised. "We stopped it after about 10 minutes when they started to block the road. We took the names of the organisers and they deserve to receive the maximum penalty for breaking the law."
Having their whinging, moaning fans boo the team off the park after a game against Borussia Moenchengladbach – despite the fact that the game was only a friendly, and ended in a draw. Less than 25,000 even bothered to turn up for it in the first place.
Boo-ing David Murray before the flag unfurling ceremony in July 2005, claiming that he ‘didn’t deserve’ to be doing it, and had ‘nothing to do with the team’s success’. Must have been the only time The Mint was glad that they couldn’t sell all their tickets, and only 48,500 bothered to turn up.
Encouraging eachother to park in spaces reserved for disabled drivers, and to overcome suspicion by pretending ‘you’ve got a gommy leg’ or pretending ‘to be a spastic.’ Really dignified, eh ?!
Stealing others fans’ flags from their seats at Legoland. Each fan had received a mini flag to celebrate the pre-match flag raising ceremony at the beginning of the season, by having had it left on their seat. Unfortunately the temptation was just too much for certain low-life scumbags, and as a result, many of their fellow huns had to go without their commemorative momento, so that others could satisfy their greed. Just can’t trust anyone these days ?!
Racially abusing Shunsuke Nakamura on his debut by hurling a torrent of vile abuse at him, with references to his nationality, colour, and his country’s involvement in a war over 60 years ago. His crime appears to be that he is Japanese, instead of being a white Protestant. Some real bright sparks even hurled hate and abuse at him for being “a chinky bastard.”
Being banned from travelling with Stena Line for subjecting other passengers to hours of sectarian hatred and lacing the journey with hateful songs about murdering Catholics. Stena Line received scores of complaints about the abusive sectarian behaviour of the knuckle-draggers. The relative of one passenger who was on the sailing said, "They were not singing football songs, they were singing sectarian songs about killing Catholics, named Catholics that have been murdered." A spokesman for the ferry company said "We are taking this action for the well-being of all our passengers, many of whom are families with children, and none of whom should be subjected to this kind of sectarian and abusive behaviour."
Rioting alongside their Loyalist Catholic-hating bretheren in an orgy of hateful destruction that included : 1,000 police being deployed, 1,000 soldiers being deployed, 50 police injured, Petrol Bombs being thrown, Blast Bombs thrown, Pipe Bombs thrown, shots fired at police, 7 firearms recovered, a bomb factory being found, and an innocent man being left critically injured after a bomb blast. As cars and buses were being hijacked, huns in orange tops could clearly be seen hurling bricks, stones, and petrol bombs at police.

Starting a thread on Fascist Fascist entitled ‘Neil Lennon Is A Bigot’, which attracted scores of hate-filled sectarian replies including (but not limited to) : bomb the fenian b****** : hang the fenian high : ugly f****** ratfaced fenian scumbag : dirty wee donegal (sic) fenian mother f***** rent bhoy : lennon fenian b******, GTF ya taig c**** : scumbag ginger b******, hang him high : hang the fenian scumbag : f*** off out of my country and go and pick some tatties : a dirty little fenian c***. I think some people may have missed the original point ?!??

Boo-ing Boab Malcolm (again) when his inclusion in the starting line-up was announced before the CIS Cup home tie with Clyde. The huns had to go to extra-time before shaking off Clyde, but they had to do it without Fat Boab, who got hooked on the hour-mark, to a chorus of much applause. Seems that some of these haters will hate anything – even one of their own ‘FTP Uber-Prods.’

Being slated (again) by thie own Chairman for being bigoted sectarian scumbags. In a forthright statement in March 2005, Murray stated : “It is the baggage of foul singing and sectarian references which causes me and everyone at Rangers a problem. We cannot defend it. We must get rid of it."

Sectarian hun drug-dealing scumbucket John Mackenzie having £16k of his drug money seized under the Proceeds Of Crime Act whilst he was over in Ireland for an Apprentice Boys march. Lowlife coward Mackenzie - a Club Deck season ticket holder, and owner of Renfrew's Crimson Club - tried to fit up a painter & decorater, by claiming the man must have planted a batch of Amphetamine, whilst decorating his Renfrew home. Not surprisingly, the judge didn't believe his bizarre excuse, and seized financial assets totalling £15,831.21.

Trying so hard to shake of their bigoted 17th century sectarian Catholic-hating image, that they voted three to one in favour of having The Sash played over the stadium PA system prematch, in a recent FF poll.

Having another of their bigoted hate-filled nuggets being found guilty of sectarianism. Fraser Taylor was fined £500 under the Terrorism Act for wearing a UVF shirt on the day of a Rangers v Celtic match. Fraser was convicted of wearing the shirt, while sectarian songs were being chanted at the Mermaid Bar in Saltcoats, Ayrshire, arousing suspicion that he was a member or supporter of the UVF.

Issuing yet more death threats to victimised Celtic player Neil Lennon, and threatening to burn down the Glasgow hotel where a gala evening was being held in his honour. In a story from the national media, rabid huns from Fascist Fascist encouraged eachother to 'torch the place' during the event whilst other sickos suggested 'invading' the gala dinner to ‘cause mayhem.' Dignity, right enough, eh ?!

Throwing their scarves away after a 0 – 0 draw with Artmedia Bratislava, to leave the Legoland technical area resembling a red, white, and blue battlezone. This was after roundly boo-ing the players off the park, and showering Gingerbaws with abuse for almost the entire match.

Boo-ing the PA safety announcements for foreign fans, despite playing in a stadium where so many people lost their lives due to poor safety conditions being a contributory factor.

The Blue Order starting a bar-brawl and assaulting members of The Rankers Club during a fight at a function held there. By their own admission, pensioners were attacked and punched in the face during the free-for-all.

Fernando The Commando being booked for diving as the huns trailed ICT 0 – 1 in a game at legoland that saw them slip 10 points off the lead and to fourth in the table. The huns eventually scraped a 1 – 1 draw, but not before Prso took one of his customary dives as well. Desperate times call for desperate measures, I guess ?! During the game supporters threw their scarves onto the pitch in disgust ; two fans had to be seperated from fighting in the Broomloan front ; and a police presence was ordered to protect the Main Entrance after a mob of angry huns tried to stage a protest against Gingerbaws, The Dark Lord, and Baldy Bain.

Bert Konterman admitting on Dutch TV, during a broadcast of Panorama : Scotland’s Secret Shame that the hun’s right-hand, straight-arm terracing trademark is ‘a Nazi salute.’

Having 19 of their drunken hooligan fans flung off an EasyJet flight bound for Bratislava. The huns had refused to put their seatbelts on, and some were too drunk to even wake up. Faced with the prospect of having these dangerous loonies mid-air for an additional number of hours, the Captain contacted groundstaff at Stansted, and had them forcibly removed by police, who lumped them onto a train back to Glasgow.

Having yet another of their stinking, bigoted, sectarian fans charged with a Breach Of The Peace : Aggravated By Religious Prejudice after he was arrested for wearing a Red Hand Commandos polo shirt. Graeme Crawford from East Kilbride was ordered to appear at Glasgow Sherriff Court for trial, for promoting a sectarian paramilitary organisation at a Rankers match.

Having one of their lying bigots caught making up a fantasy about being attacked in Glasgow by Celtic players Craig Bellamy and John Hartson - whilst both were actually 200 miles away in Inverness !! Gordon Fielding - a self confessed follower of the huns - claimed that Bellamy, assisted by Hartson, had kicked him in the face outside a Glasgow restaurant, but checks showed that the Celtic players were actually away with the team, who were playing Inverness Caley Thistle that day. Fielding was arrested and charged with wasting police time. He later plead guilty at Glasgow Sherriff Court to lying to police, and fabricating the entire story in a pathetic attempt to besmirch the player’s character, because he resented Bellamy’s high profile with Celtic. Huns, can they actually get any sadder than this ??

Battling with Bolton fans in the square after the CL away match in Porto. The riots started after two drunken huns threw their pints at a crowd of Bolton fans who had been taunting them about being plastic Engerrlunders. Thereafter, tables, chairs, and pints went flying as the huns ran for their lives, whilst Bolton punched the living daylights out of the two ‘hardmen’ pint-throwers. The rest of the huns steemed in to help the two trouble-makers, and all hell broke loose. Riot police were soon on the scene, and the two bars were immediately cleared and shuttered. The huns were unceremoniously dumped out of the bars, cleared from the square, and time was called on an early night. More dignity on foreign shores from these national embarrassments.

The Club

Being so football orientated, that they were started by a group of Protestant rowers, who named them after an English Rugby Club, and so that the owners – brothers Peter & Moses McNeil – could make a quick buck from flogging football shirts from this new game of football.

Vice-Chairman Matt Taylor openly stating in 1967 that Rankers policy of refusing to sign Catholics was 'part of our tradition .... we were formed in 1873 as a Protestant boys club. To change now would lose us considerable support.'

Operating a sectarian, non-Catholic signing policy for nearly a century. Even employees who were married to Catholics suffered victimisation, and ostracisation including Sir Alex Ferguson who revealed in his autobiography that he was 'hounded out' of Ibrox because he was guilty of the heinous crime of having a Catholic wife. After the religion of his wife became known, Ferguson says he was ‘treated differently’ by former friends and colleagues.

Having their hooligan rioting history used as the basis for a study (Crowd Behaviour at Football Matches - A Study in Scotland : The Football Trust 1984) published by the Football Safety Officers (Scotland) who catalogued hun violence from the turn of the last century. The scathing indictment included the following litany of shame : " Riots, unruly behaviour, violence, assault and vandalism appear were a well established, and dominant part of the crowd behaviour from at the 1870s. Rangers had their quota of pitch invasions and abandoned matches, and their crowd seems to have gained a reputation fairly early on for having an unruly element. Neither of the New Year's Day matches in 1898 or 1905 finished, and the 1909 riot, in which 6,000 spectators beat up police, tore down goal posts, lit bonfires and cut firemen's hoses lasted for two and a half hours and resulted in 58 police and 60 others being treated at hospital. Influence from Northern Ireland was particularly strong during this period. Harland and Woolf started operating in Govan in 1912, bringing over many Protestant workers, while others came in the munition boom. Given that this was the bloody phase with war and then partition, it is not perhaps surprising that aspects of the culture of Ulster took deeper root in the West of Scotland. Disorder continued to be associated with Rangers' games, and there were notable outbreaks of disorder in 1941, 1949, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1958 and on into the 1960s. The disorder comprised fighting, bottle throwing and pitch invasions, in addition to ritual chanting, obscenities, and jeering. The club appealed to their supporters in various ways to stop the rowdyism, which was seen as the work of a few hooligans. Certainly the Rangers' board seem to have been increasingly discomforted by the adverse publicity its supporters received and the open suggestions in the press that they were largely to blame for the problem and could help end it by signing a Catholic. There were significant crowd problems at Ibrox in 1973 and 1975, but it was a Rangers' fans riot in Birmingham in 1976 in a 'friendly' with Aston Villa, which provoked the biggest media storm. In general Rangers' expressions of disapproval and condemnation of 'certain sections' of their support, which had followed earlier outbreaks, were seen as irrelevant and now the Glasgow press severely criticised the club. The press detailed the Rangers' fans riots in Wolverhampton, Newcastle, Barcelona and now Birmingham, along with minor skirmishes elsewhere, and condemned the club. The general tone is revealed by Ian Archer in the Glasgow Herald, who stated : "This has to be said about Rangers ….. as a Scottish Football club they are a permanent embarrassment and an occasional disgrace. This country would be a better place if Rangers did not exist".

The Death Star being the spiritual home of the Anti-Catholic Orange Order, and the huns holding the annual Divine Service there from the 1950's until 1997.

Refusing to accept responsibility for the criminal and despicable actions of their players and fans. The club refuse to condemn the guilty parties, and indeed are often seen to condone their behaviour by failing to publicly - or even privately - censure them. There have been numerous incidents over the years in which criminal acts have gone unpunished, and similar despicable acts have been repressed and concealed. Cast your mind back, if you will to :

David Robertson vandalising parked cars on a drunken binge, Ian Durrant and Derek Ferguson fighting in a kebab shop, Sandy Clark's sectarian abuse of Celtic Park ball-boys, Fernando Ricksen's litany of criminality - Paul Gascoigne's brutal domestic violence........ - Many of these incidents have resulted in criminal convictions, yet Rankers have still refused to condemn or sack the guilty parties - even though many have been found guilty in a court of law. Fernando Ricksen's violent conduct on Derek Riordan for example was dismissed as 'more reckless than violent' and Paul Gascoigne's spousal abuse was dismissed with the throwaway line 'what happens behind closed doors is no-one else's business'.

Being caught cheating by tampering with the width of the park at Legoland before a CL tie with Dynamo Kiev. This was to try and stop the Kiev wide men from playing to their strengths. The unsporting behaviour brought furious reaction from UEFA who immediately instigated a new law to ban this kind of underhand behaviour from ever happening again. They criticised Rankers heavily for their ‘bad sportsmanship.’ Huns and level playing fields, eh ?!!

Umpteen members of the Legoland dressing room being members of the Catholic-hating Orange Order, including Eric Caldow and Bobby Shearer, and the revelation by former players that ex-Manager Jock 'The Bigot' Wallace encouraged players to scream 'No Surrender' in the dressing room pre-match, as they listened to Loyalist hate-anthems on cassette.

Rankers Vice Chairman, Donald Findlay being forced to resign after being caught on film by a hidden camera singing sectarian, intolerant, and anti-Catholic anthems at a Rankers fans' victory celebration event. This is not the first time that repeated bigot Findlay has been embroiled in a sectarian incident. He was also forced to resign as Rector of St Andrews University after his despicable anti-Catholic and bigoted sentiments became public knowledge. This man was said to have been one of Scotland’s finest legal brains. If that’s how sectarian the intelligentsia are, what hope for the plebs ?

Being dumped out of Europe yet again, this time from the UEFA Cup by Czech unknowns Viktoria Zizkov. Despite fielding a full-strength team (Klos, Moore, Konterman, Amoruso, Ricksen, Ferguson, Arteta, Numan, de Boer, Arveladze, Lovenkrands) - which included a string of highly-paid internationals, and allegedly ‘world class’ players, Rankers still managed to get embarassingly thumped by the anonymous Czech minnows. On the suggestion that Rankers were now the laughing stock of European football, one dejected Bear commented ‘I dont think our profile is now even high enough to be considered their laughing stock !?’

Setting a European Cup record for being the team humped with the highest aggregate score (murdered 12 - 4 by Eintracht Frankfurt in 1960) and a Champions League record as well (annihilated 8 - 1 by Juventus in 1995).

The cynical release of an orange Rankers shirt to appeal to the club's sectarian element - under the guise that they were celebrating the club's Dutch contingent. This blatantly profiteering charade was even derided by the club's own fans who disgustedly remarked that they (Rankers FC) strangely haven't celebrated the Dutch contingent at any other time - before or since. So blatant is the club’s homage to their sectarian fanbase and the orange pound that they soon after released another almost identical shirt – this time in a cynical and bizarre link-up with a team of Chinese minnows.

The shameful and cynical designing of a sash - sorry slash - across the chest of the current Away kit to pander to the club’s lowest common denominator and sectarian fan-base. Critics were accused of ‘paranoia’ over what was described as ‘a mere coincidence of design’. Funny, I seem to remember it co-incidentally happening at Loyalist-friendly Airdrie FC for a time as well.

Drowning in so much crippling debt, that they had to sell off an entire team to try and rid themselves of £80million worth of mismanagent and over-spending. Out went players like (Amoruso, Tugay, Albertz, Van Bronckhurst, Gattuso, Amato, Reyna, Cannigia, De Boer, Numan, Ferguson, Arteta, Mols) – and in came some of the biggest embarassments and over-the-hill duds ever to grace the field at Legoland (Capucho, Emerson, Vanoli, Nerlinger, Ostenstad, Berg, Mladenovich) to play alongside the likes of Ross, Malcolm, Hughes, Thompson, Rae, Hutton, Namouchi…… Oh dear.

Only preventing ‘celebrity’ Rankers uber-hun and convicted Loyalist paramilitary terrorist murderer Michael Stone from attending a Rankers -v- Celtic match after grave concerns over public order being expressed by Strathclyde Police, who threatened to arrest him if he attempted to enter the stadium. Michael Stone murdered three innocent Catholics in a cowardly, murderous, graveyard bloodbath as he attacked a funeral procession with hand grenades and a pistol.

Failing to censure Club-Captain Lorenzo Amoruso after he was convicted of spitting on Ayr United striker James Grady. The condemnation from within Ibrox was deafening in it’s silence, limited only to a pathetic moan by Gingerbaws who grumbled "We hoped that the player's version of events would be accepted. It's a major blow to lose Lorenzo at this stage of the season."

Rankers director and shareholder Dave King being arrested over further corruption and fraud charges in South Africa. King is being quizzed over allegations that he bribed a water utility manager to ensure contracts would be awarded to one of his investment firms. King, with a £20m shareholding at Rankers (second only to Murray) already faces 11 counts of fraud involving non-payment of almost £60m in taxes. The latest charges follow allegations by David McLean, who succeeded him as chief executive at another of his companies, Enterprise Risk Management (ERM). It is alleged that King enticed Greg Morris, the water firm manager, to join ERM with 400,000 share options in exchange for manipulating a contract. Morris, who later left the water company to work for King, has also been charged. King lives in luxury although he claims to to have no assets in South Africa. He is alleged to have declared income of only £3500 a year to tax authorities, although his personal wealth is estimated at around £200m. On this meagre income he is alleged to have bought a £7.8m jet, a Ferrari, two homes, a vinery, and share in a stud farm – although he didn’t get much use out of the jet. It, along with his passport, was seized by South African anti-fraud investigators.

Refusing to sack Bob Malcolm for signing a Rankers fan's match programme with the sectarian slogan 'F*ck The Pope'. Despite claiming to be intolerant of such bigoted and hate-filled attitudes, and citing puppet initiatives as evidence of this, Rankers refused to terminate his contract. Surely actions speak louder than words ?!

Being pilloried by Radio One for being the only club in Britain not to donate a club shirt to Children in Need. Only in the face of rage and criticism, were the huns forced into a humiliating climbdown on their selfish and uncharitable stance.

Accepting a £1million investment from convicted drug-dealing, sectarian, sociopath Lotto thug Michael Carroll, who has over 30 convictions for almost every kind of anti-social offence imaginable. Carroll recently threatened to ‘knife anyone who tried to sponge off him.’ Hope Mr Murray’s got a good bodyguard. Having said that, when you’re drowning in a sea of debt, the psycho’s pound is as good as any, eh ?!

Alex McLeish’s disgusting defence of Alex Rae’s brutal onfield assault on CSKA Moscow player Sergei Dadu during a UCL qualification tie. After Rae brutally and thuggishly kicked Dadu in the head – despite the player lying face down on the ground, McLeish sickeningly claimed “the ball was there to be won…..it just so happened that a Moscow player was lying beside it at the time." Funnily enough, UEFA – and the rest of the civilized world - never saw it that way, and slapped a 5 match European ban on hot-head Rae for Gross Sporting Misconduct. In a further feat of refusal to accept any form of responsibility for his player’s thuggery, McLeish appealed the ban. Not surprisingly, he was told where to go.

The disgraceful situation in which Michael Ball was barred from playing for the first team, because any further appearances would invoke a clause in his contract which would force impoverished Rankers to pay Everton a further fee of £500,000. In order to avoid paying this amount, Ball was uncerimoniously dumped into the reserves and his career forced to stagnate. For a lengthy period, he faced the ignominy of being forced to pay the money out of his own pocket, just so he could resume his career – and later admitted that he was forced to do exactly that. Rankers repeatedly stalled until Everton were forced into accepting a hush-deal, with Ball being the one who footed the bill.

Being pilloried by ex-director Hugh Adam for their ineptitude and mismanagement. Adams lifted the lid on the culture of bullying, fear, and toadying that pervades Ibrox. Despite being a director for decades, Adams was forced out because he refused to be bullied by David Murray, whom he accuses of driving the club towards receivership.

Operating a club shop that is despised by the fans for it’s embarassing, shambolic, and money-grabbing ethos. The Rankers Shop is viewed by the huns as an embarassing rip-off merchant that lacks even the most basic knowledge about the club, whilst punting the fans the most inferior of products, at the most astronomical margins. One ‘fan’ who called in on a Saturday afternoon for a score update was asked “ Who’s playing ?” whilst another, when he asked for Jorg Albertz video ‘The Slammer’ was met with the reply “ Who ?”. On another occaision a customer was asked how to spell ‘Stefan Klos’ when he went in to get his shirt printed – although maybe not a bad idea since the ’50 League Titles Special’ jersey was released with a ‘special limited edition’ print that misspelled the names of two of their er, legends. The shop has also been asked by ‘the peepil’ to stop selling products that erroneously describe the club’s name as ‘Glasgow Rangers’. Mibbees Murray sold the original name when no-one was watching ?!

Being criticised by FIFA, UEFA, and the Australian Soccer Association for their shameful and draconian treatment of Craig Moore. Guilty of nothing more than patriotism, Moore was stripped of his captaincy and immediately transfer-listed - all because he wanted to represent his country at the Olympic Games in Athens. Rankers only relented after being warned by the ASA, who threatened to ban Moore from playing club matches if they attempted to prevent him from travelling to Greece. Also withdrawn was the players right to a testimonial match which he had earned after showing over ELEVEN YEARS of loyal service and committment to Rankers. Rankers have a history of repeatedly withdrawing their players from international duty with convenient excuses, and temporary (and miraculously disappearing) injuries. At the same time, their fans and ex-players hypocritically criticise others who opt to play for the country of their birthright and democratic choice.
David Murray refusing to censure the Ibrox bigots after a full stadium of them were broadcast on live television openly and sectarianly abusing Martin O’Neill after he had the temerity to speak out on their repeated and continued despicable racial abuse of Neil Lennon. David Murray would later claim – in the face of blatant aural and visual evidence to the contrary – that Rankers fans were ‘decent, respectable people’.
Having to put typed song-sheets onto fans’ seats before a CL tie against ManUre because the loyal loyal billyboy true blue fans didn’t actually know the words to any of the club songs.
Getting embarassingly horsed out of Europe yet again - and again for the second time in the same season - after a woeful display against an ordinary Auxerre side. Despite being the group’s top seed, winning their opening two games, sitting atop the group on maximum points, and there being an incredible THREE qualification places up for grabs, Rankers finished in fourth place behind lowly teams like Dutch also-rans Alkmaar and Austrian unknowns Grazer. That is in addition to, and despite of, needing only a single point from their remaining two games, from one of the identified easiest groups of the round. Of the entire eight groups, Rankers were the only team who won two games, but still failed to progress. Even die-hard fans found it hard to stomach such an 'amatuer, shambolic, and woeful' performance, as hapless manager Alex McLeish was forced to concede. As Auxerre coach Guy Roux wryly commented, "I didn't expect it to be quite so easy tonight." It left Rankers European record under the clueless McLeish reading : Played 20, Won 6, Drawn 4, Lost 10. One of those wins came against the anonymous, and utterly unheard of Amica Wronki, whilst another only happened only after a 2nd leg last-gasp, extra-time, penalty shoot-out, against lowly Portuguese minnows Maritimo – who had already beaten Rankers in the 1st leg. Simply the best - hmm judge for yourself.
Being bent over and shafted – yet again – by Graeme Souness, who uses them as a cheap feeder club. Souness impinges on Rankers desperate financial situation to bleed them of their only assets, and abuses his one-sided friendship with David Murray to lure away players like Tugay, Amoruso, Ferguson, and Boumsong on the cheap.
Failing to take any action when one of their security staff was convicted of sexually harrassing two female collegues. James McVey, a senior recruitment manager at Ibrox stadium was investigated after numerous complaints regarding his sleazy conduct. Despite being found guilty during an internal investigation, McVey is allowed to keep his job, despite it giving him access to sensitive and personal information about his victims.
Having a fanbase so ‘loyal’, the club still can’t sell their full allocation of Season Books. Despite hawking them around for half their face value at Xmas, the club was still left with an abundance of them in mid-February. The tickets no-one wanted were being offered for £109.00 including the final game – v – Celtic, yet they still couldn’t shift them. Fickle gloryhunters – you better believe it.
Gingerbaws openly admitting in the media before the 'Cooper Cup Final' that he tried to offload Rankers resident psychotic timebomb, Fernando The Commando. After numerous drunken, criminal, and violent exploits that besmirched the club's already tarnished and infamous reputation for notoriety, McLeish decided enough was enough, and the man with the wild staring eyes would have to go. Rickhead received counselling and was ordered to curtail his drunken psychotic behaviour, as the club contemplated ways of offloading the weirdo. The problem was, Rankers never received a single offer for the drunk-driving, lampost-felling, nocturnal-trampolining, pyrotechnic, neighbour-from-hell, so they were up shit creek without a canoe - never mind a paddle. Reports of interest - even from his previous club AZ Alkmaar - were shown to be nothing more than a pathetic attempt by the Rankers-friendly media to shift on the problem, by trying to generate something even resembling an interest in this problematic and seemingly possessed, unsellable loser. Unable to get rid of psychoboy, Rankers promoted him to Club Captain. He repaid them by getting red-carded against Aberdeen.
Security Chief Lawrence Mackintyre assaulting a fan who ran onto the Ibrox pitch. After the 'Cooper' CIS Cup win at the national white elephant, TFOD returned to The Death Star to celebrate winning The Diddy Cup. An over-excited orc (they hadn't won a trophy for 2 years) ran onto the park and made a beeline for Celtic reject Nacho Novo for an autograph. Unfortunately for him, he was first arrested by the fluorescent-jacketed nazis, before being handed over to hired thug Mackintyre, who was witnessed by many thousands of huns 'kneeing the wee ned in the bollocks." Mackintyre's violence was reported to a number of police officers in attendance, but so far, the silence from official circles has been deafening. Wouldn’t be because he’s ex-plod himself now would it ?!
Failing to hold a one-minute silence the day after the death of Pope John Paul II, despite every other match being played in England on the same day doing so. Matches being played all over the world did likewise, and in Italy they were cancelled completely. EPL players of all creed and denomination wore black armbands as a mark of respect to one of the greatest pacifists and humanitarians of our generation, but the small-minded bigots in Scotland couldn't be trusted to do likewise. Around the globe, his death was mourned by billions of Catholics and Non-Catholics alike - except by the huns who denigrated his memory with their vile and putrid sectarian chanting. This hatred is in direct contrast to the tens of thousands of Catholics and non-monarchists, who observed silence tributes after the deaths of The Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, and Diana - Princess Of Wales. This is additionally despite an Anti-Catholic constitutional decree that forbids a Catholic from becoming the Monarch.
Being slated by the influential 'GroundsTour' website during a matchday visit to The Death Star. Awarding Ibrox a measley 37 out of a possible 100, Steve Johnson notably observed : "The atmosphere was tedious, with the fans only making any effort when prompted to, and lacking any real passion. More than anything else, the home supporters were completely devoid of a sense of humour. Every chant from the Kilmarnock fans was greeted with two fingered salutes and vitriol from the Rangers spectators, with some ejected from the Broomloan Stand by police. The most innocuous challenges against Rangers players were met with tirades of verbal abuse being hurled at the match officials and opposition players, all highly unnecessary given the one-sided nature of the game. With fans sat in the ground wearing Ulster scarves, holding their arms aloft singing 'Rule Britannia', it was an uncomfortable and unpleasant ninety minutes sat amongst the Rangers spectators whose antics were as predictable as they were bigoted. It was not hard to see why so few Kilmarnock fans had wanted to make the trip, with the Rangers fans' never tiring of telling the Kilmarnock followers what they thought of the visiting team. I doubt I will return.”
Barring a matchday Pepperami promotion because pathetic bigoted Rankers fans would have caused a riot, due to the product being packaged in a green wrapper. The promotion was scheduled for a Tuesday night game featuring Dundee Utd, but club bosses turned away 70 Unilever (Pepperami's parent company) representatives at the last moment citing 'security issues.' A Unilever spokesperson admitted "We were ready to commence the promotion, when we were told we would no longer be going in. One of the bosses said it was because the wrappers were green, and this would cause trouble." No one from Rankers was available for comment. It is not known if this is because the pathetic bigots got humped 1 – 0 by the SPL’s bottom club.
Gingerbaws being such a clued-up manager that he couldn't remember whom he had on the bench. After a narrow win over Hunfermline at Plasticland, McLeish struggled to remember which substitutes he had at his disposal during a post-match radio interview on BBC SportSound. Probably the ultimate embarassment was having to be reminded by their resident trackside clueless nugget, Chick Young. Heh-Heh-Hehhhhhhh !!!
Being slated by a Sheriff for failing to ban a bigoted sectarian Season Ticket holder who was convicted of hurling despicable anti-Catholic sectarian abuse at Ibrox. Sheriff James Taylor reacted angrily after hearing the Ibrox club had failed to act after Kenneth Rodgers was arrested and convicted of a religiously aggravated Breach Of The Peace in January 2005. Sheriff Taylor said: "I find it surprising and disappointing that Rangers Football Club, being so public recently in decrying sectarianism, should find it sufficient only, to administer a warning." Rodgers of Renfrew, had been given a token warning by club officials after his hate-filled conduct earned him a £400 fine at Glasgow Sheriff Court. Once again, Rankers Football Club - long since the refuge of the bigot - abley demonstrate that their bogus initiatives are nothing more than a smoke and mirrors charade to appease their critics, whilst in reality, they continue to embrace a culture of bigotry and anti-Catholic sectarianism.
Being so bitter an bigoted that they ordered the Executive Chef to remove the dish 'Eggs Benedict' from the Ibrox hospitality menu for fear of offending anti-Catholic fat cats, with the name of the new Pope. On the back of the Peperami and 'green straws' fiascos, this little episode merely goes to show how bitter and twisted the mentality of these people really is. Despite the puppet initiatives, bigotry is well and truly alive and flourishing at The Death Star.
Being slated by Shota Arveladze for being 'inambitious ..... lacking commitment' and repeatedly 'failing in Europe.' No sooner had Arveladze given his honest opinion on the failings at Mordor, than his imminent departure was announced. Funny that.
Being slated by Donald Gorrie MSP for launching a range of orange clothing, despite The Grand Imperial Knight Wizard claiming to have launched a new era of anti-sectarianism. After being outed as a club steeped in sectarianism by BBC Panorama, Murray claimed to be launching a crackdown on bigotry and the 'FTP brigade.' The hollowness of his sham lip service ‘initiative’ was amply demonstrated by the cynical release of yet another orange-related product by the debt-ridden Ibrox money-grabbers. As Lib Dem MSP Donald Gorrie pointed out, "These garments contradict the points made by Mr Murray. This includes not selling merchandise that is perceived to be related to the Orange Order."
Agreeing to participate in a pro-Loyalist love-in with sectarian Linfield FC on July 16th – just a few days after the biggest date in the anti-Catholic Orange Order calendar. Yet more blatant evidence of Rankers inextricable links with the sectarian bigots of the Orange Order, and another example of The Grand Imperial Wizard’s continual pandering to the clubs lowest common denominator.
Dragan Mladenovic criticising the lack of cameraderie and team spirit within the Legoland dressing room, saying he much preferred it at his new club Real Sociedad, where “the spirit is far better to Ibrox, and the friendship between the players is much closer.”
Alex McLeish, in true Rankers tradition, making a poor taste joke about the ailing health of Pope John Paul II just a few weeks after the pontiff passed away.
Disgraced Ex-Vice Chairman, and repeated sectarian bigot Donald Findlay being forced to resign in disgrace as Chairman of the Faculty of Advocates, after yet another sectarian outburst. This time, the shamed bigot was witnessed telling a series of sectarian 'jokes' at an event in a Loyalist stronghold in Ireland which included derogatory references about Catholics, nuns, and the late Pope John Paul II. Amongst other remarks, Findlay asked an audience of around 140 people: "It's very smoky in here tonight – has another f*cking Pope died ?" Findlay later attempted to defend his remarks by claiming "I am not denying telling jokes. I do after dinner speeches and my act consists of swearing and dirty jokes. People do not have to listen to it. There's been a lot of bad language used here tonight." Also at the same event in the Larne Rangers Social Club was disgraced former Death Star goalkeeper and Loyalist-terrorist sympathiser Andy Goram, who also - but not wholly unpredictably - delivered a routine littered with sectarian obscenities, unashamed bigotry, and 'jokes' about Catholics.
Being slated by Panathanaikos for "trying to move the goalposts" amidst the Kyrgiakos farce, whereupon Rankers tried to use disinformation to pressurise the Greeks into releasing the diving dud from his legally binding contract. Describing Rankers version of events as "science fiction" Pana's spokesman Theologos Alexandratos slated them for trying to "change the terms of the agreement and pay less than was appropriate." He then demanded the return of Kyrgiakos’s registration papers immediately. Rankers’ penny-pinching eventually lost them Kyrgiakos, but the predictable Legoland spin machine blamed Panathanaikos, Kyrgiakos, his lawyer, his agent, his Greek representatives, the Glasgow Fair, Santa Claus………………….
Drawing an absolutely embarassing crowd of only 18,159 (combined) for the much vaunted contest against Dynamo Zagreb in the Toronto SkyDome. Despite the Rogers Centre only having a capacity of some 50,516, the huns could only manage to sell around 9000 tickets. This paltry amount puts to bed the outlandish claims by some dreamers, that Rankers FC is a global brand. Whilst Celtic were able to sell out the SkyDome almost instantly for their friendly against Roma in 2004, Rankers own official research (conducted and authenticated by former director Hugh Adam) showed that suggestions of them having a 'global fanbase' were an absolute fallacy. As for the game, Rankers were predictably gubbed (by a Zagreb team that finished 7th in their league and had to slug it out in a relegation play-off), and the much-hated Dado Prso picked up a 'mystery injury' prior to kick-off, thus rendering him 'unable' to face those former compatriots who despise him.
Struggling desperately to offload hopeless, unsellable duffers like Maurice Ross, Michael Ball, Peter Lovenkrands, and Zurab Khizanishvilli, despite telling the fans for years that they were all quality players who could grace any team in any league. The deluge of offers from interested clubs has been deafening in it’s silence. The man with the mad staring eyes, Fernando Ricksen, had earlier proved to be so unsellable, that Rankers had no option but to keep him long term. He ended up as Club Captain.
Gingerbaws spending a full week moaning and excuse-making about how a referee had cost the huns the game at Pittodrie (after Fernando The Commando got his marching orders in a 3-2 defeat) only to suddenly clam up when a referee gifted them the game the following week at The Death Star (when Stuart Dougal red carded Alan Thompson, much to everyone’s astonishment in a 3-1 win). Forgetting his tirades of the previous week, Gingerbaws had suddenly discovered a previously unknown reticince, as he stated “I don’t want to talk about referees.” Huns – fickle – never !!
Branding Aberdeen fans as 'scum' in the official Rankers matchday programme, whilst The Death Star is populated by some of the vilest, bigoted, sectarian pondlife on the planet.
Being slaughtered by Famagusta manager Temuri Ketsbaia who labelled them ‘the biggest cheats in football.’ In a scathing attack on Scotland’s establishment team, Ketsbaia fearlessly stated what many people have known for years – namely that the huns routinely benefit from suspicious and bizarre refereeing decisions. During a pre-match press conference, Ketsbaia stated, "If you're asking me about cheating I would say what about the sending-off of the Celtic player on Saturday ? I didn't know such things happened in Scottish football - but we have seen this with our own eyes in the last week. I don't want to say the referee tried to help Rangers but his decision helped Rangers get the result they wanted. After that it was easy for them to get the win. After 23 minutes the match was finished. Then you look back to our game against them in Cyprus. Look at the fouls they made against us that night. They should have had two players sent off. We put out Trabzonspor in the last round and they have a better team than Rangers. The difference was luck and Rangers had all the luck in Cyprus. What disappoints me is the excuses Rangers made after that game.”
Gingerbaws screaming ‘bastard’ at Diddy PoorShow after the gangly cart-horse missed yet another glaring sitter against Famagusta. Gingerbaws could be clearly seen on TV by hundreds of viewers mouthing the obscenity at one of his own signings.
Having Bert Konterman tell a few home truths about their recent performances, when he admitted that ‘Celtic were the better team until the referee harshly sent Alan Thompson off’ and that ‘at 40 Temuri Ketsbaia caused Rankers no end of problems and was easily MOTM.’
Playing war-mongering triumphalist imperial anthems like The Dambusters etc whilst having German players in the team.
Gingerbaws – despite being the Scottish meeja’s darling – refusing to hold a press conference after his duffers could only manage to claw a 1-1 draw against lowly Falkirk (courtesy of an obligatory penalty). Despite his haughty claims of ‘132 years of unsurpassed dignity’, and the fact that he’s never found wanting when the huns produce a win – Gingerbaws stormed off in a strop, 14 seconds after reading out a prepared statement. ‘132 years of being embarrassing duffers with a shitebag of a manager’ would be a bit more apt.
Only managing to scrape a win over Porto by literally battering them off the park. Porto players Diego, Jorginho, Pepe and Victor Baia all slated the huns brutal style of murderball, whereupon they kicked, head-butted, and elbowed anything within a six-foot radius of the ball. Porto had to play the final 15 minutes of the game with only 10 men after Sokoto had his knee kicked in. Earlier PoorShow was incredibly lucky not to have been straight red-carded after he head-butted skipper Pedro Emmanuel full in the face after completely missing the ball. Emmanuel had to leave the field immediately, suffering from a broken nose, and later slated the brutal assault as ‘something you’d expect to see on the street, not on a football pitch.’ As Gingerbaws himself admitted “We don’t care how we win – as long as we win.” Sexy football, the ugly brutal hun thug way.
Confirming that bigotry is rife all the way to the highest echelons of the club as Rankers played a ‘behind closed doors’ match –v- Internazionale in the San Siro. In a stadium where you could here a pin drop, the Rankers Executive party comprised 300 members of the Ibrox privilaged insider cabal. Their choice of songs picked up on the media’s plethora of recording microphones : The Sash, Derry’s Walls, and No Pope Of Rome. Is it any wonder why the knuckle-draggers behave as they do, when this is the example set by those at the top ?!
Gingerbaws trying to claim that the vicious hun hoardes were'nt booing him and his hopeless duffers after the Artmedia game. Despite only managing to scrape a goal-less 0 - 0 draw - their fifth in a row - against a team that arrogant huns had previously described as 'an unheard of no-mark pub team', the ginger joker tried to dismiss what viewing thousands had just witnessed on live TV, by claiming that the venomous hoardes were booing the Artmedia players. One wonders if duffers, Namouchi, Thompson, and Nieto - all the target of abuse during the game - harbour the same blind ostrich perspective ?
Being voted The Dirtiest Team in the 2005/06 Champions league campaign, with Dado Prso also being voted The Dirtiest Player. The huns notched up an incredible 75 fouls (fourteen more than their closest rival) and persistant diver Prso an incredible 15 (five more than his closest rival).
Gingerbaws trying to co-erce the referee to yellow-card an Artmedia player, by making a ‘booking’ gesture at him from trackside. Dignity indeed, and seems like an awful lot of effort for a wee no-mark from an unheard of pub team, as the huns were describing them !!
On the weekend where the huns went a humiliating TWELVE points behind League leaders Celtic, after a dreary goaless draw at home to Aberdeen, Gingerbaws being so much of a shitebag, that he sent out to do the post match interview ………. CHRIS BURKE !! Talk about sending a boy to do a man’s job - this is the kid who can’t even stay standing upright on a sunny day FFS. This is on the back of The Ginger Fool’s ground-breaking 14-second interview a few weeks previously.
Being such an unmittigated disaster zone, that even former idols are queing up to knock them back. This time it's Super-Sally McCoist, who despite not having a full time job, and only being marginally involved with the media, rejected them outright, citing 'other committments' as his reason for not accepting a coaching role at The Death Star. The words 'ten-foot bargepole' spring to mind.
Being officially declared ‘The Worst Team In Rankers 132 Year History’ in Dec 2005, after they recorded a hopeless ten games in a row without a single win.
Being branded 'a permanent embarrassment and an occasional disgrace' by Ian Archer, who asserted that ‘Scottish football would be better off’ without them.

