Latest news with #CammyBell
BBC News
30-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Valiant but vulnerable - how Rangers escaped heat of Athens with hope
When the final whistle blew on a blisteringly hot Athens night where Rangers had at points been both tremendously valiant and desperately vulnerable, Russell Martin's side had ultimately got what they came the draw for the Champions League second round qualifier threw up Panathinaikos, it looked the most hazardous of first steps to the league phase, and Rangers rode their luck from all the way from Glasgow to yet while they have some Greek wastefulness and Jack Butland heroics to thank for their passage into the next round, the character demonstrated by a team in the early days of an overhaul by the new head coach was to be admired as they drew 1-1 on the night to progress 3-1 on had asked his players to be resilient in the face of the Panathinaikos onslaught, and while other areas of their game would have been concerning, they delivered that in spades."We will get better. The group will grow so much from this," Martin said after the game. That's his challenge now, to add the quality to the foundations of the character his team has shown over these two testing encounters."That's the big thing for me with Russell Martin, is that he thrives on the training ground," former Rangers goalkeeper Cammy Bell said on BBC Sportsound."The longer he has with his players, the better they will get."This Rangers team showed a bit of character. It's all positive at the moment, they just need to keep this momentum going." 'That's how you build a team' Djeidi Gassama will steal the headlines after his second stunning, and vital, goal in as many games. The hosts had just gone in front on the night as VAR eventually realised Filip Duricic was onside when he headed by Butland. The Rangers dam had finally been burst, and there was still plenty time left in the clock to overhaul Rangers' shrinking aggregate Gassama popped up three minutes after coming on and seven minutes after that opener to slash a ferocious shot in off the post to halt the hosts' his impact, though, few embodied that Rangers team spirit better than John Souttar, who stood tall at the heart of the defence when the Greek side were threatening to tear Rangers apart."That's how you build a team, coming through those tough moments," Souttar told BBC Scotland."It shows our mentality. There are going to be times things don't go our way. We've got [Butland] to thank because he was excellent again."We could have been better on the ball but it's a new team and that's a big win for us." 'Style of play seems like it's not really working' That failure to look after the ball was a recurring theme across the two legs. Time and again in the first-halves of both legs, Rangers players gave up possession were fortunate not be punished against Panathinaikos, but as they progress through the qualifying rounds and to, they hope, the Champions League league phase, such sloppiness simply has to be ironed out of their game."If Gassama hadn't scored then, I think Rangers could have potentially conceded the game because at that point they were all over the place still and Panathinaikos were still dominant," said former Rangers striker Peter Lovenkrands on Sportsound."Rangers don't really have time. The style of play right now, seems like it's not really working right now. That needs to be tidied up before the next round."That next round will see Rangers up against the Czech side Viktoria Plzen. Another tough test, and one in which Martin's side will need to be better."You would anticipate they are probably weaker opponents than Panathinaikos, but if Rangers play like they've played over the two ties, they're going to make it difficult for themselves," said former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday."Rangers are a work in progress and will definitely improve on what they've shown over the two legs."There are a lot of things for them to work on and new faces will help as well."
Glasgow Times
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Refugee World Cup set to take place in Glasgow this weekend
The Refugee World Cup Scotland 2025 will feature around 250 players from 50 different nations competing at the Toryglen Regional Football Centre on Sunday, June 29, from 12pm to 5pm. Organised by the charity Glasgow Afghan United, the event brings together players, including refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, and people born and raised in Scotland. The Refugee World Cup Scotland 2025 is supported by Wheatley Group, a housing, care, and property-management group. Read more: Scotland's top travel show returns to SEC in February 2026 Major plans revealed for Glasgow's Buchanan Galleries after demolition axed Manager leaves Rangers with compensation paid to secure her services The tournament was launched at Hampden by Cammy Bell, a former Scotland, Rangers, and Kilmarnock goalkeeper, and now a Wheatley Group development project officer. He was joined by ex-Celtic and Republic of Ireland player Pat Bonner. Mr Bell said: "I'm delighted to lend my support to the Refugee World Cup Scotland tournament and look forward to witnessing the positive impact it has had and will continue to have on the lives of those it touches. "Football is a great way to bring communities together, to build friendships and communities, and I'm sure this tournament will help new Scots to integrate into Scottish life." Councillor Abdul Bostani, managing director of Glasgow Afghan United FC, and organiser of the tournament, said: "The Refugee World Cup Scotland is, above all, a celebration of football and community. "But it's also a powerful reminder of our shared humanity. "This tournament is an invitation to see refugees not as statistics, but as individuals. "It's about fostering empathy, understanding, and inclusion, values that have long defined Scotland and the UK as welcoming nations." Steven Henderson, chief executive at Wheatley Group, said: "This is an important event that celebrates the diversity of communities in Scotland through football while supporting the rights of refugees. "We are committed to supporting community initiatives like this, and I encourage everyone to mark their calendars and come along on the day to support this event."
