26 May 2003
Supporters Direct Conference in Dundee this Sunday

A Conference is being held, with the main theme being "Funding" and attendees from the Trust Boards of all the Scottish clubs are expected to attend. We can confirm that the Rangers Supporters Trust will be represented by three members of the Inaugural Board.

26 May 2003
Great new free-to-enter contest for Trust members

Members have the chance to win one of three signed copies of "Down the Copland Road" by Ronnie Esplin, which is all about Rangers Supporters, as opposed to the players. It is an excellent book, which comprehensively shatters the myth of the stereotypical Rangers fan, with both anecdotal and independent statistical evidence. It illustrates how Rangers fans come from all over, and from all walks of life, but the one (and really only) thing that unites them is the love of our great Club. Some of the quotes really capture what it means to be a Rangers fans, and the following chapters are included:-

Rangers Fans and Religion
Rangers Fans and Politics
Rangers Fans and Scotland
Money in the Game
The Scottish Premier League - and the future
Rangers Fans and the media
Memories are made of this . . .

This book is available from Argyll Publishing (ISBN 1 902831 14 4) but to win your free copy, answer this (not so simple) question:-

Which Rangers goalkeeper was nicknamed "half-cap"?

If you know the answer, please send an e-mail headed "Down the Copland Road" to nonotone@btopenworld.com - that's right, as in "No not one"! Closing date for all entries is Tuesday 10 June, with the winners announced on this page the following day.

25 May 2003
Supporters Trust congratulates team on a new world record

Everyone at the Rangers Supporters Trust sends their hearty congratulations to Alex McLeish and the team on securing a world record 50th league title. Whilst we all appreciate that it was very much a team effort, Alex McLeish deserves a special mention, as he has had less resources at his disposal than any Rangers Manager since the mid-eighties, yet still managed to steer his team to the Championship ahead of this season's UEFA Cup finalists.

24 May 2003
Competition Winners!!!

Congratulations to the following bears who are the winners of the Trust's recent Soccer Divi competition:

-Alan Kettlewell, Cleveleys, Lancs
-James Drummond, Pontyclun, Mid Glamorgan
-George Lappin, Gourock
-David Gemmell, Glasgow
-Robert Williamson, Glasgow

Thanks to all who took part in this competition. The winning answer was, of course, Dick Advocaat.

23 May 2003
Trust Gets Backhanded Boost from Anti-Rangers Brigade

It has been brought to our attention that the pro-Celtic radio station, Radio Clyde, got Hugh Keevins and Derek Johnstone to agree on air tonight that "Trusts are a waste of time" but knowing the contempt with which those individuals' views are held by most fans, especially Rangers fans, we expect to see a surge in membership applications as a consequence. We would have been far more worried if these characters were in favour.

23 May 2003
Message from Trust Secretary

"Due to the overwhelming success of the trust, it has taken longer than anticipated to issue membership cards etc. I am happy to confirm however that both the membership cards and share certificates will be issued over the next two weeks. We are delighted at the initial response to the Trust and would continue to encourage all members to enlist the support of their fellow Rangers fans."

21 May 2003
Sunday Subway Service - definite details confirmed

A normal service will run until 6pm, and Ibrox and Cessnock stations will remain open until 6-30pm

21 May 2003
Quote of the Day from the Aston Villa Trust website

The more enlightened clubs know it is in their commercial interest to value their supporters and involve them in the affairs of the clubs - not see them as "turnstile-fodder" who can be expected to turn up week after week regardless of the quality of the product.

-- Chris Smith MP from The Changing Face of the Football Business - Supporters Direct

19 May 2003
Subway on Sunday - late opening

Following Rangers' excellent victory at Tynecastle yesterday, the SPL Championship race will go down to the very last weekend of the season. As such it now looks likely that SPT will run the Underground train service until 7pm on Sunday - more news as the week progresses.

16 May 2003
H-word to disappear from the BBC?

Following a meeting between the Trust Chairman and a senior official at the BBC, further good news is in the air for Rangers fans.