Being called ‘savages’ by UEFA President Gustav Wiedekehr.

Being slated as ‘bigoted and abusive’ by MSP Donald Gorrie.

Being called ‘pig-ignorant, uneducated bigots’ and from ‘the lower echelons of society’ by Graham Speirs.

Being compared to ‘like watching paint drying’ by Archie McPherson.

Being slated as ‘the biggest cheats in football’ by Famagusta Manager Temuri Ketsbaia.

Being branded ‘shameful’, ‘filth’ and ‘a disgrace’ by Sir Bobby Robson.

Being branded 'the stupidest team in Europe' by Christopher L'Archer of the esteemed ‘France Football’ magazine.


Now THATS DIGNITY!

^^^^^

Go the Raith Rovers!

Rangers - 51 league titles, 55 Cups and 1 European trophy.
Celtic - 39 league titles , 44 Cups and 1 European trophy ( I will admit a better European trophy compared to Rangers one).


I can't wait for this one, new territory for any Scottish club -

http://www.uefa.com/Competitions/UCL/FixturesResults/Round=2202/match=1102857/index.html

I doubt we will win, but imagine if we did - Quarter Finals of the Champions League!!!


I'm not saying anymore on this Rangers/celtic stuff. It's bad enough in Glasgow let alone on a stadium forum. Back to the Yankees -

Where is the stadium, is it far from Manhattan?
I think the institution that is Rangers has been unsurpassed in 132 years in terms of dignity - Alex McLeish : May 05

The Players


Having dopehead pill-popper Willie Johnstone sent home in shame from the World Cup (Argentina ’78) for failing a drugs test. Drugs cheat Johnstone embarrassed the entire Scottish nation by testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing steroid. Thankfully his chums in the Rankers-friendly meeja were able to deflect criticism from their brother, by suggesting his cheating was, erm, ‘an error’ before hastily sweeping the entire episode under the carpet.

Sandy Jardine’s son being arrested and charged with the production and supply of drugs.

Graeme Souness's horrific two-footed tackle on a Steaua Bucharest player which nearly ended the player's career.

Junkie thug Willie Johnstone being sent off in 1980 for deliberately stamping on the throat of fallen Aberdeen player John McMaster. Even some huns were disgusted at Johnstone's cowardly violence.

Andy Goram turning on the Xmas lights in 1995 in one of the most vile, Catholic-hating, sectarian cesspits of the entire globe - the Loyalist Shankill Road.

The Beast being sent off in his very first game for Rankers, as they were gubbed 2 - 1 by Hibs. The Rankers goal predictably came from a penalty, in a game which saw nearly every single Rankers player booked except the goalkeeper. After the game, Edinburgh resembled a war zone as deranged thugs went on a wrecking spree, terrorising foreign tourists who were over for the Edinburgh Festival.

Andy Goram wearing a black armband during a Celtic –v- Rankers match at Celtic Park in 1998, to mourn the ‘loss’ of Loyalist terrorist, and convicted drug-dealing thug Billy Wright. Bigoted Goram claimed the overt display of solidarity for the hated thug, known as King Rat, was a ‘delayed’ expression of mourning for his elderly ‘Aunt Doris’ who had passed away nearly one year earlier.

Andy Goram posing for photographs alongside numerous UVF Loyalist terrorists and thugs in front of their hate-banners. Rankers players including Jorg Albertz, Artur Numan, and Ronald De Boer also later attended a social function in the Middle East where numerous Loyalist terrorists were in attendance. Curiously, but not together unsurprisingly, the photographs of Goram were only printed by the Scottish media after he had left Rankers for another club.

Andy Goram's persistant alcohol abuse, gambling problems, sinister Loyalist associations, bankruptacy proceedings, womanising and marital break-ups – all done in the full glare of the media. Some folk really are short on dignity.

Andy Goram being arrested at gunpoint after becoming embroiled with drunken thugs on a flight from Italy, which was forced to make an emergency landing at Manchester Airport. This was just one week prior to him joining his new club…………Manchester United.

Paul Gascoigne’s disgusting and brutal domestic violence that left his wife bruised, battered, and physically injured. Staff at a Scottish 5* hotel were so horrified they immediately called the police, whereupon Sheryl Gascoigne was taken to hospital to have her injuries – including a fractured wrist and two black eyes - treated.

Paul Gascoigne's continuous drug and alcohol abuse culminating in him being sent home in shame from France 98 after he had hurled abuse at England manager Glenn Hoddle before storming out of the team camp at La Manga in Spain, leaving his luggage behind.

Paul Gascoigne defecating in the Away dressing-room jaccuzzi after a Celtic -v- Rankers game at Celtic Park.

Paul Gascoigne mimicking a Loyalist flute player in 1998 at Celtic Park, as bigoted Rankers fans sung an anti-Catholic hate anthem in time. Not just a bigot, but a dangerous one to boot. The clown-prince’s darker side was becoming harder to keep hidden.

Tore Andre Flo and Ronald de Boer posing for photographs with convicted sectarian murderer Michael Stone. Their claims of ignorance looked a little hollow in light of the fact that the murderous Stone was the much publicised ‘Star Guest’ that night.

Club Captain Lorenzo Amoruso racially abusing Nigerian striker Victor Ipkeba on the field of play, as they suffered yet another European humping – this time a 3 - 1 away exit to Borussia Dortmund. Amoruso first denied that any such incident had ever taken place, before being forced into a humiliating climbdown, after learning the incident was recorded by a TV camera. Falsely claiming that he 'had only swore in Italian' TV pictures clearly showed him mouthing racist obscenities in English. A thug, a coward, a rascist, and a liar.

Club Captain Terry Butcher being caught on camera, kicking the Away dressing-room door off it's hinges after a 2-0 defeat at Celtic Park. Calm down Terry, it’s only a game.

Elephant Man, and unanimous winner of The Ugliest Man In Football Award – EVER !! Davie Dodds being flung out of the family home in Bearsden, and divorced by his wife, after he was caught cheating behind his wife’s back with a groupie called Jackie Webster. Quite what Miss Webster’s guide dog thought of the situation, is as yet unclear !!

Ally Maxwell singing ‘The Sash’ and rousing the gutter-scum during a substitute's warm-up against CSKA in the early 90's. Maxwell who was on the touchline, could clearly be seen singing the hate anthem, and encouraging his fellow simpleton reprobates to do likewise. This sort of disgraceful encouragement of sectarian degenerate behaviour would later be repeated by numerous bitter Rankers morons like Roberts, Durrant, Gascoigne, Ferguson, Malcolm, Vignal, Prso ……….

Club Captain Barry Ferguson getting embroiled in a drunken brawl at a local hotel with rival supporters, after his team had lost to Celtic. Instead of attempting to maintain a low profile - for professional as well as personal reasons - Ferguson went home, got changed, and went back out drinking at the same hotel where the previous incident had occurred. Predictably, further trouble ensued, and Ferguson was involved in a drunken brawl, and physical assault at a nearby fast-food takeaway.

Club Captain Barry Ferguson throwing an ice-pack at Celtic manager Martin O'Neill during a defeat at Ibrox. Calm down Barry, it’s only a game.

Fernando Ricksen having to be physically restrained by Strathclyde Police officers after they arrested him at his Newton Mearns home for drunk driving. Ricksen first claimed he could not speak English, and then that he had been at home all evening. The felled lamp-post, and damaged Telecom box - as well as the testament of a number of neighbours - suggested otherwise. Ricksen was later convicted of drunk driving and banned from driving for one year.

Fernando Ricksen viciously kicking Aberdeen player Darren Young on the field of play. Ricksen denied there was any malicious intent, until he was caught blatantly lying after having posted on his own website, that his primary intention was 'to teach him (Young) a lesson by straightening him out.' Ricksen was subsequently banned for three games for his act of thuggery.

Fernando Ricksen brutally albowing Hibernian youngster Derek Riordan in the face during a CIS Cup semi-final. Rankers showed their disgust at this kind of onfield violence, and vowed to stamp out such thuggery. They demonstrated their intent by fining Ricksen a whopping......er.....£10k – or half of one week’s wage.

Fernando Ricksen pushing club Chairman John McLelland into a hotel swimming pool, ruining his designer suit, mobile phone, digital camera, and £12k Cartier watch.

Fernando Ricksen being warned by police to curtail his nocturnal revellery after being reported by neighbours on his quiet residential estate for setting off extra-loud firework displays at 4:00am. Ricksen further showed his contempt for the law by replacing his nocturnal pyrotechnics with rowdy 5:00am trampolining sessions with a gaudy Page-3 model he picked up whilst his wife had left the marital home on the grounds of his infantile behaviour. He thanked his neighbours for their concern by slagging them off in a Rankers-friendly down-market tabloid, and accusing them of the heinous crimes of 'being in bed by 11:00pm' and being ‘too quiet.'

Graham Roberts orchestrating bigoted Rankers fans in a rendition of a sectarian anthem at Ibrox. The game resulted in a brawl that included two Rankers players being charged and convicted of Affray, and Incitement To Cause A Breach Of The Peace. The convicted thug would later go on to establish himself as a firm favourite with the club’s gutter-scum element by repeatedly behaving in an exceptionally thuggish, provocative, antagonistic, and aggressive manner whenever he and his fellow ‘hammer-throwers’ (© Jan Bartram) came up against Celtic.

Nuno Capucho being ejected from a Glasgow nightclub after exposing himself to a female guest, and then accosting her by attempting to have her participate in his drunken sexual act. The fact that he is a married man seems to have been lost on him. Onfield, Capucho proved to be one of the worst players ever to pull on the tarnished blue jersey.

Kevin 'Billy' Muscat blatantly diving and feigning injury during a match at Firhill in order to have a Partick Thistle player (Gerry Britton) shown a red card. Self-proclaimed hardman Muscat, was nick-named Billy by his team-mates because the name Kevin sounded 'too Catholic' - a kind-hearted gesture they had previously bestowed upon Kevin Drinkell, and Kevin ‘Ted’ McMinn. In later years, Muscat was made Team Captain of Wimbledon FC by Dennis Wise. ‘Nuff said.

Duncan Ferguson being convicted and imprisoned for his brutal and unprovoked head-butt attack on Raith Rovers player John McStay at Ibrox in 1994. Ferguson was sentenced to three months in Barlinnie, and banned for twelve games by the SFA. In total, Ferguson has been convicted of assault, no less than four times. That is aside his other convictions of course, which include drunk driving. His convictions mean't he was unable to travel to America with new club Everton, due to being a convicted felon and repeat offender.

Graeme Souness being involved in numerous onfield incidents, in which he was frequently red-carded. His brutal style of play earned him the nickname of 'The Beast', and many players (George McLuskey, Billy Stark, Frank McGarvey) were the subject of his particularly nasty and brutal blend of football tackle. His brutality wasn't reserved purely for the football field however, and he once had to be physically restrained after lunging towards, and threatening a 60 year old tea-lady, during a heated confrontation at McDiarmid Park, just before a game –v- St Johnstone.

Graeme Souness - not being able to buy European success – deciding to try building a team of brutes who then sought to kick their way to victory. His signings (and legacy) included some of the most over-physical players in the entire game at that time (Terry Hurlock, Basile Boli, Derek Ferguson, Graeme Roberts...... narrowly failing to capture Stuart ‘Psycho’ Pearce) Thankfully for football's sake he failed miserably, and even ex-players slated his brutal tactics, with Jan Bartram once commenting that Souness “wasn’t trying to build a footballing side, but a team of hammer-throwers” and had told his players to “deliberately kick opponents.” In a scathing attack, Bartram also denounced Souness as “a beast” and “a hooligan.” No-one likes them, they don’t care.

Ian Durrant and Ted McMinn assaulting a man in Dumfries during an argument in the early hours of the morning. It was probably coincidence that the man happened to be wearing a crucifix.

John Brown singing '..up to our knees in Fenian blood..." as he joined in with the sectarian hate-mongers after a game against Club Brugge in 1993.

The provocative and undignified 'mock huddle' by Rankers players on winning the League title. Far from being content and celebrating their win, they obviously felt the requirement to antagonise their opponents by stooping to new depths and confrontational gestures. The condemnation by football authorities was deafening in it's silence.

Club-Captain and serial grogger Lorenzo Amoruso being found guilty of spitting on Ayr United striker James Grady and hammered with a four-match ban. The greasy-grogger seems to have a problem keeping his big ugly gob shut, after being caught live on TV committing one of the cowardliest, most dispicable acts one can, atop a football field. Amoruso was slammed with a mandatory two-match ban, but because his disciplinary record was so dire, the additional 12 disciplinary points incurred a further two-match ban. Rankers only comment on the subject was by Gingerbaws bemoaning the ‘loss’ of this thuggish, cowardly, excuse for a human being.

Lionel Charbonnier attending Hamilton Races with, getting 'inside' betting tips from, and posing for photographs with convicted gangster Paul Ferris.

Alex Rae’s disgusting and brutal assault on CSKA Moscow player Sergei Dadu in a UCL qualifier in August ’04. In a dangerous and unpardonable assault - when Dadu was lying vulnerable and defenceless, face-down on the ground - Rae twice aimed kicks to the player’s head – leaving him with concussion, in a act graphically captured by TV cameras. Rae’s later denial and sickening justification for his act of thuggery just added insult to injury, insulted the intelligence of anyone who witnessed the brutality, and merely confirmed his lack of restraint and remorse. Claiming that "their player put his head down. If anything, it was a dangerous act on his part. That's the end of the matter as far as I am concerned" – Rae failed to mention that it was him who had fouled the player to the ground in the first place. Despite receiving the backing of his under-fire manager, in a sickening act of tacit approval, Rae was charged with Gross Sporting Misconduct by UEFA and hammered with a 5-Match European ban. In a further act of remorselessness, desperation, and outright refusal to accept responsibility for such a thuggish assault, McLeish and Rae appealed the ban. They needn’t have bothered. Luckily for Rae the assault never happened outwith a football stadium, or he would have rightly been facing a lengthy prison term. Rae later boasted in an Xmas interview on Radio Snyde that “if I’d meant to kick Dadu at close range, he would never have gotten up again”. Obviously talking from experience.

Bob Malcolm autographing a fan’s match programme with the initials FTP below his signature. This is the self same Bob Malcolm who told disgusted travelling fans to ‘go fuck themselves’ after they had the temerity to complain about Rankers pathetic 1-0 humbling by Portuguese minnows Maritimo – a privilege for which those fans had forked out some £500.00 each for. Malcolm seems oblivious to the fact that it is those people who pay his grossly over-inflated wages, and those self-same people that are constantly being asked to be ‘the 12th man’ in vital games. On arrival back at Glasgow Airport, Strathclyde Police were waiting for Malcolm with a warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear in court for trial over a motoring offence. He later appeared handcuffed in court, where he was convicted and fined for his criminal conduct.

Shota Arveladze being shown on live TV racially abusing Bobo Balde on the field of play.

Stephen Hughes being stopped for speeding outside a local school, only for police to find out he didn’t have any insurance either. He was later convicted, fined £450.00, and had his license endorsed. Hughes’s previous plaudits include being punched in the face whilst involved in a mass brawl inside a Lanarkshire nightclub, and having a stand up fight with a woman who had to take off her stiletto shoe to defend herself. Six weeks later his cousin died on the same spot after leading a local gangfight between two sets of tooled-up rampaging hooligans.

Bob ‘FTP’ Malcolm being escorted from the Ibrox dug-out by 2 police officers during a CIS Cup tie for making an obscene gesture towards the Celtic officials in the Away dug-out. Malcolm escaped further censure but was given a stern warning by the Match Commander who pointed out that any repeat of his offensive and inflammatory conduct would result in immediate police action.

Celtic reject Nacho Novo deliberately stamping on Stephen Pearson's neck, as the young Celtic player lay on the ground. Think he might still be a wee bit bitter at being told he wasn’t good enough to get a starting place in the Celtic team.

Fernando Ricksen’s airey-fairey, pie-in-the-sky notions that he is regarded as some kind of folk hero back at his former club AZ Alkmaar. Ricksen was brought back to earth with a bump after some scathing revelations from his former team-mates. Current players at the Dutch ‘giants’ (capacity 10,000 !!!) were’nt slow to reveal what they thought of the man whom the scum-buckets idolize. Indicating the sort of sentiment with which Ricksen is held in the AZ dressing room, midfielder Barry van Galen described Ricksen as ‘a raving lunatic’ and ‘crazy’, whilst Striker Jose Fortes Rodriguez revealed that after spotting Ricksen and his vulgar-looking wife in Amsterdam recently, he actually crossed the street to avoid having to talk to them. Rodriguez went on to further slur Ricksen as ‘the least respected player in Holland’ after describing how he had deliberately and viciously stamped on the neck of AZ team-mate Barry Opdam during a training match. This was corroberated by pictures shown on Dutch TV. On returning to Alkmaar for a European tie in Nov ’04 – in which the huns predictably got gubbed – Ricksen was jeered repeatedly, and got so much stick from the home fans, he must have wondered if Neil Lennon had strayed onto the park. No-one likes them, they don’t care !!

Former hero Scott Nisbet being charged with two counts of common assault after beating up his girlfriend Jaqueline Rae at their home in Bonnyrigg, after worried neighbours phoned the police. Cowardly Nisbet slapped Rae repeatedly, punched her on the neck, and flung her against a wall, causing her to be physically sick. The shamed coward only escaped a jail sentence when Rae miraculously decided she no longer wanted to proceed with the charges. This remarkable u-turn of course, had nothing to do with the engagement ring that Nisbet cynically introduced to the proceedings. Nisbets first wife divorced him amidst bitter allegations of violence, assault, spousal abuse, and property damage. He joins a shameful list of notorious, cowardly, wife-beating, Rankers players including Gascoigne, Goram and Ricksen.

Craig Moore being questioned by police after racially abusing a Glasgow taxi-driver outside Queen St Station on Hogmanay. Moore attempted to barge ahead in the queue, and launched a tirade of rascist abuse at the driver who refused to carry him, when others had quite obviously been waiting longer. Moore’s arrogance got the better of him, and he called the driver ‘a greedy p*ki bastard’. A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said : "We can confirm that a 35year-old taxi driver has made a complaint against a man who allegedly racially abused him. It is alleged that the incident took place around 3.30am on Saturday, 1 January, in Royal Exchange Court, near to Queen Street Station in Glasgow. Police inquiries are ongoing."

Sleazy creep Nacho Novo having an illicit affair with the girlfriend of a team-mate who had taken him into his home when he first arrived in Scotland. Novo was unfamiliar with the country, and struggled to speak the language, until Raith Rovers midfielder Ross Mathieson invited him to stay at his home until he became a bit more familiar with life at the Kirkcaldy club. Slimy Novo thanked him for his hospitality, by having an illicit affair with Mathieson's girlfriend of six years, Donna Clark, in his own home. The tawdry affair cost Mathieson his relationship. With friends like Novo, who needs enemies, eh ?!

Gregory Vignal assaulting a ballboy at Celtic Park, by pushing him out of the way as the boy was retrieving the ball. The lad was left shaken and visibly upset, after being bundled out of the way by the French defender, who now adds bullying children to his list of pastimes which already include diving, and antagonising rival fans. Another wannabe jaffa, who plays to the gallery, knowing that the Death Star is one of the few places on the planet where talentless thugs like him are lionised.

David Robertson walking out on his wife and two kids, to set up a plush love-nest with one of his wife’s best friends. Just to make sure he shat on her good and proper, he chose the day of her birthday to do it.

Club Captain Fernando Ricksen causing a near riot at Celtic Park, by antagonising opposition fans with inflammatory gestures as he prepared to take a corner kick. Simply taking the corner kick would have been too easy for the man with the wild staring eyes, so to stir things up a bit, he decided a few inflammatory gestures were the order of the day. In the ensuing rage, Ricksen claimed he was struck by a small object thrown from the crowd. Whilst any form of missile-throwing cannot be condoned, has it ever entered this whacko's thick head, that if he continues to behave in a hostile, provocative, and inflammatory manner, it should come as no surprise that people respond angrily ?!

Stephen Hughes being arrested for breach of the peace, police assault, resisting arrest, and urinating in a public place, after a drunken night out in his home town of Motherwell. Hughes repeatedly shouted and swore at two officers as they questioned him for urinating in a shop doorway, after a win against Celtic in November ’04. When warned about his behaviour, Hughes became abusive and was subsequently arrested. As the officers escorted him to a police car, he lashed out at them, kicking, and punched one of them in the neck. The incident was considered serious enough for a Sheriff to demand that Hughes appear before him for sentencing. Hughes was later warned about the seriousness of his conduct and fined £200.00. Even in victory these scumbags lack dignity.

Being slated by Captain Shellsuit, on his return after a failed sojourn at Premiership strugglers Blackburn, as ‘a disgrace’ and ‘not fit to wear the Rankers jersey’ after yet another woeful league performance. You know you’ve hit rock-bottom when a failure starts criticising you !!

Diving cheat Sotirios Kyrgiakos being slated by SFA Executive Referee Brian McGinlay after his theatrical leap at Tynecastle, which resulted in the huns being awarded a 93rd minute penalty. The award enabled them to cheat their way to a win, at a time when they were under intense pressure from Hearts – and were hanging on to their SPL hopes by their fingernails.

Gordon Durie being charged with assaulting a British Transport police officer (Keith Lang) at Waverley Station in Edinburgh, by punching him, and grabbing him by the throat. Durie was also charged with committing a breach of the peace, by struggling with police officers, shouting, swearing, behaving in a disorderly manner, brawling with someone unidentified and making violent threats. Durie's accomplice hooligan, Paul Mooney, was charged with the same breach of the peace, punching and kicking transport police officer Graham Miller, and headbutting transport police officer Steven Pitblado in the face.

Club Vice-Catptain Alex Rae cheating on his wife, fathering a love-child, and then denying all knowledge of the affair, or that the child was his. After being reported to the CSA, Rae was forced to take a DNA test, and was subsequently confirmed as the father of the child he ignores and rejects. Rae was later forced to pay £10,000 per annum towards the girl's upkeep and schooling - and still rejects the child as his own.

Dado Prso being filmed on the official Rankers team bus singing ‘Hello Hello’ as the sectarian hate anthem blared in the background. This is despite a large percentage of those on board being Catholic. Bizarre people.

Sandy Clark trying to con parents into buying school sports uniforms from a company he owns, by getting his sister-in-law (a head-mistress) to slag off Asda, and suggest that parents buy from Clark's company (the imaginatively titled SC Sports Clothing) instead. What she failed to mention was that she was on Clark's payroll, and was receiving back-handers for touting his company as the 'official' uniform supplier. Huns and sleaze, eh – they make Tory politicians look like Boy Scouts.

