Friday, 3 March 2017

RYAN BAIRD MEMORY KEPT ALIVE BY RANGERS LEGEND FERNANDO RICKSEN




IT was an emotional moment as Fernando Ricksen presented the fiancée of Rangers bus crash victim Ryan Baird with a mirrored portrait in his honour.
Glasgow dad of two Ryan was on the way to the Rangers game against Patrick Thistle in October last year when their Nith Valley Loyal Rangers supporters bus crashed near Kilmarnock.
Heartbroken Sarah Hughes who turned up to see Fernando with her friend Billy McLeod from the club, couldn't hold back the tears as she accepted the gift in Ryan's honour and later said: "Everything has just been so overwhelming and the support we've had from everybody has been amazing. I just love the picture and I'll make sure I find a great space for it."
Fernando, who has invited Sarah and her family to be guests of honour at his forthcoming charity march in Fleetwood with a team of legends said: "The Nith Valley supporters club have always been there for me and I wanted to give something back. No one expected to go to a football match and not come home."
The former Rangers player who suffers from Motor Neurone Disease was joined by his fellow Rangers veterans including Derek Ferguson, John Macdonald and Bob Malcolm as fans launched two special Rangers Legends strips in his honour.
The Ibrox hero was at the Stonefield Tavern in Blantyre for the launch of the two strips which will be sold to raise funds for the Fernando Ricksen Foundation.
They will also be used in charity matches like the forthcoming Rangers Legends versus England Select match in Fleetwood's Highbury Stadium on March 25.
The two strips - in red and blue - were designed by Fernando himself and feature his national colours.
Fernando was in high spirits as he joked with some of his oldest friends and Derek Ferguson paid tribute to him saying he was one of the most colourful characters in football. He said: "They don't make them like Fernando anymore."
Bob Malcolm added: "When Fernando first came to Rangers he was Dutch and quiet and then he came out of his shell as he got to know the people. It's great these strips wil be brought out at every game and give Fernando and his charity the recognition they deserve."


- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com

BBC AWARD WINNER RM HUBBERT APPEALS FOR SUPPORT




FORMER Scottish Album of the Year winner RM Hubbert admitted he has been at an all time low after his depression stopped him from earning money.
Forty two year old Robert McArthur Hubbert affectionately known as Hubby picked up the prestigious award in 2013 and appears in new film Lost In France with his record label mates from Chemikal Underground.
This week he revealed he's been experiencing a tough twelve months after his illness got the better of him.
In a plea to his fans he wrote: "Basically, I haven't been coping well. My mental health deteriorated dramatically during last year after Telling the Trees came out, reaching breaking point this January when I finally did what I have always found hardest; I asked for help. The mental health crisis team at NHS South Ayrshire looked after me and did fucking brilliant job of it. I owe them my life. I'm getting better again. I've moved back to Glasgow to be closer to the many people that love and support me.
He added: "And now to the crux. The illness has stopped me working for the best part of a year. My savings are gone and I'm whilst I'm getting better, I'm not emotionally stable enough to return to a normal job. I'm slowly returning to music full time but in the meantime, I need to ask you for a little help."
Robert then put a plea on his social media asking people if they could buy a copy of his covers EP and let others know of his difficulties.
Since his appeal yesterday he's been inundated with responses online and lots of people have purchased his music.
He told fans: "Its been insane. I can't believe how generous you all are. Thank you so, so much. Apologies for not replying to all the messages, there's too many to handle right now. I will get into them tomorrow. I f***ing love you all."



- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com