Latest news with #HelicopterSunday
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
The glaring Rangers and 49ers quirk of history spotted by NFL that could see Ibrox legions quids in
Light Blue legions will be hoping a repeat of previous successes for the two respective sporting giants is on the cards again It might be the twist of fate that could earn Rangers fans a fortune next season. The Ibrox punters' motto ever since their Helicopter Sunday title triumph 20 years ago has been 'Keep Believing'. And after being taken over by Andrew Cavenagh and the San Francisco 49ers, they're dreaming of another prophecy coming true. If it does - at odds of 50/1 with some bookies - it could mean supporters end up cashing in next May. Under new American ownership, the Ibrox club will attempt to challenge Celtic for the Premiership and bid to stop the Hoops getting five-in-a-row. And on the other side of the Big Pond, their new NFL partners the 49ers are aiming to win their first Super Bowl in 30 years. If you stick a double on Bet365, with Gers at 2/1 for the title and the 49ers at a huge 16/1 for their big prize - you're getting combined odds of 50/1. It might seem like a long shot but maybe not if you believe in good omens. Because history tells you that the last three times San Francisco have won the Super Bowl - Rangers have won the league in Scotland. The 49ers have been successful in 1989, 1990 and 1995 - which have coincided with the Ibrox men becoming champions. In '89, they defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, in '90 they hammered the Denver Broncos and in '95 they beat the San Diego Chargers. Meanwhile, Rangers' last title win was in 2021 when Steven Gerrard was in charge. Their fans will be hoping the run continues this season - even if the NFL side are big outsiders to lift the Super Bowl for a sixth time. The stat was shared by NFL UK on Instagram after the 49ers Enterprises successful takeover at Ibrox along with US tycoon Cavenagh last week.
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Lyall Cameron can give Rangers foreign legion a dose of tartan DNA as Ibrox import stresses key transfer strategy
Gregory Vignal was an import from abroad into a Rangers team that had a distinctly Scottish core and it worked Gregory Vignal was among the swathe of overseas imports who made up Alex McLeish's Ibrox league of nations. As well as the Frenchman's Tricolore, the flags of Australia, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, England, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Tunisian and Trinidad and Tobago were thrown together in a mix-match tapestry. Piecing together that disparate band of nationalities and cultures would have been difficult enough even without the pressure of winning silverware at Rangers. But Vignal remembers how the tartan thread running through Big Eck's dressing room helped stitch Gers' foreign legion in a title-winning force back in 2005. With the likes of Barry Ferguson, Alex Rae and Alan Hutton setting standards, the homegrown stars ensured those born elsewhere quickly learned what was required to win in Glasgow - culminating in the Helicopter Sunday triumph that the club celebrated 25 years ago this week. And that's why the former Ibrox ace is so pleased to see his old side move again to add a dollop of local flavour to the exotic mix currently making up the Light Blues first-team. Vignal was on the coaching staff at Dundee when Govan-bound Lyall Cameron was first showing signs of promise at Dens Park. And the retired defender reckons making domestic signings like the pre-contract agreement that is set to take the 22-year-old to Ibrox this summer will be vital if Gers are to again reach the heights his side once did. He told Record Sport: 'It's good move for Lyall, I think, and at the right time. He's a good Scottish prospect. I think it's always good to see this type of player going to Rangers. 'It's something the club needs more of, homegrown talent. I already spoke with a few people from Rangers and I told them, 'that's the way you should do it'. 'I don't know exactly the vision they've got right now, but it looks like they might be going for the best Scottish young players who can play for a big club and then maybe move after later on to the Premier League or Championship. 'Look, it's always important to have what I call Scottish DNA. During my time, I had Barry Ferguson, Alex Rae, Alan Hutton starting every game. 'It's always important because they know the club, they know the history. 'So when you come and you sign for this football club, it's always important to have the right message and if you know the environment, it's even better. 