Spanish misfit Mikel Arteta being pursued by Sheriff Officers and having litigation proceedings instigated against him after he failed to pay a £592 electricity bill from Scottish Power. Despite earning £35k per week, and despite numerous letters and attempts at contact, the sheepish midfielder remained evasive, and failed to offer payment for the outstanding debt.
Gingerbaws slating superstar dud Peter Lovetodive for refusing to GTF despite being told he has no future at The Death Star, but is still eating up a wage that the cash-strapped huns can ill afford. Describing Lovelypants as in need of “a fresh challenge” and “needing to restore his tarnished reputation” Gingerbaws tried to be diplomatic, whilst trying to tell the over-rated duffer that he was nothing but an over-paid liability, who simply can’t, or won’t take a hint. Interest in Lovelypants from other clubs has been deafening by it’s silence, yet this is the same Lovetodive that the Daily Retard told us was being tracked by Barcelona and Inter Milan. Slating the embarrasing dud, Gingerbaws went on to state “Peter Lovenkrands lost his form last season. He knows that we think it's right that he goes for a fresh challenge somewhere else. He has a lot to prove to get to the level of wages he is at next season. If he has another season like the last one then his reputation will plummet."

Former player Stuart Beattie being suspended from his current job after serious allegations that he brutalised and battered youngsters in his care, whilst employed at Kerelaw secure unit for problem children. Beattie – who played in the 80’s alongside the likes of McCoist, Ferguson, and Durrant – is accused of using outlawed restraining holds and participating in a regime of brutality wherein children were battered into compliance by those supposed to be helping them.

Andy Goram being convicted - again - of drink-driving and being banned for 3 years, and fined £1250. The Loyalist-terrorist-sympathising, wife-beating, Ibrox icon was stopped near his home in Langbank, and found to be more than two times over the limit. After discovering to his cost that not every constable in the Traffic Police is a member of The Brotherhood, Goram was arrested and charged. The Flying Pig was first convicted of drink-driving in 1995, when he was banned for 18 months. Some people simply never learn.

Former defender and dressing room wallet-thief Hugh Burns being barred from Dalmilling Golf Club after he hurled sectarian abuse at two elderly club members. Burns turned up late for a tournament, and when told that he could not play, went into a sectarian rant, and hurled bigoted abuse at the elderly tournament officials.

Dado Prso being charged with dangerous driving, after he cut up another motorist and jumped a red light on Crow Rd, near his home in the hun enclave of Bearsden. PoorShow, who pled guilty by letter, was ordered to appear for sentencing on October 12th, when he was fined £250 for his dignified behaviour behind the wheel.

A desperado Captain Shellsuit being booked for diving in the box as the huns slipped 11 points behind Hearts in a 1-0 gubbing at Swinecastle.
Clown prince Paul Gascoigne’s PR firm going bust and leaving a trail of unpaid debts. The fat boozebag wife-beating bigot isn’t quite as popular as he once was with the Brit arse-lickers and loyalist hun hoardes who laughed at him in his hey-day. Now that demand for the junkie washout has dried up, and sales of his dreary autobiography have slowed to a crawl, his imaginatively titled company Paul Gascoigne Promotions has been forced into liquidation with debts on the wrong side of a staggering £100,000.

Gordon Smith and Mark Hateley refusing to accept any form of responsibility for their bankrupt company which left Scottish tax-payers with a £15,000 bill to foot. At the hint of a penny to be made, Smith and Hateley were quick to accept directorships of the disasterous 'Legends' footballing series company, but weren't quite so visible when the company crashed leaving others to foot the massive Strathclyde Police bill. Dignity all the way brothers.

Desperado cheat, Dado Prso being booked for diving – yet again – after taking a blatant swan-dive against ‘pub team’ Artmedia Bratislava.
Peter Lovetodive being awarded 0/10 for his match performance against ICT by the Sunday Times Sport Section.

Fernando The Commando being threatened with legal action by his property agent for continuously and selfishly using his neighbour’s private parking space – as well as his own. Neighbour from hell Ricksen has ignored repeated requests not to park his car in his neighbour’s space at Lancefield Quay, and now faces the prospect of legal action.

Peter Lovelypants and Derek ‘Pieman’ Johnstone conducting a public slanging match after The Fat One dared to criticise Lovetodive for being a hopeless duffer, impersonating a footballer. Lovenkrands hit back by accusing The Fat One of biting the hand that feeds him, and for not having a clue as to what he was talking about. If you ask me, they’re both right ! Two Rankers legends washing the club’s dirty laundry in public – doesn’t get any more dignified than that.

The Fans


Attacking the Moscow Dynamo players (before the full scale riot) during the 1972 ECWC Final in Barcelona. As Moscow Dynamo coach Konstantin Beskov stated, "We had the advantage and momentum at the end of the game - they were trailing 3-2 - when the Rankers fans broke onto the pitch and attacked our players."

Being called ‘savages’ by UEFA President Gustav Wiedekehr after rioting huns shamed themselves in Barcelona in 1972. In a scathing attack, Mr Wiedekehr angrily stated “ The Rangers fans behaved like savages. We must find ways to keep such people from football stadiums.”

Rioting inside and outside Old Trafford during a ‘friendly’ in 1974, causing the stadium to witness some of the bloodiest violence in it’s history, as bigoted huns attacked and bottled United fans, simply because some of them were Irish.

Trying to start sectarian riots in Dublin before and during a game against Bohemians in 1984, which the huns lost 3-2. Rankers fans attacked police and Bohemians fans outside and inside the ground, until they were beaten back, and forced to spend the rest of the game cowering in fear, as they got a taste of their own medicine. Half of the huns never even made it in the first place, after being thrown off the Liverpool / Dunloghaire ferry for rioting. The ferry was turned back, halfway across the Irish Sea after drunken huns started running amok and fighting with other passengers. The Rankers fans thought it would be a good idea to link up with those other paragons of tolerance Linfield, who were playing Shamrock Rovers the following evening, and wreak havoc in the south of Ireland. Unfortunately for them, they didn't bank on the spirit of the Irish people who turned their little wrecking jolly, into a day of fear the huns would never forget. Even to this day, Rankers fans experience a cold shiver when asked about their memories of the trip. Most have conveniently chosen to forget.

Convicted Loyalist terrorist, and UDA Godfather John Gregg being ambushed and shot dead by fellow Rankers fans in 2003 after returning to Belfast from a match at Ibrox. Gregg, who was sentenced to 18 years after a failed assassination attempt on the life of MP Gerry Adams, was slain by a number of gun-totting masked men wearing Rankers shirts, who then fled the scene in a stolen taxi.

Brutally assaulting sports photographer Eric Craig as they invaded the Hampden pitch after the 1980 Scottish Cup Final. Craig was left deaf in one ear, and with a gruesome dent in his head after he was beaten and struck with a Pomagne bottle 'hurled at him by a Rangers fan.' He also had to undergo an emergency six-hour operation at the Southern General Neurosurgical Unit, and still suffers from headaches and dizziness. He also gave up attending football matches after the huns attack which left him traumatised. As Mr Craig later commented "You can still feel the hatred from these people, even after 25 years. I don't know if they'll ever be able to be cured."

UVF Loyalist Godfather William Taube being murdered at Ibrox Stadium in a revenge attack, on a Sunday night in April, 1999, during a Loyalist [Blue Mist] function. The function was held to celebrate the release of, and was attended by, several Loyalist prisoners from the Maze Prison. Security was provided by Taube's UVF friends, including a leading member of the UVF in Glasgow. Despite this, Taube was attacked and head-butted down a flight of stairs before having his head smashed on the marble flooring of The Edmiston Suite. He later died at Glasgow's Southern General Hospital. In a sworn statement to the Crown Office, a witness claimed he had been threatened with knee-capping if he failed to tell police the attack he saw was 'a drunken accident'. Following the incident, the witness received death threats and now lives in hiding, terrified of retribution. Taube's assailant was chased and beaten up in the car park before managing to flee. He has never been caught.

Members of the BNP arrested for Loyalist agitation and recruitment activity outside Ibrox stadium. The BNP feel they have a natural empathy with the politics of Rankers fans with whom they share certain racist, bigoted, homophobic and xenophobic ideals.

Barcelona 1972 : The only fans in European history not to witness their club receiving the trophy in a post-match presentation. Rankers fans were too busy rioting on the field of play at the time, so the ceremony had to take place.............in a dressing room. Following the match Rangers fans rioted in the streets outside the ground, clashing with Spanish police and causing extensive damage in the city. Rankers fans also vandalised the exterior of the city's Catholic cathedral, which was daubed with sectarian graffitti. Similar anti-Catholic sentiments were expressed on buildings, in later years on visits to the Italian cities of Parma and Turin. The scenes of mayhem and violence caused by rioting huns in the Nou Camp remain some of the most disgraceful ever witnessed at a football match.

Repeated hate-posts on FF containing sickening homophobia, with thread titles like ‘Homophobic And Proud’ and ‘101 Uses For A Dead Gay’. This is in addition to numerous repeated sick posts about injured, dead, or disabled people including Stephen Hawking, Christopher Reeve, Emlyn Hughes, Brian Clough, Jordan’s (the topless model) blind toddler son and many others. The list – in no way exhaustive - extends to Mother Teresa, Harold Shipman’s victims, footballers who have died in tragic circumstances, P & O Ferry drowning victims, the Tsunami victims, and those who died on Piper Alpha. Is no-one immune from these brainless morons ?

The only club in football history to be unable to defend their trophy due to the behaviour of their fans. After the rioting that occurred in Barcelona, Rankers received a UEFA one-year ban from European competition.

Being outed as sectarian bigots by one of their own - fellow Rankers fan, and American tourist, James Armstrong, in 1998. During his tour, Armstrong spent a day socialising with Mark Dingwall and some of the other Loyalist FF keyboard bretheren (SMac, SM, & SJ). He attended the day's match v Kilmarnock at Ibrox (Walter Smith's last home game in charge, which Rankers lost 0-1) after Dingwall had got him a ticket for the Club Deck. After an evening's revelry in the Auctioneer's pub, followed by a trip to the curry house, Armstrong caught the last train back to Edinburgh, where he was staying. Onboard the train, he describes the sectarian singing of his fellow passengers, and how he was disturbed by the bigotry they espoused. "There were about ten other Bears singing drunkenly the entire trip back. 'Hello! Hello! We are King Billy's Boys! We're up to our knees in Fenian blood, Surrender or you'll die!' There were other sectarian songs. The bigotry was disturbing."

Throwing a golf-ball with nails projecting out of it at Peter Grant during the notoriously hooligan-hun mid 1980’s. According to Grant himself, the deadly missile only missed his head ‘by a couple of inches.’

Saying that El Hajj Diouf 'deserved a knighthood' after the disgusting and vile episode when he spat on football supporters. This serial low-life has been warned, fined, and banned numerous times, and is a disgrace to both the footballing fraternity in particular, and the human race in general - unless of course you're a Rankers fan, in which case he's a candidate for investiture. Funny, the sort of people these huns look up to ?!

The outrage by huge sections of the club's support after Rankers ended their sectarian signing policy - eventually - and signed a Catholic after almost a century. The arrival of the said Catholic was met with protests, derision, boycotts, and the surrender and burning of numerous Season Books. Fans' leaders appeared in television documentaries in later years, proudly displaying their full and unused Season Books, as a result of their continued non-attendance protest at the presence of a Catholic player at the club.

Rioting before, during, and after the notorious Villa Riot game in 1976 where 8000 drunken huns went on an orgy of robbery, violence, and hooliganism which brought Birmingham to a standstill. People's doors were kicked in, pubs wrecked, shops looted, and Villa fans bottled and stabbed as rampaging huns brought an orgy of drunken violence and terror to Birmingham. Hooligan huns without tickets broke down the gates of the Holte End, and rampaged onto the terracing attacking the Villa fans with bricks and bottles. The violence was so serious that it was reported live on World Of Sport just after kick-off, with Dickie Davies warning Villa fans not to go into their home end for the threat of being attacked. The game was marred by dozens of rampaging fights as drunken huns attacked the home fans, and was eventually abandoned at half-time in the interests of crowd safety - with the huns typically on the losing end of the 2-0 scoreline.

Using child abuse as a cheap weapon in a tawdry point-scoring exercise, whilst seeking to slander the memory of Jock Stein. A sickening t-shirt stunt was planned which sought to denigrate Scotland's most successful manager, at the expense of innocent children who were the victims of a heinous crime. Thankfully, those in charge of the club recognised that particular cancer in time to exterminate it's malignant influence, by threatening life bans for any degenerate perverted enough to carry out their twisted plan. The stunt was no empathy for those who suffered abuse - it was a way of using their suffering to fabricate lies about someone who isn't here to defend himself. Psychologists call it the 'Theory Of Cognitive Dissonance' whereupon one seeks to denigrate another in order to make themselves feel better, and tries to justify their actions by a twisted rationalisation that their victim 'deserved it.' It was the same tactic that the Nazis used on Jewish holocaust victims, and is the same reasoning that wife-beaters use to justify their cowardly violence, in their own minds. The intentions of the deranged low-lifes at Ibrox was to try and tarnish the status of a footballing giant, whilst wading in a cesspit filled with the remnants of human suffering and broken lives. What could be any lower than sullying the reputation of a dead man with lies and fabrication, at the expense of children who were the victims of a heinous crime. This truly is the lowest of the low - and another benchmark for these vile reprobates.

The sectarian murder and homicidal violence perpetrated on Celtic fans, by Rankers-supporting bigoted maniacs. Once investigated and convicted, the perpetrators have often been found to have grown up in an anti-Catholic environment that encouraged sectarianism and division along football and religious lines. One of these thugs, Jason Campbell (who murdered Mark Scott in 1996) is the son of a convicted Loyalist UVF terrorist. He is also a diehard Rankers fan, and was defended during his trial by the Rankers FC Vice-Chairman Donald Findlay QC - himself later forced to resign after a shameful sectarian hate incident. In 1998 Findlay also defended another Rankers-supporting, Loyalist thug, Thomas Longstaff (who cut the throat of Sean O’Connor) is an almost copy-cat attack to Campbell’s. Police later admitted, that in the two-year period between these attacks, 38 similar assaults had taken place in the area, all directed at Catholics or those wearing Celtic colours. The learned Mr Findlay was happilly singing his hate anthems on the same day in May 1999 that 16 year old Thomas McFadden was being stabbed to death by two Rankers fans in Govanhill after they watched the huns play at Hampden. His ‘crime’ was to be wearing a Celtic top. Also in 1999, Carl McGroarty, was shot in the chest by a bolt fired from a crossbow as he left a pub wearing his Celtic top. On the same day, another young Celtic fan, Liam Sweeney was stabbed repeatedly after leaving a Chinese takeaway. His green jersey and the calling of his name to collect his food order was enough to identify him as a Catholic from an Irish background. Later the same evening in Ayrshire, three young Celtic fans - one female - were viciously attacked by a large mob of Rangers fans. All three were hospitalised, one of the men had receiving horrific head injuries, and the other a broken jaw. In 2003, Celtic fan Thomas Loughrey was stabbed to death by James McCormick in an unprovoked attack in Pollokshaws. Thomas had made the fatal error of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, as McCormick – high on drink and drugs, took offence to his Celtic top. In October 2004, Ian Gray was stabbed to death by convicted thug Brian Cooper after he had spent the day getting acutely more drunk after watching an Orange Walk, and then attending a match at Ibrox stadium. Cooper, who received ten years for his act of bigoted murder, admitted sectarianly abusing Mr Gray, before striking him with a wine bottle and repeatedly stabbing him in the back. How many more innocent Celtic fans are to be butchered before something is done to curtail these sectarian animals – and the hatemongers who defend them ?

Having 15 hooligan fans jailed in September 1999 by a Dutch court after they were convicted of mobbing and rioting before, during, and after a European tie with PSV Eindhoven. The hun thugs - all from Scotland - were convicted by the court in Den Bosch, and sentenced to periods of imprisonment ranging from 4 weeks to 24 weeks. Afterwards, they were immediately deported upon release. No one likes them – they don’t care !

Being so sectarian that they've had a play dedicated to them because of their bigoted and anarchic perceptions of society. In James Barclay's 'The Bigot', Loyalist, Royalist, Rankers fan Andra Thompson is the sash-wearing embodiment of a typical west of Scotland hun, who worships Rankers, Ulster, Ian Paisley, The Orange Order, The Freemasons, and The Royal Family. At the same time, he hates Catholics, Celtic, Irish people, and anything green in general. The play is an accurate depiction of a hackneyed and twisted old sectarian dinosaur from days gone by, still applying those same tired old bigoted concepts to every second of his waking life. It is a scathing social comment and a damning indictment on a huge percentage of the Rankers support, and how they continue to conduct themselves. Despite the advancement of society, they continue to live their lives in a bigoted and intolerant manner as if they were still living in 'the grand old days of yore'. In Scotland the clocks go forward an hour every year - unless you're a Rankers fan – in which case they go back three hundred years !

The repeated sight and sound of numerous thousands of Rankers fans racially abusing the players of opposition teams, simply because they are black. This behaviour is widespread, blatantly obvious, and as yet unpunished by those who administer the ticketing of Rankers fans. This inaction is viewed by many as tacit complicity.

Starting a FF thread on the 25th anniversary of John Lennon's assassination to praise psychotic murderer Mark Chapman for 'cooly pumping 5 bullets into him'. Added posts went on to denigrate the victim's memory, whilst praising and showing appreciation for the cold-blooded killer who murderered him. Not to be outdone, further posts went on to heap praise, and urge others not to forget, 'the sterling work done by' other deranged assassins including 'Lee Harvey Oswald and Sirhan Sirhan', who assassinated John F Kennedy and his brother Robert.

The disgusting and blatant sectarian abuse by Rankers fans towards Celtic player Neil Lennon. The player has been victimised, brutalised, assaulted, had his property vandalised, and most sinister of all, has had his life threatened. All of these incidents have come from persons later proven to support, or have links to Rankers FC, or have had blatant Rankers connections. How serious need this get before something is done about the cancerous hatred of these people ?

The club being forced to refrain from playing a popular chart song over the Ibrox PA system at matches due to Rankers fans hijacking it, distorting the words, and turning it into a sectarian club anthem. The song was later to be repeatedly sung by tens of thousands of Rankers fans for numerous seasons, dispelling the myth that Rankers cancerous sectarian hate was simply the practice of ‘an unrepresentative minority.’ Indeed, if this was the sectarianism of their minority, heaven knows what depths their majority would sink to.

The persistant and widespread mobbing, looting, and fighting by Rankers fans whenever they attend Away matches involving Rankers FC. A recent, but by no means exhaustive list includes : Munich, Rotterdam, Birmingham, Newcastle, Sunderland, Fulham, Liverpool, Bucharest, Paris.......... The above is an obvious reason why Rankers are exceptionally rarely invited to play in testimonial and friendly matches.

Rankers fans being involved in widespread violence and sectarianism during a European tie in July 1998 in Liverpool. The match - against Irish club Shelbourne - had to be moved to a neutral ground (Tranmere Rovers / Prenton Park) because club officials knew that the sectarian Rankers fans could not be trusted to travel to Ireland without the genuine fear that they would cause mayhem and injury – if not murder (See Bohemians 1984). It so proved that they couldn't be trusted to travel to England either, where they had to be baton-charged by more than 150 fully clad riot police, as they tried to attack the Irish fans. Amidst mopping up the carnage that Rankers fans caused - including smashing the windows of the Shelbourne FC team bus - Liverpool police commented that Rankers fans would never again be allowed to freely roam the city. If they ever again, did have cause to visit the city, severe policing restrictions would be applied. This has later been proven to be the case as numerous English cities have faced severe alcohol licensing restrictions when Rankers are scheduled to play there. The above is another obvious reason why Rankers are exceptionally rarely invited to play in testimonial matches.

The embarrassingly shameful booing and vitriolic hounding of Shota Arveladze by his club's own fans, because he had the temerity to bless himself before entering the field of play, during a recent trip to play Linfield in Ireland. For good measure, the Catholic-hating, sectarian, Loyalist hate-mongers of Linfield abused him as well.

Printing the personal details in a Rankers fanzine of those certain people suspected of having handed the ‘Donald Findlay’ video tape over to the meeja. The inference was that most fellow huns wouldn’t be too bothered if ‘some harm’ befell the culprit(s).

Having three hooligan fans jailed for 20 months each in March 2004, after they brutally attacked an Aberdeen fan in Glasgow as he returned there to catch a train following a Scottish Cup tie in Dumfries. Video footage showed pedestrians diving for cover and the fight was only stopped when police arrived. Damning the Rankers hooligans, Sheriff Linda Ruxton said jail was the only option in the interests of the public. "This was an incident associated with football violence, which brought about a serious disturbance. It took very little to lose control and, as a result, you behaved like hooligans. It must have been a frightening experience for those that were witnesses. Your actions made Glasgow city centre a very dangerous place. Public interest demands that a custodial sentence must be passed."

The shameful desecration of silence tributes to football legend Sir Matt Busby - because he was a Catholic - and assassinated President John F Kennedy for the same reason. Not even the dead are immune from sectarian vitriol it would appear.

The shameful displaying of Loyalist paramilitary banners by sectarian Rankers fans, who glorify those convicted of sectarian murder, and that mock the deaths of their victims. Banners have also been flown denigrating the memory of deceased Celtic players, and of a young Catholic man (Robert Hamill) who was kicked to death by a sectarian hate-mob wearing Rankers shirts. To recreate the assault in which this young man died, sick Rankers fans invented a terracing dance called 'the bouncy' in which they emulate the sickening attack. This was later revealed as being so on FF when a poster admitted to ‘joining in the celebration of the death of a Catholic.’ This act represents a hatred and a depravity that is hard to quantify.

Having Rankers fans describe the terrorist attacks in New York on September 11th - and in particular the deaths of hundreds of NYPD & NYFD members - as 'deserving' because some of these brave citizens may (or may not) have been part of the pipe band that welcomed MP Gerry Adams to the USA.

Rankers fans deliberately aiming and setting off a pyrotechnic firework in the direction of the Family Section at Celtic Park in October 2002. The device, which police described as ‘a large firework which contained a smaller series of firecrackers’ was set off in an act of blatant hooliganism, with a blatant disregard for the children and families who were seated there. Thankfully no-one was seriously injured by this wanton act of thuggery.

Convicted sectarian, drug-using, drug-dealing, thieving, receiving, criminal-damaging, knife-carrying, fraudulent, car stealing, electronically-tagged, vandalising, burgling, fire-raising, peace-breaching, disqualified-driving, neighbour-from-hell, Lotto thug Michael Carroll who is Rankers daft and their self-confessed 'greatest fan'. Carroll, who has over 50 convictions for almost every kind of degenerate sociopathic disorder recently invested £1million in the club he most identifies with, and which he feels most at home in. A neighbour (Ruth Leeks) who recently collapsed with an asthma attack due to the toxic fumes caused by one of Carroll's customary caravan bonfires, commented 'I feel sorry for the guy because he's obviously so stupid that he has a screw loose and needs help'. As she said this, Carroll and his tattooed hoardes were busily obstructing firemen who had been called to extinguish yet more of his toxic-plumed handiwork.

The repeated vandalism of the Away support section at Celtic Park following a 'visit' by Rankers fans. Although Celtic FC refuse to discuss the cost of repairs, it is believed to run into thousands of pounds for each and every game. The fact that all damage is then has to be paid for by the very club they claim to ‘support’ seems totally lost on these reprobates.

Numerous arrests and subsequent detention of a number of Rankers fans who fraudulently tried to pass off counterfeit Euro currency in Stuttgart before a recent European tie. They were later convicted and sentenced to various periods of imprisonment, bringing further shame on an already notoriously thuggish and hooligan criminal support.

Rankers fans causing a near-riot on the stadium concourse at Ibrox after the refreshment stalls were found to be offering green and white straws (part of an assortment) to customers. Threats of violence and sectarian abuse were hurled at junior catering staff before police and stewards were called in to restore order. Because of this incident, there are now no green and white straws anywhere to be seen at any of the Ibrox vending stalls. Who says the bigots aren’t in control ?!
Using 120 forged tickets to gain entry to a league match at Celtic Park and stealing the seats of fellow Rankers fans, leaving them locked out and unable to see the game. There is nothing much lower than stealing from your own people. Possessing no morals whatsoever, the thieves – incredibly - later tried to shift blame for their dishonesty by suggesting that Celtic FC were responsible for not preventing them from gaining fraudulent access in the first place. As CS Kevin Smith (Match Commander) pointed out “The match saw a number of Rankers fans with genuine tickets turned away because other, so-called, fans entered the stadium with forged tickets. Every person entering with a forged ticket deprives a genuine fan with an authentic ticket of the chance to get in.” Are there no depths to which these gutter-scum won’t sink to ??
Being branded ‘shameful’, ‘filth’ and ‘ a disgrace’ by Bobby Robson after a pre-season match at St James’s Park where they persistantly abused Alan Shearer to such an extent, that Robson took him off the park. Robson later commented that he had plied his trade for decades, in numerous countries around the world. This was the first time he had experienced such malice, on such a vile scale, and the first time he had ever felt needing to take one of his players off the field of play. Yet another ugly first for the gutter-scum who support Rankers. Seems the hypocritical hate-mongers only love Engerrlunnd when it suits them.