The BBC made it clear that because of the Charter under which they operate, they could not permit any outside group to impose editorial control on their programmes (which is fair enough) and that "off the Ball" is, by their own admission, both "petty and ill-informed!" They also assured us that no offence was intended, and that all Clubs and their fans are "fair game." When the Trust Chairman suggested that Messrs Cowan and Cosgrove could not be that bereft of talent that they depended on the use of such an evil term to raise laughter, the penny appeared to drop.

Whilst the BBC will not permit a formal statement to be issued on our website, we are confident that the use of this offensive term on "Off the Ball" has now ceased.

We do hope this is the case, and are proud that our own website does not (need to) refer to fans of opposing clubs in such a derogatory manner. We are also pleased to heal a long-running sore which our great club has allowed to fester for many years.

15 May 2003
RFC issue the "Blue Guide" with season ticket confirmations

Whilst the Trust welcomes this initiative generally, we are particularly pleased to note that the Club appears to disagree with Hearts Chief Executive, Chris Robinson, that the flying of the flags of any of the four home countries of the United Kingdom is "sectarian".

There is nothing in the Blue Guide which is at odds with the Trust's own statement on the Racism & Sectarian debate, which was published last month, and can still be viewed on the FAQ section of this site. Had our great Club seen fit to engage us in discussion on these matters at an earlier stage, it could have been launched with the Trust's backing at outset.

14 May 2003
Union Flags labelled "sectarian" by Hearts Chief Executive

In an attempt to turn down the temperature in the build-up to Sunday's vital match at Tynecastle, the Trust officially approached Hearts Chief Executive, Chris Robinson, politely requesting that he re-consider his personal ban on the waving of the flag of OUR country by the visiting Rangers fans. We did so, in all good faith, as this would have contributed to a more colourful backdrop to a live televised game, and would also have reduced the possibility of crowd trouble, from fans resisting arrest.

However, the outcome is that Mr Robinson regards the flag of our country as "a sectarian banner" which even puts him at odds with the First Minister of the Scottish Parliament, Jack McConnell. We regard this intransigence as being at best unhelpful, and at least unusual because we can think of no other country in the world where citizens waving their own flag would have them stolen on the instructions of a local businessman. Our own great Club do not appear to have the willingnesss to fight our corner, and indeed Mr Robinson states that "Rangers supporters, through all official channels, have been advised not to bring flags in the first place."

Whilst we all oppose real sectarianism, it would be interesting to see if Rangers FC withdrew the season ticket of a fan arrested for refusing to hand over the flag of our country to an officer of a police force funded by that same country. We must make it clear that we are not advocating violence with the Police - quite the reverse in fact. In the event of a flag being snatched by a Police Officer, we would advise the owner to politely request a receipt, and note the number of the Officer concerned. We just look for the Police to uphold the Law, and not act as the functionaries of a local businessman hell-bent on furthering his own petty prejudices.

Despite the obvious offence caused by any (attempted) removal of such flags, the Trust appeals to all Rangers fans to conduct themselves always within the Law, and to observe any guidance issued by the Rangers Supporters Alliance. It is with genuine regret that we felt it necessary to get involved in this matter, but the strength of feeling all round has made this inevitable.

13 May 2003
Good News from SPT re underground service for Dunfermline game

Whilst the normal Sunday service is one train every 8 minutes, SPT have today confirmed to the Trust that they aim to run trains every 4-5 minutes on the afternoon of Sunday 25 May.

Tremendous news for the thousands of Rangers fans who use "the subway" so let's just hope we're all in celebratory mood come 5pm!

13 May 2003
Win a Rangers Soccer Divi Pack

The Rangers Supporters Trust have five Rangers Soccer Divi Pack's to give away in a competition open to all Rangers fans. Please answer the following question:

Who was the Manager of Rangers before Alex McLeish was appointed in December 2001?

Send your answer, name and full address to: derek_mcavoy@btopenworld.com by Friday 23rd May 2003.