'It doesn't guarantee you success but I think it's always important to have the local guy, the one who loves the club and who understands the Rangers DNA.' Cameron will be joining a team that finished eight places and 34 points ahead of Dundee - and yet the Ibrox faithful will feel every bit as dissatisfied with the past 12 months as the Dee support whose side only escaped a relegation play-off by the skin of their teeth. The Scotland Under-21 ace certainly showed he could handle the pressure at the bottom by firing four goals in the Dark Blues' final three games to nudge the Taysiders to safety. And Vignal is confident he will handle the strain at the top just as well. He said: 'I think he will, if he's got the right people behind the scenes because it's not only people from the football club, but people from the family supporting you. 'But I mean, playing for this football club is just simple — you have to win trophies, you have to win the title, end of. 'So, you must be a winner week in and week out. If you can't cope with the pressure and the demand from the fans, don't come. 'That why when I joined Rangers, it was the first thing Alex McLeish said to me. 'I just told him I want to win every game, even every training session. Once you say that, afterwards you can't complain about the fans because they're supporting the team, they pay money, they're travelling. 'When you have 50,000 fans making the effort to come to Ibrox, of course they want at least to see they want something back from the players, from the club. 'It's not easy because it's massive pressure. 'But I think Lyall will be capable of coping with this pressure. I think if he's listening, if he understands the DNA and he's got the right attitude on and off the pitch, he will perform.' It was Philippe Clement who signed off on Gers' move for Cameron but with the Belgian gone, the Ibrox faithful as well as the new signing are waiting with interest to see who takes over next. Will it be a return to the former methods previously employed by Steven Gerrard or a new approach under the likes of Davide Ancelotti or Russell Martin? Whatever direction Rangers move in, Vignal has backed his former pupil to adapt. 'I know Lyall well,' said the former Dens youth coach, now 43. 'I joined Dundee in the summer of 2021 and was there until June 2023. 'I was working with a squad of development players with Stephen Wright and Scott Robertson and Lyall was part of this process. 'The idea was to produce a young boy towards the first team in Dundee and, of course, afterwards the club can hopefully make some money. 'Lyall always had a very good attitude because he always worked hard and never complained. 'And now to see him playing at this first-tea, level, he gets better and better. 'He's a clever boy. He's earned a lot of respect. 'I think moving to Rangers will be a great experience for him because he will have to cope with a new environment, new targets also because of the demand. 'I always saw his potential. He was good with the ball, technically, good in a one-on-one situation, quick at reading the game really well, capable of playing forward, to break the lines, to be involved in the final third. 'He has different kinds of aspects in terms of a midfielder. He can play as a No6, a No8 or even a forward. It just depends on the shape of the team. 'That's an advantage, of course. It wasn't an easy process but we pushed him a lot. I expect him to go up another level at Ibrox." Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
Scottish Sun
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Rangers icons reunite to mark 20 years since famous moment in club's history – including rarely spotted cult hero
He made a bigger impact at Gers than expected OLD FRIENDS REUNITED Rangers icons reunite to mark 20 years since famous moment in club's history – including rarely spotted cult hero Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A GROUP of Rangers legends reunited this weekend to celebrate the anniversary of one of the most famous moment's in the club's history. And among them was a certain cult hero who fans have rarely heard from - or even seen - since he left Ibrox. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 4 Can you name all the players in this picture? 4 Rangers celebrate winning the title in 2004-05 Credit: Alan MacGregor Ewing - The Sun Glasgow The year 2025 marks 20 years since Helicopter Sunday, when the Light Blues pulled off a miracle to snatch the Premiership title from Celtic's grasp on the final day of the season. Heading into the last game of the campaign, Celtic were ahead on points by 92 to 90. Gers beat Hibs 1-0 in Edinburgh thanks to a goal from Nacho Novo but with the Hoops winning by the same scoreline at Motherwell it looked like they would retain their league crown. But two stunning late strikes from Scott McDonald tipped the race in the favour of Rangers, as Celtic went down 2-1 at Fir Park. The famous line in commentary - 'The helicopter is changing direction' - was immediately etched in Scottish football folklore, as the aircraft carrying the league trophy was forced to about turn from Lanarkshire