Rankers fans continued and repeated racial and sectarian abuse of Neil Lennon over two adjoining fixtures which prompted Martin O’Neill to publically comment on his utter disgust at the situation. Despite condemnation from the media, politicians, and the wider Scottish public, Rankers refused to condemn their bigoted and sectarian fan-base who continue to bring shame on their club. On the very day Martin O’Neill’s comments were reported in the media, he himself was viciously abused by the Ibrox hate-mongers during a match with Austrian minnows Grazer AK. Hollow claims from the Ibrox hierarchy that any abuse was made by ‘a minority’ were publically dispelled when a near full house was broadcast on live television heard to repeatedly abusing Martin O’Neill as ‘a Fenian bastard’. Later, and displaying a deporable ignorance of the facts, not to mention a typical and wholly predictable display of Ostrich Syndrome, David Murray attempted to claim that ‘generalisations of Rankers fans as racist bigots, were inaccurate’. In his view ‘the vast majority of Rankers supporters are decent, respectable people’. Pity none of them were amongst the 50,000+ that were inside Ibrox that night, Mr Murray – or perhaps you just need to take your head out of the sand. Having said that, when you’re drowning in a sea of debt, the bigot’s pound is as good as any, eh ?!
A Rankers fan (Derek Hume) being arrested and charged with verbally abusing Bobo Balde in a racist and sectarian manner during a game at Ibrox. At the same match another Rankers fan (Alan Martin) was arrested, charged, and later plead guilty to verbally abusing Momo Sylla and Bobo Balde in a racist and sectarian manner. He also admitted making ‘monkey noises’ and shouting racist abuse.
Rankers fans attacking a Glasgow Merchant City bar (Locomotiv) filled with Celtic fans and pushing two of them through a plate glass window. The thugs, many of them with Rankers scarves pulled up over their faces were caught on CCTV attacking the bar, throwing bottles and missiles at it, and attacking the customers inside it by punching and kicking them, whilst chanting sectarian songs. Another blatant example of the hate-filled, sectarian hooligan culture that pervades those who support Rankers.
Having a list of ‘famous’ fans that includes human pig-sty Andy Fordham, Scotlands unfunniest man Andy Cameron, convicted Lotto thug Michael Carroll, washout junkie bigot Martie Pellow, and Shellsuit Bob from no-mark telly show River City.
Sectarian abuse being hurled at four Catholic priests in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis by local hooligans wearing Rankers tops. The priests were warned to leave the island ‘before they were cremated’. One of the priests (Father Paul Hackett) was later mailed a death threat before his parish (The Church Of The Holy Redeemer) was burned to the ground as he slept. Other preists were threatened with ‘having their throats slit’ and ‘being strangled’. It would appear that in the minds of some hate-filled bigots, merely being a Catholic is justifiable grounds for execution.
Organising a poll on FF to canvas support in order to get the telecommunications company Orange to become Rankers new kit sponsors. Posters were asked to sign their vote of approval – many did. Another blatant display of Rankers inextricable links with Loyalism, and the Anti-Catholic Orange Order.
British Transport Police having to board a train in Ayrshire after Loyalist thugs returning from a Rankers game began vandalizing the carriages after having subjected the terrified occupants to mile upon mile of sectarian bigotry and drunken thuggish behaviour. Two young male passengers on the train were also assaulted. A number of arrests were made before the passengers were allowed to resume their journey, grateful in the knowledge that their safety now wasn’t quite so precarious.
Starting a near riot at Pittodrie in a brawl with Aberdeen fans that caused many people to be injured before riot police had to be called in to take control. As stated in The Telegraph " Trouble began when fans in the Rangers section hurled coins and bottles at Aberdeen's Robbie Winters as he prepared to take a corner kick. The home fans invaded the pitch to confront their rivals. Rangers followers tried to meet them half way, but were prevented by 50 police officers in full riot gear. The referee took both teams off and the match was held up for 17 minutes. Nine supporters received minor injuries, two requiring hospital treatment. Police made 13 arrests before the game and one during it, and others were ejected from the ground."
When canvassed for their opinions on how the Unofficial Rankers fanzine 'Follow Follow' could be better improved for the fans, the following were some of the most popular replies : naked page 3 girls, a porn section, a 'faggot' section for all the weirdos and gays, naked female Rankers fans photo section, a section on football thugs and violence, a gossip column. Nice to know their readership are real football fans, who are interested in the genuine issues that affect the club.
Racially abusing two Muslims in Stuttgart Airport, shouting at them : ‘You murdering c**ts shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near a f**king airport.’
Numerous members of Rankers much trumpeted ‘anti-sectarian’ joke mob The Blue Order being arrested for both sectarianism and overt rascism. Far from discouraging bigotry, these resident hate-mongers have been a catalyst for it’s expansion. The most recent exploits of this ‘family friendly’ environment include members being arrested for calling Mark de Vries a ‘n*gger bastard’ during a recent match –v- Hearts at Ibrox. So cancerous is the environment created by these bitter individuals that the club has had to resort to planting undercover stewards within their designated seating area to try and quell the intimidating and malicious atmosphere. To date, numerous members have been arrested, ejected, warned, or banned. If that’s what goes on in their much trumpeted ‘anti-sectarian’ section, one shudders to think what goes on in their sectarian sections.
Singing a song that glorifies committing the sectarian murder of Neil Lennon. The song ‘Hang Neil Lennon’ which Rankers fans admit to singing on their buses en-route to Ibrox, includes the lines ‘Hang Neil Lennon, Hang him high, That I may see that Fenian die..’ They’re nice people, really.
Verbally abusing young cancer victims to score cheap points against Celtic footballers who were at a Cancer Unit trying to brighten up the children patient’s Xmas. The Gub’s ‘baldy headed weans’ diatribe – backed up and supported by his bitter little clique of twisted cronies - was one of the most malicious, disgusting, and vile comments ever uttered by a Rankers fan. Thankfully, some decent Rankers fans had the courage to take this scum-bucket to task over his degenerate hatred. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, they were the ones who were banned from the board. Hypocrasy and suppression are alive and well on Fascist Fascist. Shame on you, ya twisted, evil, bitter bastard.
Suggesting to eachother that Rankers should try and cheat their way to further progress by deliberately throwing their forthcoming UC group match against Auxerre, with a view to securing an easy draw in the next round of the tournament. If Rankers finished 2nd in the group (Alkmaar were favourites for 1st place) they would face the likes of Real Madrid, Valencia, Porto, Deportivo, Liverpool, Ajax etc. If they came 3rd – which would happen if they conveniently ‘lost’ to Auxerre – they would face the likes of Lille, Dnipro, Seville, Bilbao, Zaragoza, Partisan Belgrade etc. With seedings for the next round based on where a team finishes in their previous group, the 1st eight would play the 3rd eight placed teams, and the 2nd eight would play those who parachuted in from the Champions League. Bearing that in mind, the following post appeared on FF. “I personally believe that if we are hearing that Alkmaar are coasting it against Grazer (for example 3 goals up) we should deliberately lose the match to Auxerre. Progress in Europe is vital for the club and coming 3rd instead of 2nd enhances our chances of further progress and to me it is a no-brainer - the club must act in their own best interests”. Aside the fact that Rankers are living in cloud-cuckoo land by considering others as minnows, it seems the hun would rather cheat his way to ‘success’ rather than face the prospect of playing a decent team, in an honest and fair manner.
Being criticised for their constant moaning, and arrogance, by their own Chairman, who said he sometimes wished they “could be more like Celtic’s fans”, who back their team through thick and thin. He was referring to their constant negativity, whinging, getting arrogant after a decade of domestic success, and forgetting about what’s really important to the club.
Being the first club in Britain to have a fan convicted of religious bigotry after one of their sectarian hooligan fan-base was arrested at a match v Copenhagen at Ibrox in Aug 2003. The bigot was arrested for singing vile sectarian songs promoting Loyalist murder gangs and was charged with 'A Breach Of The Peace, Aggravated By Religious Prejudice'. He was convicted and sentenced in March 2004, when he received 120 hours community service and a one year probation order. He also received a banning order from Ibrox, and joins another 14 sectarian bigots who are serving life bans, and a further 82 who are serving 'indefinate' bans. In addition to this, a further 191 bigots have been issued with written warnings for contravening Rankers better-late-than-never 'Pride Over Prejudice' arrangement, and a further 1257 have been warned for 'behaviour deemed inappropriate, offensive, or unsocial'.
Refusing to acknowledge that as a schoolboy, true-blue Alex Rae used to play for Celtic Boys Club, is married to a Tim, and has a number of lifelong Tim mates (many of them from his CBC days). Tut Tut – and him one of ‘the peepil’ as well ?! Seems it’s just too painful for the great unwashed Kinning Parkers to countenance the thought that their numero-uno, arch idol, and Uber-Prod is anything other than a 100% dyed-in-the-wool jaffa. Anything less would be treason, wouldn’t it ??! Maybe if they just refuse to believe it, it’ll all just go away !!
Being described by MSP Donald Gorrie as ‘bigoted and abusive’ after bombarding him with hate-mail after he refused to back their twisted, biased, Rankers-based, Anti-Catholic, Pro-Loyalist agenda. For the crime of remaining neutral over a highly complex and bitterly entrenched issue, Mr Gorrie has now - along with other anti-sectarian campagners - become a figure of hate for the bigots. In other words, if you’re not with us, you must be against us. Not that they’re blinkered or anything like that !
The RSA & RST proving just how weak and impotent they really are during their much-publicised and much-vaunted showdown meeting with Graham Speirs (The Herald) at Ibrox. Despite re-assuring the scum-buckets baying for Speir's head on a silver platter, that 'those representing them will be thouroughly prepared' - they came back after three hours of trying with their tails between their legs, and a whole bunch of nothing. During the meeting Speirs reiterated his belief that Rankers fans' "bigotry is worse at Ibrox than elsewhere, and is greater in it's frequency" and that that his article in support of Neil Lennon was wholly justified. The fact that he again 'attacked the Rankers support as a whole' merely re-iterates what a wasted exercise this was for the beleaguered bretheren of the RSA. No doubt they had a bit of explaining to do when they returned to face the blood-thirsty hoardes in Kinning Park ?! Ah well, back to slating him on FF it is then.
The disgraceful and cowardly verbal attack by a number of drunken Rankers fans on Jean-Alain Boumsong inside an Ibrox hospitality suite, after a European tie –v- Auxerre. Boumsong, who was sitting with his girlfriend and family, was confronted, and subjected to a torrent of personal abuse, before being told to 'F*ck Off To Newcastle'. The Tyneside club had earlier in the day, entered a £7.5m bid for him - something he could neither prevent, nor influence. Confirming the nasty incident, the player's enraged agent Willie McKay, said the bust up left Boumsong's girlfriend 'very upset by what was said' and and he himself stated the ugly confrontation 'left a very nasty taste in the mouth'. If this is how they treat one of their most popular players, heaven knows what vitriol is reserved for the out of favour ones ?!
Wishing Jean-Alain Boumsong a ‘career-ending leg break’, ‘permanent blindness’, and ‘malignant cancer’ after he left Ibrox for St James’s Park. Hell hath no fury like a hun with a grudge.
Posting a thread on FF asking which splinter faction of degenerate, homicidal, drug-dealing, Loyalist psychotics they supported and favoured most. The favourites - which ran into scores of replies - were South Belfast UFF, West Belfast UVF, East Belfast UVF, Cluan Place UVF, Tigers Bay UFF, 'C' Company UFF, East Belfast Protestant Boys, South East Antrim Defenders, Ulster Young Militants, Protestant Action Force, Red Hand Commandos, and the Young Calvay Volunteers. Anyone who doubts a direct link between this Loyalist hate-mongering on FF, the gutter-scum who frequent Ibrox every other week, and their ‘influence’ all the way to the top, need only read one of The Gub's veiled boasts about how tight FF is in the corridors of power at Ibrox'. “Murray phoned up GS (Grandmaster Suck = Mark Dingwall = Editor : FF) and asked for a pow wow earlier this year.” This demonstrates explicitly that a direct line of communication exists between David Murray and Mark Dingwall at FF.
Denigrating those who died in the Tsunami tragedy by suggesting it was their country(s) own fault for not having proper sea defences, and then saying that the charity money should be "spent in Britain, not used to bail out those who'll probably be over here soon as asylum seekers."
Attacking a disabled Dundee United fan before the New Year's Day game at Tannadice this year. The fan, who is well known to Arabs as Charlie, was kicked and punched by two hun neds as he came out of the toilets beside the George Fox Stand, just before the kick-off. Other fans who witnessed the cowardly attack, chased the low-lifes, before giving their description to the police. Sad day when a disabled person can't go about their business without being assaulted by hun scum-bags.
Having another of their vile, sectarian, bigot fans convicted of ‘Breach Of The Peace - Aggravated By Religious Prejudice’ when he (Scott Primrose) was sentenced to 240 hours Community Service and placed on probation for 1 year. Primrose was arrested inside Ibrox as he spewed his bigoted hatred during a game against Celtic in 2004. The judge instructed that Rankers be asked to ban the knuckle-dragger for life.
Having yet another bigoted sectarian Rankers fan (Stuart Davies) being convicted of a religiously aggravated assault. Davies was caged for 22 months after subjecting his victim - a Celtic fan - to a prolonged and vicious attack as he was sitting in his own front garden. Afterwards his victim needed 16 stitches in a gaping head wound. Sentencing him, Sheriff Alfred Vannet said : "I cannot see any other form of disposal other than that of a custodial sentence. You viciously attacked an innocent man, for no other reason than religious prejudice. I further order that Rangers Football Club be informed of your conviction." Also convicted in the same attack was fellow bigot, and fellow Rankers hooligan (Stephen Baxter) who will be sentenced at a later date.
Having 27 fans arrested at the Celtic –v- Rankers game in Jan ’05 despite being fore-warned that their embarrasing sectarian hatred would not be tolerated. Not a single Celtic fan was arrested during the same fixture. The huns were later convicted of a multitude of various unsocial, violent, and sectarian offences. Should we have expected anything less ?!
Being slated by Ibrox legend Ally McCoist for the vicious and fickle way they turned on former golden boy Barry Ferguson, after he left them for a bigger club. When rumours of his possible return to The Deat Star surfaced, McCoist slammed the ‘fickle fans’ who continued to abuse Ferguson – although poignantly highlighted that they’d soon change their tune should he actually return. Another former hero Andy Gray chipped in his tuppence-worth by saying Ferguson would be ‘crazy to even consider going back to Ibrox.’
Having their hooligan neds attack Chris Burke while he was out for a meal, and then subsequently try to blame Celtic fans. The neds spotted Burke at the China House restaurant in Shettleston and proceeded to cause a disturbance and smash the plate glass window of the restaurant, causing terrified diners to run for cover. After Rankers number one fanzine (The Daily Retard) had printed ill-informed, sensationalist lies – including inventing a bizarre hammer fabrication - the truth was only brought to bare when the player's own family issued the following statement : "There was no hammer, no Celtic fans, and none of the teenagers wore Celtic strips. They were all Rangers fans with Rangers tops, and they were knocking on the window when it smashed." Ah, well, at least The Retard tried, eh ?!
Verbally abusing HIV-positive Labour politician Chris Smith, saying he deserves to die of AIDS for being gay. Some of them even volunteered to pull the trigger to 'finish him off early.'
Suggesting that Tony Blair (and his Papist wife ?!!?) should be executed, hung, and given the 'Kennedy treatment' after he publically apologised to Irish miscarriage of justice victims who had been wrongly imprisoned for over 15 years of their lives.
Hooligan thugs endangering the lives of other fans by deliberately starting a fire in the toilets at Celtic Park - after smashing them up first. The deranged lunatics burned all the toilet rolls and paper towels causing an alert which had to be extinguished by security staff, resulting in the area being hurriedly cleared and cordoned off. In the resulting panic, people were in danger of being crushed, as fans tried to use the toilets, not knowing they had been set on fire by Rankers psychos who don't even care if they endanger their own fellow fans.
Slashing a steward at Celtic Park during a match v Celtic. The steward – a Rankers fan – was called a ‘fenian bastard’ before he was cut with a blow to the face. His injuries were tended by medical staff at Celtic Park before he was rushed to hospital.
Having one of their violent, sectarian sewer-hole pubs closed after police, and the licensing board slammed it for being ‘sectarian, abusive, and violent’. Walkers in the east end of Glasgow had it’s licence summarily revoked, and it’s owner was banned from holding a drinks licence. The pub has been the scene of numerous violent, sectarian incidents, and numerous arrests have been made on the knuckle-draggers who frequent it’s bigoted environs. In February ’05, a Celtic fan was chased out of it, and stabbed repeatedly after making the fatal mistake of not knowing it was a violent, bigoted, sectarian, hun-filled cesspit.
Stealing the handbag of a fellow female fan during a match at The Death Star, which contained her ID, purse, house keys, and car keys. Probably why she tried to use the FF messageboard to track the culprit down and ‘have the bastard slashed’.
Causing mayhem, rioting, and battling with rival fans during a testimonial match at Roker Park, in 1993, which included a number of Sunderland fans being slashed, and one being thrown from a moving train.
Having one of their violent, drunken, bigoted, knuckle-draggers arrested at Celtic Park after he sneaked into a Celtic section, and subjected opposition fans to a torrent of religious and sectarian abuse. Robert Reid was almost too drunk to stand, but still found the energy to spout his hate at those who were seated around him. As he was arrested, Reid – filled with dutch courage - challenged fans and police to fight, and hurled a torrent of bigoted abuse. His drunken thuggery cost him a £500 fine and 2 years probation at Glasgow Sheriff Court. At the same match, another of their sectarian, violent drunken louts (John Johnstone) was fined £250 after being arrested, after he was refused entry. Johnstone was found to be drunk and incapable, and lashed out at police and stewards who arrested him as he provoked rival fans with bigoted abuse. Maybe these sectarian cretins took their lead from some of the sterling examples set down by their onfield icons ??!
Showering the Inverness Caley players with a barrage of coins, after Brian Prunty equalised in the 90th minute during a game at The Death Star. This was only 3 days after hooligan Rankers fans threw coins at Mark Burchill after he equalised for Hearts at Swinecastle. Rankers only stole the points in that game, after notorious assistant referee Andy Davies (a Rankers fan with a history of making dubious ‘genuine’ errors) awarded a non-existant penalty after a theatrical dive by Sotirios Kyrgiakos. Not a single other – including the huns themselves - had claimed for, nor saw any incident, but in a truly mystifying and bizarre joint decision, Hugh Dallas (who had earlier failed to award Hearts what looked to all as a stonewall penalty) overturned his earlier award of a goal kick, and pulled a 93rd minute penalty out of the hat, to give the huns a 2-1 victory. Hearts chaiman George Foulkes – like many others - called for an immediate SFA inquiry, and questioned ‘the integrity of the decision’ and wether or not ‘anything untoward’ was present in making it.
Being slated by club Chairman David Murray for being Catholic-hating, sectarian bigots who weren't welcome at The Death Star (or anywhere else for that matter !). In a scathing condemnation of the hate-filled knuckle-draggers who frequent Legoland every other week, The Grand Imperial Knight Dragon Wizard FINALLY amassed the courage to openly admit that Rankers fans have a disgusting, bigoted, and hate-filled element who espouse nauseating, anti-Catholic, sectarian hatred. In a BBC interview, Murray summed up the Rankers fans’ deep-rooted and longstanding problem with sectarian hatred when he stated "There's simply no place at Ibrox for the FTP brigade and those who would have us wading in Fenian blood. We have a proud history and heritage, but this is not what gets us in trouble. It is the 'baggage' of foul singing and sectarian references during, and at the end of traditional Rangers songs which causes me and everyone at this club a problem. We cannot defend it and we must get rid of it." In the same interview, Murray slated and warned those elements within the Rankers support who espouse rascism, fascism, and support for paramilitary sectarian murderers. No one likes them - they don't care !!
Having an additional 28 Blue Order reprobates banned for sectarian and rascist chanting. The bigots - referred to by the club's own chairman as 'the FTP brigade' - were ejected from the ground after making anti-Catholic, and sectarian chants during the club's tarnished (and previously banned) anthem 'Simply The Best.' The (better late than never) strategy was sanctioned by the club's security chief Lawrence Mackintyre, who was finally embarrassed into taking action, in order to begin eradicating the club's woeful and dire sectarian problem. In addition to the 28 banning orders, the remaining 300 members of this bastion of tolerance received warning letters, threatening them with draconian sanctions, should they fail to desist from spouting their virulent and nauseating hatred.
Naming a Cup Final in memory of a bigoted and embittered individual, who stated that Rankers first high-profile Catholic signing (Mo Johnstone) "shouldn't be here." The so-called 'Cooper Final' was such a tribute to his memory that his name wasn't even mentioned until the 88th minute. Curiously, Bobby Sands, and King Billy were accoladed from almost the first minute onwards, and even Derry’s Walls managed a mention before him – just as one of their hooligan supporters was holding up the match, by invading the field of play.
Claiming that the banning of scores of nauseating Blue Order sectarian bigots from The Death Star, was only so that David Murray could re-sell their seats to his fatcat cronies, for the final -v- Celtic game of the season.
Hun bigot Scott Campbell being sacked for gross misconduct from his job as an airport fireman after sectarianly abusing Neil Lennon and Chris Sutton at Inverness airport. Ex-RAF bigot Campbell - a Season Ticket holder at The Death Star - subjected the players to a hate-filled torrent of disgusting sectarian bile, before being confronted by a club security official. His appeal against the sacking was dismissed almost as immediately as he was. Officials at Inverness airport, later issued a full and unreserved apology to Celtic Football Club, for the actions of this dim-witted nugget.
Celebrating the death of Pope John Paul II – less than 24 hours after his passing - with some of the most repugnant, deranged, moronic, sectarian bile ever to have eminated from within the sewers of red, white, & blue repugnance. Whilst his death was being mourned globally by billions of people from all creeds and denominations, the sectarian hate-mongers from Kinning Park were singing their loathsome repertoire of hate-filled intolerance, and Anti-Catholic venomous bigotry. Rankers opponents (Motherwell) had proposed a minute silence, but this had to be over-ruled by police who feared ‘a riot’ if the tribute went ahead. What a truly sad shower of lost souls.
Verbally abusing Bob 'FTP' Malcolm during a 0-1 defeat to Dundee Utd at The Death Star. Malcolm was the target of sustained abuse after the huns failed to overturn the SPL's bottom-placed team this season, despite three attempts. Malcom was jeered and swore at by huge sections of the 'loyal' support, and was applauded finally ........ when he got subbed.
Assaulting Stilian Petrov with a plastic drinks container filled with ice cubes after he had scored a goal at Ibrox. As Petrov turned to celebrate scoring, he was struck in the face and felled by the missile, launched by one of Copland Road's resident hooligans. As Petrov lay injured receiving medical treatment, the bigoted hate-filled hoardes could be clearly seen in the background - and by millions on TV - mouthing sectarian obscenities and making threatening gestures at the injured player. On learning that the culprit – if found – would face a life ban from The Death Star, enraged huns were up in arms and professing support for the deranged one. Whilst some felt he ‘deserved a medal’ and that Petrov had ‘got off lightly’ - others suggested that next time the psychotic thug should throw ‘a half brick’ ….. ‘a golf ball with nails in it’ ….. or a ‘heavy ball-bearing.’
Having the BNP handing out leaflets and selling their publications on Edmiston Drive before the final –v- Celtic game of the season in April ’05. The hate-filled, nauseating, rascist, bigoted intolerants of the BNP feel they have a natural affinity with Rankers fans, and know that Ibrox is one of the last corners of the land where they are embraced.
Having to be seperated by stewards from battering eachother because some of them couldn’t be arsed holding up the Bill Struth banner. Those super-cool, know-it-all, superfans of The Blue Order did their bit of course, but the wasters in the Govan Front were nearly beaten for not giving a toss about this so-called legend. The Blue Order – don’t you just love them ?! – just got their Season Books back after being banned, and now they want to punch everyone’s lights out.
Letting of a smoke grenade at Pittodrie and causing scores of fellow fans to run for safety from the blinding, acrid smoke. The plan was to throw the missile at the Aberdeen fans, but the gormless hun who ignited it, panicked and ended up causing chaos in amongst the Away end, filled with travelling huns.
Causing a total ban on all football shirts to be imposed at Glasgow SECC concerts after they started a fight at a Rod Stewart concert. Five bitter huns were arrested in the ensuing brawl, started because they couldn't stand the sight of seeing a Celtic fan enjoying himself.
Being so bitter and bigoted that they smashed 114 green-light lenses (in a 16-month period) from traffic lights in Larkhall, where people's safety obviously comes secondary to hating anything coloured green. This is in addition to the local chemist (Moss Pharmacy) having to change the existing colour of it's shop front from green and white, after vandals repeatedly attacked the shop, and locals refused to shop there. This would be hilarious if it wasn't so pathetic.
Bigoted Argyll Chief Fire Officer Ronnie Souden being arrested and charged with a religiously aggravated assault, and Breach Of The Peace after a huns defeat. This upstanding pillar of the community - married to a police officer - was arrested after attacking a Celtic fan and screaming sectarian abuse at him, in the aftermath of yet another drubbing at Legoland. No matter how you dress them up, or what cloak of respectability they masquerade under, a hun will always be a hun.
Being slated and condemned by Club Chairman John McClelland as rascists, after a disgraceful barrage of rascist abuse was hurled at Bobo Balde and Momo Sylla during yet another defeat at Celtic Park. McLelland was forced to speak out after a global audience of millions could clearly hear on live TV, the despicable and moronic chanting of Rankers loyal fans. "I do not condone this kind of behaviour, I deplore it," stated a clearly embarassed Mclelland. "There was such a crescendo during Saturday's match. I heard noises of this kind, and it is unacceptable. It is a difficult problem to deal with, but we will do everything we can to make sure the message gets across to our fans. We do not want people who come to games to indulge in racist behaviour like this. Steps will be taken to make sure we weed these people out and I urge fans not to conduct themselves in this fashion."
Having four of their hooligan fans arrested on the P & O Troon - Larne ferry after they rampaged and fought with other passengers, whilst returning from a match at Legoland. Riot police boarded the ferry after the hooligan huns fought a running battle and assaulted three members of staff who tried to prevent them from attacking other passengers.
Having one of their bigoted hooligan season-book holders arrested and charged with two counts of Breach Of The Peace (Aggravated by Religious Prejudice) after he assaulted a Celtic player on the field of play. David Galbraith admitted assaulting Stilian Petrov during a match at The Death Star by felling him with an ice-filled drinks container, as Petrov celebrated scoring a goal. Seems some huns just can’t stand the sight of seeing someone in a Celtic jersey, without wishing to inflict physical harm upon them. Galbraith – who has a number of previous convictions for drunken, sectarian and loutish behaviour - was later sentenced to 100 hours community service for his vicious act of bigoted thuggery.
Having three of their sectarian bigot hooligans fined and sentenced to 200 hours community service each, after they were convicted of attacking a number of people in a campsite at Loch Earn in Perthshire. The victims – one of whom was attacked with a saw – had objected to the hooligans blaring out their sectarian Rankers clubs songs in the early hours of the morning, but were brutally attacked after they complained.
Having Follow Follow slated and condemned by an independent report (The Extent Of Online Sectarianism) on internet forum bigotry, which highlighted a sickening culture of blatant bigotry, sectarian hatred, pro-Loyalist sentiment, and fervent anti-Catholic antipathy. The findings were backed and accepted by Nil By Mouth, and the Scottish Executive’s Cross Party Working Group On Religious Hatred.
Having one of their violent thug fans described by a judge as ‘one of Scotland’s worst football hooligans.’ The ned, Janet ‘The Gannet’ Smith – a 20 stone, loathesome, toothless hag from Ayrshire – was sentenced to 200 hours community service after she was convicted of leading a mob of over 100 violent hun thugs into a pitched battle, in which bottles and bricks were hurled at fans of a junior football club in New Cumnock, Ayrshire. The Gannet arrived for sentencing in her trademark unwashed huns top.
Fighting with Dynamo Zagreb fans outside the Toronto SkyDome after being gubbed 1 – 0 by the Croats. Inside the stadium, the Croatian national anthem had to be sung twice due to booing, and a silence tribute to the London bombing victims was marred by the drunken sectarian bile of the hooligan huns.
Having one of their hooligan bigoted sectarian reprobate fans convicted of threatening an 11 year-old girl, and screaming sectarian abuse at her – all because she had a Celtic top on. Ryan Buchanan was convicted at Perth Sheriff Court after he admitted hurling sectarian abuse at the child, and committing a religiously aggravated Breach Of The Peace. Before fining him £650.00, Sheriff John Miller told the hun, “This was a despicable offence that involved you threatening a small girl with physical harm, and shouting and swearing at her. Furthermore, it was aggravated by religious prejudice, and I hope that you are suitably ashamed of your conduct. You placed a young girl in a state of fear and panic, and the entire circumstances of the incident are quite deplorable.”
Having two of their bigoted sectarian knuckledraggers fined €6000 each for organising an illegal Orange march in Benidorm. Despite Spain being a Catholic country, Bryan and Catherine Sheeran, who own the Ibrox Bar in Benidorm, thought it would be quite alright for them to bring their anti-Catholic hateful intolerance to mainland Spain. Etelviná Andreu Sánchez, the Alicante government delegate who imposed the fines, said: "They defied the ban and even went ahead after the London bombings, which shows how insensitive they are." Benidorm's municipal police chief, Juan Fuertes, insisted the march hadn't been authorised. "We stopped it after about 10 minutes when they started to block the road. We took the names of the organisers and they deserve to receive the maximum penalty for breaking the law."
Having their whinging, moaning fans boo the team off the park after a game against Borussia Moenchengladbach – despite the fact that the game was only a friendly, and ended in a draw. Less than 25,000 even bothered to turn up for it in the first place.
Boo-ing David Murray before the flag unfurling ceremony in July 2005, claiming that he ‘didn’t deserve’ to be doing it, and had ‘nothing to do with the team’s success’. Must have been the only time The Mint was glad that they couldn’t sell all their tickets, and only 48,500 bothered to turn up.
Encouraging eachother to park in spaces reserved for disabled drivers, and to overcome suspicion by pretending ‘you’ve got a gommy leg’ or pretending ‘to be a spastic.’ Really dignified, eh ?!
Stealing others fans’ flags from their seats at Legoland. Each fan had received a mini flag to celebrate the pre-match flag raising ceremony at the beginning of the season, by having had it left on their seat. Unfortunately the temptation was just too much for certain low-life scumbags, and as a result, many of their fellow huns had to go without their commemorative momento, so that others could satisfy their greed. Just can’t trust anyone these days ?!
Racially abusing Shunsuke Nakamura on his debut by hurling a torrent of vile abuse at him, with references to his nationality, colour, and his country’s involvement in a war over 60 years ago. His crime appears to be that he is Japanese, instead of being a white Protestant. Some real bright sparks even hurled hate and abuse at him for being “a chinky bastard.”
Being banned from travelling with Stena Line for subjecting other passengers to hours of sectarian hatred and lacing the journey with hateful songs about murdering Catholics. Stena Line received scores of complaints about the abusive sectarian behaviour of the knuckle-draggers. The relative of one passenger who was on the sailing said, "They were not singing football songs, they were singing sectarian songs about killing Catholics, named Catholics that have been murdered." A spokesman for the ferry company said "We are taking this action for the well-being of all our passengers, many of whom are families with children, and none of whom should be subjected to this kind of sectarian and abusive behaviour."
Rioting alongside their Loyalist Catholic-hating bretheren in an orgy of hateful destruction that included : 1,000 police being deployed, 1,000 soldiers being deployed, 50 police injured, Petrol Bombs being thrown, Blast Bombs thrown, Pipe Bombs thrown, shots fired at police, 7 firearms recovered, a bomb factory being found, and an innocent man being left critically injured after a bomb blast. As cars and buses were being hijacked, huns in orange tops could clearly be seen hurling bricks, stones, and petrol bombs at police.

Starting a thread on Fascist Fascist entitled ‘Neil Lennon Is A Bigot’, which attracted scores of hate-filled sectarian replies including (but not limited to) : bomb the fenian b****** : hang the fenian high : ugly f****** ratfaced fenian scumbag : dirty wee donegal (sic) fenian mother f***** rent bhoy : lennon fenian b******, GTF ya taig c**** : scumbag ginger b******, hang him high : hang the fenian scumbag : f*** off out of my country and go and pick some tatties : a dirty little fenian c***. I think some people may have missed the original point ?!??

Boo-ing Boab Malcolm (again) when his inclusion in the starting line-up was announced before the CIS Cup home tie with Clyde. The huns had to go to extra-time before shaking off Clyde, but they had to do it without Fat Boab, who got hooked on the hour-mark, to a chorus of much applause. Seems that some of these haters will hate anything – even one of their own ‘FTP Uber-Prods.’

Being slated (again) by thie own Chairman for being bigoted sectarian scumbags. In a forthright statement in March 2005, Murray stated : “It is the baggage of foul singing and sectarian references which causes me and everyone at Rangers a problem. We cannot defend it. We must get rid of it."

Sectarian hun drug-dealing scumbucket John Mackenzie having £16k of his drug money seized under the Proceeds Of Crime Act whilst he was over in Ireland for an Apprentice Boys march. Lowlife coward Mackenzie - a Club Deck season ticket holder, and owner of Renfrew's Crimson Club - tried to fit up a painter & decorater, by claiming the man must have planted a batch of Amphetamine, whilst decorating his Renfrew home. Not surprisingly, the judge didn't believe his bizarre excuse, and seized financial assets totalling £15,831.21.

Trying so hard to shake of their bigoted 17th century sectarian Catholic-hating image, that they voted three to one in favour of having The Sash played over the stadium PA system prematch, in a recent FF poll.

Having another of their bigoted hate-filled nuggets being found guilty of sectarianism. Fraser Taylor was fined £500 under the Terrorism Act for wearing a UVF shirt on the day of a Rangers v Celtic match. Fraser was convicted of wearing the shirt, while sectarian songs were being chanted at the Mermaid Bar in Saltcoats, Ayrshire, arousing suspicion that he was a member or supporter of the UVF.

Issuing yet more death threats to victimised Celtic player Neil Lennon, and threatening to burn down the Glasgow hotel where a gala evening was being held in his honour. In a story from the national media, rabid huns from Fascist Fascist encouraged eachother to 'torch the place' during the event whilst other sickos suggested 'invading' the gala dinner to ‘cause mayhem.' Dignity, right enough, eh ?!

Throwing their scarves away after a 0 – 0 draw with Artmedia Bratislava, to leave the Legoland technical area resembling a red, white, and blue battlezone. This was after roundly boo-ing the players off the park, and showering Gingerbaws with abuse for almost the entire match.

Boo-ing the PA safety announcements for foreign fans, despite playing in a stadium where so many people lost their lives due to poor safety conditions being a contributory factor.

The Blue Order starting a bar-brawl and assaulting members of The Rankers Club during a fight at a function held there. By their own admission, pensioners were attacked and punched in the face during the free-for-all.

Fernando The Commando being booked for diving as the huns trailed ICT 0 – 1 in a game at legoland that saw them slip 10 points off the lead and to fourth in the table. The huns eventually scraped a 1 – 1 draw, but not before Prso took one of his customary dives as well. Desperate times call for desperate measures, I guess ?! During the game supporters threw their scarves onto the pitch in disgust ; two fans had to be seperated from fighting in the Broomloan front ; and a police presence was ordered to protect the Main Entrance after a mob of angry huns tried to stage a protest against Gingerbaws, The Dark Lord, and Baldy Bain.

Bert Konterman admitting on Dutch TV, during a broadcast of Panorama : Scotland’s Secret Shame that the hun’s right-hand, straight-arm terracing trademark is ‘a Nazi salute.’

Having 19 of their drunken hooligan fans flung off an EasyJet flight bound for Bratislava. The huns had refused to put their seatbelts on, and some were too drunk to even wake up. Faced with the prospect of having these dangerous loonies mid-air for an additional number of hours, the Captain contacted groundstaff at Stansted, and had them forcibly removed by police, who lumped them onto a train back to Glasgow.

Having yet another of their stinking, bigoted, sectarian fans charged with a Breach Of The Peace : Aggravated By Religious Prejudice after he was arrested for wearing a Red Hand Commandos polo shirt. Graeme Crawford from East Kilbride was ordered to appear at Glasgow Sherriff Court for trial, for promoting a sectarian paramilitary organisation at a Rankers match.

Having one of their lying bigots caught making up a fantasy about being attacked in Glasgow by Celtic players Craig Bellamy and John Hartson - whilst both were actually 200 miles away in Inverness !! Gordon Fielding - a self confessed follower of the huns - claimed that Bellamy, assisted by Hartson, had kicked him in the face outside a Glasgow restaurant, but checks showed that the Celtic players were actually away with the team, who were playing Inverness Caley Thistle that day. Fielding was arrested and charged with wasting police time. He later plead guilty at Glasgow Sherriff Court to lying to police, and fabricating the entire story in a pathetic attempt to besmirch the player’s character, because he resented Bellamy’s high profile with Celtic. Huns, can they actually get any sadder than this ??

Battling with Bolton fans in the square after the CL away match in Porto. The riots started after two drunken huns threw their pints at a crowd of Bolton fans who had been taunting them about being plastic Engerrlunders. Thereafter, tables, chairs, and pints went flying as the huns ran for their lives, whilst Bolton punched the living daylights out of the two ‘hardmen’ pint-throwers. The rest of the huns steemed in to help the two trouble-makers, and all hell broke loose. Riot police were soon on the scene, and the two bars were immediately cleared and shuttered. The huns were unceremoniously dumped out of the bars, cleared from the square, and time was called on an early night. More dignity on foreign shores from these national embarrassments.

The Club

Being so football orientated, that they were started by a group of Protestant rowers, who named them after an English Rugby Club, and so that the owners – brothers Peter & Moses McNeil – could make a quick buck from flogging football shirts from this new game of football.

Vice-Chairman Matt Taylor openly stating in 1967 that Rankers policy of refusing to sign Catholics was 'part of our tradition .... we were formed in 1873 as a Protestant boys club. To change now would lose us considerable support.'

Operating a sectarian, non-Catholic signing policy for nearly a century. Even employees who were married to Catholics suffered victimisation, and ostracisation including Sir Alex Ferguson who revealed in his autobiography that he was 'hounded out' of Ibrox because he was guilty of the heinous crime of having a Catholic wife. After the religion of his wife became known, Ferguson says he was ‘treated differently’ by former friends and colleagues.

