Walter death has hit Camby’s Goram hard
Lang co-boss pays tribute to Ibrox icon Smith who had ties to club
Cambuslang Rangers co-boss Billy Campbell has paid tribute to Glasgow Rangers icon Walter Smith following his death from cancer at the age of 73.
And Campbell has also revealed Ibrox legend Andy Goram - who is the current goalkeeping coach at Camby – has been left heartbroken by the news regarding the legendary figure, who had close ties to Somervell Park.
A young Walter attended Cambuslang games with his father and just last season his nephew, Scott McManus, had a short spell at the Lang as well.
The news has hit everyone at Lang hard, but none more so than Goram - nicknamed ‘The Goalie’ – who was famously part of Smith’s nine-in-a-row winning side in Govan.
Among the thousands of floral tributes outside Ibrox since Smith’s passing last Tuesday were a pair of goalie gloves from Goram, with the words: “RIP Gaffa, from your Goalie.”
And Campbell said: “We’ve obviously got The Goalie with us, who is struggling with it.
“He’s pretty upset because he was extremely close to Walter and every time we are going back and forth to training in the car, he’s always telling stories about him.
“I know he thought the world of Walter, so it’s a difficult time for him and the other guys who played for him.
“We had Walter’s nephew at the club last season and he is a lovely lad as well.
“He will be one of the wee souls that will be struggling right now and I can’t begin to imagine the impact it will have on him.
“Walter absolutely did have links to the club through his father and he did come to watch the club when he was a younger man.
“We also had games against Rangers, which he had supported, and we still have a cup in the trophy room at Ibrox from Cambuslang games against Rangers down the years.
“It’s terrible news and my heart goes to his family.”
Cambuslang Rangers had been aware of Smith’s illness and plans were afoot to show him around the stadium he attended with his father one last time. However, that sadly never came to pass. Campbell added: “I know it’s been really quiet recently about Walter, and quite rightly so, but we knew he was struggling a wee bit.
“It’s just terrible news now he’s gone. “I was just saying to The Goalie last Monday night that when Walter was up and about again, he should bring him down to the club and he can see Somervell Park again. But then the next morning we got the news.
“I was lucky enough to spend some time with Walter when [former Camby manager] Alan Wardlaw and I were at an event and he spoke to us for a good half hour about football and Cambuslang.
“He was a fabulous man and one time we spoke, he actually gave me one of his training jackets, so I’ve got one of his jackets with his initials on it and a signed poster from him saying ‘onwards and upwards’.
“He was just a lovely man and he was exactly what I thought he would be when I first met him - an absolute gentleman, who had time for everyone.
“For someone like me, who only touched one percent of his life, I can only imagine how his family and those close to him are feeling. You won’t ever hear a bad word about him from anyone.”
Smith’s funeral will take place today (Wednesday) before a public memorial service is held at Glasgow Cathedral on Friday, November 19.