and head to the capital. That day ranks as one of the most iconic in the history of Rangers and the players involved almost immediately gained hero status. Five Stars Limited organised a tribute night and invited six players from the squad to the event, held at the Hilton DoubleTree in Glasgow. The former stars appeared on stage alongside former boss Alex McLeish, each of them answering questions and talking about their own experiences of that odds-defying day. Novo and McLeish were joined by Marvin Andrews, Thomas Buffel, Alex Rae and current interim boss Barry Ferguson, who had only just rejoined Gers in the second half of the Helicopter Sunday season. And the final member of the group was ex-goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus. Rangers fans defiant banner after tifo criticism The Dutchman has scarcely been seen in Scotland since his departure from Rangers a year after Helicopter Sunday. He initially joined Gers in the 2005 January transfer window from Manchester City due to an injury to Stefan Klos. A member of PSV Eindhoven's Eredivisie-winning teams of the late nineties and early noughties, Waterreus eventually took over the No.1 jersey from German international Klos. He left with a rising Allan McGregor ready to step in between the sticks and would go on to play for AZ Alkmaar and New York Red Bulls before retiring. Now 54, he has kept a relatively low profile since hanging up his gloves, save for the odd media appearance and briefly venturing into the world of business with his own goalie glove company. Waterreus also played in the testimonial for Rangers legend Fernando Ricksen, who was suffering from Motor Neurone Disease. He looked barely recognisable from his time at Gers at the Five Stars event, his trademark messy and curly locks now ditched for a slick, wavy look. Five Stars thanked the fans who attended and described the do as a "great evening". The company said in a social media post: "A great evening spent with some legends of the club commemorating the 20th Anniversary of 'Helicopter Sunday'. "Thank you to everyone who joined us. We hope you had a good time." 4 Ronald Waterreus during his Rangers days Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 4 Waterreus can be seen in the second row, third from the left Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
The National
02-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
No Livi miracle for Martindale as Thistle make playoffs
Both teams on the night in West Lothian booked their place in the Premiership playoffs, but the mood on either side of the faded yellow bowl at Livi could hardly have contrasted more starkly. The SPFL budget apparently doesn't quite stretch to a chopper for the delivery of the Championship trophy, so this was more Fiat Punto Friday than Helicopter Sunday, but regardless, the final day drama teed up tension the equal of just about anything we have seen for many a year. And it seemed for a short while at least as though EH54 would indeed be punched into the SPFL Satnav as Hamilton Accies threatened to do the unfathomable at Falkirk. In the end though, it was the doughty, dogged defending of Partick Thistle that was the defining factor here, along with a touch of good fortune that they earned when an incisive move ended with Livi midfielder Macauley Tait almost bursting his own net. It may not often be said about this stadium - a ground that will perhaps forever be known as the Tony Macaroni, despite now going by the slightly less catchy moniker of the 'Home of the Set Fare Arena' - that there was a large, expectant crowd in attendance. But that is exactly what we had, with a section behind the goal having to be opened to accommodate the extra Livi fans who had come believing in a miracle. The Thistle fans too had travelled in huge numbers, serving a reminder that for all the narrative around the title shootout was prominent, it only part of the story. The Jags had plenty on the line too, with a two-point advantage over Raith Rovers keeping them the right side of the playoff line going into the game. Whether it was some classic managerial psychological mischief, or he was just as surprised as the rest of us to that his team had this opportunity, Livingston manager Martindale had long since publicly conceded the Championship title to Falkirk. Some jitters from the Bairns though as they approached the line had led to something of a collapse in form, John McGlynn's men winning just one of their last five matches while Livi piled on the pressure with five victories from five. And so, here we were. A win for Livi and anything but three points for Falkirk at home to a beleaguered Accies outfit would mean that Martindale's men had pulled off the improbable. And if Falkirk lost, well, even a point would do. But surely that couldn't happen, could it? Early in the evening, though, Livi indeed climbed into pole position by dint of events