Having their hooligan rioting history used as the basis for a study (Crowd Behaviour at Football Matches - A Study in Scotland : The Football Trust 1984) published by the Football Safety Officers (Scotland) who catalogued hun violence from the turn of the last century. The scathing indictment included the following litany of shame : " Riots, unruly behaviour, violence, assault and vandalism appear were a well established, and dominant part of the crowd behaviour from at the 1870s. Rangers had their quota of pitch invasions and abandoned matches, and their crowd seems to have gained a reputation fairly early on for having an unruly element. Neither of the New Year's Day matches in 1898 or 1905 finished, and the 1909 riot, in which 6,000 spectators beat up police, tore down goal posts, lit bonfires and cut firemen's hoses lasted for two and a half hours and resulted in 58 police and 60 others being treated at hospital. Influence from Northern Ireland was particularly strong during this period. Harland and Woolf started operating in Govan in 1912, bringing over many Protestant workers, while others came in the munition boom. Given that this was the bloody phase with war and then partition, it is not perhaps surprising that aspects of the culture of Ulster took deeper root in the West of Scotland. Disorder continued to be associated with Rangers' games, and there were notable outbreaks of disorder in 1941, 1949, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1958 and on into the 1960s. The disorder comprised fighting, bottle throwing and pitch invasions, in addition to ritual chanting, obscenities, and jeering. The club appealed to their supporters in various ways to stop the rowdyism, which was seen as the work of a few hooligans. Certainly the Rangers' board seem to have been increasingly discomforted by the adverse publicity its supporters received and the open suggestions in the press that they were largely to blame for the problem and could help end it by signing a Catholic. There were significant crowd problems at Ibrox in 1973 and 1975, but it was a Rangers' fans riot in Birmingham in 1976 in a 'friendly' with Aston Villa, which provoked the biggest media storm. In general Rangers' expressions of disapproval and condemnation of 'certain sections' of their support, which had followed earlier outbreaks, were seen as irrelevant and now the Glasgow press severely criticised the club. The press detailed the Rangers' fans riots in Wolverhampton, Newcastle, Barcelona and now Birmingham, along with minor skirmishes elsewhere, and condemned the club. The general tone is revealed by Ian Archer in the Glasgow Herald, who stated : "This has to be said about Rangers ….. as a Scottish Football club they are a permanent embarrassment and an occasional disgrace. This country would be a better place if Rangers did not exist".

The Death Star being the spiritual home of the Anti-Catholic Orange Order, and the huns holding the annual Divine Service there from the 1950's until 1997.

Refusing to accept responsibility for the criminal and despicable actions of their players and fans. The club refuse to condemn the guilty parties, and indeed are often seen to condone their behaviour by failing to publicly - or even privately - censure them. There have been numerous incidents over the years in which criminal acts have gone unpunished, and similar despicable acts have been repressed and concealed. Cast your mind back, if you will to :

David Robertson vandalising parked cars on a drunken binge, Ian Durrant and Derek Ferguson fighting in a kebab shop, Sandy Clark's sectarian abuse of Celtic Park ball-boys, Fernando Ricksen's litany of criminality - Paul Gascoigne's brutal domestic violence........ - Many of these incidents have resulted in criminal convictions, yet Rankers have still refused to condemn or sack the guilty parties - even though many have been found guilty in a court of law. Fernando Ricksen's violent conduct on Derek Riordan for example was dismissed as 'more reckless than violent' and Paul Gascoigne's spousal abuse was dismissed with the throwaway line 'what happens behind closed doors is no-one else's business'.

Being caught cheating by tampering with the width of the park at Legoland before a CL tie with Dynamo Kiev. This was to try and stop the Kiev wide men from playing to their strengths. The unsporting behaviour brought furious reaction from UEFA who immediately instigated a new law to ban this kind of underhand behaviour from ever happening again. They criticised Rankers heavily for their ‘bad sportsmanship.’ Huns and level playing fields, eh ?!!

Umpteen members of the Legoland dressing room being members of the Catholic-hating Orange Order, including Eric Caldow and Bobby Shearer, and the revelation by former players that ex-Manager Jock 'The Bigot' Wallace encouraged players to scream 'No Surrender' in the dressing room pre-match, as they listened to Loyalist hate-anthems on cassette.

Rankers Vice Chairman, Donald Findlay being forced to resign after being caught on film by a hidden camera singing sectarian, intolerant, and anti-Catholic anthems at a Rankers fans' victory celebration event. This is not the first time that repeated bigot Findlay has been embroiled in a sectarian incident. He was also forced to resign as Rector of St Andrews University after his despicable anti-Catholic and bigoted sentiments became public knowledge. This man was said to have been one of Scotland’s finest legal brains. If that’s how sectarian the intelligentsia are, what hope for the plebs ?

Being dumped out of Europe yet again, this time from the UEFA Cup by Czech unknowns Viktoria Zizkov. Despite fielding a full-strength team (Klos, Moore, Konterman, Amoruso, Ricksen, Ferguson, Arteta, Numan, de Boer, Arveladze, Lovenkrands) - which included a string of highly-paid internationals, and allegedly ‘world class’ players, Rankers still managed to get embarassingly thumped by the anonymous Czech minnows. On the suggestion that Rankers were now the laughing stock of European football, one dejected Bear commented ‘I dont think our profile is now even high enough to be considered their laughing stock !?’

Setting a European Cup record for being the team humped with the highest aggregate score (murdered 12 - 4 by Eintracht Frankfurt in 1960) and a Champions League record as well (annihilated 8 - 1 by Juventus in 1995).

The cynical release of an orange Rankers shirt to appeal to the club's sectarian element - under the guise that they were celebrating the club's Dutch contingent. This blatantly profiteering charade was even derided by the club's own fans who disgustedly remarked that they (Rankers FC) strangely haven't celebrated the Dutch contingent at any other time - before or since. So blatant is the club’s homage to their sectarian fanbase and the orange pound that they soon after released another almost identical shirt – this time in a cynical and bizarre link-up with a team of Chinese minnows.

The shameful and cynical designing of a sash - sorry slash - across the chest of the current Away kit to pander to the club’s lowest common denominator and sectarian fan-base. Critics were accused of ‘paranoia’ over what was described as ‘a mere coincidence of design’. Funny, I seem to remember it co-incidentally happening at Loyalist-friendly Airdrie FC for a time as well.

Drowning in so much crippling debt, that they had to sell off an entire team to try and rid themselves of £80million worth of mismanagent and over-spending. Out went players like (Amoruso, Tugay, Albertz, Van Bronckhurst, Gattuso, Amato, Reyna, Cannigia, De Boer, Numan, Ferguson, Arteta, Mols) – and in came some of the biggest embarassments and over-the-hill duds ever to grace the field at Legoland (Capucho, Emerson, Vanoli, Nerlinger, Ostenstad, Berg, Mladenovich) to play alongside the likes of Ross, Malcolm, Hughes, Thompson, Rae, Hutton, Namouchi…… Oh dear.

Only preventing ‘celebrity’ Rankers uber-hun and convicted Loyalist paramilitary terrorist murderer Michael Stone from attending a Rankers -v- Celtic match after grave concerns over public order being expressed by Strathclyde Police, who threatened to arrest him if he attempted to enter the stadium. Michael Stone murdered three innocent Catholics in a cowardly, murderous, graveyard bloodbath as he attacked a funeral procession with hand grenades and a pistol.

Failing to censure Club-Captain Lorenzo Amoruso after he was convicted of spitting on Ayr United striker James Grady. The condemnation from within Ibrox was deafening in it’s silence, limited only to a pathetic moan by Gingerbaws who grumbled "We hoped that the player's version of events would be accepted. It's a major blow to lose Lorenzo at this stage of the season."

Rankers director and shareholder Dave King being arrested over further corruption and fraud charges in South Africa. King is being quizzed over allegations that he bribed a water utility manager to ensure contracts would be awarded to one of his investment firms. King, with a £20m shareholding at Rankers (second only to Murray) already faces 11 counts of fraud involving non-payment of almost £60m in taxes. The latest charges follow allegations by David McLean, who succeeded him as chief executive at another of his companies, Enterprise Risk Management (ERM). It is alleged that King enticed Greg Morris, the water firm manager, to join ERM with 400,000 share options in exchange for manipulating a contract. Morris, who later left the water company to work for King, has also been charged. King lives in luxury although he claims to to have no assets in South Africa. He is alleged to have declared income of only £3500 a year to tax authorities, although his personal wealth is estimated at around £200m. On this meagre income he is alleged to have bought a £7.8m jet, a Ferrari, two homes, a vinery, and share in a stud farm – although he didn’t get much use out of the jet. It, along with his passport, was seized by South African anti-fraud investigators.

Refusing to sack Bob Malcolm for signing a Rankers fan's match programme with the sectarian slogan 'F*ck The Pope'. Despite claiming to be intolerant of such bigoted and hate-filled attitudes, and citing puppet initiatives as evidence of this, Rankers refused to terminate his contract. Surely actions speak louder than words ?!

Being pilloried by Radio One for being the only club in Britain not to donate a club shirt to Children in Need. Only in the face of rage and criticism, were the huns forced into a humiliating climbdown on their selfish and uncharitable stance.

Accepting a £1million investment from convicted drug-dealing, sectarian, sociopath Lotto thug Michael Carroll, who has over 30 convictions for almost every kind of anti-social offence imaginable. Carroll recently threatened to ‘knife anyone who tried to sponge off him.’ Hope Mr Murray’s got a good bodyguard. Having said that, when you’re drowning in a sea of debt, the psycho’s pound is as good as any, eh ?!

Alex McLeish’s disgusting defence of Alex Rae’s brutal onfield assault on CSKA Moscow player Sergei Dadu during a UCL qualification tie. After Rae brutally and thuggishly kicked Dadu in the head – despite the player lying face down on the ground, McLeish sickeningly claimed “the ball was there to be won…..it just so happened that a Moscow player was lying beside it at the time." Funnily enough, UEFA – and the rest of the civilized world - never saw it that way, and slapped a 5 match European ban on hot-head Rae for Gross Sporting Misconduct. In a further feat of refusal to accept any form of responsibility for his player’s thuggery, McLeish appealed the ban. Not surprisingly, he was told where to go.

The disgraceful situation in which Michael Ball was barred from playing for the first team, because any further appearances would invoke a clause in his contract which would force impoverished Rankers to pay Everton a further fee of £500,000. In order to avoid paying this amount, Ball was uncerimoniously dumped into the reserves and his career forced to stagnate. For a lengthy period, he faced the ignominy of being forced to pay the money out of his own pocket, just so he could resume his career – and later admitted that he was forced to do exactly that. Rankers repeatedly stalled until Everton were forced into accepting a hush-deal, with Ball being the one who footed the bill.

Being pilloried by ex-director Hugh Adam for their ineptitude and mismanagement. Adams lifted the lid on the culture of bullying, fear, and toadying that pervades Ibrox. Despite being a director for decades, Adams was forced out because he refused to be bullied by David Murray, whom he accuses of driving the club towards receivership.

Operating a club shop that is despised by the fans for it’s embarassing, shambolic, and money-grabbing ethos. The Rankers Shop is viewed by the huns as an embarassing rip-off merchant that lacks even the most basic knowledge about the club, whilst punting the fans the most inferior of products, at the most astronomical margins. One ‘fan’ who called in on a Saturday afternoon for a score update was asked “ Who’s playing ?” whilst another, when he asked for Jorg Albertz video ‘The Slammer’ was met with the reply “ Who ?”. On another occaision a customer was asked how to spell ‘Stefan Klos’ when he went in to get his shirt printed – although maybe not a bad idea since the ’50 League Titles Special’ jersey was released with a ‘special limited edition’ print that misspelled the names of two of their er, legends. The shop has also been asked by ‘the peepil’ to stop selling products that erroneously describe the club’s name as ‘Glasgow Rangers’. Mibbees Murray sold the original name when no-one was watching ?!

Being criticised by FIFA, UEFA, and the Australian Soccer Association for their shameful and draconian treatment of Craig Moore. Guilty of nothing more than patriotism, Moore was stripped of his captaincy and immediately transfer-listed - all because he wanted to represent his country at the Olympic Games in Athens. Rankers only relented after being warned by the ASA, who threatened to ban Moore from playing club matches if they attempted to prevent him from travelling to Greece. Also withdrawn was the players right to a testimonial match which he had earned after showing over ELEVEN YEARS of loyal service and committment to Rankers. Rankers have a history of repeatedly withdrawing their players from international duty with convenient excuses, and temporary (and miraculously disappearing) injuries. At the same time, their fans and ex-players hypocritically criticise others who opt to play for the country of their birthright and democratic choice.
David Murray refusing to censure the Ibrox bigots after a full stadium of them were broadcast on live television openly and sectarianly abusing Martin O’Neill after he had the temerity to speak out on their repeated and continued despicable racial abuse of Neil Lennon. David Murray would later claim – in the face of blatant aural and visual evidence to the contrary – that Rankers fans were ‘decent, respectable people’.
Having to put typed song-sheets onto fans’ seats before a CL tie against ManUre because the loyal loyal billyboy true blue fans didn’t actually know the words to any of the club songs.
Getting embarassingly horsed out of Europe yet again - and again for the second time in the same season - after a woeful display against an ordinary Auxerre side. Despite being the group’s top seed, winning their opening two games, sitting atop the group on maximum points, and there being an incredible THREE qualification places up for grabs, Rankers finished in fourth place behind lowly teams like Dutch also-rans Alkmaar and Austrian unknowns Grazer. That is in addition to, and despite of, needing only a single point from their remaining two games, from one of the identified easiest groups of the round. Of the entire eight groups, Rankers were the only team who won two games, but still failed to progress. Even die-hard fans found it hard to stomach such an 'amatuer, shambolic, and woeful' performance, as hapless manager Alex McLeish was forced to concede. As Auxerre coach Guy Roux wryly commented, "I didn't expect it to be quite so easy tonight." It left Rankers European record under the clueless McLeish reading : Played 20, Won 6, Drawn 4, Lost 10. One of those wins came against the anonymous, and utterly unheard of Amica Wronki, whilst another only happened only after a 2nd leg last-gasp, extra-time, penalty shoot-out, against lowly Portuguese minnows Maritimo – who had already beaten Rankers in the 1st leg. Simply the best - hmm judge for yourself.
Being bent over and shafted – yet again – by Graeme Souness, who uses them as a cheap feeder club. Souness impinges on Rankers desperate financial situation to bleed them of their only assets, and abuses his one-sided friendship with David Murray to lure away players like Tugay, Amoruso, Ferguson, and Boumsong on the cheap.
Failing to take any action when one of their security staff was convicted of sexually harrassing two female collegues. James McVey, a senior recruitment manager at Ibrox stadium was investigated after numerous complaints regarding his sleazy conduct. Despite being found guilty during an internal investigation, McVey is allowed to keep his job, despite it giving him access to sensitive and personal information about his victims.
Having a fanbase so ‘loyal’, the club still can’t sell their full allocation of Season Books. Despite hawking them around for half their face value at Xmas, the club was still left with an abundance of them in mid-February. The tickets no-one wanted were being offered for £109.00 including the final game – v – Celtic, yet they still couldn’t shift them. Fickle gloryhunters – you better believe it.
Gingerbaws openly admitting in the media before the 'Cooper Cup Final' that he tried to offload Rankers resident psychotic timebomb, Fernando The Commando. After numerous drunken, criminal, and violent exploits that besmirched the club's already tarnished and infamous reputation for notoriety, McLeish decided enough was enough, and the man with the wild staring eyes would have to go. Rickhead received counselling and was ordered to curtail his drunken psychotic behaviour, as the club contemplated ways of offloading the weirdo. The problem was, Rankers never received a single offer for the drunk-driving, lampost-felling, nocturnal-trampolining, pyrotechnic, neighbour-from-hell, so they were up shit creek without a canoe - never mind a paddle. Reports of interest - even from his previous club AZ Alkmaar - were shown to be nothing more than a pathetic attempt by the Rankers-friendly media to shift on the problem, by trying to generate something even resembling an interest in this problematic and seemingly possessed, unsellable loser. Unable to get rid of psychoboy, Rankers promoted him to Club Captain. He repaid them by getting red-carded against Aberdeen.
Security Chief Lawrence Mackintyre assaulting a fan who ran onto the Ibrox pitch. After the 'Cooper' CIS Cup win at the national white elephant, TFOD returned to The Death Star to celebrate winning The Diddy Cup. An over-excited orc (they hadn't won a trophy for 2 years) ran onto the park and made a beeline for Celtic reject Nacho Novo for an autograph. Unfortunately for him, he was first arrested by the fluorescent-jacketed nazis, before being handed over to hired thug Mackintyre, who was witnessed by many thousands of huns 'kneeing the wee ned in the bollocks." Mackintyre's violence was reported to a number of police officers in attendance, but so far, the silence from official circles has been deafening. Wouldn’t be because he’s ex-plod himself now would it ?!
Failing to hold a one-minute silence the day after the death of Pope John Paul II, despite every other match being played in England on the same day doing so. Matches being played all over the world did likewise, and in Italy they were cancelled completely. EPL players of all creed and denomination wore black armbands as a mark of respect to one of the greatest pacifists and humanitarians of our generation, but the small-minded bigots in Scotland couldn't be trusted to do likewise. Around the globe, his death was mourned by billions of Catholics and Non-Catholics alike - except by the huns who denigrated his memory with their vile and putrid sectarian chanting. This hatred is in direct contrast to the tens of thousands of Catholics and non-monarchists, who observed silence tributes after the deaths of The Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, and Diana - Princess Of Wales. This is additionally despite an Anti-Catholic constitutional decree that forbids a Catholic from becoming the Monarch.
Being slated by the influential 'GroundsTour' website during a matchday visit to The Death Star. Awarding Ibrox a measley 37 out of a possible 100, Steve Johnson notably observed : "The atmosphere was tedious, with the fans only making any effort when prompted to, and lacking any real passion. More than anything else, the home supporters were completely devoid of a sense of humour. Every chant from the Kilmarnock fans was greeted with two fingered salutes and vitriol from the Rangers spectators, with some ejected from the Broomloan Stand by police. The most innocuous challenges against Rangers players were met with tirades of verbal abuse being hurled at the match officials and opposition players, all highly unnecessary given the one-sided nature of the game. With fans sat in the ground wearing Ulster scarves, holding their arms aloft singing 'Rule Britannia', it was an uncomfortable and unpleasant ninety minutes sat amongst the Rangers spectators whose antics were as predictable as they were bigoted. It was not hard to see why so few Kilmarnock fans had wanted to make the trip, with the Rangers fans' never tiring of telling the Kilmarnock followers what they thought of the visiting team. I doubt I will return.”
Barring a matchday Pepperami promotion because pathetic bigoted Rankers fans would have caused a riot, due to the product being packaged in a green wrapper. The promotion was scheduled for a Tuesday night game featuring Dundee Utd, but club bosses turned away 70 Unilever (Pepperami's parent company) representatives at the last moment citing 'security issues.' A Unilever spokesperson admitted "We were ready to commence the promotion, when we were told we would no longer be going in. One of the bosses said it was because the wrappers were green, and this would cause trouble." No one from Rankers was available for comment. It is not known if this is because the pathetic bigots got humped 1 – 0 by the SPL’s bottom club.
Gingerbaws being such a clued-up manager that he couldn't remember whom he had on the bench. After a narrow win over Hunfermline at Plasticland, McLeish struggled to remember which substitutes he had at his disposal during a post-match radio interview on BBC SportSound. Probably the ultimate embarassment was having to be reminded by their resident trackside clueless nugget, Chick Young. Heh-Heh-Hehhhhhhh !!!
Being slated by a Sheriff for failing to ban a bigoted sectarian Season Ticket holder who was convicted of hurling despicable anti-Catholic sectarian abuse at Ibrox. Sheriff James Taylor reacted angrily after hearing the Ibrox club had failed to act after Kenneth Rodgers was arrested and convicted of a religiously aggravated Breach Of The Peace in January 2005. Sheriff Taylor said: "I find it surprising and disappointing that Rangers Football Club, being so public recently in decrying sectarianism, should find it sufficient only, to administer a warning." Rodgers of Renfrew, had been given a token warning by club officials after his hate-filled conduct earned him a £400 fine at Glasgow Sheriff Court. Once again, Rankers Football Club - long since the refuge of the bigot - abley demonstrate that their bogus initiatives are nothing more than a smoke and mirrors charade to appease their critics, whilst in reality, they continue to embrace a culture of bigotry and anti-Catholic sectarianism.
Being so bitter an bigoted that they ordered the Executive Chef to remove the dish 'Eggs Benedict' from the Ibrox hospitality menu for fear of offending anti-Catholic fat cats, with the name of the new Pope. On the back of the Peperami and 'green straws' fiascos, this little episode merely goes to show how bitter and twisted the mentality of these people really is. Despite the puppet initiatives, bigotry is well and truly alive and flourishing at The Death Star.
Being slated by Shota Arveladze for being 'inambitious ..... lacking commitment' and repeatedly 'failing in Europe.' No sooner had Arveladze given his honest opinion on the failings at Mordor, than his imminent departure was announced. Funny that.
Being slated by Donald Gorrie MSP for launching a range of orange clothing, despite The Grand Imperial Knight Wizard claiming to have launched a new era of anti-sectarianism. After being outed as a club steeped in sectarianism by BBC Panorama, Murray claimed to be launching a crackdown on bigotry and the 'FTP brigade.' The hollowness of his sham lip service ‘initiative’ was amply demonstrated by the cynical release of yet another orange-related product by the debt-ridden Ibrox money-grabbers. As Lib Dem MSP Donald Gorrie pointed out, "These garments contradict the points made by Mr Murray. This includes not selling merchandise that is perceived to be related to the Orange Order."
Agreeing to participate in a pro-Loyalist love-in with sectarian Linfield FC on July 16th – just a few days after the biggest date in the anti-Catholic Orange Order calendar. Yet more blatant evidence of Rankers inextricable links with the sectarian bigots of the Orange Order, and another example of The Grand Imperial Wizard’s continual pandering to the clubs lowest common denominator.
Dragan Mladenovic criticising the lack of cameraderie and team spirit within the Legoland dressing room, saying he much preferred it at his new club Real Sociedad, where “the spirit is far better to Ibrox, and the friendship between the players is much closer.”
Alex McLeish, in true Rankers tradition, making a poor taste joke about the ailing health of Pope John Paul II just a few weeks after the pontiff passed away.
Disgraced Ex-Vice Chairman, and repeated sectarian bigot Donald Findlay being forced to resign in disgrace as Chairman of the Faculty of Advocates, after yet another sectarian outburst. This time, the shamed bigot was witnessed telling a series of sectarian 'jokes' at an event in a Loyalist stronghold in Ireland which included derogatory references about Catholics, nuns, and the late Pope John Paul II. Amongst other remarks, Findlay asked an audience of around 140 people: "It's very smoky in here tonight – has another f*cking Pope died ?" Findlay later attempted to defend his remarks by claiming "I am not denying telling jokes. I do after dinner speeches and my act consists of swearing and dirty jokes. People do not have to listen to it. There's been a lot of bad language used here tonight." Also at the same event in the Larne Rangers Social Club was disgraced former Death Star goalkeeper and Loyalist-terrorist sympathiser Andy Goram, who also - but not wholly unpredictably - delivered a routine littered with sectarian obscenities, unashamed bigotry, and 'jokes' about Catholics.
Being slated by Panathanaikos for "trying to move the goalposts" amidst the Kyrgiakos farce, whereupon Rankers tried to use disinformation to pressurise the Greeks into releasing the diving dud from his legally binding contract. Describing Rankers version of events as "science fiction" Pana's spokesman Theologos Alexandratos slated them for trying to "change the terms of the agreement and pay less than was appropriate." He then demanded the return of Kyrgiakos’s registration papers immediately. Rankers’ penny-pinching eventually lost them Kyrgiakos, but the predictable Legoland spin machine blamed Panathanaikos, Kyrgiakos, his lawyer, his agent, his Greek representatives, the Glasgow Fair, Santa Claus………………….
Drawing an absolutely embarassing crowd of only 18,159 (combined) for the much vaunted contest against Dynamo Zagreb in the Toronto SkyDome. Despite the Rogers Centre only having a capacity of some 50,516, the huns could only manage to sell around 9000 tickets. This paltry amount puts to bed the outlandish claims by some dreamers, that Rankers FC is a global brand. Whilst Celtic were able to sell out the SkyDome almost instantly for their friendly against Roma in 2004, Rankers own official research (conducted and authenticated by former director Hugh Adam) showed that suggestions of them having a 'global fanbase' were an absolute fallacy. As for the game, Rankers were predictably gubbed (by a Zagreb team that finished 7th in their league and had to slug it out in a relegation play-off), and the much-hated Dado Prso picked up a 'mystery injury' prior to kick-off, thus rendering him 'unable' to face those former compatriots who despise him.
Struggling desperately to offload hopeless, unsellable duffers like Maurice Ross, Michael Ball, Peter Lovenkrands, and Zurab Khizanishvilli, despite telling the fans for years that they were all quality players who could grace any team in any league. The deluge of offers from interested clubs has been deafening in it’s silence. The man with the mad staring eyes, Fernando Ricksen, had earlier proved to be so unsellable, that Rankers had no option but to keep him long term. He ended up as Club Captain.
Gingerbaws spending a full week moaning and excuse-making about how a referee had cost the huns the game at Pittodrie (after Fernando The Commando got his marching orders in a 3-2 defeat) only to suddenly clam up when a referee gifted them the game the following week at The Death Star (when Stuart Dougal red carded Alan Thompson, much to everyone’s astonishment in a 3-1 win). Forgetting his tirades of the previous week, Gingerbaws had suddenly discovered a previously unknown reticince, as he stated “I don’t want to talk about referees.” Huns – fickle – never !!
Branding Aberdeen fans as 'scum' in the official Rankers matchday programme, whilst The Death Star is populated by some of the vilest, bigoted, sectarian pondlife on the planet.
Being slaughtered by Famagusta manager Temuri Ketsbaia who labelled them ‘the biggest cheats in football.’ In a scathing attack on Scotland’s establishment team, Ketsbaia fearlessly stated what many people have known for years – namely that the huns routinely benefit from suspicious and bizarre refereeing decisions. During a pre-match press conference, Ketsbaia stated, "If you're asking me about cheating I would say what about the sending-off of the Celtic player on Saturday ? I didn't know such things happened in Scottish football - but we have seen this with our own eyes in the last week. I don't want to say the referee tried to help Rangers but his decision helped Rangers get the result they wanted. After that it was easy for them to get the win. After 23 minutes the match was finished. Then you look back to our game against them in Cyprus. Look at the fouls they made against us that night. They should have had two players sent off. We put out Trabzonspor in the last round and they have a better team than Rangers. The difference was luck and Rangers had all the luck in Cyprus. What disappoints me is the excuses Rangers made after that game.”
Gingerbaws screaming ‘bastard’ at Diddy PoorShow after the gangly cart-horse missed yet another glaring sitter against Famagusta. Gingerbaws could be clearly seen on TV by hundreds of viewers mouthing the obscenity at one of his own signings.
Having Bert Konterman tell a few home truths about their recent performances, when he admitted that ‘Celtic were the better team until the referee harshly sent Alan Thompson off’ and that ‘at 40 Temuri Ketsbaia caused Rankers no end of problems and was easily MOTM.’
Playing war-mongering triumphalist imperial anthems like The Dambusters etc whilst having German players in the team.
Gingerbaws – despite being the Scottish meeja’s darling – refusing to hold a press conference after his duffers could only manage to claw a 1-1 draw against lowly Falkirk (courtesy of an obligatory penalty). Despite his haughty claims of ‘132 years of unsurpassed dignity’, and the fact that he’s never found wanting when the huns produce a win – Gingerbaws stormed off in a strop, 14 seconds after reading out a prepared statement. ‘132 years of being embarrassing duffers with a shitebag of a manager’ would be a bit more apt.
Only managing to scrape a win over Porto by literally battering them off the park. Porto players Diego, Jorginho, Pepe and Victor Baia all slated the huns brutal style of murderball, whereupon they kicked, head-butted, and elbowed anything within a six-foot radius of the ball. Porto had to play the final 15 minutes of the game with only 10 men after Sokoto had his knee kicked in. Earlier PoorShow was incredibly lucky not to have been straight red-carded after he head-butted skipper Pedro Emmanuel full in the face after completely missing the ball. Emmanuel had to leave the field immediately, suffering from a broken nose, and later slated the brutal assault as ‘something you’d expect to see on the street, not on a football pitch.’ As Gingerbaws himself admitted “We don’t care how we win – as long as we win.” Sexy football, the ugly brutal hun thug way.
Confirming that bigotry is rife all the way to the highest echelons of the club as Rankers played a ‘behind closed doors’ match –v- Internazionale in the San Siro. In a stadium where you could here a pin drop, the Rankers Executive party comprised 300 members of the Ibrox privilaged insider cabal. Their choice of songs picked up on the media’s plethora of recording microphones : The Sash, Derry’s Walls, and No Pope Of Rome. Is it any wonder why the knuckle-draggers behave as they do, when this is the example set by those at the top ?!
Gingerbaws trying to claim that the vicious hun hoardes were'nt booing him and his hopeless duffers after the Artmedia game. Despite only managing to scrape a goal-less 0 - 0 draw - their fifth in a row - against a team that arrogant huns had previously described as 'an unheard of no-mark pub team', the ginger joker tried to dismiss what viewing thousands had just witnessed on live TV, by claiming that the venomous hoardes were booing the Artmedia players. One wonders if duffers, Namouchi, Thompson, and Nieto - all the target of abuse during the game - harbour the same blind ostrich perspective ?
Being voted The Dirtiest Team in the 2005/06 Champions league campaign, with Dado Prso also being voted The Dirtiest Player. The huns notched up an incredible 75 fouls (fourteen more than their closest rival) and persistant diver Prso an incredible 15 (five more than his closest rival).
Gingerbaws trying to co-erce the referee to yellow-card an Artmedia player, by making a ‘booking’ gesture at him from trackside. Dignity indeed, and seems like an awful lot of effort for a wee no-mark from an unheard of pub team, as the huns were describing them !!
On the weekend where the huns went a humiliating TWELVE points behind League leaders Celtic, after a dreary goaless draw at home to Aberdeen, Gingerbaws being so much of a shitebag, that he sent out to do the post match interview ………. CHRIS BURKE !! Talk about sending a boy to do a man’s job - this is the kid who can’t even stay standing upright on a sunny day FFS. This is on the back of The Ginger Fool’s ground-breaking 14-second interview a few weeks previously.
Being such an unmittigated disaster zone, that even former idols are queing up to knock them back. This time it's Super-Sally McCoist, who despite not having a full time job, and only being marginally involved with the media, rejected them outright, citing 'other committments' as his reason for not accepting a coaching role at The Death Star. The words 'ten-foot bargepole' spring to mind.
Being officially declared ‘The Worst Team In Rankers 132 Year History’ in Dec 2005, after they recorded a hopeless ten games in a row without a single win.
Being branded 'a permanent embarrassment and an occasional disgrace' by Ian Archer, who asserted that ‘Scottish football would be better off’ without them.

Being called ‘savages’ by UEFA President Gustav Wiedekehr.

Being slated as ‘bigoted and abusive’ by MSP Donald Gorrie.

Being called ‘pig-ignorant, uneducated bigots’ and from ‘the lower echelons of society’ by Graham Speirs.

Being compared to ‘like watching paint drying’ by Archie McPherson.

