Flure Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 ANDY GORAM is a hard man to ignore, but it's really worth the effort. There is no getting away from him these days. He's on the telly and he's on the radio, he's in the papers waxing about Walter Smith and Sir David Murray and the Lloyds Banking Group and at every turn he has a captive audience of journalists and photographers and people who are more than happy to tell him that his views are worth listening to. Soon he's going to be guest of honour at a benefit dinner in Glasgow. No doubt, a legion of past Ibrox heroes will be there to celebrate his life and times. Unquestionably, there will be hordes of supporters on hand to chant his name and listen to his patter. Goram's book is coming out this week. You may have read some of it already in the Sun. The drinking, the shagging, the betrayal of one wife and then another and then another – it's all there. The truth according to Goram. The self-pitying tone of the published extracts tells us that the former Rangers goalkeeper still sees himself as something of a victim. The walkout before the World Cup in 1998 is depicted, not for the first time, as all Craig Brown's fault. Goram's bitterness towards his former manager is acute. he will never forgive him for what he did back then. He was outraged and disgusted at losing his place to Jim Leighton. The angst he will take with him to the grave. And so on. Of course, at the time Goram said little of this. In 1998, the story went that he'd left the squad because of constant tabloid interference in his private life. That was what he said in an official statement upon leaving the team base. One tabloid in particular seemed to be the chief source of his anger – ironically, it was the Sun. Only a few days before his disappearing act, the tabloid ran a wounding story about an alleged affair Goram had had with a woman who worked for Celtic. "It is plain to see," said the goalkeeper by way of a press release, "that stories are being fabricated to upset me or our World Cup preparations. Myself, Craig Brown and the players don't need this. The last thing the squad needs is controversy off the park." History seems to have been rewritten in this instance. His story, though. And his truth. Quite honestly, the bonk-fests and the blubbering about all the mistakes he made when polluted by drink are tedious. We've heard them all from him before. What is interesting is the stench of sectarianism that still hangs over him and the fact that, despite some controversial incidents in his past, his benefit dinner still seems to have the imprimatur of his old employers at Ibrox. Remember, it is barely a year since Goram, when opening a pub, spoke of an altercation with Pierre van Hooijdonk in an Old Firm match in 1996. He told a cheering group of Rangers fans that when he saved the Dutchman's penalty in that game he went up to him and called him – and he was paraphrasing here – "a non-white, unclean, non-Protestant with no father". And Goram is going to be lauded at a benefit dinner? But back to the book. There is one aspect of his life that has a grisly fascination and that is his supposed links with loyalist terrorists in Northern Ireland. He recounts a story about him drinking in the Rex bar on the Shankill Road in west Belfast. The Rex was not a political pub but still it was a favourite haunt of Ulster Volunteer Force supporters. This is where Goram fetched-up. He says he was reading a book about the Shankill Butchers at the time, the notorious gang of loyalists who specialised in torture and murder by throat-slashing in the 1970s. "I was told someone wanted to meet me," writes Goram. "When I got up there, the man in question was a huge lad, and he said 'Pleased to meet you, Goalie. I'm Big Sam (McAllister], the Shankill Butcher'. My mind a blank, despite what I had just heard, I said, 'All the best. How is your shop going?'"Goram tells us that he had a creeping realisation that maybe Big Sam wasn't going to be giving him free sausages and that, in fact, he was one of the most vicious killers The Troubles had ever known. "The sweat formed on my top lip, and we chatted amiably enough until I sidled back downstairs. So, yes, I've met men deeply involved with the UVF and been in their company on fleeting occasions. But terrorist sympathiser? No." No? What about Billy Wright, then? We all remember Goram and Wright, aka King Rat, aka leader of the extremist Loyalist Volunteer Force until the Irish National Liberation Army murdered him in the Maze prison in 1997. Goram and Wright met on a flight to Belfast. Goram claimed he hadn't a clue who he was until somebody told him. Police pulled Goram in for questioning about his contact with Wright. As he says in his book: "Rumours and innuendo started to paint a picture of me: Andy Goram, hard-drinking, hell-raising bigot, friend of the UVF. I'd unwittingly add to that perception by wearing a black armband in a match against Celtic soon after Billy Wright was shot three times and killed by an Irish National Liberation Army assassination squad inside the Maze prison." Ah yes, the armband. Worn at an Old Firm match five days after Wright was killed. Goram claimed he was wearing it for his aunt Lilly, who died four months earlier. Goram says he loved Lilly dearly, which begs the question: Why did he wait four months to pay tribute to her? His explanation for his association with terrorists in the past are weak. The armband defence remains risible. The account of his meetings with Wright and Big Sam should trouble those who are about to pay tribute to Goram at the benefit night. The abuse of Van Hooijdonk, I'm guessing, doesn't get a mention anywhere in the book. His supporters will say that they are going to celebrate the goalkeeper but in this case you cannot separate the goalie from the man. And the man has left many, many unanswered questions about aspects of his life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brassrubber Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Right your on the list Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debian Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Regurgitated shite we already know about Goram... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairbairn Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Did Goram's book not come out about 5 years ago? In fact a quick Google shows that this article is from 2009. I might be missing a relevance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parklife Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Adny Goram is the personification of what Rangers stood for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flure Posted January 30, 2015 Author Share Posted January 30, 2015 Did Goram's book not come out about 5 years ago? In fact a quick Google shows that this article is from 2009. I might be missing a relevance. Oh, shit. So it is. Apologies everyone. I thought it was new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred_Zeppelin Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Oh, shit. So it is. Apologies everyone. I thought it was new. Maybe he's just got round to the other Andy Goram? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flure Posted January 30, 2015 Author Share Posted January 30, 2015 Maybe he's just got round to the other Andy Goram? That was quite clever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairbairn Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Adny Goram is the personification of what Rangers stood for. I'm going to assume that you mean they no longer stand for it and not that they no longer stand, cheers Parkie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan cake Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 his picture still hangs in the hibs club disgusting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parklife Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 I'm going to assume that you mean they no longer stand for it and not that they no longer stand, cheers Parkie! As a club they no longer have an overtly bigoted standpoint. They do however refuse to stamp out the widespread bigotry and intolerance within their support. Which, to me, shows that those old viewpoints are still deeply infecting the club. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RenfrewBlue Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 As a club they no longer have an overtly bigoted standpoint. They do however refuse to stamp out the widespread bigotry and intolerance within their support. Which, to me, shows that those old viewpoints are still deeply infecting the club. You really need to get a life. Your obsessed with Rangers. However at least your statement shows you believe Rangers are still the same club. I thought intelligent folk realised it is not within the clubs ability to do anything about the beliefs of their support. All they can do is act responsibly and sensibly. It is up to the Police and other authorities to crush the vile bigotry in our country. We all also, have a responsibility to teach tolerance and understanding to our children. I think you need to have a wee soul search to see if you are showing that love to others. The tired old pish that the Clubs are the cause is boring. Scottish society is the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parklife Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 You really need to get a life. Your obsessed with Rangers. However at least your statement shows you believe Rangers are still the same club. I thought intelligent folk realised it is not within the clubs ability to do anything about the beliefs of their support. All they can do is act responsibly and sensibly. It is up to the Police and other authorities to crush the vile bigotry in our country. We all also, have a responsibility to teach tolerance and understanding to our children. I think you need to have a wee soul search to see if you are showing that love to others. The tired old pish that the Clubs are the cause is boring. Scottish society is the problem. I need to get a life? You're the one replying to my every post I thought intelligent people understood that clubs have the power to ban people from their grounds if they so wish. Rangers have had years to ban those espousing sectarianism from their grounds, yet have not done so effectively at all. Rangers could stamp out sectarian behaviour at the games from their support but have chosen not to do so. I never said Rangers were the cause of sectarianism, please do not misrepresent me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamntg Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 (edited) I think they're a cause of sectarianism. Many people are lured to the dark side as part of supporting a successful football team. Edited January 30, 2015 by adamntg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnie x Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Anyway, the new goalkeeping coach at Dunfermline. Not a nice person but a great goalie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrelhumper Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 I thought intelligent folk realised it is not within the clubs ability to do anything about the beliefs of their support. All they can do is act responsibly and sensibly. It is up to the Police and other authorities to crush the vile bigotry in our country. We all also, have a responsibility to teach tolerance and understanding to our children. The club time and time again play up to the bigots though. It was only last year that Chuck Green was talking about Orange Strips. Don't even get me started on the annual remembrance day's circus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishcumnock Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Goram =anti scottish fudd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glasgow jock Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Born & bred in Glasgow (although have not lived there now for 15 years), I have had the misfortune of finding that there are many more bigoted & bitter folk (on both sides, but mainly Rangers) from Armadale, Shieldill, Hartill, Redding etc etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toepoke Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Remember the van Hooijdonk incident. You could make out what he said clear as day on the telly Kim Sears style... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErsatzThistle Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Knew a guy who said for a few years Goram was a regular at his local, this was when Goram's career was finished of course. He said what was most noticeable about Goram was that he was always drinking alone night after night, looking completely miserable and never once had any company. Who would have thought that most bigots are deeply unhappy people with nae mates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RenfrewBlue Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 I need to get a life? You're the one replying to my every post I thought intelligent people understood that clubs have the power to ban people from their grounds if they so wish. Rangers have had years to ban those espousing sectarianism from their grounds, yet have not done so effectively at all. Rangers could stamp out sectarian behaviour at the games from their support but have chosen not to do so. I never said Rangers were the cause of sectarianism, please do not misrepresent me. You don't half talk pish. Football teams cannot ban you from their ground without the Courts having found the individual guilty of something. It's not a choice it's the law of the land. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larky Masher Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 You don't half talk pish. Football teams cannot ban you from their ground without the Courts having found the individual guilty of something. It's not a choice it's the law of the land. But they can refuse to sell them tickets especially for away games and whilst it could be massively unfair I'd put supporters buying away tickets on notice that if there is any sectarian singing at a games those attending won't be allocated any away tickets for a year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred_Zeppelin Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 You don't half talk pish. Football teams cannot ban you from their ground without the Courts having found the individual guilty of something. It's not a choice it's the law of the land. Of course they can, the conditions of entry are on the ticket, break the conditions you're banned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbcmfc Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Knew a guy who said for a few years Goram was a regular at his local, this was when Goram's career was finished of course. He said what was most noticeable about Goram was that he was always drinking alone night after night, looking completely miserable and never once had any company. Who would have thought that most bigots are deeply unhappy people with nae mates. I encountered Goram on a flight from London to Glasgow, he was on the way home from a Rangers game in Bucharest, there were quite a few Rangers fans, and Goram seemed to be playing up, acting the clown, most notably repeatedly shouting "Ho Bobo..." at a coloured black guy working on the gate. I took it to be subtle racism, as the guy looked nothing like Bobo Balde other than his skin colour, but was subtle in that the guy had no idea who/what Bobo was. When we got on the flight it appeared although there were quite a lot of Rangers fans on the flight, he sat alone. Probably ticks all the boxes mentioned? A jakey loner bigot. I was quite disappointed, I liked him for motherwell and scotland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbcmfc Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 You don't half talk pish. Football teams cannot ban you from their ground without the Courts having found the individual guilty of something. It's not a choice it's the law of the land. Trust me on this, they can and do! I've got a letter from Motherwell to prove it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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