After (fake) news broke of a celebratory reception in London – apparently from the UK Government at the Scotland Office – to mark the (cough) 150th anniversary of a club that has only been in existence since 2012, it now appears that the party ‘invite’ was nothing of the sort, instead theRangers paid for the soiree themselves. A bit like hiring out a room at the Vatican for your grandparents ruby wedding anniversary and telling all the guests the invitations were from Papa Francesco himself.

Or sending yourself a Valentine’s card…

In a statement released before the event on 8 June, theRangers managing director Stewart Robertson, as reported on their official website, said:

“We are very honoured and grateful to have been invited by the Secretary of State for Scotland to this very special event to mark the 150th anniversary of Rangers Football Club.

“I believe it speaks volumes for the contribution Rangers has made to our nation in a positive sense over these years that the club is being recognised in this manner, and we look forward to promoting the good name of Rangers even further this evening to invited guests from across the political spectrum, as well as wider society.”

That approach was quickly clarified after a few questions from Deputy Political Editor at the Record – well it was never likely to come from the Sports Desk – Chris McCaul, as a far shorter and significantly more honest quote emerged.

“Rangers Football Club held an event in Dover House last week to mark their 150th anniversary. Scottish Secretary Alister Jack attended the event and made a short speech.

“The reception was organised and paid for by the football club.”

This is the sort of embarrassment that would have any self-respecting football club’s board hiding under the duvet for weeks, but when you are in charge of Old Firm FC, create fantasies of going for 55 titles in less than a decade and are desperation for a continuity myth to be accepted then you need a group of staunch men in your boardroom who couldn’t have their neck marked by a blow-torch.

Thankfully in this case it appears the deputy political editor of the Record doesn’t have quite the same constraints on reporting – or indeed asking questions – as those on the sports desk, who are all too happy to fall into line and publish questionable stories as factual without the merest of fact-checking being applied – a bit like the lack of due diligence applied to sponsorship deals at Ibrox.

Perhaps a new crypto-currency sponsor will be announced today to deflect from another fine story to add to the Banter Years.

Shaun Riley

Shaun Riley

SPECIAL OFFER – GET YOUR FREE TWICE AS GOOD T-SHIRT WHEN YOU ORDER THE HARRY HOOD BIOGRAPHY FROM CELTIC STAR BOOKS…

Please tell us your t-shirt size when ordering from the link below…posted immediately well in time for Father’s Day this Sunday!

More Stories / Celtic Players
“You get addicted to playing here,” James Forrest signs new contract at Celtic
Milan Misun arrived with great hype but left largely unnoticed
Victor Wanyama – A player Celtic never really replaced