Being slated as ‘the biggest cheats in football’ by Famagusta Manager Temuri Ketsbaia.

Being branded ‘shameful’, ‘filth’ and ‘a disgrace’ by Sir Bobby Robson.

Being branded 'the stupidest team in Europe' by Christopher L'Archer of the esteemed ‘France Football’ magazine.


Now THATS DIGNITY!

We now have celtic morons posting absolute garbage, page long garbage that nobody is going to read. On one of their celtic fan sites they decided to hijack this site. They are doing it on every single thread. We also now have posters with terrorists as their avatars -

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/member.php?u=44697

I have contacted the admin as I don't think any of us want to see the promotion of paramilitaries on this site. At the end of the day, it is a stadium site and any terrorist related material should not be tolerated. From now on, I'm going to totally ignore the celtic idiots who have hijacked the site as this is the best method to get rid of these parasites.

Just scrolled past all that mumbo-jumbo about Scottish soccer.

There was a guy from my town in Oz that used to play for the New York Yankees. Bizarrely enough, there is a big baseball facility in the city too. Apparently the Japan champion club is holding their pre-season training there.

Don Bradman used to be a decent baseball player and baseball used to be the curtain raiser to football matches here before WW1 but it is in a way like soccer where you have some grass roots appeal but it is not really a spectator sport.

It would actually help enormously if American teams would make the effort of touring places like Australia and having a few matches against local teams. That is a large reason why sports like rugby and cricket are so strong because big nations make the effort to visit the smaller ones.

Just scrolled past all that mumbo-jumbo about Scottish soccer.

You made the right choice.

Why do those evil Japs love baseball so much? I've always wondered that!!

The one's I have met don't seem evil at all. Very nice people if anything. Exceptionally polite, fun loving with a love of violent game shows.

Not sure why they prefer baseball to be honest. Might be due to America having interests in Japan at the end of the 19th century like naval bases or companies and spreading the word that way. Like the Brits did with soccer.

They used to a very cruel evil race. What the done to our boys during WW2 (and the Chinese) was disgusting. You should read about their army medical unit - what they done is like something out of a horror movie -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit_731

Again, the things that happened in Nanking were despicable - the Japanese acted like monsters -

http://www.fatherryan.org/holocaust/holocaust77/rapenanking.htm

I wouldn't trust one. A leopard doesn't change his spots.

Or maybe they have changed? I was in Tokyo once and they were all very polite and courteous people. And their porn is hilariously bizarre!! You could buy used school girls knickers out of vending machines in train stations!!

They are strange little people! I think they have learned their lesson and are OK now.

They used to a very cruel evil race. What the done to our boys during WW2 (and the Chinese) was disgusting. You should read about their army medical unit - what they done is like something out of a horror movie -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit_731

Again, the things that happened in Nanking were despicable - the Japanese acted like monsters -

http://www.fatherryan.org/holocaust/holocaust77/rapenanking.htm

I wouldn't trust one. A leopard doesn't change his spots.

Or maybe they have changed? I was in Tokyo once and they were all very polite and courteous people. And their porn is hilariously bizarre!! You could buy used school girls knickers out of vending machines in train stations!!

They are strange little people! I think they have learned their lesson and are OK now.

I never knew that racism was accepted on SSC. :weirdo:

Mods can you please clear this up.

I never knew that racism was accepted on SSC. :weirdo:

Mods can you please clear this up.

Nothing racist at all. Obviously you don't know much about WW2. Are you trying to say that Japanese people aren't quite small?

enough of the liberal lentil loving tree hugger, back to Baseball.


Apart from America and Japan, do any other countries have a large Baseball following? What about Mexico?

^ Latin America and the Caribean are huge on baseball. In fact, before the Montreal Expos moved to Washington, they played most of their last seasons in Puerto Rico. The Dominican Republic is especially baseball-loving.

When I was young I loved playing 'Rounders' which is like a UK version of Baseball. I don't like watching American sports but I did enjoy playing Basketball at school and I loved playing Rounders, so I imagine I would of loved Baseball if I had been raised in America.

They used to a very cruel evil race. What the done to our boys during WW2 (and the Chinese) was disgusting. You should read about their army medical unit - what they done is like something out of a horror movie -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit_731

Again, the things that happened in Nanking were despicable - the Japanese acted like monsters -

http://www.fatherryan.org/holocaust...rapenanking.htm

I wouldn't trust one. A leopard doesn't change his spots.

Or maybe they have changed? I was in Tokyo once and they were all very polite and courteous people. And their porn is hilariously bizarre!! You could buy used school girls knickers out of vending machines in train stations!!

They are strange little people! I think they have learned their lesson and are OK now.
Nothing racist at all. Obviously you don't know much about WW2. Are you trying to say that Japanese people aren't quite small?
"Nothing racist at all"? :bash:

You just accused every Japanese of being evil and untrustworthy because of WWII. While you may know something about WWII, you seem to know little about human nature. Unfortunately, there are plenty of examples of genocide throughout history - it didn't start with the Japanese during WWII and it certainly hasn't ended.

When you label an entire race of people in the manner that you did, then you are in fact making racist remarks. Given the international scope of this forum, your remarks are especially egregious and I hope that at some point you will acknowledge your mistake.

"Nothing racist at all"? :bash:

You just accused every Japanese of being evil and untrustworthy because of WWII. While you may know something about WWII, you seem to know little about human nature. Unfortunately, there are plenty of examples of genocide throughout history - it didn't start with the Japanese during WWII and it certainly hasn't ended.

When you label an entire race of people in the manner that you did, then you are in fact making racist remarks. Given the international scope of this forum, your remarks are especially egregious and I hope that at some point you will acknowledge your mistake.

No

I said they were a very cruel and evil race DURING WW2, not after. If you had studied military history then you know that that nearly all Japanese soldiers were cruel people as they had been raised to look at all non-Japanese as vastly inferior people who were sub-human and not to be treated with any mercy (especially the Chinese). This was not only true for Japanese soldiers, but also for the whole of Japanese society. They are no longer raised in this manner due to their total defeat in WW2 and so are no longer a cruel and evil race.


I spent 4 years studying this mate, I know what i'm talking about. Nothing racist at all, i'm just stating the facts.

They used to a very cruel evil race.

The point is you could generalize/stereotype any race like this...

The point is you could generalize/stereotype any race like this...


It's not a stereotype. The entire Japanese society (pre WW2) used to look at all non-Japanese as sub-humans not worthy of any mercy (especiallly the Chinese). I studied this at University.

Find me a race you couldn't say has had a very cruel history at one point or another....

Find me a race you couldn't say has had a very cruel history at one point or another....


You are missing the point. There are very few examples where an entire society has been raised to look at all outsiders as sub-humans. Even during WW2 the vast majority of Germans were just normal kind decent people caught up in a very bad situation.

There are other examples though of entire races hating all outsiders - Ghengis Khan/Mongolians, the Vikings for example. At the moment, North Korea is about the closest you have to this kind of society. Is quite ironic that Japan would be the main victim of North Korean aggression if things got out of hand, as Koreans hate the Japanese because of Japanese cruelty in WW2.

I will always be grateful to the Japanese for this - the greatest videogame ever made -

http://nintendoforever.free.fr/N64/ZeldaOOT/ZeldaOOT_fichiers/Zelda64OOT_imageNotice.jpg

I love Nintendo, they make the best games by far (especially Zelda)


Enough history lessons for today kids. Back to Baseball....

Okay guys, I don't read this forum for 3 days and look where it went. Please take this crap elsewhere to another site and leave this forum to people who actually want to talk about the new Yankees stadium. :)

Okay guys, I don't read this forum for 3 days and look where it went. Please take this crap elsewhere to another site and leave this forum to people who actually want to talk about the new Yankees stadium. :)

Ok, sorry about that. Are the Yankees the most famous baseball team in America? and is their stadium the most famous as I keep hearing about a baseball stadium called 'The Wigley Field' or something like that!!

Wow . . . I'm stunned.

While you acknowledge that the Germans during WWII were "just normal kind decent people caught up in a very bad situation" you fail to extend the same understanding toward the Japanese. Regardless of what you may have studied in university or elsewhere, this double standard is fundamentally racist. Rather than admit to your mistake, you seem intent on defending it - so be it.

I think I'll follow you're advice from earlier today:
From now on, I'm going to totally ignore the celtic idiots who have hijacked the site as this is the best method to get rid of these parasites.

I would suggest that you stop re-editing your posts and get some rest!

Okay guys, I don't read this forum for 3 days and look where it went. Please take this crap elsewhere to another site and leave this forum to people who actually want to talk about the new Yankees stadium. :)
Tell me about it . . .

I came here to get an update on the stadium and allowed myself to get sucked into this stuff about WWII, Japanese, Vikings and North Korea. Unfortunately, I find it difficult to allow such narrow-minded comments to go unchallenged.

Wow . . . I'm stunned.

While you acknowledge that the Germans during WWII were "just normal kind decent people caught up in a very bad situation" you fail to extend the same understanding toward the Japanese. Regardless of what you may have studied in university or elsewhere, this double standard is fundamentally racist. Rather than admit to your mistake, you seem intent on defending it - so be it.

I think I'll follow you're advice from earlier today:


I would suggest that you stop re-editing your posts and get some rest!

Obviously you didn't go to University as you don't have a clue about WW2. The Japanese and the Germans were different. You may not like this but this doesn't stop it being the truth. How can it be a double standard or fundamentally racist if it is the truth? I will repeat the facts. These are not opinions, but facts, as any historian will confirm -

"I said they were a very cruel and evil race DURING WW2, not after. If you had studied military history then you know that that nearly all Japanese soldiers were cruel people as they had been raised to look at all non-Japanese as vastly inferior people who were sub-human and not to be treated with any mercy (especially the Chinese). This was not only true for Japanese soldiers, but also for the whole of Japanese society. They are no longer raised in this manner due to their total defeat in WW2 and so are no longer a cruel and evil race"


I recommend you buy some books on the subject and start doing some reading, as you are very ignorant on the subject.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/5011/ref=br_bx_c_2_4/104-4622937-1071162


We have moved on from this subject anyway, and are talking about the Yankees new stadium.

^^^^^^^^

Not sure if you could classify it as racism as what occured in the war was horrific and well documented. Some may argue, unlike the Germans, they got off very lightly and people have skipped over their atrocities concentrating on the Nazis. But it isn't really on the topic of Yankees stadium either.

Ok, sorry about that. Are the Yankees the most famous baseball team in America? and is their stadium the most famous as I keep hearing about a baseball stadium called 'The Wigley Field' or something like that!!

Yes they are the most famous team in the U.S. but also the most hated. I guess fame comes with a price. :) Oh and "Wrigley Field" is located in Chicago and is home to the Chicago Cubs. It is also one of baseball's oldest and most famous stadium's.

GlobeSt.com UPDATE: ESDC Board Approves Yankees, Mets Redevelopment Plans

By Barbara Jarvie
Last updated: January 19, 2006 07:53am

NEW YORK CITY-The Empire State Development Corp. board has approved general project plans for the redevelopment of Yankee and Shea stadiums. The Yankees and Mets will privately finance the facilities. The state will contribute to infrastructure upgrades for Shea Stadium and the construction of new parking facilities for Yankee Stadium. The city will contribute toward infrastructure improvements at both stadiums as well as toward parkland replacement for the Yankee Stadium area.

ESDC chairman Charles A. Gargano says the investment will create thousands of temporary and permanent jobs and yield hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue in the coming years. Randy Levine, president of the New York Yankees, adds that the team’s $1.2-billion plan is the largest private investment in the history of sports in the US.

The Yankee Stadium plan involves creating an open-air, five-level stadium with approximately 53,000 seats, standing room for 1,000 and 60 suites. It will have approximately 1.3 million sf of space, including food and beverage service facilities, retail space, Yankee corporate business space, and other amenities. The design is expected to be reminiscent of the 1923 Yankee Stadium and the current stadium. Four new garages would be constructed which would provide around 4,735 new parking spaces.

Approximately $800 million in bonds will be issued toward the stadium effort. The city will contribute approximately $129.2 million to replace parkland and make necessary infrastructure improvements, and additional $4.7 million in capital reserve for the new stadium. ESDC will contribute $70 million for the construction of the new parking garages and $4.7 million in capital reserve for the new stadium from bond proceeds. The total new parking garages development costs are estimated at approximately $247 million. Construction will begin this spring and be completed in 2009 for the stadium and 2011 for the entire project.

The plan at Shea involves creating an open-air, seven-level stadium with capacity for 44,100 spectators. There will be approximately 1.26 million sf of space, including food and beverage service facilities, retail space, a corporate business center, function space and facilities for the media, concourses, restaurants and players’ facilities. Its design will be reminiscent of the historic Ebbets Field. There will be 8,800 parking spaces on-site and adjacent to the site in addition to 3,680 spaces in remote lots in the surrounding area.

The total project costs are estimated at $600 million. The city will contribute approximately $85 million for infrastructure improvements inclusive of extraordinary pilings costs, and an additional $4.7 million in capital reserve. The ESDC will contribute $70 million for the construction of the infrastructure improvements and $4.7 million in capital reserve for the stadium from bond proceeds. Construction will begin this spring and be completed by 2009.

The next step is to seek public hearing and comment for the general project plan. After full public comment, the project will remain subject to final directors’ approval at a later date.


http://www.globest.com/news/456_456/newyork/142121-1.html

Jesus, and here I thought Germany had a lot of bureaucracy.

Seven levels at the Mets' place!? :uh:

I thought five at the Yankees was bad enough. I really don't like places with a ton of levels, like Milwaukee. The stadium just doesn't seem as big without huge masses of people in one area. Divided up, it looks corny to me, but I know they need their precious luxury boxes and reserved areas.

can't please everyone. I like tiers.

Seven levels at the Mets' place!? :uh:

I thought five at the Yankees was bad enough. I really don't like places with a ton of levels, like Milwaukee. The stadium just doesn't seem as big without huge masses of people in one area. Divided up, it looks corny to me, but I know they need their precious luxury boxes and reserved areas.

I would think they put at least two levels underground, the third at ground and the rest above ground. Porto's new ground has about three levels below ground, so the whole ground looks like it's sunk in.

Anyway, I was doing something during my extra time and I got this picture:

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/2564/sheacarpark4mj.jpg

That C-shaped thing is Shea Stadium, where the Beatles used to play. I think they'll build on the car park to the right and blow that thing down. There's plenty of space to build it on, in any case.

Now look at Yankee Stadium:

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/2055/yankeestadium4rt.jpg

I read that the new Yankee Stadium is going where the track is right now. Looks more constrained than the Shea area. The metro is right there, so I guess there's no need for a car park.

http://www.nydailynews.com/boroughs/story/387055p-328430c.html
Yankees' pitchman

Business crowd rooting for his stadium plans

BY BILL EGBERT
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Yankees president Randy Levine pitched the team's new stadium plans to a different set of pinstripes yesterday, but the crowd was clearly on his team.

Pledging that seats would remain affordable and that the project would create jobs for Bronx residents, Levine basked in a lovefest from the borough's business community at the New Bronx Chamber of Commerce lunch as he outlined what he called "the largest private investment in the history of the Bronx."

Levine cited several design features of the new stadium that will make it superior to the House That Ruth Built.

Although the current Yankee Stadium has some 20,000 seats on the lower level and 30,000 upper-deck nosebleed seats, the New Yankee Stadium will reverse that ratio.

And in addition to recreating the historical facade of the old stadium, the new ballpark will boast a replica of the original frieze destroyed with other architectural details when the old stadium was renovated in the 1970s.

"The new stadium will actually look more like the original 1923 stadium than the current one does," Levine said.

He also assured Chamber members that the expanded number of luxury boxes will keep other seats at reasonable prices.

"This stadium is going to be affordable," said Levine, "affordable for everyone."

Levine's biggest applause line came as he touted the estimated 1,000 new permanent jobs the expanded facility will create.

"Hear me," he said, "jobs will go to Bronx residents."

Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, who is negotiating a community benefit agreement with the ballclub, said he is pressing for a commitment of "at least 25%" of jobs, contracts and purchasing being set aside for Bronx residents - a figure Levine endorsed.

Levine also lent his support for Carrion's other ambitious plans for the stadium neighborhood, including a new high school focused of sports industry careers and a hotel and convention center.

While stressing that the Yankees organization "isn't in the business of developing hotels," Levine said the site plan would accommodate one.

"There's a parcel of land set aside for it," he said.

Levine also cited several changes in the plan that came out of talks with project opponents, like making the parking lots available year-round, and centralizing replacement parkland on the site of the old stadium.

"They really had some good ideas," Levine said."

Carrion drew laughter when he described the sometimes contentious process of hammering out a redevelopment plan.

"It's like making sausage," he said, shaking his head wearily.

"It's not pretty."

Originally published on January 31, 2006

This plan gets better and better the more I hear about it. :)

http://www.nysun.com/article/29915

Council Subcommittee Today Hosts Hearing on Yankees' Stadium Proposal

By DAVID LOMBINO - Staff Reporter of the Sun
March 28, 2006

The Yankees' proposal to build a new stadium is the subject of a public hearing before a City Council subcommittee today, inaugurating a final round of sparring between opponents and supporters of the project in advance of a final council vote slated for April 5.

The new stadium and infrastructure improvements, estimated to cost about $1 billion, would be built near the existing ballpark, displacing about 22 acres of parkland. The parkland would be replaced at several nearby sites, but some members of local community and good government groups say the Yankees are not giving enough back to the surrounding community, one of the poorest in the city. The local community board rejected the plan last year.

Last week, details were released about a draft agreement between the Yankees and local politicians under which the Yankees would give about $28 million over the next 40 years to a panel that would distribute the money to local nonprofits. It would also include $100,000 a year for upkeep of neighboring parks, $100,000 for local sports groups, and 15,000 free tickets a year for Bronx schools, youth groups, and seniors.

Council Member Helen Diane Foster, a Democrat of the Bronx, said yesterday that the terms of that agreement articulated so far are a "joke" and are "insulting to the community."

Ms. Foster, the elected official who has been most critical of the project, said the majority of the Bronx delegation, while supportive of the project as a whole, has serious concerns and unanswered questions about the current proposal.

"We are not there. It definitely is not a done deal yet," Ms. Foster said, predicting changes to the plan or the community benefits agreement before next Wednesday's vote. "We are fans of the Yankees, but we are not fans of the Yankees organization."

A spokeswoman for the Yankees, Alice McGillion, said discussions about the agreement with the community are under way with the "political leadership" of the Bronx.

In land use matters, the City Council typically votes along with the local council member or the consensus of the delegation from the borough where the project is located.

Supporters, who include the mayor, the governor, the president of the Bronx, Adolfo Carrion, and the city's Department of Planning, say the new stadium would be the biggest private investment in Bronx history, would create jobs, and would help to spur an ongoing revitalization of the community.

Opponents vow to mount a legal challenge if the project is passed as proposed.

If the City Council gives final approval to the proposed 51,800-seat stadium, the city will spend $135 million to create new parks and enhance infrastructure, and the state will pay $70 million for additional parking facilities. The Yankees would pay about $800 million for the construction of the stadium, which would begin this season.

Public transportation around Yankee Stadium is quite pitiful though. There's a subway but no Metro North (sort of like the French RER) stop.

I think it would be cheper to rennovate the existing stadium rather than demolish and builld a new one.

I'm glad to see this happening, as much "history" as Yankee stadium has, it's an absolute craphole. Not only is the stadium ugly, but when you sit in the upper deck you can't see the field, and you feel like you're about to fall off the face of the earth........

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/05/nyregion/05train.html
Support Grows for Rail Station at New Stadium in the Bronx

By PATRICK McGEEHAN
Published: April 5, 2006

For baseball fans who live in the northern suburbs, the biggest drawback to attending games at Yankee Stadium has long been the trip home.

To catch a train toward Westchester County or Connecticut, fans first have to ride the subway south into Manhattan because there is no commuter rail station near the stadium. Many of them choose to drive to the Bronx instead, clogging up the local streets with lines of honking cars late into the night.

But yesterday, after decades of pleading from fans in the suburbs and community activists in the Bronx, Gov. George E. Pataki and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg called on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to devise a plan for a new Metro-North Railroad station adjacent to the proposed site of a new stadium.

The governor and the mayor weighed in on the eve of a City Council vote to approve the Yankees' plan to build the stadium and parking garages that would hold an additional 3,000 cars. Their support for the station could counteract critics who argued that the Yankees' plan would draw even more traffic to the South Bronx on game days, said Adolfo Carrión Jr., the Bronx borough president.

"It will certainly be used by fans," Mr. Carrión said. But, he added, "It will have a very definite positive impact on the area."

Mr. Carrión said the transportation agency estimated that construction of the station would cost $30 million to $40 million. But it is not clear where the money would come from.

There are no funds in the authority's current five-year plan earmarked for a new station in the Bronx. To make room for one, the authority, which operates New York City's subways and buses as well as Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road, would have to shift money away from another capital project.

In its previous five-year plan, the authority allocated $5 million for the design of a Yankee Stadium station, but a complete design was never presented to the public. In August, Representative José E. Serrano, a Democrat from the Bronx, announced that he had secured $2.4 million in federal funds for the station.

Neither the governor, the mayor nor representatives of the authority or Metro-North would comment on the financing yesterday.

"We will undertake a review of the project outlined by the governor and mayor and present a proposal to the M.T.A. board in the coming weeks," said Tim O'Brien, a spokesman for the authority.

James F. Blair, a resident of Ossining, N.Y., who represents Metro-North riders on the authority's board, said the Metro-North Commuters Council had favored a station at Yankee Stadium for many years.

"We think there is a need for it and we hope that appropriate funding can be found," he said. But, he added, "we really need to see what the trade-offs are from a capital perspective in order to judge whether or not this is a sensible thing for the M.T.A. and other agencies to support."

Advocates of mass transit generally favor the idea of building the station, but some are wary about the details. "It's not the congestion-busting move that we would like to see, but it's a huge help," said Teresa Toro, New York City coordinator for the Tri-State Transportation Campaign. "The real one-two punch would be building the station and scaling back the new parking."

But the proposal already has suburban baseball fans dreaming of joyous train rides home after Yankee victories. "If they put in a new station, I'd probably look at season tickets again," said Kenneth Matinale of White Plains. He said he gave up his seats at Yankee Stadium after the 2000 season because "it's a pain in the neck to get down there from here."

Mr. Matinale, a member of a league of baseball zealots who call themselves the Westchester Baseball Discussion Group, said he had stopped parking in the stadium lots almost 30 years ago because it was more convenient to park on the streets of the South Bronx. But he said his car was burglarized during a World Series game in 1999 and tickets to the next game were stolen.

When Mr. Matinale attends Mets games at Shea Stadium, he said, he rides a Metro-North train to Grand Central, then switches to the No. 7 subway to Queens. He has even taken trains from White Plains to Philadelphia to see the Phillies play, but he said he would not consider the roundabout mass-transit trip to Yankee Stadium.

Even though Metro-North's Hudson Line tracks pass right by Yankee Stadium, suburban fans leaving a game must ride a subway to 125th Street in Harlem or to Grand Central Terminal in Midtown to connect to Metro-North. Fans have to travel to Grand Central or 125th Street, then take the subway up to the Bronx, to get to the stadium. But the trip home is more onerous, they say, because trains are less frequent at night.

"If you work in Midtown and somebody says, 'Hey, I've got tickets to tonight's Yankee game, want to go?' chances are you're going to say no unless that person is going to drive you home," Mr. Matinale said. "You wouldn't get home until 2 o'clock. Unless it's a Friday, that's going to be too late."

With a station at the stadium, Metro-North could provide service directly up and down the Hudson Line before and after games. Trains on its two other main branches, the Harlem and New Haven Lines, could get to and from the new station along a short connector less than a mile south of the stadium.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/06/nyregion/06stadium.html
Yankees Win as Council Approves Stadium

By WINNIE HU
Published: April 6, 2006

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2006/04/06/nyregion/06yankee650.2.jpg
The new Yankee Stadium will seat fewer people than the current one, but offer 42 more luxury sky boxes.

The New York Yankees' effort to build a new stadium cleared its biggest hurdle yesterday with lopsided City Council votes supporting the team's ambitious plan to knock down the Bronx institution known around the world as the House that Ruth Built.

The new stadium will sit on parkland across the street from the current Yankee Stadium, which has served as the home of the team that won an unparalleled 26 World Series since it was built in 1923, the heyday of Babe Ruth. The new 53,000-seat stadium will offer 60 luxury sky boxes and 10,000 parking spaces when it is completed in 2009.

The Council overwhelmingly authorized construction of the $800 million stadium despite opposition from parks advocates and residents in the surrounding community, which is among the most impoverished areas in the city. These critics say the stadium would take away valuable parkland in a neighborhood that already has too little, snarl traffic on game days and lead to more pollution.

The Council's approval required the members to vote on 11 separate land-use items. Five items were passed 44 to 3, with 2 abstentions, while six passed 45 to 2, with 2 abstentions. The stadium plan gained support in the Council in recent weeks after the Yankees reached an agreement with Bronx officials to contribute $50 million over 20 years to underwrite programs for Bronx community groups. That will include $800,000 a year in grants for the groups, $100,000 a year in sports equipments, and 15,000 tickets a year to Yankee home games. Randy Levine, the president of the Yankees, said yesterday that the Council's approval showed that people all over the city, especially in the Bronx, believed in the project. "Hopefully when we get into the new building, we can win a few more World Series," he said.

The new stadium for the Yankees would represent the culmination of a long quest by the team, which had pushed for a new home in Manhattan but ultimately decided to remain in the Bronx as the borough's fortunes improved.

Under the financing plan for the stadium, the Yankees will pay for the construction through $930 million in bonds issued by the city, of which $860 million will be tax-exempt. Taxpayers will also bear some of the costs because the team will pay back the bonds through payments in lieu of taxes to the city.

In their current home, the Yankees pay rent to the city but only after deducting the cost of maintenance. The team pays no capital expenses. While the Yankees will not pay rent for the new stadium, the team will be responsible for the maintenance and operation costs and any capital improvements.

Under the deal, the city would spend at least $138 million to demolish the old stadium, create new parkland to replace the 22 acres being used for the stadium in Macomb's Dam and Mullaly Parks, and to make improvements to other nearby parks. The state's share would be $70 million of the $320 million cost of building four parking garages that could be used by local residents throughout the year; the remainder would come from private developers.

The Council must still approve the stadium financing plan at its next meeting on April 26. But Council members and others said yesterday that it was more of a formality at this point, given the strong support for the stadium among the 51 members of the Council, including Speaker Christine C. Quinn.

The stadium plan will also have to be reviewed by the National Park Service because the ballpark would be partly built in Macomb's Dam Park, where federal funds were used for park improvements in the late 1970's, said Geoffrey Croft, president of New York City Park Advocates, which is opposing the plan.

"This is historic parkland that the community was built around," Mr. Croft said. "It's devastating morally and ethically, and we wouldn't be having this conversation if it were in Central Park."

Mr. Levine said construction on the new Yankee stadium could begin as soon as this spring. When completed it will seat slightly fewer people than the current one, but will offer 42 more luxury sky boxes, which are lucrative for teams, and 3,000 more parking spaces. In another change, the new stadium will have standing room for another 1,000 people.

The stadium will incorporate significant design elements of the original Yankee Stadium, like the classic rooftop frieze that was destroyed during the 1974-75 renovation that will return this time, constructed of translucent elements.

Adolfo Carrión Jr., the Bronx borough president, said city officials were also seeking to preserve the dugouts, sections of the seats, and a giant bat that is displayed outside the stadium by moving them to the nearby parks, which will feature four baseball fields, among other things.

Besides giving the $50 million for programs for Bronx groups, the Yankees would reserve at least a quarter of the construction and stadium jobs for Bronx residents and businesses, and spend $1 million to create a job-training program. The team would pay another $450,000 for technical assistance and community outreach for each year during the stadium construction.

Still, many Bronx residents remained staunchly opposed to the Yankees' plan and several held up signs urging council members to vote against it. One woman passed out dollar bills picturing Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo, whose district includes the stadium, with the message: How much was the deal with the Yankees to hand over our public parks?

Ms. Arroyo, who voted for the stadium, said the integrity and reputation of elected officials in the Bronx had been inappropriately called into question by stadium opponents. "This has been a very difficult time not only for myself personally but for individuals who have sat on both sides of the issue," she said.

City officials plan today to unveil the latest design plans for a stadium proposed to be built in Queens for New York's other major league baseball team, the New York Mets. That would replace the Mets' current ballpark, Shea Stadium.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601089&sid=aWuVxTj49TYM&refer=home

NYC Agency Approves Stadium Loans for Yankees, Mets (Update2)

July 11 (Bloomberg) -- New York City's Industrial Development Agency approved $1.58 billion of tax-exempt and taxable financing for baseball's Yankees and Mets to build new stadiums.

Agency officials said the deal was contingent upon the U.S. Internal Revenue Service allowing the issuance of tax-exempt bonds for most of the financing. Plans for the stadiums, which have wide political support, already have been approved by the City Council and the state's Empire State Development Corp. and Public Authorities Control Board.

The financing agreement would save the city about $113 million in the next 40 years by relieving it from maintenance and repair costs that would have exceeded rent payments at the two existing stadiums, agency officials said in a prepared statement. By the time the stadiums are completed in 2009, they will have created 16,000 construction jobs, the officials said.

"New stadiums for the Yankees and Mets will give a tremendous boost to the local economies of the South Bronx and Flushing, Queens,'' said the development agency's interim chairman, Joshua J. Sirefman.

The financing hinges upon the Internal Revenue Service granting the city a private letter permitting it to use its power to issue tax-exempt bonds for the stadiums. Several council members have said they remain unsure about whether the IRS will approve the transaction, although city attorneys assured officials in the mayor's office and council members that it will pass the review.

Job Creation

"In the event it isn't, each team may have to go back to the drawing board to come up with a new financing structure,'' Council Finance Committee Chairman David Weprin said when the body approved the arrangement in April.

Seth Pinsky, vice president of the city Economic Development Corp., which oversees the Industrial Development Agency, said the letter to the IRS was sent in April. The IRS hasn't indicated when they would respond, Pinsky said. "Our lawyers tell us they're optimistic,'' he said. "If it turns out that the tax letter runs against the agency, we'll have to reevaluate.''

The Yankees will get about $920 million in low-interest tax-exempt bonds and $25 million in taxable bonds to build its new stadium in the Bronx just north of the existing Yankee Stadium. The project will create about 9,700 construction jobs and 615 permanent jobs, excluding concessions, the agency said in a news release.

Bond Mix

For the new Mets stadium, IDA will issue about $528 million in tax-exempt bonds and $104 million in taxable bonds. The new Mets stadium, to be built in Flushing, Queens, just beyond the centerfield fence at Shea Stadium where the Mets now play, will create about 6,100 construction jobs and 970 permanent jobs, including concessions, the agency news release said.

Debt service on the tax-exempt bonds for both teams will be paid through payments in lieu of taxes, known as PILOTs, a financing structure the City Council approved. The taxable bonds for both teams will be repaid from rent. The development agency intends to also use exemptions from taxes on real estate, mortgage recording and sales to help lower the cost of construction for both teams, the news release said.

The Yankees' $1.169 billion project and the Mets' proposed $813 million stadium each cost more than the most expensive baseball stadium to date, eclipsing St. Louis's new $646 million Busch Stadium and "Ballpark Village.'' The Toronto Blue Jays' Rogers Centre, built in 1989, is second most expensive, costing $570 million, according to Major League Baseball.