elsewhere. Just as Robbie Muirhead was released in on goal by a lovely first-time Cristian Montano pass, there was a development at Falkirk. The home crowd here rose in expectation of the net bulging, and they had every right. Former Thistle man Muirhead has been hugely impressive for the Lions this season, and you fancied he would finish off a glorious opportunity. As it transpired, he toe-poked it straight at Jags keeper David Mitchell, who did the necessary to keep it out, but the Livi crowd stayed on their feet in any case to acclaim the Accies opener. Little did they know then that it would be the high point of their evening. Just after the half hour, a deathly silence fell across the home end as a Falkirk leveller was a dagger to the heart of Livi's hopes. And soon after, Thistle landed the fatal blow. A brilliant move down the right saw Aidan Fitzpatrick's cheeky backheel find Kyle Turner, who in turn released Kanayo Megwa toward the byline. His driven low cross was diverted into the roof of the net by the desperate lunge of the equally desperately unlucky Tait, and you felt the air starting to escape from the Livi balloon. There are moments on occasions such as these when for the loser, it becomes clear it just isn't your night. For the hosts, it arrived moments later, as Stephen Kelly's wonderful, guided effort from the edge of the area came back off the face of the bar and was scrambled to safety. A quick glance to the left of the press box, tucked up in the far corner of the Main Stand, revealed hundreds of hands simultaneously and involuntarily being planted on heads. By contrast, in the Thistle end, it was party time, tempered only slightly by news that Raith had scored two quickfire goals at Hampden. It may have been thought that Thistle's five-goal advantage over Rovers prior to kick-off may have meant that a draw would be enough for the Jags, but given Queens' Park's propensity for collapse lately, it brought the need for them to try and hold onto their lead into sharp focus. Well, it was only fair that on a night of jangling nerves, the Thistle fans had their own taste of it. They stood and danced and sang, almost to a man, perhaps because they were twitching in areas that made it uncomfortable to sit. Into the second half, and frustrations were boiling over. Referee Calum Scott was the lightning rod for the home fans' ire as he called a number of close calls in Thistle's favour, and the mood wasn't improved when news that Ethan Ross's double had seen Falkirk turn the night on its head. Livi piled on the pressure. The Jags stood heroically firm. Raith's thumping of Queen's Park rendered meaningless. And so, it is to be the playoffs for both of these sides. Thistle, finishing fourth, will have the tougher task to reach the promised land of the Premiership, but if either are going to get there, it is going to have to be done the hard way. Just how they seem to like it.
The National
02-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
Falkirk 3 Hamilton 1: John McGlynn's men seal Premiership promotion
The Falkirk supporters who made their way to the Falkirk Stadium in their thousands for their final William Hill Championship match of the season against Hamilton tonight did so, after a bruising and quite frankly unbelievable few weeks, in trepidation not expectation. They should have known, despite the draw to Ayr United and defeats to Raith Rovers and Partick Thistle last month which had delayed their coronation as second tier champions, their men never do things the easy way and that everything would work out well in the end. Their unexpected slip-ups during the run-in had opened the door for Livingston, who had come from 11 points behind with six games remaining at the end of March and drawn level with them last week, to snatch the silverware from them in dramatic fashion on the last day of the league season. Read more: They made heavy work of Hamilton, whose relegation had been confirmed the day before when they lost their appeal against the 15 point deduction they had been hit with for breaching several SPFL rules, in their final 90 minutes. But an Ethan Ross double and a Calvin Miller goal gave them, finally, the win they needed to get it over the line and clinch a return to the top flight after a 15 year absence. Falkirk fans would, given all they have endured in the past couple of decades, dearly have loved it all to have been wrapped up with the minimum of fuss weeks ago. But their late wobbles certainly made for an entertaining finale. This was a fabulous advertisement for Scottish football. The denouement of the Scottish title race in 2005 was, with both Celtic at Fir Park and Rangers at Easter Road in with a chance of coming out on top, dubbed Helicopter Sunday. There was, with just 24 miles separating Falkirk and Livingston, no need to take to the air for this one. It was labelled Fast Car Friday by one wag