Robby’s on countdown from 3 to 1
Seeing his goalkeeping protege pass big tests at Gers has helped Alexander enjoy matchdays again
NEIL ALEXANDER is finding the weekends tough going these days.
For the first time in 23 years, the former Rangers and Scotland keeper is out of work after leaving Dundee United in the summer. And it’s left a void he’s struggling to fill to such an extent he finds it hard just to listen to the results coming in on a Saturday afternoon.
But when Alexander heard Robby McCrorie was set for a baptism of fire at his old club, his appetite for watching football came rushing back as he believes the schoolkid he used to mentor at Auchenhowie is now on a launchpad towards stardom after back-to-back shutouts against Alashkert and Celtic.
He said: “I know what it’s like to be thrown into a big European game and an Old Firm derby because that’s how it all started for me after I signed for Rangers.
I came off the bench to replace Allan McGregor when he got injured at Parkhead. The next game was a Scottish Cup semifinal, followed by the first leg of the UEFA Cup semi against Fiorentina on the Thursday.
“We had Celtic at Parkhead three days later before going to Florence for the return leg which we won on penalties.
“So as soon as I realised Robby was about to be faced with something very similar I picked up the phone to wish him all the best.
“The difference is I was 30 when it happened to me. And even at that age I was s ******* myself !
“Robby has done it at 23. And he’s handled himself brilliantly. So I was delighted for him on Sunday. I was up out of my seat cheering every save he made and everything he did because he passed his big test with flying colours.
“I’m sure there would have been a lot of nerves flying around but then I’d imagine Joe Hart was feeling a bit intimidated at the other end of the pitch. And he’s 34 with 75 caps for England!
“These are huge occasions for any goalkeeper at any age and Robby performed fantastically well. I’ve told him he should be proud of himself.”
It’s not difficult to see how Alexander has carved out a coaching career for himself, given his wealth of experience between the sticks and his willingness to pass it on to the new breed.
McCrorie has benefited more than most down the years.
Alexander said: “He’s a great lad. When Allan and I were at the club Robby would have been a 10, 11, 12, just coming up through the ranks. But he used to come and train with us at the odd occasion at Murray Park and everyone was raving about the kid.
“He was getting boot deals and glove deals flung at him at such a young age. He was already part of the Scotland set-up and everyone could see he was going to be the next big thing.
“He’d done well for a young keeper even if he’s had to wait for his chance at Rangers. It’s difficult for young keepers to progress at a club like Rangers.
“You accept you’re going to have to go out on loan to pick up first-team experience – even Allan McGregor had to do that when he was Robby’s age.
“But Robby has had four different loan moves now and he’s got over 100 first-team games under his belt.
“All he lacks is the pressure of being a keeper for Rangers. But he’s shown the whole world now he can cope with that too. I’ve
been saying it for some time, he’s a future Rangers and Scotland No.1 and the way he’s just handled two massive matches shows he really is cut out to go all the way to the top.”
Alexander admits McCrorie’s big break has come at time when he too was in need of a pick-me-up.
He added: “I must admit it’s not nice to be out of work for the first time in so long and I’m desperate to get back into the coaching side of things as quickly as possible.
“I find Saturdays difficult. I have to take myself away from it because it’s not easy to be sitting at home looking at the results and thinking, ‘I should be involved in this.’
“But I was absolutely glued to these last two games because I know how much they meant to Robby and what they can do for his career. The Alashkert game was a great one for him because it could have gone the other way.
“Had he made a mistake it would have caused a huge problem going into the Celtic game at Ibrox. But he stood up and did everything that was asked of him. The defence protected him and gave him plenty of passbacks to deal with to get him involved.
“He only had one awkward shot to deal with in the second half but he was nice and tidy and made it look easy.
“That would have done him the world of good in terms of confidence. It would also have made the boys around him and the manager see that he could handle it.
“I sent him a text to say, ‘How many people in life can say they kept a clean sheet for Rangers in an Old Firm game and a huge European tie?’ So whatever else he goes on to achieve in his career he’ll always look back on these last few days as a very special memory.”