Luxury Boxes

The Yankees' plan calls for demolishing the 56,937-seat current ballpark, built in 1923 and extensively renovated in the mid-1970s, and turning that site into several ball fields for community use. The new 53,000-seat ballpark, on which the team would hold a 38-year renewable lease, will include 60 luxury suites and new parking lots on 22 acres of what is now nearby parkland.

The city would contribute $164 million for infrastructure improvements such as new parks, sewer lines and road work. The state would provide $74.7 million, mostly for new parking, under agreements described by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the City Council in April.

The 42,500-seat Mets stadium is designed to be built in brick, limestone, granite and cast stone to evoke Ebbets Field, the home of the old Brooklyn Dodgers. Shea, which opened in 1964, would be demolished.

The Queens stadium's $813 million cost would be financed through $632 million in bonds, including $528 million in exempt- issues carrying lower-than-market interest rates and $104 million in taxable bonds. The Mets would hold a 40-year renewable lease.

The city would pay $91.4 million for infrastructure improvements, and the state $74.7 million.

The mayor is founder and majority owner of Bloomberg News parent Bloomberg LP.


To contact the reporter on this story:
Henry Goldman in New York City Hall at
hgoldman@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: July 11, 2006 16:52 EDT

You would think for nearly a billion $ you could get a better looking ballpark then that. Camden Yards is still the best by the way.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/22/nyregion/22stadium.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Approvals Clear Way for Yankees to Build

By TIMOTHY WILLIAMS
Published: July 22, 2006

The proposed $800 million ballpark for the New York Yankees received final regulatory approval this week, clearing the way for the club to start construction atop two parks across the street from the existing stadium.

Yankees officials said they hoped to begin building the 53,000-seat structure by the end of summer.

Construction will involve paving over large portions of Macombs Dam Park and Mullaly Park and cutting down about 400 mature oak trees. The stadium is scheduled to open in 2009.

“The Yankees are delighted with the wide-ranging support they’ve received,” said Howard J. Rubenstein, a spokesman for the Yankees.

The project, which was approved by the City Council this spring, engendered intense opposition among many of the stadium’s South Bronx neighbors and from parks advocates, who protested the loss of the two popular parks and feared increased traffic and pollution problems in an area with high childhood asthma rates.

While the stadium won the support of nearly all of the Bronx’s elected officials, the plan was rejected by the local community board, which had only advisory power. Several of the dissenting community board members were later replaced by the Bronx borough president, Adolfo Carrión Jr., who emerged as the new stadium’s most forceful advocate.

Opponents say they will probably file a lawsuit to halt construction, contending that portions of the 28-acre Macombs Dam Park and 18.5-acre Mullaly Park had been unlawfully taken from the public.

“Since Day 1, everything has been predicated on satisfying the desires of the Yankees without a care for the community or the city’s taxpayers,” said Geoffrey M. Croft, president of NYC Park Advocates.

During the past week, the Internal Revenue Service and the National Park Service gave their approval, respectively, to the stadium’s financing plan and to its construction on parkland. The park service approval was required because Macombs Dam Park received about $420,000 in federal improvement funds in the early 1980’s.

The park service concluded that the neighborhood’s loss of Macombs Dam Park would be offset by new parkland the project would provide, including three ball fields at the current Yankee Stadium, which will be partly torn down; a park on the Bronx River; and small parks placed atop stadium garages.

The I.R.S. approved the stadium’s complex financing plan, in which the ballpark will be paid for by the Yankees with $920 million in tax-exempt, low-interest city bonds and $25 million in taxable bonds. The Yankees will repay the 40-year bonds with an annual payment in lieu of taxes. The bonds are to be offered in the next few weeks, said Janel Patterson, a spokeswoman for the city’s Economic Development Corporation.

The Yankees will pay rent on the city-owned stadium, as well as payments in lieu of taxes, Ms. Patterson said. The city and state will pay for infrastructure improvements, including new parking garages and possibly a Metro-North commuter station in the area.

The final community benefits agreement between the Yankees and Bronx elected officials calls for the club to establish the Bronx Community Trust Fund, in which the team will place $32 million over 40 years — about $800,000 a year. The fund, which will be managed by an administrator who will be chosen by the team and by Bronx elected officials, will be distributed to local community and nonprofit groups.

The Yankees will also donate $100,000 in equipment and promotional merchandise to community and school groups and give away 15,000 tickets to home games. The average value of each ticket will be $25.

The community benefits agreement also calls for 25 percent of stadium construction work to go to Bronx businesses, with 50 percent of that total reserved for businesses owned by women or minorities.

I am sure having a change of heart on the retro ballparks here. That entrance to the new Yankee stadium looks awesome.

I would think they put at least two levels underground, the third at ground and the rest above ground. Porto's new ground has about three levels below ground, so the whole ground looks like it's sunk in.

Anyway, I was doing something during my extra time and I got this picture:

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/2564/sheacarpark4mj.jpg

That C-shaped thing is Shea Stadium, where the Beatles used to play. I think they'll build on the car park to the right and blow that thing down. There's plenty of space to build it on, in any case.

Now look at Yankee Stadium:

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/2055/yankeestadium4rt.jpg

I read that the new Yankee Stadium is going where the track is right now. Looks more constrained than the Shea area. The metro is right there, so I guess there's no need for a car park.

OT: How do you get the text of places off the screen of Goggle Earth when you make a picture?

I'm glad to see this happening, as much "history" as Yankee stadium has, it's an absolute craphole. Not only is the stadium ugly, but when you sit in the upper deck you can't see the field, and you feel like you're about to fall off the face of the earth........

I went about a month ago and absolute craphole is a little harsh. I was on vacation in NYC and wanted to see it even though I have heard scathing reviews. I sat in the upper deck and it wasnt that bad, it was no worse than the upper deck in many other stadiums Ive been to (Clemson's Memorial Stadium, Bank of America Stadium, etc). Compared to PNC, Camden, and parks like that its a little dated but its still a nice place to go see a ballgame. Even so, I like the new Stadium and would like to go see it after it is finished, this is a good move. Yankee Stadium in its current state isnt the Yankee stadium of old so its not like youre tearing down a shrine like Fenway or Wrigley. Youre right, it is good that it is being replaced because the old stadium is very dated, however its not like Yankee stadium is awful.

cool video (mms://a1503.v247152.c24715.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/24715/v0001/mlb.download.akamai.com/24715/open/2006/nya/archive08/081606_gb_intro_350.wmv)
another cool video (http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/scripts/mediaplayer/mp_tpl.jsp?w=/2006/open/teams06/nyn/video/040606_nyn_new_stadium_long_350.wmv)

Why don't baseball stadiums complete the tiers all the way round, is it something to do with vision for the batter?

Why don't baseball stadiums complete the tiers all the way round, is it something to do with vision for the batter?

Well, partly. The only area that needs to be darkened is deadaway center field.

Other than that, just capacity. With the seating the way it is now, completing the tiers all the way around would put capacities in the 60-70k range for most places, and teams usually only draw in the 30k-40k range for normal games. Plus, it would totally ruin the design. The outfields of baseball stadiums are grounds for customization. Unlike other sports, the team can put just about anything out there, or nothing at all.

I'll give you two reasons.

http://ballparks.com/baseball/american/oriole.htm

and

http://ballparks.com/baseball/national/pitbpk.htm

Enjoy!

I don't like the fact that this park has to built on top the neighborhood's major parks when it could just use the garage or lot that is near the stadium.

There is NO need for a new Yankee stadium. All that is needed is a mionor rennovation of the current stadium and everything would be fine.

I think it would be cheper to rennovate the existing stadium rather than demolish and builld a new one.

agrred!

The current stadium is already a renovation, so that wouldn't make too much sense. They can't keep molding the clay back into a new form, they're going to have to start from scratch.

Plus, it would take more than that off-season to renovate, so they wouldn't have anywhere to play. Shea Stadium wouldn't take them, and they wouldn't want to move to Buffalo for a year.

The current stadium is already a renovation, so that wouldn't make too much sense. They can't keep molding the clay back into a new form, they're going to have to start from scratch.

Plus, it would take more than that off-season to renovate, so they wouldn't have anywhere to play. Shea Stadium wouldn't take them, and they wouldn't want to move to Buffalo for a year.

Not all the rennovation work has to be done at 1 time. It can be spread out during the offseason of a few years. I know Americans don't like to do that, but it is possible.

It would be a shame mop to demolish the current stadium, Man it is the most famous stadium of the US world wide. I think that is wurth something im money too + I like the good old stadium also

Not all the rennovation work has to be done at 1 time. It can be spread out during the offseason of a few years. I know Americans don't like to do that, but it is possible.

They did this with US Cellular field in Chicago over 3 offseasons (I think). Although The Yankees need a new ballpark, It doesn't have to cost that much, but it's the Yankees. :no: :no: :no:

I am sure that Fenway Pk was rennovated a number of times, and it has been around longer than Yankee Stadium.

Weren't concrete panels falling off of Yankee Stadium?

Weren't concrete panels falling off of Yankee Stadium?

A number of years back a steel beam from the 1976 renovation collapsed in the middle teir. It was a single issue that was resolved fairly quickly - there was no structural damage at all. In fact, the stadium is rather well built and can easily last many years to come. The simple fact is, the stadium is severely lacking in luxury suites and the concourses are uncomfortably narrow and outdated. Besides, any remaining character was completly stripped from the stadium in 1976.

A number of years back a steel beam from the 1976 renovation collapsed in the middle teir. It was a single issue that was resolved fairly quickly - there was no structural damage at all. In fact, the stadium is rather well built and can easily last many years to come. The simple fact is, the stadium is severely lacking in luxury suites and the concourses are uncomfortably narrow and outdated. Besides, any remaining character was completly stripped from the stadium in 1976.

Yes, Yankee Stadium was built VERY strong. The structure, with proper maitnence can be in very good shape and last another 50 - 75 years. However the stadium's maitnence has been deferreed for years, with only the bare minimum done, in order to say that a new stadium is needed. There is nothing that some minor offseason rennovations can't fix. And as someone pointed out, The new Comiskey Park in Chicago which was built in 1991, was not well liked by alot of people. So a few years ago they rennovated the place during the offseasons in a 3 year stretch. Though it's still not the same Comiskey, it's a helluva lot better than it was before. The Yankees could do this if they really wanted to or cared about the current building. It's a real shame that money and greed once again win out. It's also a shame that Yankee Stadium is not a state or federal landmark. It should be a mandate that the current stadium be rennovated and restored to its original luster. Spend $250 million now on rennovations, build the Metro North station everyone wants, and preserve the history.

yes, I'm sure $250 million is enough to restore that place. You have seen pics of the original Yankee Stadium haven't you? It would likely have to be as extensive a renovation as Soldier Field had.

yes, I'm sure $250 million is enough to restore that place. You have seen pics of the original Yankee Stadium haven't you? It would likely have to be as extensive a renovation as Soldier Field had.

Yes of course I have seen pictures of the original stadium configuration, obviously have never been there.

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/7326/07yankee1pu6.jpg
http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/520/07yankee3wv7.jpg
http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/7396/07yankee4tj7.jpg
http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/5835/07yankee5vs6.jpg
http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/3691/07yankee6tv6.jpg
http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/5126/07yankee7io9.jpg
http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/7562/07yankee8fw4.jpg
http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/1203/07yankee9hu3.jpg
http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/6493/07yankee10fa4.jpg
http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/1218/07yankee11sf5.jpg
http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/7897/07yankee12zy7.jpg

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/2069/yank1110zt5.jpg

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/2703/yank11102hf9.jpg

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/7703/yank11103gk3.jpg

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/598/yank11104yc5.jpg

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/4716/yank11105qv4.jpg

http://mlb.mlb.com/nyy/photogallery/year_2007/month_01/day_04/cf1772989.html
http://mlb.mlb.com/nyy/photogallery/year_2007/month_01/day_04/cf1772952.html
http://mlb.mlb.com/nyy/photogallery/year_2007/month_01/day_04/cf1772940.html

:cheers:

Ahhh fock, I hate the Yankees but the park looks mighty fine!

Somebody remind me once again...are they building this on an entirely new site?

Must admit that the design is growing on me. It seems that stadium design is just about the only type of architecture, outside of Vegas and theme parks, that is able to get away with being so overtly retro. I for one would love to see some of these design elements being applied more often to public buildings such as train stations etc.

I just hope the extrenal cladding is made up of large bricks/stone blocks, rather than just smooth concrete - will make a huge difference.

As a Yankees fan, it's crap. The whole point of the stadium is to squeeze out the blue collar fan and import more of the white collar fan.

Somebody remind me once again...are they building this on an entirely new site?

Yes. It's across the street from the Stadium.

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/2055/yankeestadium4rt.jpg

The street where the high rail line goes on is called River Avenue. All you need to go across from the north side and then walk to where you see an old track, which is now completely gone.

This link will give you a better perspective: http://mlb.mlb.com/nyy/photogallery/year_2007/month_01/day_04/cf1772940.html

Btw, I understand how some feel about it, since the tickets will be hard to get, just like Porto fans have to contend with higher tickets prices to get into Estadio do Dragao. However, aren't the Yankees all about being the biggest, richest, most ambitious club? Isn't this really part about who they are? I just don't understand the complaints. How else are they going to pay Jeter and Rodriguez? At least many of us Porto supporters understand that you have to get players to beat the likes of Benfica and clubs in Europe, and that means modernising facilities and higher ticket prices (although I think that for our budget they're too high; like who wants to pay a premium for the Rio Ave match, for example?).

Btw, does anyone know if they plan to host other sporting events, like in the old days? I doubt they'd want international football, though. Those would likely go to the new Giants/Jets stadium or the Red Bull Park, close to the Portuguese-speaking community in Newark. :)

Yes. It's across the street from the Stadium.

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/2055/yankeestadium4rt.jpg

The street where the high rail line goes on is called River Avenue. All you need to go across from the north side and then walk to where you see an old track, which is now completely gone.

This link will give you a better perspective: http://mlb.mlb.com/nyy/photogallery/year_2007/month_01/day_04/cf1772940.html

Btw, I understand how some feel about it, since the tickets will be hard to get, just like Porto fans have to contend with higher tickets prices to get into Estadio do Dragao. However, aren't the Yankees all about being the biggest, richest, most ambitious club? Isn't this really part about who they are? I just don't understand the complaints. How else are they going to pay Jeter and Rodriguez? At least many of us Porto supporters understand that you have to get players to beat the likes of Benfica and clubs in Europe, and that means modernising facilities and higher ticket prices (although I think that for our budget they're too high; like who wants to pay a premium for the Rio Ave match, for example?).

Btw, does anyone know if they plan to host other sporting events, like in the old days? I doubt they'd want international football, though. Those would likely go to the new Giants/Jets stadium or the Red Bull Park, close to the Portuguese-speaking community in Newark. :)


As a Yankee supporter, it's not about having the most high priced players. It's just about supporting the team. The Yankees DO NOT NEED a new stadium in order to compete with other teams. They are just doing it to line the pockets of the owners. I doubt any other events will be held at Yankee Stadium, except maybe the occasional glamor concert.... though I'd love to see a Rangers - Islanders outdoor NHL game there.

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/6550/2486622480097197520oyazxt8.th.jpg (http://img174.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2486622480097197520oyazxt8.jpg) http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/518/2662066240097197520opzduw0.th.jpg (http://img174.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2662066240097197520opzduw0.jpg) http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/1749/2149857620097197520vzvqfr8.th.jpg (http://img174.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2149857620097197520vzvqfr8.jpg) http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/3244/2806094120097197520rwbmtz9.th.jpg (http://img124.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2806094120097197520rwbmtz9.jpg)
http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/1729/2156759450097197520nyzaet4.th.jpg (http://img124.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2156759450097197520nyzaet4.jpg) http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/4828/2202255120097197520gmgygk3.th.jpg (http://img124.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2202255120097197520gmgygk3.jpg) http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/4443/2790835550097197520gcrdno3.th.jpg (http://img124.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2790835550097197520gcrdno3.jpg) http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/117/2560903430097197520zhpmqh1.th.jpg (http://img124.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2560903430097197520zhpmqh1.jpg)
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http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/8997/2917638800097197520jgiray1.th.jpg (http://img172.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2917638800097197520jgiray1.jpg) http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/779/2778023300097197520vppvlv0.th.jpg (http://img50.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2778023300097197520vppvlv0.jpg) http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/8461/2161768710097197520bprhpa9.th.jpg (http://img50.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2161768710097197520bprhpa9.jpg) http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/839/2888346100097197520umdubb1.th.jpg (http://img172.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2888346100097197520umdubb1.jpg)
http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/8980/2086552140097197520ekfrhi6.th.jpg (http://img50.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2086552140097197520ekfrhi6.jpg) http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/3614/2418210120097197520vsjlem0.th.jpg (http://img50.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2418210120097197520vsjlem0.jpg) http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/5070/2862448650097197520rxnxpg1.th.jpg (http://img50.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2862448650097197520rxnxpg1.jpg) http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/300/2190240340097197520dhdicv7.th.jpg (http://img187.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2190240340097197520dhdicv7.jpg)
http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/1994/2309095590097197520bjemxw6.th.jpg (http://img50.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2309095590097197520bjemxw6.jpg) http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/115/2903188240097197520kgjiar7.th.jpg (http://img187.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2903188240097197520kgjiar7.jpg) http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/9073/2289360270097197520ygztsb4.th.jpg (http://img262.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2289360270097197520ygztsb4.jpg) http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/9735/2692101690097197520dbmrvp5.th.jpg (http://img262.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2692101690097197520dbmrvp5.jpg)
http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/6184/2324492250097197520wifzel3.th.jpg (http://img105.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2324492250097197520wifzel3.jpg) http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/1747/2143488510097197520ddhhlf1.th.jpg (http://img253.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2143488510097197520ddhhlf1.jpg) http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/2808/2329984150097197520gipzjy9.th.jpg (http://img105.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2329984150097197520gipzjy9.jpg) http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/25/2806282690097197520ahkwgz8.th.jpg (http://img217.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2806282690097197520ahkwgz8.jpg)
http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/387/2351229330097197520ptlhni2.th.jpg (http://img265.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2351229330097197520ptlhni2.jpg) http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/353/2899102800097197520axdgxa6.th.jpg (http://img265.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2899102800097197520axdgxa6.jpg) http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/6785/2532040770097197520qoldkx8.th.jpg (http://img265.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2532040770097197520qoldkx8.jpg) http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/433/2180476480097197520hkxssc7.th.jpg (http://img265.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2180476480097197520hkxssc7.jpg)
http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/579/2953023980097197520bkdgtu3.th.jpg (http://img265.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2953023980097197520bkdgtu3.jpg) http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/2077/2769344230097197520rvgjec5.th.jpg (http://img265.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2769344230097197520rvgjec5.jpg) http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/8326/2872837690097197520cepxyv8.th.jpg (http://img265.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2872837690097197520cepxyv8.jpg) http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/8195/2581183740097197520vzwevh8.th.jpg (http://img402.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2581183740097197520vzwevh8.jpg) http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/9779/2247292140097197520heycyu1.th.jpg (http://img265.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2247292140097197520heycyu1.jpg) :cheers:

ehh.

^^ Good point.

As a Yankee supporter, it's not about having the most high priced players. It's just about supporting the team. The Yankees DO NOT NEED a new stadium in order to compete with other teams. They are just doing it to line the pockets of the owners. I doubt any other events will be held at Yankee Stadium, except maybe the occasional glamor concert.... though I'd love to see a Rangers - Islanders outdoor NHL game there.
The Yankees already have the highest ticket prices on average, and this will just make them even more expensive.

a few other photos of the stadium

http://www.newsday.com/media/photo/2005-06/18040559.jpg

http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/future/yank501.JPG

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/7830/yankeestadium4vz1.jpg

That should be some great park space for the Bronx

Not worth tearing down the Stadium!

I originally heard that the old stadium was going to converted into some other use and wasn't going to get demolished.

I originally heard that the old stadium was going to converted into some other use and wasn't going to get demolished.

Yes. That was part of the propoganda the Yankees released early on to make people feel better about the project.

what is the biggest Baseball stadium?
This one must be one of the biggest?!!

what is the biggest Baseball stadium?
This one must be one of the biggest?!!

Yea it is. Many teams have build baseball only stadiums that has actually decreased capacity though increased amentities. Many of the old mixed use baseball/football stadiums could hold 50-60k at full capacity. It seems that most owners today like around 40-45k in order to keep their stadiums full and tighten supply of tickets.

thanks

i just find these at wiki
Dodger Stadium: 56,000

Shea Stadium: 55,601
But shea will be replaced by a smaller stadium

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/5386/01717pm3.jpg

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/251/01818de8.jpg

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/3203/02323ak2.jpg

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/5041/02424al9.jpg

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/2881/dscn0534gy0.jpg

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/5580/dscn0533rv9.jpg

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/9563/yankeestadium02cil7of2.jpg

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/4337/yankeestadium01cul3fg4.jpg

ughh

This shot was taken yesterday by Flash over at Cityscapes.

http://metroscenes.com/newyorkcity/images/nyc_metroscenes2007_01.jpg

http://img353.imageshack.us/img353/2020/ys3211pm4.jpg

http://img353.imageshack.us/img353/1356/ys3212kq0.jpg

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/9620/ys3213aq6.jpg

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/4889/ys3214er8.jpg

such horsecrap.

Camden Yards>New or any other Yankee "STADIUM"

such horsecrap.

You do realize the current Yankee Stadium:

- Isn't the Polo Grounds
- Is nothing like the REAL Yankee Stadium that has been gutted since the 70s

Basically you are wanting them to keep a horrid 70s stadium instead of something nicer and more like the REAL Yankee stadium.

You do realize the current Yankee Stadium:

- Isn't the Polo Grounds
- Is nothing like the REAL Yankee Stadium that has been gutted since the 70s

Basically you are wanting them to keep a horrid 70s stadium instead of something nicer and more like the REAL Yankee stadium.

20, 000 seats in the upperdeck, 30, 000 seats in the lower deck, $24 bleacher tickets.....

I'll stick with my current thoughts of ugggh......

All the place needed was a $200 million rennovation.

20, 000 seats in the upperdeck, 30, 000 seats in the lower deck, $24 bleacher tickets.....

I'll stick with my current thoughts of ugggh......

All the place needed was a $200 million rennovation.

O if that´s all! keep the change!

O if that´s all! keep the change!

$200 million rennovation compared to a $1.5 billion *** stadium with less seats for a team that sells out almost all its games now with 57, 000 ? It's the fleecing of the blue collar fan, nothing more, nothing less.

why is the word n.e.w. also of a sudden banned ???

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http://www.newsday.com/ny-spbbystad015149739apr01,0,5057481.story?track=mostemailedlink

All of the old ambience in new Yankee Stadium

BY BOB HERZOG
bob.herzog@newsday.com

April 1, 2007

The Yankees won't be changing zip codes in 2009, nor will their new home have a new name.

"Let us thank the Yankees and Mr. [George] Steinbrenner for having faith in the South Bronx," Rep. José Serrano said at the ground-breaking ceremony last August. "You could have moved to New Jersey. You could have moved to Manhattan. But the New Jersey Bombers or the West Side Bombers doesn't sound right."

What has sounded right since 1923 will continue to ring true: Yankee Stadium lives on. The newest version, designed by sports architecture giant HOK Sport (which is also designing the Mets' new ballpark, CitiField), will pay an obvious homage the Yankees' rich heritage.

It is being erected across the street from the current Stadium, with its new bleachers on the site of the current Macombs Dam Park. In fact, the infamous Bleacher Creatures are being honored in the new Stadium with a special concession area dedicated to those passionate, occasionally raucous fans.

"This new home preserves our tradition and restores some of the lost treasures," noted team president Randy Levine. "But it maintains the playing field as it is today, relocates Monument Park and keeps all the great features fans have come to love of the present Stadium."

Architectural features will include the renowned facade and the return of several features from the original Stadium built in 1923 - the old auxiliary scoreboard in right-center, the identifiable frieze atop the roof and the large cathedral windows. The latter features were not retained as part of the 1974-75 re-construction.

"As caretakers of this American icon, the Steinbrenner family is committed to preserving the rich history that the New York Yankees represent," Yankees general partner Steve Swindal, Steinbrenner's son-in-law, said at the ground-breaking ceremony. "As this great monument to our glorious past rises from the ground, it will serve as a tribute to the present, the past and the future."

Capacity for the new Stadium will be 50,300, with approximately two-thirds of the seats in the lower bowl.

The playing-field dimensions will remain the same: 318 to the leftfield foul line; 399 to left-centerfield; 408 feet to centerfield; 385 to right-centerfield, and 314 to the rightfield foul line.

There will be 70 luxury suites, a museum, learning center, restaurants, lounges and clubs plus a 30,000-square-foot common area.

The new facility will occupy 1.35 million square feet of space, approximately 500,000 square feet larger than the current Stadium. Estimated cost is $1.2 billion, most of it paid for through private funding.

20, 000 seats in the upperdeck, 30, 000 seats in the lower deck, $24 bleacher tickets.....

I'll stick with my current thoughts of ugggh......

All the place needed was a $200 million rennovation.

You say, $24 bleacher tickets as if that's something unique. I guess its a good price considering that the Yankees actually win, but that expensive already for bleacher tickets.

One more stadium

You say, $24 bleacher tickets as if that's something unique. I guess its a good price considering that the Yankees actually win, but that expensive already for bleacher tickets.

We currently have $12 bleacher tickets. the new stadium would double that price to $24 a ticket, which is the current price of the upper deck along the base lines.


And why has this thread been moved to a different forum???

Why has this thread been moved out of the stadium section?

Why has this thread been moved out of the stadium section?

yea why was this moved??

Good update

Camden Yards>New or any other Yankee "STADIUM"

Damn shame it isn't the orioles>yankees or any other al east team for that matter. ( For you I mean). Good job on being better than the devilrays though. ::okay::

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so whats the deal on the new bombers' stadium... izzit being built or not?

^^What are you blind? Don't you see all the construction going on above?

:weird:

The Game Is Up, did you actually go to that game, or did you just find those pics while doing a web search?

I got them from bloggers, specifically squidpix. His credit for most of the images.

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What a contrast between the two stadiums being built at the same time, the Mets are using steel for the structure, the Yankees are using concrete. Why are the Yankees pouring theirs? It seems way too labor intensive to me.

April & May

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Yankee Stadium Virtual Tour:
http://www.boston.com/partners/worldnow/nesn.html?catID=80767&clipid=1205796&autoStart=true&mute=false&continuous=true

It's a damn shame that the original field couldn't have remained... with the original field, the soul of Yankees baseball will go too. That field is hallowed ground, bound to be paved and parked on...

Soldier Field was renovated on the same site (although not very well...) and the team played 2 hours away... I don't know if a baseball team can do this??? Maybe share Shea?

This is what happened at Comiskey Park... now the original home plate is painted on the parking lot.... so sad. I hate walking through the parking lot to go to games...

^^ I think they're going to put a park where the old stadium is now. They're not going to put a car park on top of it. The info I got it from is the official New York City Parks Department website.

Some new pics:

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http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/20/realestate/20livi.html?_r=1&ref=realestate&oref=slogin
Home of the Bronx Roar

By C. J. HUGHES
Published: May 20, 2007

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Ruby Washington/The New York Times
HERE TODAY, THERE TOMORROW Until the new Yankee Stadium, right, is complete in 2009, the old one will have to do. Parkland will replace it.

HIGH BRIDGE, folded into a valley in the southwestern Bronx, welcomed its first wave of Manhattanites in the 1920s; developers promised them more room for less money.

Now history may be coming full circle. Buyers frustrated by high prices in uptown Manhattan neighborhoods like Inwood and Harlem are slowly discovering Art Deco buildings in High Bridge, conveniently near two subway lines and a chain of handsome parks.

For some, the attraction may be the new Yankee Stadium, a billion-dollar multiblock public-private behemoth whose curved bleachers are even now rising across East 161st Street from its older cousin.

It is to be ready in time for the 2009 season; along with it are to come new athletic fields, tennis courts, bicycle and walking paths, stores and restaurants. There will also be a new Metro-North Railroad station — which during baseball season might help ease overcrowding on the subway. Hopes are high that the advent of all these attractions will help generate residential construction.

The project has not been discord-free, however, as a total of 22 acres in Macombs Dam and John Mullaly Parks were sacrificed to build it.

To make amends, developers say, they are creating interim fields in former parking lots and will replace the old stadium — to be razed when the new one is ready for use — with permanent parkland.

“The reconstruction of parkland and adding state-of-the-art amenities point in one direction, and that’s for the benefit of the neighborhood,” said Wilhelm Ronda, the planning director for Adolfo Carrión Jr., the borough president.

Community advocates had sought a more substantial offer, pointing out that the area has grappled with high asthma rates — a problem ascribed in part to urban overcrowding and a lack of green space. The South Bronx generally, according to Menaka Mohan, a coordinator at Sustainable South Bronx, has a half-acre of green space per 1,000 residents, far below the two-and-a-half-acre standard her group and others advocate.

Still, transplants are coming, confident that High Bridge, a neighborhood one and a half square miles in size, is turning a corner.

Elaine Rivera, who two years ago bought a 720-square-foot co-op on the Grand Concourse, says wryly that when she falls prey to doubt on this point, she consults her own residential track record: Almost every place she has lived — the East Village, the meatpacking district — went on to become trendy, after she had turned down opportunities to buy.

“I thought, I’m not going to blow this off and make another mistake again,” said Ms. Rivera of her one-bedroom, one-bath unit with a terrace providing “movie-set views.”

A reporter for the public radio station WNYC, Ms. Rivera paid $150,000 for the place in the fall of 2005, and spent $13,000 more for new floors and a stove (many High Bridge co-ops are sold unrenovated). She said she had been told by at least one broker that it could sell for $250,000 today.

But she, too, acknowledges that before hordes flock here, the Bronx must overcome the perception, cultivated in the hard-luck 1970s and 1980s, that blight and crime persist.

Police statistics bear out the neighborhood’s transformation: Murder rates in the 44th Precinct, which covers High Bridge, dropped 58 percent from 2001 to 2005; robbery was down 29 percent over the same period. (Even so, there were 13 murders in the precinct in 2006, and 495 reported robberies.)

Ray Melendez, who moved to High Bridge in 1985 and once served as a police officer there, remembers when drug users in Joyce Kilmer Park routinely broke into parked cars. Mr. Melendez, who admits to having his own brushes with the law, says that he spent five years behind bars for a restraining-order violation, only to return to a neighborhood invigorated: In Joyce Kilmer Park these days, families come to picnic.

He says he is thinking about buying something new in the neighborhood. Based on his search, he estimated that his 850-square-foot one-bedroom co-op — which cost $20,900 in 1989 — could sell for $140,000.

But with the onset of gentrification, he said, “I worry about where the locals will go to buy a gallon of milk.”

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Wow! I see actual seating areas coming into place!

I guess it's about time.

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This stadium will be great.

waiting for it to complete ....



Ashely
http://www.blogestates.com/blog/jacob

June 16

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http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2007/11/16/2007-11-16_yankees_paying_arod_but_taxpayers_will_b.html
Yankees paying A-Rod, but taxpayers will be paying more too
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, November 16th 2007, 4:00 AM

As the Yankees get ready to hand Alex Rodriguez a new $275 million contract, team executives are squeezing city taxpayers for millions more for the team's new Bronx stadium.

Only last year, Mayor Bloomberg assured the public the city's total contribution for "infrastructure improvements" around the new stadium would not exceed $145 million.

Well, the Yankees have already hit that gift ball out of the park.

A new analysis of the capital budget by City Controller William Thompson says City Hall has slated $235 million for stadium improvements between now and 2011.

That's a $90 million increase over what the public was told before the City Council approved the stadium deal in April 2006.