instead. SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster positioned himself in Linlithgow with the trophy and watched events unfold on television before setting off for Falkirk Every seat in their three stands was filled and all of those who were in attendance were in fine voice long before kick-off. When the home squad returned to the dressing room after their warm-up the roar was deafening. The rendition of Amarillo as the minutes ticked down raised the roof. The ultras in the corner of the Kevin McAllister Stand then unveiled a banner which read, 'All Or Nothing'. Just in case Brad Spencer and his team mates were in any doubt about what was at stake. But manager John McGlynn had no need to fire his charges up before they took to the park. "It's a huge occasion, there's no underestimating that,' he said when he spoke to BBC Scotland before hostilities commenced. "It doesn't get any bigger. Buzzing, the players will be buzzing for it, there is a huge crowd here, and they'll get right behind us. "We are looking forward to it. At this stage, all the work is done, the team talk is done. The guys can now go out and put their best foot forward, try and control the game and kill it off if we get the opportunity to. Like any game, you want to make a good start, the first goal is always important in any game, even more so tonight. But the Falkirk players looked nervous from the get go and fell behind in the fifth minute when they failed to clear a punt into their penalty box. Their goalkeeper Nicky Hogarth managed to get a hand to an acrobatic Ricky Lamie attempt and keep the scoreline level. But Scott Robinson was perfectly positioned to pounce on the loose ball and netted from a couple of yards out. This was not supposed to be the script. It has been a harrowing week for Hamilton fans and then some. But a couple of hundred of them still turned up and to cheer on John Rankin's men, who would have stayed up if their fate had been decided purely on their sporting exploits, in their final competitive appearance of this term. They were glad they made the journey when their skipper broke the deadlock. They revelled in ramming it right up their shellshocked counterparts next to them in the North Stand. But Falkirk were down not out. The regrouped and nearly levelled immediately when a Calvin Miller free-kick almost found Liam Henderson in the visitors' six yard box. Reghan Tumilty, though, nipped in and got his head to it. Slowly but surely, the hosts' composure and fluidity improved. Spencer claimed for a penalty after skipping past Tumilty and going to ground. Referee Steven McLean instantly dismissed his appeal and showed the midfielder a yellow card. There was absolute uproar in the stands. It was, however, the correct decision. The match official showed nerves of steel to make his call. But McLean soon produced a ruling which met with the Bairns' wholehearted approval. He felt that Robinson had barged Scott Arfield on the edge of the area and gave a free-kick. Ross stepped up and curled a delightful dead ball delivery beyond Dean Lyness and into the net. Cue complete and utter bedlam. There was further jubilation before half-time when news filtered through that a Macaulay Tait own goal had given Partick Thistle the lead against the run of play against Livingston through at Almondvale. Further hysteria was to follow. Ross hooked into the roof of the Hamilton net following a goalmouth stramash. Punters hugged each other in the aisles, grown men jumped over the advertising hoardings, stewards questioned why they had not been promised a double time payment as they desperately tried and failed to restore order. Kyle MacDonald offered a timely reminder that it was still not over when he jinked forward and lashed a long-range effort just inches over the crossbar. But when Calvin Miller found the bottom right corner with a sweet strike with 20 minutes of regulation time remaining it was all over. The comfortable victory clinched a second consecutive promotion for McGlynn's men and surely made the veteran coach the favourite to pick up the Manager of the Year awards which will soon be handed out in the Scottish game. It is a truly remarkable achievement of which everyone involved can be rightly proud. Staying up among the likes of Aberdeen, Celtic, Dundee United, Hibernian and Rangers during the 2025/26 campaign will be challenging. They will, if their legal challenge fails, have to spend the thick end of £1m replacing their artificial surface at some stage in the near future. Still, they will go into next term with an awful lot of goodwill behind them, some excellent footballers in their squad and an exceptional manager in charge. But nobody in the 7,633-strong crowd was caring what happens next tonight. They were simply savouring a sweet moment which has been a long time coming. The pitch invasion which followed the final whistle showed what it meant to them.
