SOCK IT TO ‘EM
THE ROAD TO HAMPDEN
BY FRASER WILSON
STRANRAER ruined Christmas for Rangers when they plundered the Ibrox stockings and left with a point six years ago.
Now Frank McKeown – who was skipper of the sockless Stair Parkers then – is calling for the Blues to raise the spirit of that Boxing Day barnstormer to deliver the most unexpected knockout blow to Steven Gerrard’s side on Friday night.
He laughs when he recalls the gaffe that left his side begging their hosts to help complete their kit ahead of that momentous day.
The favour blew up in Ally McCoist’s side’s face as Jamie Longworth tapped home a 93rd-minute equaliser to end Rangers’ 15-match winning run in the league.
Which is why McKeown – now first-team coach with the Blues – is deadly serious when he says anything is possible.
Despite sitting bottom of League One and without a win in two months Stranraer are heading to Ibrox looking to eclipse the heroes of 2013. And this time with the right socks to match their kit!
“We’re massive underdogs,” McKeown said. “A club like Rangers should be beating us every day of the week but it’s a game we’re looking forward to as a club. At the end of the day it will be enjoyable for everyone connected to the club but you never know.
“So we went out with green top, black shorts and blue socks. We scored late and for a club like us it was brilliant.
“Rangers had won 15 league games in a row and I think they were going for a record so for us to spoil the party was excellent. It shows miracles can happen, absolutely.
“But the team Rangers have now is different. They are probably playing the best football in Scotland right now so it’s the biggest task we could have faced. Then we had more finances available to bring players in but now we are about young players.
“The experience they are going to get on Friday will be incredible. Hopefully it gives them a wee taster of what can happen in football.
“Look at Andrew Robertson, you never know what is around the corner. There may be one or two in our squad that go on and make it.”
Finances – and win bonuses in particular – are in short supply at Stair Park these days. Not just because of a lack of wins leaving Stevie Farrell’s side bottom of League One but the Blues players don’t get a financial reward for winning according to McKeown.
He said: “We don’t get a win bonus. As coaching staff we obviously don’t get anything but as players you don’t get any win bonus at Stranraer.
“That tells you where we are. Even for a game of this size. The club might turn around after the game but, on Friday night, the players are going out under the impression that we don’t get any bonuses for league games.
“These sorts of things, it’s just not feasible at a club like Stranraer. We have the second lowest budget in Scotland.
“So the sort of money this brings to the club is massive, this will keep us going for two, three or four years, just this game alone.”
Premier Sports will screen live and exclusive coverage of Rangers v Stranraer. Available on Sky, Virgin TV and via the Premier Player. Visit premiersports. com for details.