FERN AND O MATC H

MARVIN ANDREWS with Gavin McCann, Lee Hendrie and Darren Anderton all scoring for Paul Ince’s Three Lions.

Hendrie gave the crowd a laugh when he jokingly threw himself to the ground after spotting the female physio coming on to attend to Gers’ Colin Hendry.

Alex Dick, one of three fans who donated £500 to join in the action, pulled a goal back for Rangers but the day was all about Ricksen and Andrews admitted it is tough for his ex-team-mates to see him suffering.

He said: “We all know the type of person he was when he was fit and healthy and that makes it hard. You just wish he could get out of the wheelchair and gather round with everyone and be the Fernando we all remember.

“He has developed an illness that is the opposite to the person he was. In the dressing room when you look at him you can see in his heart he’s there but he can’t move. He sits watching everyone enjoying themselves and you can only picture what is going through his mind.

“That is the sad thing. He was in the dressing room and people all came in to see him but he can’t really communicate. He tries his best but it’s really difficult. As much as it’s an enjoyable occasion it’s hard.

“It was great to be part of it. I only realised I still have it when the ball rattled in the net. The most important thing is we were all there for Fernando’s sake.

“The turnout from the fans shows what a big club Rangers is. It was a beautiful day and I was happy about that because I was worried with the cold weather in Scotland last week. God arranged everything perfectly.”