I will format and clean this up once I have time
Stewart
| Rising Stars: Garry Lynch Tribute |
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Gadger’s funeral.I made it to Cambuslang by midday. At the very same moment that Jim Jack text me to say he and his compatriots, Ritchie and Billy had arrived at the church. Discussing lunch venues I found a café serving a range of snacks and meals. Good prices and friendly service. By the time I called Jim back he had found a boozer.We sat and chatted a while, joking about the possibilities of there being a menu available. The landlord duly obliged, offering cheese and onion or ready salted.The place began to accommodate a few black suited folk, obviously arriving with the same reasons as us. Ritchie and Billy headed off to check out the church and Jim and I soon followed. Outside the church became a busy gathering point for dozens, then scores of folk. I only spotted a couple of familiar faces. Al’ the Cat, Tam the Badgeman and a couple of recognitions without names to fit from my awful memory bank.Some were in colours, many in black, many looking sombre and a little shocked that this particular funeral was for a bloke that only a week ago was fitt er than a butcher’s dog.Inside the pews filled quickly. Several representatives of Rangers were also present. Sandy Jardine (who wanted my seat until he was ushered to the choir stalls to join other worthies), John Bomber Brown and John Grieg. There may have been others, my name for faces is pretty bad.We were handed a ‘programme’ for the service. A picture of Gadger on the front, taken by Jim Jack, coincidently, on the Golden Gate Bridge just a couple of years ago. The photo o the reverse was just as poignant. Gadger with that beaming c’pon at some doo.Gadger’s coffin was draped in the Union flag and a posy of red and white flowers. The minister delivered the service with a healthy mention of Gadger’s main distraction and a smattering of his related interests (Orange Order, kareoke). We sang Jerusalem and Courage Brother, Do not stumble gave our utmost respects for the full thirty minutes of this service.As the coffin was wheeled out there were additional adornments to the flag and flowers. A Teddy bear and a white Rangers top with AC Milan 2009 emblazoned on the breast.Gadge r’s organs, as you know, were donated for medical use and transplants etc. The bloke was as healthy as any of us on the day he left us. I whispered to Jim they must have gotten so much from his body for good use that there’s probably only a receipt left inside that box.That’s the shocker with this particular occasion. A healthy man, big yes, but well capable of giving us all a run for our money.The second half of this service was to be held at the crematorium. Hundreds were heading that way, There were folk outside the church during the service, we learned, as there was no room available for any more inside. I slipped off down a side street heading for the station to take me back into Glasgow central and home. Striding past the queue of cars and coaches, yes coaches, heading off for the crematorium.I later learned that Jim and many others could not get inside the crematorium for the final farewell to Gadger.I hope those that made it to the reception afterwards got to raise a glass for the big man.I did, with my late lunch before catching my train back to Ingerlund.< div class=MsoNormal>Eddy
-----Original Message-----
From: Eddy Smyth <tuareg@tesco.net>
To: TheClubDeck@yahoogroups.ca
Sent: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 1:44 pm
Subject: [TheClubDeck] Gedger's funeral, church bit only
| Written by Covenanter |
| Monday, 16 March 2009 22:22 |
Garry Lynch.
I had a job for 15 years that mostly kept me overseas, the BBC World Service did not satisfy my hunger for all things Rangers. When I managed home, attending a match(s) was my priority, often events conspired to ensure it would be reserve game. In 1984, I returned to find the opportunity of watching Rangers/Sellik in the first SFA Youth Cup final at Hampden. We lost 2-0, but had the two best players on the pitch in Durrant and Derek Ferguson. The Bears were not happy, plenty of advice was being offered with gusto. A large chap stood and demanded decorum from his fellow Rangers supporters, booming, "we've won, we've two players that will make hundreds of appearances for our club", clapped his hands and invited those surrounding him to sing, 'there's not a team like the Glasgow Rangers'. I thought the big chap had a point, joined in, and made the acquaintance of Garry Lynch. Over the next several years, I continued to meet Garry at occasional first team, reserve, youth, and Euro games. I remained in awe of a man whose capacity for all things Rangers, surpassed my own. In April'91, I made the Scottish Cup semi-final against ra Sellik, a ten man Rangers won 1-0. Enthused, I headed the next night to Pittodrie for the reserve League Cup semi-final. A turgid 1-0 victory was constantly interupted by big Garry shouting, "Yaaaasssss, Sellik are out the cup". The next year, I returned home permanently and began a dozen year period of sharing cars with Garry and the gallant band that traverse the country follow-following the reserves and Youths. You cannot ignore the trainspotting nature of locating the grounds of juniors, Highland League, and south of Scotland semi-pros, or making midweek noon or 2 O'Clock kick-offs in Perth or Newton Stewart. Garry ticked them all off, including similar locations in Holland, Norway, Germany, ............ Garry had a mate from Primary 1, Winkie was as fanatical as his classmate and was frequently banished to the back of the car in a refreshed state. Garry did not drink and he subjected the Wink to a number of temperance lectures. One night, Garry picked up Ian Byers and myself, headed to Hamilton to pick up Winkie at his new job location. We sat outside the pub and Winkie was once again on his last chance, as we only had an hour to make kick off at Newtongrange.. Anyone that experienced Garry's driving, knew Newtongrange was only 40 minutes away. Winkie appeared, took his place in the backseat, apologised but explained he was reluctant to let a new guy on the site drink alone. Garry bellowed, "ah've heard it all now, that's lame". Winkie explained the new guy was Graham Fyfe. We chorussed, "Graham Fyfe, Johan Fyfe"? In the early-mid 70s, Fyfe was a fans' favourite, no pace but fast feet. He was man of the match against Ajax in the first European Super Cup final in Amsterdam, the Bears christened him 'Johan' in homage to the Dutch master, Cruyff. Three of us remembered Fyfe's teaming with Cutty Young in an unexpected 2-1 victory at Parkhead., so 20 minutes later and halfway to our destination, we asked a half asleep Winkie to expand on Graham Fyfe? His answer was, "he cannae lay slabs worth a fuck". Garry laughed loudest, all night. There was a period where Rangers were playing all reserve fixtures at Linlithgow. I received a call from Garry, "take the wean to the game tomorrow night, I cannot make it". Calamity, a major problem? Garry explained he was being taken in for gall stones surgery the next morning and the Doctors advised he would be out of it for over a week. The wean was his daughter, Angela, then 10 year old and she did not miss either. That was a Wednesday, Garry missed the home game against Dundee on the Saturday, but turned up at Newlandsfield on the Sunday for a Rangers/Sellik Glasgow Cup sectional game. He was swathed in bandages, could hardly stand and could not bend. Another mucker, Gordon Young went into the Polloc Juniors social club and came back with a dinning chair. Garry sat on said chair on the terrace behind the goal, smiling through the obvious pain as Rangers romped to victory. Those Glasgow Cup sectional games were for the real Anoraks, three-four dozen would pitch up for the match against Queens Park or Clyde. Often, you would get a double header on the same pitch, Rangers/Queens Park would be followed by Clyde/Thistle. On such a Sunday afternoon, Garry's son, young Garry was turning out as cenre-half for Queens Park... Walter smith turned up because his son was playing midfield for Clyde. Garry had no hesitation, approached Wattie and told him Queens Park's centre-half was an outstanding prospect and Rangers should snap him up. Walter knew the gig, replying he is your son Garry, and you must have divided loyalties today? Garry was unflinching, "ah hope he's man of the match, doesn't injure any of the Rangers lads, and we win 6-0". My final long conversation with Garry occurred in Lisbon last year, a tremedous display saw us win 2-0 in the UEFA Cup quarter-final. I was walking back into the city centre, whipped rain could not remove the smile from my face. I was intent on getting back to my hotel and booking Florence. It was a lonely stretch of dual carriageway, I crossed over in search of a coffee and bumped into Garry leaning on a rail. We ended up in a Cafe, I was enthusing about Steve Davis, the majesty of King Carlos, Kevin Thomson's tenacity, .....etc Garry was far more concerned about the Youths league run-in and their ability to secure a double-double in consecutive seasons. I was no longer part of the youth/reserve Loyal and asked Garry why it continued to burn with him? He explained that he envied East Stirling and Albion Rover supporters, they achieve an intimacy with their clubs that is impossible for us because of the size of Rangers. The nearest we can get is follow following the young colts, a hard core of 40-50 supporters experiecing the trials and tribulations of a smaller club. Silence ensued, he thought and added, "it's better for us Davie, because it doesn't matter if it's reserve league west or Glasgow Cup, it's still the Rangers"... My final recollection is the happiest I have ever seen the big man. It was the final of the Youth Cup against Airdrie at old Broomfield. We had a good team, including Charlie Miller, Craig Moore, and Scott Wilson. Airdrie started well, blew us away and after 30 minutes were deservedly leading 3-0. The usual grumbling among Bears in attendance was beginning to be directed towards the young players. Garry got the songs going, the Airdrie support targetted him in song, Garry showed them his belly! Garry was telling everyone, "if we can nick one before halftime, we'll win this". Kevin Fotheringham obliged, we came out in the second half and ran in four more to secure the cup 5-3. Garry was wheeling and windmilling down the terrace, screaming, "we've won the cup". He waited on after the game, at the back of the old Broomfield Pavilion, he was intent on shaking every players' hand and thanking them for exhibiting true Rangers spirit. He did too. Every young player that has experienced our Club these last 30 years will know Garry. They will have welcomed his constantly booming voice of support. They will have been encouraged by quiet words delivered off field. They will know that no matter the circumstances, timing, or location; that when they took to the field