Rangers newco: For Rangers fans ‘a new adventure’ has begun – in Brechin

THEY are used to playing to tens of thousands and competing for the top honours in Scottish football. But yesterday, Rangers barely scraped past Second Division side Brechin City, as they played their first game of the season in the Ramsdens Cup.

The tournament – sponsored, ironically after Rangers’ own financial problems, by a pawnbrokers – would not normally register on the Ibrox radar, 
because it is only for teams below the Scottish Premier League. But as they prepare for life in the bottom tier of the Scottish game, the Ibrox side travelled to Glebe Park - where a hedge famously provides the perimeter at one side of the ground - for its first match in its reconstituted Rangers Sevco form. Just how the mighty have fallen was illustrated when, at one stage of the game, the match ball had to be replaced after it became stuck on the hedge.

Despite finishing second in the SPL last season, it took an extra-time goal from Lee McCulloch to overcome a side that are now a division above the Glasgow club.

Thousands of fans descended on Brechin to support their side for their first match, many wearing tops bearing variations on the recent battle cry: “We Do Not Do Walking Away”

They argued that they should not be playing in the Third Division, but relished the opportunity forced upon the club.

Rob McGuire, from Glasgow, said: “I’m quite glad this has
happened. It just shows what Scottish football thinks about us. But in the end it’s the wee clubs that will be benefiting from us, and it’ll be an experience for us.

“Above all else, though, it’s back to playing football, and it’s just great to see the team again.”

Scott Brown, from Montrose, described the situation as “a new adventure”. He said: “I’ve been following them for 20 years, and I’m not going to stop now. If they played on the streets, I’d watch from the pavement. I’ll miss the Old Firm games, but I won’t miss the rest – I’ve got no care for any of the
others, especially after what’s happened.”

Hundreds of fans travelled without tickets, just to be able to watch the match in bars.

For Brechin fan Andy Wilson, having Rangers visit was an opportunity not to be missed: “The feeling of the whole of Scotland – except Rangers fans – is that they want us to win. We’ve had messages of support from all across the country.”

Among publicans, opinion about the benefits of having an Old Firm club come to town was split.