FFF - Fifty F****** Five

 

I've picked one hell of a time to start writing a blog. I've received nearly 600 views in the first week which is absolutely mind-blowing, and this is the perfect time to capitalise on that with us officially winning the league... yet I've stared at this screen for hours.

How do you do an occasion like this justice? How can you accurately put words down that convey to the reader just how much this means to you? You guys will absolutely be feeling the same overwhelming feelings I am too, but you come here to read what I have to say and, well to be honest I'm not even sure how I feel. 

I have 10 years of frustration, anger, hurt, excitement, hope, misery, nervousness, fear, anxiety, and joy all hitting me in one massive wave of emotions. 

To the outside world looking in this is a great story of redemption. You only need to look to social media to see the outpouring of congratulations from big names. The historical giant of football that went to the lowest ebb and has made its way back to the pinnacle of their league, but for us, it is so much more than that. We're the ones that have had to suffer through the Whyte's, the Green's, the Easdale's, and the Ashley's. We're the ones who have had to avoid buying the club's strip. To suffer first administration, then liquidation, and then demotion and starting from the bottom.

We've had to watch as our rivals dominated a league where nobody else dares challenge in case they suffer the wrath of their masters. We then had to suffer the humiliation while men who were unequipped to lead our club went up against said rivals and were found wanting.

But that all ended today. Today we have taken our rightful place back at the top of the mountain. If anyone is in doubt as to how much this means to the club and the supporters they only have to look at the videos and pictures of the fans greeting the players and management team as they arrived at Ibrox yesterday, or the players celebrating last night. They can look to the scenes at both George Square and the HTC today as it was officially confirmed.

Our detractors will try to use these scenes as a stick to beat us with, but those same detractors were nowhere to be seen when our rivals gathered en masse 4 different times over the course of this pandemic, be it to celebrate or to riot, so I'll take no lectures from Mount Pious from them.

As stated previously I did not join the scenes, but I'll be dammed if I let anyone criticise people for turning up. Our fans have suffered more than most fanbases in sports over the last 10 years and after what has been a year of hell for everyone to add on that, they deserve this. The pandemic has robbed us of so much this past year, it sure as hell isn't robbing us of the moment we have spent a decade dreaming of.

I started this blog by writing an article thanking Steven Gerrard for giving us our club back, but today I also need to extend that thanks to the men that made sure there was a club for him to give back. Dave King and the Three Bears were those saviors and it was only fitting that this was on the weekend of the anniversary when they stepped up to the plate and wrested control back from the fat man and his cronies. 

I should also extend a thank you to fan media such as the Heart & Hand Podcast network and Four Lads Had a Dream blog. Throughout the years they have given us, the fans, a voice. They've not only suffered the heartache we've been through but they've also given us the hope that things would get better. I for one don't want to think how much worse it would have been without their reminders of the better times. So if any of you happen to read this, thank you. Know it has been appreciated.

The question now becomes "what next"? We'll all enjoy this for a while to come, and rightly so, but what then? Well, we've still got lots to play for this season. We're still in the Europa League last 16, with a very winnable tie ahead. The Scottish Cup is due to resume soon, and we should be aiming for a domestic double. We can also set defensive records in the league and finish the league season unbeaten. We may have the grand prize but this season is far from over.

What I'd like most of all is for us to go into the Old Firm in 2 weeks and absolutely destroy them. Show no mercy and really let them know that this season is only the beginning. They had their free ride and they failed to end us, now it's our turn to dominate again.

And then? Well, then it's time for 56 of course. I've no doubt a few players will leave in the summer, especially after this achievement, with their displays in Europe and with International football in the summer. That is all but confirmed as the final part of the model for building a sustainable Rangers in today's football climate, but with Ross Wilson and his team working with Steven Gerrard and his backroom staff I know the future is in good hands. The gaffer said himself, he's got the bug, he wants to have more of these experiences, wants to bring us more silverware, and give us fans more of this joy. 

I'm certain that the plans to do just that have been in the works for a while now, we saw it start in January with the moves to bring in Jack Simpson and Scott Wright early, bed them in and get them used to the winning culture that is engrained in the club again. Nnamdi Ofoborh will join them in the summer and I'm sure we will have a wish list of players ready to replace any of the current squad that moves on to pastures new.

But for now, this squad has earned their day in the sun and by God have they enjoyed it if the videos are anything to go by. So have you, so finish this article, close your laptop, put down your phone and go celebrate some more. It's been a long time coming so spend a long time enjoying it. 

This is our club. This is our city. This is our day.

Fifty F****** Five.

Oh yeah, and before I forget... have you ever seen Gerrard win the league?

The Rambling Ger

Twitter - @GerRambling

IG - TheRamblingGer