11 May 2003
Open Day A Great Success

Many thanks to all our members who dropped in to uplift their Membership Cards today, thereby saving us the postage, and also a warm welcome to the 52 new members who joined the trust today as a result of dropping in.

Of equal encouragement were the messages of support conveyed to us by some fans who couldn't look in today, but have assured us they will be joining, in most cases via the new online registration facility available with a credit card.

The fact that the Rangers team then went back to the top of the League with a truly devastating display of attacking football has certainly rounded off a long, but satisfying, day for all the Trust's founders, new and existing members, and indeed Rangers fans across the globe.

9 May 2003
Open Day Reminder

We would like to remind all Rangers fans that the Rangers Supporters Trust will be holding an Open Day this Sunday (11 May 2003) in Ibrox Primary School. This is a great chance for any new and prospective members to come along and find out a bit more about the Trust and meet the inaugural Board. New members can pick up their membership cards, and prospective members joining on the day can do so too. Please note that new members who are unable to attend will have their membership cards mailed to them soon.

This is a "drop-in" session and anyone interested should come along anytime between 11:00am and 2:30pm on Sunday, just before the vital SPL match against Kilmarnock at Ibrox.

8 May 2003
Membership Cards Now Arrived

These will be available for collection at our Open Day from 11am - 2-15pm at Ibrox Primary School, on Sunday, prior to the Kilmarnock game. New members can also join during these hours, and will be issued with their own membership card there and then. These are credit card size, with the new trust logo on the front, sequentially numbered, and a signature strip on the back.

Our preferred method of payment is by cheque (although we can also take credit card or cash) but if paying by cheque, please make it payable to RANGERS SUPPORTERS TRUST and that will save us time on the day.

4 May 2003
Online Membership Application Goes Live

Rangers fans everywhere can now join the Rangers Supporters Trust online via our secure credit card membership forms. The forms are protected by 128 bit encryption provided by Thawte, the second largest encryption provider on the internet. All figures are quoted in GBP (Great British Pounds Sterling). After submitting an online application you will receive a short confirmation email to let you know we have your payment details. The Trust will contact you again once your payment has been authorised. If you experience any technical problems during the application process, or you have any questions about making a payment, please contact us via the contact form.

To join the Rangers Supporters Trust, please select JOIN NOW from the navigation menu.

You do not have to be a season ticket holder or an existing shareholder to join the Rangers Supporters Trust.

2 May 2003
Sunday Underground Service to Ibrox

With there being two massive home games due at Ibrox on Sundays this month, fans should note that the Sunday service from SPT is a train every 8 minutes, ie only half the frequency of peak hours on weekdays.

With so many fans using the Subway to get to Ibrox, we have today approached SPT with a view to extra trains being run on these days. Who knows - this might even lead to some fans staying for 90 minutes? Watch this space for details of their reply in due course.

1 May 2003
Trust to hold "Open Day" Before Kilmarnock Match

We are inviting all new and prospective members to drop in on us at Ibrox Primary School between 11am and 2-30pm on Sunday 11 May, which is the day of our vital League fixture with Kilmarnock.

If you have already joined, we hope to have your membership card ready, so you can pop in to collect it if you wish. Aside from that, if there are any issues you are unclear about, or want to chew over with any of the eight members of the inaugural Board, you are more than welcome to do so. Additional forms for nomination/election, or Sharesave, etc, will be available if you require them.

If you are thinking of joining, but want to find out more first, then this is your ideal opportunity. Come along and meet the guys who formed the Trust - tell us your concerns, quiz us on how we'll function, inspect us to your heart's content. You will quickly discover that we are neither irresponsible militants, nor lackies of the current Board; just a group of committed concerned fans, who really care about the future of our great Club, and want to see the real Rangers fans have a genuine say in how our future is shaped.

Come along and see - judge for yourself.

1 May 2003
YOU can be elected to the Rangers Supporters Trust Board

Would you like to apply for election to the Trust Board? If so, you can download an Application for Election from the downloads section of this web site. The closing date for applications is Saturday 12th July. All applications should be signed by a proposer and a seconder.