in Rangers blue, big Garry was waiting to cheer them to the echo. Why, simply because Garry could NOT stop caring about our club. Garry Lynch deserves to be remembered among our support, he remains a true Rangers legend. I want to appeal to all Rangers Media members and ask you to get involved in a quite superb fans initiative to sell £30,000 of Rising Stars tickets for the Motherwell game on the 11th April to benefit the Rangers Youths. This is a special one off draw to be done in the memory of the late Gary Lynch. Rangers Media are delighted to support this campaign and we encourage everyone to get involved. To make it easy for you Rangers Media will use their donate facility on the website to allow you to buy tickets online. Everyone who donates will have an email sent to them with their ticket numbers or will have their tickets posted to them. Anyone wanting to pay by cash or cheque should contact any of the admin team for more details. Tickets are priced at £1 each and there is no limit to the number of tickets anyone can buy. No one will take any of the standard commission from the sale of the Rising Stars tickets and Rangers Media will cover any paypal fees. All money raised will go to Rangers Youths via Rangers Lotto. Please sign and pledge your support to help Rangers Media and all Rangers fans to reach this wonderful goal of £30,000 and create the largest football payout in the UK that is presently held by Celtic. The winning ticket will collect a five-figure sum and be presented with the cheque on the pitch at half time during the Celtic game. Please contact us if you want tickets to sell to your friends & family. Please use the following link to PURCHASE TICKETS and show your support. http://rangersmedia.co.uk/donate.htm |
Worldwide tributes to biggest Glasgow Rangers fan
Feb 18 2009 by Douglas Dickie, Rutherglen Reformer
A CAMBUSLANG man widely known as the most loyal of Rangers supporters has died at the age of (51).
Garry Lynch passed away at Hairmyres Hospital on Wednesday, February 11.
Garry was known for his dedication to following his club, and his determination never to miss a Rangers match, home and away, from the first team right down to the youth sides.
His reputation and personality spread far beyond the slopes of Ibrox, and he was a well known character on internet forums, as well as being a regular attendee at Rangers supporters’ functions all over the world.
News of his death shocked not just fellow supporters but the club itself, with Rangers paying tribute to Garry on their own website.
Garry had a lot of time for another Rangers; Cambuslang, and was a close friend of current gaffer Alan Wardlaw, who paid a moving tribute to his pal.
He said: “Anyone who knows Garry knows his first love was Glasgow Rangers. He followed them everywhere, and I mean everywhere. He was known throughout the world via various online forums and visits to various Rangers supporters functions throughout USA and Canada.
“He attended almost every Rangers game since I have known him, and that is not an exaggeration. Add to that the old reserve team, the youth and Under 19s and you can appreciate he was more than just a fan of a big club, Rangers was his life.
“When Rangers didn’t have a game he was at Cambuslang Rangers games.
“I am afraid I do not have the vocabulary to do justice to what Garry meant to so many people. All I can say is that he touched so many people in so many walks of life throughout the world and I have never heard anyone say a bad word about him.
“My sincere condolences to his wife Elaine, his son Garry, daughter Angela and grandson Alex and with no consolation that he was the most popular person I know.
“I will miss my friend, counsellor and brother, but I am in no different position than the many thousands who knew him.”
Alan, who first met Garry travelling to Rangers games as a young boy, added: “My favourite memory of Garry was a trip with his wife Elaine and my wife Rhona to California to meet up with our friends from Cambuslang, Stewart and Dougie McDougall, who both now live in Orange County, California, then onto the North America Rangers Supporters Association convention in Las Vegas.
“Garry was the life and soul of the fortnight and made it what is undoubtedly the best holiday I have had. His inclusion in the Beetlejuice stage show will live with me forever!”
Jim Hannah, the supporter liaison officer at Rangers, described Garry as a “larger then life character,” adding: “Garry was one of a group of blue-noses who travelled everywhere and anywhere to see their beloved Rangers. It made no difference if Rangers were training in America or playing in Aberdeen – you were sure to see him there.
“Almost everyone inside Ibrox I told about Garry said they knew him and described him as the big guy who was always at a Rangers game.
“This speaks volumes for him; indeed the Rangers anthem, Follow Follow, could have been written with Garry in mind.
“Everyone at the club from the chairman down sends their condolences.”
Garry’s popularity has been highlighted by the thousands of tributes left to him, not just on Rangers websites, but on the Cambuslang Rangers forum and other Junior football forums.
As well as his love of football, Garry, who was known to pals as “Gadger,” was known within the LOL, where he was Lodge Secretary of the Lights of Glasgow LOL 440 and depute secretary of District 49. He also enjoyed a spot of karaoke.
He is survived by wife Elaine, son Garry, a Cambuslang Rangers player, daughter Angela, and grandson Alex.