Daily Record
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
I was locked in Rangers dressing room by police as fan protests erupted but takeover has ended outside noise
The American takeover at Ibrox has brought renewed hope to the Rangers fanbase and former keeper Bell hopes the united front can lead them back to glory. Cammy Bell was part of a Rangers side locked in the home dressing room at Ibrox by POLICE as seething supporters stormed the stadium. And this after another win. He can laugh at the absurdity of it all now. But over a decade ago - with the boardroom merry-go-round in full flight and furious punters desperate to get up the marble staircase and confront the protagonists themselves - he admits it got frightening as chaos became the norm. That was during a 12-month spell that saw three different chairmen hold position and four figures pass the chief executive role between them before Dave King 's revolution brought a sense of order to proceedings. Things might not have reached that stage last season but fan unrest was back during a campaign riddled with turmoil on and off the pitch. Now, a generation on from those fraught times that saw the law called in to keep the players safe, Bell hopes the US revolution off the pitch can bring a sense of freedom on it. Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers' takeover has brought back belief to a fanbase racked with doubt and distrust. And former goalkeeper Bell insists maintaining that unity is key because animosity will always filter down to the players - just like it did 12 years ago. Bell said: 'I remember the front doors getting stormed and the police had to lock us in the changing room. 'That was at a point when some fans were so unhappy about the board they were trying to get up the stairs to the directors. 'Which, when you look back now, was absolutely crazy! Was it frightening? Yeah. We were sitting in the changing room, which goes right along the front of the stadium, so we could hear the noise. 'The windows were open so you could hear the frustration from the fans. 'There is no way that any players can say it doesn't affect them, or they don't know what's going on. They absolutely know what's going on. 'It would have been the season we were in League One because Ally McCoist was still manager. 'We won the game. It was nothing to do with the team or the players - it was just sheer unrest about the way the club was bring run. 'As a player, you do notice these things and whether that takes half a percent away from your focus on your football, it's not good. 'Animosity against the board is not good for the players because it can completely throw their routines. 'Even simple things like getting out of the stadium, you are holding back a few hours because the police have to disperse the crowds. 'And it's difficult when you're thinking about bringing your kids to the game. 'It can be a home game, yet you are still having to think about whether they are going to feel safe in the stadium. 'It was hard. I understood there was a lot of things that were going on that probably shouldn't have happened but did. 'It's one of those ones that you look back and think, 'did that happen?' 'And it certainly did. You got used to it because so much went on. I remember the chief executive was changing three, four times within a year and thinking, 'what's going on here?' 'That's not a normal business. That's not how a business works, a stable business anyway. 'The administration rumour was getting thrown about when I was there and you're thinking, 'we've just moved on from that, is it happening again?' 'There were a lot of rumours back then and a lot of things that kind of happened that took your focus away a little bit. 'So just having everyone on the same page, everyone really looking forward to it, being positive about the club is great. 'That's not been there for a long, long time now. I was at the St Johnstone game last season where the demonstration took place, fans walking out. That's not ideal as a player. 'When you're playing and you know these things are happening. Your focus should 100 per cent be on the football pitch but sometimes these outside noises play a little bit of a part. 'The atmosphere changes. So yeah, I think the new ownership will be positive.' Bell is excited to see where Rangers go under the new regime. While the club will be steered by Americans Cavenagh and Paraag Marathe as chairman and vice-chairman, its the football side being run by newly-installed head coach Russell Martin and director of football Kevin Thelwell which will dictate the fans' mood over the coming months. As always, recruitment will be key. Bell said: 'It was vitally important they got this deal done. 'They needed fresh investment. They needed fresh ideas and I'm really excited about seeing where the club go with the new ownership, the new structure. 'It's going to take time. The structure will grow. It's already kind of gone in place with the director of football coming in, new head coach coming in. 'The recruitment department will grow. We know the recruitment's not been good enough over the last number of years and that's vital. It makes or breaks a football team, the recruitment. 'We need to give the new ownership time. They've worked hard already. You can see that they're working hard behind the scenes. And there'll be a lot of changes over the next two months. 