This is from the old FF site from many years ago...
On 25 May 2003, Rangers clinched the SPL Championship in the most dramatic fashion with a tense victory over Dunfermline at Ibrox. Despite being ahead in the title race for part of the second half, Celtic's 4-0 victory at Rugby Park meant they finished second, as the Gers clinched a world record 50th League Championship. Any Rangers supporter would tell you that the 6-1 win over Dunfermline would be hard to beat for drama, but none of us knew what was to come in season 2004/2005.
Fast forward almost two years to 22 May 2005, Rangers had all but thrown away the title race after losing 2-1 at Ibrox against Celtic. Victories over Aberdeen, Hearts and Motherwell followed, but only the most optimistic supporter thought the Gers could still win the league. Rangers needed a poor Motherwell side to beat Celtic at Fir Park, while the Light Blues had to negogiate a tricky away tie at Easter Road against a Hibs side on course for a UEFA Cup spot.
It didn't look good early on; Nacho Novo missed an open goal from a tight angle while Chris Sutton put Celtic 1-0 up at Fir Park. As the second half dragged on, what hope remained amongst the Rangers supporters began to fade. With minutes to go in each game, both Rangers and Celtic were holding a one goal lead, when a long ball from Motherwell eventually finds it way to Scott McDonald. The Aussie, with his back to goal, hits a fantastic shot over his left shoulder and it sails into the net.
Easter Road erupts.
As the final seconds of Rangers' game ticked away, the news filtered through that Scott McDonald had doubled Motherwell's lead in the space of a few minutes. The victory was secured, the most dramatic Scottish Championship win was secured, the helicopter changed direction.
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I was in the Hall in Sauchiehall St with my best mate (whos probably getting sick of me telling everyone I meet this story) watching the Gers game. The Hall had decided to only show the Gers game cos O'Neills next door was showing the Mhankies game.
Anyhoo, we arrived late-ish, and the only seats available were right in front of the screens at the disabled bogs. I had my earphones with me so I could listen to the reptile game on my phones radio, and from what I could see the only person in the pub with a wireless (I have to say I was definately one of the non-believers!)
With a mixture of the shite reception, the in-pub commentary and my mate asking me every 2 minutes what was happening, I was mentally all over the place. I nearly threw my earphones to the other side of the pub in disgust when Sutton scored in the first half. I kept listening though, ready to call it a day when they got their second and effectively tied up the game.
When I heard McDonalds first goal go in, it was broadcast almost simultenously with the Gers game (I think Jock Brown says it first then the picture shrinks and you see the goal) I was going crazy with disbelief and so was the whole pub, went absolutely mental.
I hugged my mate who was hugging me and pushing me back at the same time and telling me to "get on the fucking radio!!", so collected myself, sat down, and carried on listening. Hands trembling, every time a Celtic player is mentioned my arsehole shrinks.
When McDonald made his initial run into the box for the second, Peter Martin was explaining he has options in the box, I was totally silent. Then when he scored, I jumped about 18 foot in the air, and in mid-jump turned around to look at a sea of people completely focused on me. I then realised they hadn't updated/mentioned the score on the telly, and when I screamed "ITS FUCKING TWO ONE TO MOTHERWELL!!!" the whole place erupted. Cue songs, (tears of joy from myself) and embracing fellow bears.
One guy said to me after the final whistle went his girlfriend couldn't look at my face when it was 1-1 cos she was terrifed I was going to be the one to break the news of Celtic re-taking the lead!!
We had another wee sing-song, finished the drinks and headed to Ibrox.
I'll never forget it.
jimbaxterisgod
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Having stopped travelling to away games a few years ago, I went with my usual routine of heading round to a mates dads house who gave up his season ticket a few years ago. He had the full season Setanta package, so me and three mates invade his place, kick his dog out and his wife (sorry) every couple of weeks to watch the away matches.
So round we all go and settle down with half a dozen bottles of beer each. Now I have to be honest and say that throughout the ninety minutes a lot of the talk wasn't really about what was happening on the pitch at Easter Road. Much of the chat was about restructuring the team for the following season. Who's good enough, who's not, new manager etc, (particularly as Gordon Marshall had made a bit of a mess of things at FirPark) "But look at the trophies he's won!". All the usual stuff.
It was around about the 75 minute mark that an argument / disagreement finally erupted about what we were watching. "This is boring as %%$£, lets have a look to see if Motherwell are anywhere near an equaliser". "No $$$$ing way are those bassas going on ma telly". Finally after about 10 minutes of this he relented and over it went.
I will never forget the next ten seconds as long as I live.
He flipped the channel over. But being the technophobe he is, he got it wrong and Eurosport popped up. "Aw come on, sort yourself out man" we joked. He got it right this time and as we adjust to what we are seeing someone is having a feeble shot at goal (not sure yet what way the teams are shooting). A small guy in the box controls it on his chest, it sits up nicely. Bang. Goal. We start celebrating in turn, one after the other as it becomes apparent what is going on. Head in the hands type stuff. Disbelief.
Then as the beggars kick off, it's every man for himself. Shouting allsorts of nonsense with no-one actually listening to anybody else. Complete panic / euphoria / shock, god knows what. I notice some additional bodies gathering in his kitchen. The wife has returned, and some inquisitive neighbours are sticking their heads round the door. A dog is in the living room. The sense of panic has transferred to it, I kid you not!. Arguments start again about which game we should be watching. We agree to get the bears on. But hang on......... here come Motherwell. Awwww wtf are you going son? Corner flag ffsake son! Oh he's into the box "Cut back cut back, don't shoot from....YYEEEEEESSSSSSSSS!"
Absolute Bedlam.
Amid celebrations, I try to get the point across that we need to see the bears game NOW! We flip the channel to watch The Rangers stroke the ball along the half way line to clinch title number 51.
A period of surreal calm then develops for me. Just sitting sipping beer, looking at the floor. "Unbelievable" "Unbelievable" keeps running through my head.
Having gone through a similar hell of not being in control at Ibrox 2 years earlier I was convinced that was a once in a lifetime experience as far as supporting the Gers. Thankfully, I was wrong.
Thank you Rangers, an amazing day.
Miko
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Due to family commitments, I couldn't go to the game [even though a ticket was offered via some of the Johnstone Bears.]
I spent the day in the kitchen making lasagne and listening to the Rangers game on the radio. I was one of those who most definately didn't 'believe' [shame on me.]
About 15 minutes before the end of the game my wife arrived home and began blethering the usual guff about how the shopping went etc.
SUDDENLY, over my wife talking, I heard a roar on the radio and caught something about Motherwell scoring. I ran through to the living room and switched on Setanta on the telly and saw the score was 1-1.I knew we had a chance then [but the fatalist in me kept saying, either Sellik would get a penalty or we'd lose a stupid goal], so I went back to the kitchen.
The wife continued to show me the 'bargains' she'd found at Braehead and, over her voice, I heard uproar on the radio and said to my wife "Surely they haveny lost another one."
I looked through to the telly in the living room and saw a Motherwell player running away, obviously in celebration. The score on the top left of the screen said Motherwell 2 Sellik 1.
If you've ever seen the Rab C Nesbitt episode where they are in Spain and Rab is ranting at the world and finds his Spanish 'brother', I LIVED that episode. I ran out to the patio and shouted my head off and discovered my 'brother' a couple of streets away. He was doing exactly the same thing !
My son-in-law, another poster on here, arrived an hour or so later and we spent one of the best nights EVER.
You couldny BUY that feeling.
Hyramkingotyre
