Derek Ferguson, former Rangers midfielder

“I WAS 17 when I made my Old Firm debut. I was excited and I was angry. I had all these emotions going through me because of the build-up. Sometimes you can listen to too many people round about you and that was one of my faults at times.

I was playing against Paul McStay, Peter Grant and Tommy Burns. I expected – I don’t know why – when I ran out that day that there was going to be a lot of hatred between the players.

There is between the fans, unfortunately. But Tommy was actually brilliant with me. He actually coached me through that game. People don’t believe that. I was keeping the ball and he kept praising me. ‘Well done, doing well, don’t get caught on the ball.’

I thought, ‘Is this a wind-up?’ But no. I came away from that game thinking it was totally different from what I thought it was going to be like but that’s the respect the two sets of players had for each other. We socialised with them, were in their company a lot of the time.

We were always used to a 3pm kick-off. Sometimes an early kick-off can be good for young players making their debut. It’s less chance for them to think about it.

I hope the Rangers players have the same breakfast they had last time they played Celtic! Graeme Murty mentioned that. He noticed at breakfast there was something different about them.

Eat the same things and keep the same focus then! Don’t go out there with fear. Go out there and embrace it, and have a real go, give it everything you’ve got. If it’s not good enough, it’s not good enough.”