'They need to find a new model of how they bring players in and how the club goes forward as well.' Bell reckons Martin will want up to six new signings ready for his starting XI over the course of the summer. And he says gelling the new-look squad quickly into Martin's renowned possession-based system will be the biggest test. Rangers return from their summer holidays for pre-season training tomorrow. And from the moment they report at Auchenhowie the clock will be ticking on the Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos exactly a month later. Bell said: 'It's a difficult period to play these big, big games because it is pre-season. So it's so important for Russell Martin. 'He's got four weeks to prepare his players and get them ready because he needs to get off to a good start. 'We all know there's been question marks about his appointment. 'But for me, all the Rangers fans and everybody at the club will be behind him and trying to make sure they can be successful. 'I expect there'll be five, six potential starters that come into the club. So it's about gelling them, getting them prepared. 'Hopefully the excitement of joining the club shows because you get that first sort of excitement of joining such a big club like Rangers and you get that little boost and adrenaline rush. 'So yes, you're hoping that gets them over the line. But it's not an ideal scenario. 'It's a short period of time, it's always is a short period of time. The real obstacle this time is that it's a new manager, a new philosophy, a new identity, way of playing. 'To integrate that and make sure that's clicking for probably their biggest game of the season is really difficult.' Bell reckons much of the work over the next four weeks will be geared around getting players comfortable with Martin's style. He said: 'They've given the players a decent amount of rest, so they should be raring to go. Nowadays, players come back in really good shape. 'So Russell Martin's training will be all geared around how they play and how they win games of football. 'I'm pretty sure he'll reflect back on teams he's been at and showing the players the style that he wants to play. 'It's getting on that pitch, getting on the field. 'All his training is geared towards playing in tight areas, being comfortable when you're uncomfortable in possession. 'That can't be replicated with regards to the fans and the way that you'll feel. 'They'll feel nervousness taking the ball on the 18-yard box with somebody closing them down. 'It'll take time for the Rangers fans to understand the style of play. I think it did for us under Mark Warburton as well. There was a lot of nervy moments when we passed the ball about the back. 'But it was just the style of play. So I think getting on the pitch is the most important thing for Russell Martin.' * Cammy Bell was speaking as he helped launch the Refugee World Cup Scotland tournament, on Sunday, June 29, at Toryglen Regional Football Centre.
Scotsman
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Former Rangers 'keeper on moment that "killed" his career - and who he thinks should be No.1 at Ibrox
Cammy Bell at the Hampden launch of the Refugee World Cup Scotland 2025 tournament (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) Jack Butland or Liam Kelly – or someone else? One of a number of debates at Ibrox this summer Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The clip has been viewed over 250,000 times since the official Motherwell FC account posted footage of the second leg of their play-off tie five years ago. Every year, on what's become known as 'Cammy Bell day', it gets re-shared. Last month, on 31 May, there was particular interest. It was the 10th anniversary of the day in question, when Bell punched a deflected shot from Marvin Johnson into his own net, with Rangers going on to lose their Premiership play-off final against Motherwell in embarrassingly comprehensive fashion. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As ever, there's some context behind the story that tends to be forgotten. Bell was about to get married but he can't pretend that is why he momentarily lost the flight of the ball on that grisly Sunday afternoon. A more credible explanation is the knee injury diagnosis that he was being forced to manage at the time. Rangers 'keeper Cammy Bell can't believe he has failed to stop a deflected, looping shot from Motherwell's Marvin Johnson in the second leg of their Premiership play-off final in 2015 "It was difficult in my situation because the Motherwell game I actually played with an injury,' recalls Bell, who is now a pundit as well as running a glamping business in Dumfries and Galloway. 'I needed an operation, so it was a double dunter for me in terms of the next season. I'd made a mistake and needed an op. 'These are the things that people aren't aware of. I played the Motherwell game while needing injections to get through that game. I had a microfracture in my knee. It was about August before I actually got the operation and then faced a six-month long rehab.' By this time, of course, he'd firmly lost his place. Wes Foderingham had been signed from Swindon Town. The next time he played at first team game it was the beginning of the following season – for Dundee United. Recovery from the operation had obviously been an issue but he also knew it was a long way back when it came to regaining the trust of Rangers fans. He never made it back. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Really, when I reflect now, did it kill my Rangers career? It absolutely did,' he says. 'And it was just the fact that I didn't have the opportunity to go straight back in and play a game. Wes came in and was a fantastic goalie for Rangers.' Despite some high-profile mistakes, Jack Butland had been backed to claim the Rangers No.1 shirt back (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group) Why all this is relevant again now is that the Ibrox side are again at a crossroads when it comes to 'keepers. Although then Rangers manager Mark Warburton's hand was forced due to Bell's injury, he knew he needed a quality challenger for the No 1 position, hence Foderingham's recruitment. Current manager Russell Martin, meanwhile, has inherited an intriguing dilemma. Who is the No.1 at Rangers? Jack Butland or Liam Kelly? Or is it a case of recruiting someone else entirely? Butland is of course the higher earner and the one who might be expected to be the first choice. However, faith in him has been shaken by a series of high-profile mistakes. This eventually led to interim manager Barry Ferguson replacing him with Kelly, who finished the season in possession of the goalkeeper's jersey. Ferguson is no longer in such a position of power so Kelly will know that both 'keepers start with a clean sheet under Martin. But impressing the new manager – or head coach – is one thing. The fans are another. Have they already made up their minds with regards to Butland? He was dropped after Dylan Levitt's effort from the edge of the box squirmed underneath him in the 2-0 defeat to Hibs at the start of April. A week earlier he had spilt a header from Joe Shaugnessy, with the Dundee skipper duly sweeping in the rebound. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Bell can empathise although at least Butland is currently fit and has a chance to rectify the situation, something he was denied. 'Jack Butland's in a different scenario,' he says. 'Yes, he's made a few mistakes, of course he has and he knows that himself. But he's got the opportunity to work hard pre-season, become Russell Martin's No.1 and prove to Rangers fans that he's good enough.' 'It's massively difficult,' he adds. 'You're always reminded of those moments. Jack Butland will have that too. As a person, he needs to get over it and I'm pretty sure he has. He recognises he had a difficult season last season and that's probably the most important thing – that he knows that that's happened. 'It's about how he rectifies that, how he gets back to the training ground and works hard. The only way he can turn it around is by getting back in the team and playing games because that's how you restore faith in a person. It's by getting back in the team, being consistent again. 'Because we know he can do it. He's just had a bad period and I always think as a goalkeeper when you go through that rut, it generally comes in two threes and fours. We've seen it with Allan McGregor in his last season. He had a lot of mistakes and there were question marks over him. But again, he's got big broad shoulders and he got on with it and he made some incredible European displays that season.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I think Jack Butland will be working really hard this summer because he'll want to be Rangers No.1. He'll want to start the season well. He's got a new opportunity with a new manager as well. It's a big summer for him.' For what it's worth, Bell believes Butland should be reinstated as No 1, although he will have to prove he is worth it in pre-season. 'At this moment in time, yeah,' he says. 'Unless there's a different option that comes in and somebody that's more suited to Russell Martin's style. But as a goalkeeper, making big saves, I think Jack Butland's got all the tools to do it.'
BBC News
15-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Robertson encouraged to make Atletico move
Andy Robertson should "take the opportunity" to move to Atletico Madrid, according to former Scotland keeper Cammy Liverpool left-back has been linked with a move to the Spanish capital as the Reds appear to close in on Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez."If he isn't going to play as much football next season, I hope the opportunity is there and he takes it," Bell told Sportsound."The level is very competitive. The Spanish league is a brilliant league to play in and Andy Robertson is still in his prime. "He's still got a lot to give, he said that himself. He's far too good a player not to play."Speaking after the Liechtenstein victory in Vaduz, the Scotland captain confirmed that he wasn't entirely sure where his future lies."I've got loads more to achieve," he told BBC Scotland. "I'm 31, didn't miss a game this season or a training session. That's something I'm happy with, after last season with my shoulder and ankle injury."This season I've been available for every single game. I've got a year left at Liverpool and I don't know what the future will hold after that. I still believe I've got a lot to give. I've shown that in performances this season."