Then last week the Yankees suddenly claimed an extra $5 million in retroactive deductions from the city to their stadium rent for 2005.

The Yankees say all of that was connected to planning for the new stadium.

Under a series of amendments to the current stadium lease that began under Rudy Giuliani in 2001, and were extended by Mayor Bloomberg in 2005, the city has allowed the Yankees to deduct up to $5 million a year from the team's rent to pay for "planning costs" for the new stadium.

The Yankees must show proof of the actual expenses in canceled checks and vendor invoices.

A few months ago, the civic watchdog group Good Jobs New York questioned tens of thousands of dollars in credits the Yankees had claimed.

The Parks Department then concluded the team's filings for 2004, 2005 and 2006 were so disorganized and mixed in with ineligible day-to-day team expenses that the agency could not figure them out.

Red-faced team executives agreed to fix the mess and resubmit all their documentation. They did so recently, and the Daily News reviewed the new material this week under a Freedom of Information Act request.

The new filings show the Yankees suddenly doubled from $5 million to $10 million the amount of rent credits they are claiming for the 2005 season.

In addition, they continue to claim more than $9 million in credits for 2006. That's a total of $19 million in credits for the past two years, but city lawyers have questioned whether the team can deduct more than $5 million in any one year under the lease agreement.

"The city is reviewing the lease and the submissions of the planning credits," said Parks Department spokeswoman Jama Adams, "and expects the Yankees to comply with the terms of the lease."

In addition, the controller's office began an audit of the rent credits several weeks ago.

"We look forward to reviewing the documents with both Parks and the controller," Yankees spokeswoman Alice McGillon said.

As for the capital costs, city officials conceded the sharp increase last week, but they say a good part of that was unexpected.

Of the $90 million increase, they noted, half represents the city's contribution to a new Yankee stadium Metro-North station that the mayor announced after the stadium deal was approved.

Then there were "environmental issues along the Bronx waterfront [near the stadium] that were greater than we had anticipated," said one city official. "That added about $10 million more."

Finally, there's that old standby of City Hall's economic planners, "rising construction costs," which they say added another $35 million in just one year.

It seems the more the Yankees shell out for A-Rod and their other stars, the more you and I pay for George Steinbrenner's new stadium.

jgonzalez@nydailynews.com

Note the comparisons

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=2052450500&size=l

I really like the classic facade.
It will be a great stadium.
Thanks for the updates The Game Is Up.

More new pics I found:

http://flickr.com/photos/20503670@N05/

do you know when it will be done?

I believe it is to be ready for the 2009 Season.

meaning this year in yankee stadium (current) will be its last.

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Sorry to be off topic but how come baseball stadiums are never complete bowls?(sorry if im wrong). There allways seems to be one end of the stadiums which is open and i was wondering is this so they can hit the ball out the park?.

I'd say it's because most people want to sit behind the infield/foul lines. That's where most of the action takes place.

BTW what is/was the biggest (capacity) real Baseball stadium (only Baseball stadium)

Sorry to be off topic but how come baseball stadiums are never complete bowls?(sorry if im wrong). There allways seems to be one end of the stadiums which is open and i was wondering is this so they can hit the ball out the park?.

They're not complete bowls because of the shape of the playing field & the nature of the game. Most of the play takes place in or around the infield. If they would build whole stands behind the outfield fences, the public sitting there would be too far away from the thick of the action.

Speaking of the outfield, the problem with old Yankee Stadium is that the bleachers in left field were always misplaced. They're facing the wrong way & they're too far from the fence.

Sorry to be off topic but how come baseball stadiums are never complete bowls?(sorry if im wrong). There allways seems to be one end of the stadiums which is open and i was wondering is this so they can hit the ball out the park?.

because no one wants to be 450 feet away from the plate in an upper deck. it's also too risky to pay a ton for a stadium that can seat 85,000, when the attendance differs every decade, depending on how the team is performing. 2007 yankees vs. 1987 yankees.

cool looking Stadium but i wonder why people are against this if its to bring the Yankees to a new home sure the current Yankee Stadium is the home of the team but we have to move on and with the new yankee stadium will be a fusion of the past and the future of the Yankee Team

i lived in queens so i was a mets person but yankees are not bad too

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Here's a good site for baseball stadium capacities: http://www.baseball-almanac.com/stadium.shtml

From that list: Yankee Stadium, Dodger Stadium and Shea Stadium are the three largest currently.

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LOVE the stonework! This is going to turn out beautiful, a lot better than any renderings we have seen. :hug:

For anyone who is not familiar with the other construction projects in this shot, the place that is close by Yankee Stadium is the new station for the Hudson Line of Metro-North RR, while the one further out is the new and unimprooved Bronx Gateway.

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I hope the new capacity is much larger than the current.

^^ I hear the new stadium seats only 53 K as opposed to the 57,545 seats Yankee Stadium has.

^correct t, its actually smaller. Though there are more luxury boxes so the capacity of company execs who don't even watch the game will go up noticeably.

delete

hmm, I would have figured there would be much more seating.

I wonder why they are building new stadiums in New York right next to the old ones with similar or even smaller capacity. It's not like the old stadiums are rundown or very ugly.
Is it just to get more vip boxes and thus more money?

Nonetheless I think this new stadium looks really good.

^ Well didn't the old ballpark have issues with the concrete? Idk, that's what I remember hearing.

I wonder why they are building new stadiums in New York right next to the old ones with similar or even smaller capacity. It's not like the old stadiums are rundown or very ugly.
Is it just to get more vip boxes and thus more money?

Nonetheless I think this new stadium looks really good.

1. Land is scarce in NY
2. The executive class brings in more $$$ than even a capacity crowd
3. People will pay crazy prices to watch men wear pinstripes and play a game
4. Politics. IOW, the right time and the right group of politicians

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/2424/algnewyankeestadium1vj0.jpg

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http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/8991/214694290749e7b72f13bak3.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2103/2147726124_b9cfe911f0_b.jpg


More here: http://flickr.com/photos/20503670@N05/sets/72157603575664356/detail/

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2008/01/02/2008-01-02_that_new_yankee_stadium_parking_spot_wil.html
That new Yankee Stadium parking spot will cost double soon

Wednesday, January 2nd 2008, 4:00 AM

Yankee fans can expect to pay a whopping $29 for stadium parking during home games starting in 2010 - more than twice last year's $14 rate.

Those who want valet service will pay $40 - a sharp increase over today's $30 rate.

The projected hikes were revealed in the fine print of a $237 million Wall Street bond offering that the city Industrial Development Agency issued two weeks ago to finance the creation and refurbishing of nearly 9,000 parking spaces for the new stadium.

The basic game-day parking rates will jump to $17 this year, then to $19 next year, when the new $1 billion Yankee Stadium is slated to open.

The rates would then zoom to $29 in 2010 and would increase to $35 by 2014, according to a parking feasibility study that accompanies the bond documents.

"The rates ... are projections made by an independent consultant," said Janel Patterson, spokeswoman for the city Economic Development Corp. "They, therefore, do not necessarily reflect what the actual rates for the facilities will be."

The city's inclusion of the report in its official financing statement is meant to assure bond buyers that garage revenues will be sufficient for Bronx Parking Development LLC, the little-known group the city chose as developer, to pay off the bonds.

The main reason for the high rates is the astounding $340 million price tag for the project - three new garages, the refurbishing of half a dozen outdoor lots and the replacement of park land displaced by the new stadium.

The cost is $60 million higher than the city announced just eight months ago, when the IDA gave it preliminary approval.

In addition to the bonds, the garage project is receiving $70 million in direct subsidies from the state and $32.5 million from the city to pay for replacement parkland that will be situated over two of the garages.

Financial projections in the feasibility study show that even with the huge public subsidy and the higher game-day parking rates, revenues will be insufficient to permit the developer to pay full rent and taxes to the city until at least 2016.

So while the fans pay double for parking, taxpayers will receive virtually nothing for almost a decade from garages that public money helped build.

Meanwhile, the Yankees will be raking in huge amounts of cash from their spanking-new stadium next-door.

jgonzalez@nydailynews.com

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/ironfan40/YankeeStadium12-26-07114.jpg

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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/jerseylover/2008_0103YankeeStadiumJanuary0094.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/jerseylover/newyankeestadium.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22433592@N05/ :cheers:

Yankee Stadium Is Going Up, but Bronx Still Seeks Benefits

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/01/07/nyregion/07stadium.span.jpg
The new Yankee Stadium, with a 2009 target date, is being built near the old one in the Bronx.

By TIMOTHY WILLIAMS
Published: January 7, 2008
nytimes.com (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/07/nyregion/07stadium.html)

Several years ago, as the Yankees negotiated to build a new stadium in the South Bronx, the neighborhood faced the realities of a massive construction project in its midst: parks would be closed and moved, traffic would be horrendous, life would be, for a while, a hassle.

So, as one way to make up for these inconveniences, the Yankees and elected officials signed a community benefits agreement. It required that the team would give roughly $1.2 million a year, starting when the work began, to various community groups through a special panel. The deal was similar to agreements in other major projects, like Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn and Columbia University’s expansion into Harlem.

But nearly 17 months after construction began, as workers race to complete the new Yankee Stadium by opening day 2009, none of that money has been distributed, and the group responsible for administering it has never met.

The seven-member panel also has not chosen a permanent chairman, registered as a charity with either the Internal Revenue Service or the state attorney general’s office, or selected recipients for $800,000 in grants or $450,000 in free tickets, merchandise and athletic equipment.

Elected officials have complained that they are in the dark.

“I feel embarrassed because I don’t know anything about what’s going on,” said City Councilman G. Oliver Koppell, who represents the northwest Bronx. Mr. Koppell had suggested that the Bronx council members meet to discuss the agreement. “I was involved when we negotiated it, but I have not been involved since. I urged that we have a Bronx delegation review, but nothing’s happened.”

The Yankees say the community groups will get all of the money that they agreed to give according to the community benefits agreement, or C.B.A., including the first 17 months’ worth, once the panel meets. Alice T. McGillion, a team spokeswoman, said that the money was in an escrow account and that the club was not responsible for the delays.

“Please ask Bronx Boro President’s office about any delays in the fund and advisory panel being set up,” Ms. McGillion wrote by e-mail. “As the CBA specifically states the fund and its establishment is independent from the New York Yankees.”

The Bronx borough president, Adolfo Carrión Jr., has been “too busy” for the past three weeks to discuss the stadium fund in an interview, said his spokesman, Michael Murphy. Last month, Mr. Carrión announced his candidacy for city comptroller in 2009. But Mr. Murphy wrote in an e-mail message that the process to release the money to community groups was moving along.

“There were many people deciding who would be the most appropriate candidates for the panel,” Mr. Murphy wrote, in explaining the delays. “It took time for people to look at the list and come to a consensus.”

The fund was part of the agreement and was to be established the day stadium construction started, Aug. 17, 2006, and distributed annually through 2046.

The agreements are enforceable by courts, but officials who normally ensure that the terms of a contract are carried out — such as the city comptroller — have no oversight because municipal money is not involved.

The agreement for Yankee Stadium was unusual, however, because it was not negotiated or signed by community members. It carries only the signatures of four elected officials, who said they were acting on behalf of the community, and a representative of the Yankees.

None of the officials who signed the agreement agreed to be interviewed for this article. The signatories were Mr. Carrión; Randy L. Levine, the president of the Yankees; and Bronx City Council members Maria Baez, Joel Rivera and Maria del Carmen Arroyo.

Mr. Murphy referred most questions related to the fund to the Yankees, or to the panel itself, but he would not disclose the names of its members, with the exception of the group’s acting chairman, Serafin U. Mariel.

Mr. Murphy would not say who had selected Mr. Mariel, 64, a Manhattan resident who is the former president and chief executive of New York National Bank.

Mr. Mariel, who, campaign finance records show, has donated to the candidacies of Mr. Carrión in the past, acknowledged that the group was far behind schedule. “It has taken some time to choose the advisory panel, but while some of that time has been lost, I don’t think any of the funding commitment will be lost,” Mr. Mariel said during a telephone interview last month.

“I am in the process now of arranging a meeting of panel members so they can meet each other and establish guidelines,” Mr. Mariel said.

Councilwoman Helen Diane Foster, who represents the High Bridge neighborhood and who opposed the stadium, said she had neither been briefed nor been asked for an opinion on the board. She said she had sent letters requesting information to Mr. Carrión and to council members Ms. Baez and Ms. del Carmen Arroyo without response. “I have no idea how people were selected to the panel,” she said. “It concerns me, but I’m also wise enough to know that a lot of people are hinging careers on how great this deal is, so I’m not surprised we haven’t had this conversation.”

However, Mr. Carrión’s spokesman, Mr. Murphy, said that the borough president was open to discussing the issue with other elected officials. “This process has been participatory since the beginning,” Mr. Murphy wrote via e-mail. “Every Bronx elected official can at any time address his or her concerns directly to the Borough President. He has an open door policy regarding addressing any concerns his colleagues might have.”

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Man, I have to catch a game at Yankee stadium some time this summer. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I don't visit baseball's hallowed ground atleast once before its destroyed/replaced.

The steel beams around the top make it look great.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/01142008/news/regionalnews/activists_balk_as_developers_move_in_on__432590.htm
ACTIVISTS BALK AS DEVELOPERS MOVE IN ON STADIUM

By BILL SANDERSON

January 14, 2008 -- A sneaky city land "giveaway" will turn over former Parks Department property to real-estate developers - and further infuriate activists in the park-starved South Bronx neighborhood near Yankee Stadium, The Post has learned.

When the city gave up plans for a parking garage on East 151st Street between River and Gerard avenues last fall, the property was set aside for "neighborhood-oriented mixed use, retail or parking," according to documents.

Whoever wins the right to build on the plots will get a bonus - no zoning OKs needed.

Construction on the site "must be reviewed, but not approved, by the City Planning Department and the Bronx Borough Board," says the 533-page prospectus for the $237.6 million in bonds that will pay for several new parking garages around the stadium.

The property was handed over last month to a city-controlled company that will manage the garages - and lease the land to developers.

While the Parks Department used to manage the East 151st Street site, a spokeswoman said it was not officially parkland.

What's unclear, said Geoffrey Croft, of NYC Park Advocates, is whether a state law allowing South Bronx parkland to be used for the stadium project permits commercial development on the site, south of the stadium and adjacent to the Bronx Terminal Market shopping mall now under construction.

"This is just a giveaway," he said.

bill.sanderson@nypost.com

The NHL wants to play an outdoor game at Yankee Stadium next season. While Yankees management supports this, fans think the last game in Yankee Stadium should be a Yankees game, not a hockey game.

The frieze that they are returning along the top of the stands, what is it going to be made of? In the original Yankee Stadium, before the 70s renovation, it was made of copper and repainted white.

^^ I have no idea. It is just interesting that they are going with a throwback design (?)...

http://baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=34188&d=1200428546

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http://www.citylimits.org/assets/images/images_assign/622articlestadium.gif

http://www.baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=34187&stc=1&d=1200369377

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http://www.baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=34185&stc=1&d=1200369366

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/ironfan40/Yankee003.jpg

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http://a415.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/113/l_e6c5d70beb8e45dc7ab7da543b85f51e.jpg

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/nyy/photogallery/year_2008/month_01/day_15/cf2346573.html

It starts to look like a stadium now.

But as a Yankee fan I have my doubts about the necessity of this new stadium. Of course Yankee Stadium wasn't quite the same after the 1976 renovations, but still it was Yankee Stadium. Another landmark lost.

I truly hope that the Red Sox and the Cubs will cherish their ball parks until the end of time.

I am glad that the name Yankee Stadium will remain and that the Yankees did not sell the naming rights to the highest bidding company.

am i the only one who finds this stupid, i can understand if the yankees wanted to build a new stadium but a retro replica is kinda tacky and very las vegas of the yankees, i honestly hate this idea , you can't build a new stadium and try and make it seem like the old one, its just fake...i get the dubai-las vegas feeling from this stadium.

most new stadiums have that retro look, Citi Field is designed after Ebbets Field. I actually like this new look compared to stadiums like the Trop and Shea.

Why isn't this in the sports arenas and stadiums section

ya, all the other stadiums have been moved, why is it taking so long to move this crap?

Well, this thread started off at the Stadia board but was moved here because...well, I guess New Yankee Stadium is considered too important a development to be left at the Stadia board. :nuts:

Anyway, more pics:

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/3412/gspkohymki7.jpg

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/2796/capt9c94235a595f40379c2vh3.jpg

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http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/6156/new2bstadiumdx9.jpg

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/530/yankee2bstadium2bfrom2bff8.jpg

The latest renderings of what it should look like once finished:

http://www.baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=34347&stc=1&d=1200843871

http://www.baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=34348&stc=1&d=1200844004

To important my ass, this needs to be back in the Stadium Board

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/1478/ys12708pan1ar6.jpg

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http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/9273/2220350958639ffa3010bui9.jpg

These are from Steven Lichtenthal. Enjoy. :)

This is a Stadium Admin... A STADIUM! If this is going to be on here, I propose we put Jerry World on here, The Cowboys are a Legendary team to.

I'm sort of warming up to this project now-- I still think they should've just rebuilt the old stadium, or if they were building anew stadium, they should've broken with the retro-stadium tradition. I like how the entire upper level seems to be under a roof, under that frieze, though I'm not a big fan of the vertical slats behind the seats.

I also think that the inlaid gold leaf lettering on the limestone entryways that say "YANKEE STADIUM" look kind of tacky. It would've been cooler if it were dark lettering and if they were raised metal, rather than inlaid.

The limestone's pretty classy though. There's a kind of monumentalism to it.

The whole project fits so nicely in the urban setting of the Bronx, despite destroying some precious parkland. I hope they follow through with their promises.

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/7931/yankeestadiumvisit016ew0.jpg

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http://arielaheilman.com/1020_grand_concourse_24d_stadium.jpg

http://arielaheilman.com/1020_grand_concourse_24d_panorama.jpg

Enjoy. :)

Nice view you got there.

This is going up quick, is it easy to make a Ball Park?

The facade is truly a beautiful sight...can't wait to see the finished structure

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/7122/newstadium331ex7.jpg

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Also, check out this: http://www.wnbc.com/slideshow/15060615/detail.htmlindex.html?currentSlide=1&taf=ny

now it truly feels like the Dark Empire!

I love this. The new Yankee Stadium and Mets Stadium both look FANTASTIC! I'm so excited!

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http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/9734/nyff1010207171024x768wn3.jpg

I am amazed at the speeds that this and CitiField are going up.

IMo because of steel and not concrete

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/sports/baseball/08sandomir.html?ref=baseball
You Can’t Buy the Naming Rights, but Call It the Billion-Dollar Ballpark

By RICHARD SANDOMIR
Published: February 8, 2008

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/02/08/sports/08yankee1.600.jpg
Librado Romero/The New York Times

The new stadium, which is set to open in April 2009, has its name inscribed into the stone and highlighted in gold leaf.

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/02/08/sports/08yankee2.190.jpg
Librado Romero/The New York Times

The price tag of the new Yankee Stadium will be about $1.2 billion. The cost was originally estimated at $930 million.

The old Yankee Stadium cost Jacob Ruppert and Tillinghast Huston $2.5 million to build and $100 million (or so) for the city to rebuild. The cost to replace it is now about $1.2 billion — not $930 million ($830 million and financing) as originally estimated.

Then there’s another $135 million, still to be financed as part of a separate company in the Yankees’ realm to create the food and beverage business the team will start, rather than invite an outside concessionaire like Aramark to build it.

However you calculate the costs, it is hard to envision what the $1.2 billion ballpark will look like, what with all the mud, cranes, uninstalled seats, unbuilt luxury suites and hundreds of construction workers at the site. There is still a lot of concrete and steel to build on.

•

Surely, it will be a dandy replica of the original ballpark, which dates to 1923, and not a facsimile of the stadium that emerged from the unimaginative 1974-75 renovation.

Or, as Yogi Berra said during a video produced by the Yankees to market premium seating at the ballpark, “It’s going to be like a new stadium.”

It was Lonn Trost, the Yankees’ chief operating officer, who noted the new costs Thursday during a news-media tour of the construction site. They will be borne by the team, not the city and the state, which are footing the bill for new parks, new garages and a new Metro-North station, and financed by borrowing beyond the $866 million in tax-exempt bonds and $64 million in taxable bonds that are financing the stadium’s construction.

The team’s debt service will surely rise — and it won’t get any help from a naming rights deal. Trost said the team has rejected offers of at least $50 million a year — two and a half times what Citigroup is paying the Mets — to name the stadium for a corporation. He did not say which companies would pay such a fee.

Still, even without naming-rights booty, Sal Galatioto, who runs a sports investment banking company, said the Yankees shouldn’t have much trouble finding more financing. “The Yankee name carries a lot of weight with investors,” he said. “They have a good story to tell, especially if some of the increased expenses will increase revenues.”

About $150 million in higher costs are going to a fancier scoreboard than originally envisioned and enhancements to luxury suites, club suites and restaurants that went beyond the original architectural plans — all designed to produce cash.

The scope of space dedicated to the wealthiest’s pursuits in suites and pampered club areas is stunning. The two-level Legends Suite Club will serve the 1,800 ticket holders who will sit closest to the field in 1,800 cushioned seats extending along the baselines from home plate. Hopefully, when ticket prices are announced, the wealthiest in their premium areas will subsidize the regular Joes.

(There is also a conference center — if a meeting breaks out in the sixth inning.)

Another $60 million is to pay for security improvements that were recommended by the New York Police Department and $50 million was associated with starting construction several months late in August 2006 because of lawsuits.

The stadium is starting to look like something, much like Citi Field, which is rising in Flushing beside Shea Stadium. Both ballparks are racing to be completed by April 2009.

The dueling Yankee Stadiums face each other across 161st Street. The partly finished granite and limestone exterior of the new one winks at the ancient House That Ruth Built as if to say, “I’m going to be look better than you — and I’ll have wider seats.”

Gate 4, at the corner of 161st Street and Jerome Avenue, gleamed in the gray chill.

YANKEE STADIUM is inscribed into the stone and highlighted in gold leaf. Circular holes on either side of the inscription await the arrival of sculptured medallions of eagles that were part of the original design by Osborne Engineering.

•

“I just ran across Ruppert’s 1924 income tax return where he started amortizing the $2 million construction cost,” Trost said. “For $2 million, we can build a seat.”

Actually, arithmetic proves that the 53,000 seats will cost $22,641 each. (Cheap!)

Inside, much of the steel structure is completed, and the most striking feature so far on display is a 21st-century rendition of the rooftop frieze that defined the old stadium’s design. The old one was copper and turned green through oxidation. The new frieze is made of steel, painted white and was delivered in 39 six-ton pieces.

About half are in place, giving the new place its first indication of grandeur.

Trost’s tour of the construction site meandered from outside (with what appears to be a much gentler grade to the seating, offering fewer steep views), to the inside, where he walked through the Yankees’ clubhouse, showers and weight room. He gestured down a corridor and said, “Torre’s office is that way.” Reminded of the transfer in power from Joe Torre to Joe Girardi, he added with a smile, “You know it’s Joe’s office.”

E-mail: sportsbiz@nytimes.com

how is this a 1.2 Billion stadium?

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/8464/galystad3ij4.jpg

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/5641/galystad7hw6.jpg

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New renderings and model pics:

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/2342/ysrender081ol5.jpg

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/6855/ysrender083au6.jpg

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/9010/ysrender084ri8.jpg

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http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/3853/yshofrenderyp1.jpg

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/6703/ysmodel081iw0.jpg

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/491/galystad1rk7.jpg

Also see: http://www.wfan.com/pages/1617160.php

So the stadium will have 4 decks?

The frieze in the new stadium looks awesome!...although I still think that there was no need to build a new stadium in the first place.

how is this a 1.2 Billion stadium?


A lot of it is the cost of doing business in New York City. You have an already built up area as opposed to suburbs like JerryWorld. You have the cost of union labor in New York. You have the cost of old school material like limestone. You also have the cost of building a whole new station (are they building new track or are they just adding a station?) of a commuter rail line, and the cost of replacing public parkland, which many people believe are too much burden to place on the already established local communities just for the benefit of a pro sports team. As grand as JerryWorld is, they're not building a brand new rail station.

The frieze in the new stadium looks awesome!...although I still think that there was no need to build a new stadium in the first place.

I like the frieze too but I think it's sad that we lose the traditional views of the Bronx Borough Hall over the outfield. It's going to be weird to not see it during Yankee games.

UUFgXLk-sEw

m1BKdW6fXoE

how is this a 1.2 Billion stadium?

George Steinbrener wanted it to be very prestigous, not to mention of us state taxpayers provide the money for it.

George Steinbrener wanted it to be very prestigous, not to mention of us state taxpayers provide the money for it.

how does any of that = 1.2 Billion???

how does any of that = 1.2 Billion???

Perhaps you dont understand the industry. In most construction projects in the US the contractor will provide an estimate of the cost through taking off drawings etc, but also third party i.e. a cost consultancy firm is employed to produce an independent check estimate to make sure the contractor is not ripping off the client / whoevers paying for it. So if they say this = $1.2 billion then thats whats it is.

I think Stienbrenner is screwing over the city.

Anyone think this will push the Red Sox to build a new stadium?

No-- unlike the Yankees, the Red Sox know the value of their historic stadium. Their changes have actually improved on their existing property as well as play up the history of Fenway. It's a traditional stadium that actually adds value to the Red Sox brand. I don't kow where I read this but I think Fenway, despite its small size and its limited number of seats, is one of the most profitable stadiums in the USA. The Sox are as likely to move out of Fenway as the Cubs are from Wrigley.

how does any of that = 1.2 Billion???

Did you actually read that last article I posted or did you just skim through it, b/c it will probably answer your question?

Red sox had plans a few years ago for a new fenway park which was basically a bigger version of how it currently is but they scrapped the idea after a lot of opposition

http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/american/bosbpk.htm

Did you actually read that last article I posted or did you just skim through it, b/c it will probably answer your question?

I dont like to read New York Papers, they repeat them self's to much and arnt very informative.

Im glad The Sox will stand up for there heritage.

Now NY is complete

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/6236/nycd1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I hate the NY yankees, but I must admit that is a beautiful ballpark.

George Steinbrener wanted it to be very prestigous, not to mention of us state taxpayers provide the money for it.

LOL Suck it up. Oh and thanks for 'helping' to build my teams new stadium. You rock tal!

No-- unlike the Yankees, the Red Sox know the value of their historic stadium.

Historic? I scoff at that comment. Unlike the Yankees, the Red Sox nor the Cubs renovated their stadiums as drastically as Yankee Stadium (which was torn down completely except for the bleachers). The only 'historic' aspect of Yankee Stadium are the legends that played on that field and Monument Park, but aside from that, the rest is crappy 1970's architecture.

I dont like to read New York Papers, they repeat them self's to much and arnt very informative.

Im glad The Sox will stand up for there heritage.

This is a NY based stadium, so most of the news here will be from NYC newspapers just like how stadiums over in Texas are covered by Texas papers.

LOL Suck it up. Oh and thanks for 'helping' to build my teams new stadium. You rock tal!
You are aware that you are paying for the Mets new stadium nygirl, though I am not happy to be giving my tax dollars for either one.

I'm pleased as punch it is a great looking stadium. It looks much better than the purple and orange piece of crap over in Flushing right now. But I'm also not jealous, oops I mean I don't hate the Mets nor their success ('86). So I don't mind it as much as you seem to.. Wait I kinda got a little chuckle out of that..

Does that mean... I'm still laughing?

Why yes I think it does.......

Lol wait, whose who>? Can you tell me?

:lol: :happy::lol::laugh::baeh3:


:tongue::bleep::no::dunno::bow::bow::blahblah::fiddle::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry:

Sorry... total smiley overload.

^^ Thank you for wasting our time. And Citi field is much better then this.

Lol wasteing your time? No problem BRINK, anytime champ.Citifield is a beauty and I'm sure you feel incredible about yourself now that you let me know I've wasted your time and that citifield is better than Yankee Stadium. You...........got.........me. <^> off.

Still :lol:

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/5488/ysrender082yi1.jpg

Ever noticed that the guy on the right of this picture (pointing) is Brian Cashman?

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/02/15/2008-02-15_bronx_politicians_yankees_president_in_a.html
Bronx politicians, Yankees president in a smackdown over stadium

Friday, February 15th 2008, 4:00 AM

A breakfast meeting between Yankees President Randy Levine and Bronx lawmakers about the team's new stadium erupted into a heated shouting match, with one assemblywoman so mad she stormed out.

The fireworks began after Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr. asked Levine for the number of Bronx residents hired to work on the $1.2 billion stadium.

When the Yankees president could not give precise numbers, Diaz and other lawmakers became visibly upset, several people who attended last week's meeting said.

A few minutes later, Levine became embroiled in a second dispute with Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo, who wanted to know why a community foundation that was supposed to dispense $800,000 annually in Yankees contributions to Bronx nonprofits had taken more than 18 months to hold its first meeting.

Levine told Arroyo to ask Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión about the delay. She then blasted his response and angrily walked out.

A few participants said they were even more angry at Carrión and the borough's City Council delegation than at the Yankees.

Less than two years ago, Levine signed a much-publicized "community benefits agreement" with Bronx pols that was filled with grand promises about jobs for local residents and a new Yankees community foundation. The team made those promises to win City Council approval for huge public subsidies for the new stadium.

The agreement committed the team to employ Bronx residents for "at least 25%" of the total construction workforce. The Yankees promised that a quarter of stadium contracting would go to Bronx businesses.

Yankees spokeswoman Alice McGillion said Thursday the team had met its 25% goal and had done even better in contracting.

No one has verified those claims. The agreement called for the creation of a "construction advisory committee" of community leaders to monitor compliance and to get monthly reports on how the Yankees were meeting their goals.

That committee has never met, and the board of the new foundation did not even hold its first meeting until two months ago - only after reporters started asking about it.

"It's deeply troubling that a project of this magnitude, which will have such an immense impact on the people of the Bronx, has so many seemingly unanswered questions," Diaz said Thursday.

Diaz and Arroyo declined to say what happened at the meeting.

"None of us have ever seen anyone go toe-to-toe with Randy Levine the way Ruben did," another participant said.

Anyone that dislikes this new Yankee Stadium aesthetically should be reminded of what was almost built to replace the current venue back in 2001:

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g231/mrfusion1/NYY.jpg
From Cheese Mmmm...'s post on Page 1

In addition to the roof, the main entrances would've been located by first and third base, rather than home plate.

The Mets has an even more ridiculous proposal between 1998 and 2001 posted here. (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=18453092&postcount=143) :)

i think both those roof designs look cool.

I think Stienbrenner is screwing over the city.

Anyone think this will push the Red Sox to build a new stadium?

The city isn't paying a penny for the stadium.

The Sox tried to build a new stadium a few years ago but were blocked by the city and by NIMBYs. They're not going anywhere anytime soon.

No-- unlike the Yankees, the Red Sox know the value of their historic stadium.

LOL, that's why the Sox tried and failed to dump Fenway and move to South Boston.

The Yankees don't have a "historic stadium." Yankee Stadium was completely rebuilt in the early 1970's.

The stadium itself, funded entirely by the team, will run about $800 million, while the total project will cost about $1.1 billion with the city and the state providing the extra $300 million for a new Metro-North station, parkland along the now decrepit waterfront and better parking facilities around the stadium.


I really don't see why NY'ers are complaining about this stadium. The Yankees are paying for it, and the Bronx is getting new green areas, a new metro link, and frankly, a better ballpark than what currently exists. So for basically what other municipalities are paying for their ballparks, the Bronx and NY get way more bang for their buck.