OUR PRAYERS FORRAY
Pal Derek says Wilkins is real battler
Ray Wilkins arrived at Ibrox having played with European giants Manchester United, AC Milan and PSG.
But Derek Ferguson says the Englishman was the most humble guy in Rangers’ dressing-room at the start of their Nine-in-a-Row dynasty.
The former Gers midfielder was stunned on Friday night to hear news that Wilkins was seriously ill after suffering a massive heart attack.
Ferguson was due to meet up with his old team-mate this summer as part of a Rangers v Chelsea legends game down in London.
But he’s now praying for good news on his pal’s health as the 61-year- old fights for his life in hospital in an induced coma.
Wi lkins was signed by Graeme Souness in 1987 and enjoyed a two-year stint in Glasgow before returning south to QPR.
Ferguson played alongside him in Gers’ engine room and will never forget the humility Wilkins showed towards the club’s young Scottish players.
He told MailSport: “Ray was an absolute gem with us. He’s a gentleman.
“When you think of all the top players who were in that dressing-room at Ibrox at the time, he was the one who always had time for you.
“He’d sit you down, whether it was on the training pitch or away from the ground at a lunch or night out.
“He’d slide over and just have a quiet word in your ear, which was invaluable for young players.
“Ray was a class act on and off the park. Consider the clubs he played for, Chelsea, Man United, AC Milan, PSG – they are huge clubs.
“But what strikes you most about Ray is how humble he is. Some of the big players at Rangers back then were a bit aloof, stand-offish.
“Ray was the opposite. He played 84 times for England and at World Cups but he still had time for us.”
Ferguson was a young pretender to Wi lkins in the midfield as Rangers started their charge towards nine successive titles.
Just watching the former England star was an education in itself.
And he looked on in awe as Wilkins scored a stunning Old Firm goal against Celtic 30 years ago.
Ferguson said: “I learned a lot from him as a player.
“Sometimes you don’t need to be coached – you just have to watch certain people that play in your area of the pitch.
“It was like that with Ray. He always had time on the ball and, watching him, you knew why. It was no coincidence. It was because his first touch was so good. It took him away from danger.
“He had the best first touch of any player I ever played with including the l ikes of Souness and Davie Cooper.
“It set him apart from other players.
“His highlight at Rangers was obviously the volley against Celtic in the 5-1 victory.
“Everyone remembers that goal. I was standing beside him when he hit it. “It was just pure technique, which was superb. “It was up at the Broomloan Road end and what a goal at was. “It was some strike and one that Rangers fans will never forget.” Wilkins regularly speaks fondly of his time at Ibrox during his media work with Sky Sports and talkSPORT. He shed
tears as he walked off the Ibrox pitch for the last time in 1989.
He was part of a great set of close- knit players, such current assistant manager Jimmy Nicholl, who still have close links with the club.
And Ferguson says Wilkins became immersed in the club’s history and tradition.
He said: “Even in the short time he was at Ibrox, he loved the culture at Rangers.
“I think we probably had a big part in that!
“When he looked at us and realised what the club meant to us he took that on board and embraced it himself.
“We took him to a few supporters’ functions and right away he got it.
“He was a Chelsea fan but when he came up here he thought ‘Wow, this is massive.’
“He was very emotional when he left.
“He cried coming off the park after his last game at Ibrox against Dunfermline.
“But that’s what it does to you at Rangers.
“And the other thing I loved about Wilkins that no- one really talks about is that he loved a giggle.
“He was a serious guy but he loved a laugh and joke as well. He enjoyed that at Rangers.
“He was always immaculate. Everything he did had a touch of class about it. He definitely became part of the Rangers family back then and I’m shocked by what has happened.”
Ferguson was woken up by news of Wilkins’ heart attack on Friday night and just hopes his pal’s strength of character can pull him through.
He said: “I got a text at midnight on Friday that woke me up to tell me Ray was very ill and I was gutted.
“I can’t believe it. I bumped into him back in June and was supposed to meet up again this summer when a Legends team go down to Chelsea. It was great to see him last year so this is terrible news.
“Ray has always been a fit guy. I know he’s had a few issues and problems of late.
“But when I think of him, he was always a guy who looked after himself.
“Ray’s a strong-minded wee guy as well, so hopefully that will pull him through this. I just hope we’ll get some good news in the next few days.”
Ally McCoist was also upset to learn the news about his old Ibrox team-mate.
He said: “I am absolutely shocked. What a lovely man and we all w ish him a speedy recovery.”