Every so often amongst the darkness and depression in which we live comes a ray of light?a beam of sunshine?a corridor of hope a reminder of what we aspire to and where we came from.

For those who love to denounce our country?of what is stands for?its symbols?its union?.who make a career out of decrying everything about Great Britain? it was the nightmare scenario. Their Armageddon.

Rangers vs Chelsea.

Brothers in blue re-united..

Two proud clubs who refused to refute their history?their heritage?their identity?despite that assaults from the press and the media over the years?.the attempts to isolate them?..marginalise them.

Two clubs and sets of supporters who go out of their way to acknowledge the sacrifice of Britain?s sons and daughters?whether they be Chelsea pensioners or veterans at Erskine Hospital..

The distance between London and Glasgow it seems is of no consequence to shared morals?.ideals and beliefs.

For yesterday was more than just a friendly football match. As the Scottish press reported? it was the coming together of ?kindred spirits??of those proud of ?Queen and country??of those who would be first in the queue when volunteers were asked to defend the realm.

And as the Chelsea players and manager took a bow at Ibrox?they received a warmth of welcome never normally reserved for visiting players or officials.

To those who have been apologists for the IRA?.who have made excuses for the bombings in London and the rest of the United Kingdom?.who would surrender our sovereignty and way of life?.yesterday was a major setback.

Two sets of supporters opposing in football but united in their celebration of Great Britain?.of the Monarchy?of a generation they refuse to allow to be forgotten? who fought to ensure such freedoms were enjoyed?the sight of the Union Flag flown proudly by both sets of supporters as they united in song and action.

Through these fields of destruction

Baptisms of fire

Ive watched all your suffering

As the battles raged higher

And though they did hurt me so bad

In the fear and alarm

You did not desert me

My brothers in arms

Its easy to link 2 football clubs together....any fool can manufacture a hat or a scarf with either side on it.

What you cannot manufacture is 2 football clubs with shared ideals and beliefs?reflected in the genuine camaraderie of supporters ?not forced, not superficial but driven by something far far deeper. That genuine camaraderie was witnessed all over Glasgow yesterday as like minds came together and distance or nationality was not a barrier.

Yesterday was a bad day for the enemies of Great Britain. They were reminded of the solidarity and steadfastness of those who would defend her with their lives?.

Yesterday George Galloway and his ilk were reminded of something they have seemed to forgotten?the power and conviction of those who love this country of Great Britain and who will steadfastly refuse to surrender to him or his ilk?he was reminded of the power of the Brothers in Blue.

Yesterday was a time when the empire strikes back.

And to you Chelsea players and fans?we have a saying in Scotland?a desire to see an old friend return soon?.

?Haste ye back?.

You will always be welcome.

RANGERS FOREVER.

Great post, mate.

As for IRA apologists and all of that...can we leave the Sectarian bullsh*t for Rangers and Celtic sites? Personally, I have found all these "special relationship" threads somewhat distasteful. Nothing wrong with being proud of your heritage and all that but many of these posts have left a rather nasty smell in their wake.

I like the special Chelsea-Rangers relationship, I support both, but i don't go too ott!

Personally, I have found all these "special relationship" threads somewhat distasteful.

Youre twisting my melons man ?

I think you will find that for many on the CSR and most Chelsea fans in general , the relationship (that was so wonderfully proven on Saturday) is one of pure footballing reasons - However dubious the orginal links may be.

I support Rangers because as a Chelsea fan it was drummed into me at an early age and not because of any political beliefs.

Whilst the post that started this thread is clearly on a different level (a level im sure many of us do not comprehend) please do not tarnish all of us with the same brush - what has been posted over the past few days is out of respect for my second football team.

And if you find that 'distasteful' - well thats up to you mate. But im sure i speak for many of us here when i say your posts playing ball with Brian over the last few weeks have been totally dull and completely tedious.

Touche!

You know why I support Rangers? I'm not even Scottish, but my best mate at school was. He was (and I dare say still is) a Celtic supporter, even though his family are from up in the Highlands somewhere and are all Protestants. So naturally, I had to support Rangers. That's how sectarian my allegiance is. As bjd said, it's purely for footballing reasons. In my case it's mostly a matter of looking out for the scores, watching them when they're on TV (unless there's a clash with a proper Chelsea match. As bjd said, it's purely for footballing reasons. Like most people I'm aware, that up there, it's a different ball game, and is something I have very little, if any real experience of.

Don't be so sanctimonious Mr Melon man.

Rangers vs Chelsea. Brothers in blue re-united.

Thanks for taking the time for posting that, D'Artagnan.

I'm not a political animal, so can't comment on that side of things, but the fact that Chelsea and the Chelsea fans were treated like visiting royalty at the match speaks volumes for Rangers. And I for one would love it if this became an annual pre-season fixture for both teams. Alternating home / away every other year.

One thing though: if we do play you again next year...do you think you can let us win this time!!!

Personally, I have found all these "special relationship" threads somewhat distasteful.

Youre twisting my melons man ?

I think you will find that for many on the CSR and most Chelsea fans in general , the relationship (that was so wonderfully proven on Saturday) is one of pure footballing reasons - However dubious the orginal links may be.

I support Rangers because as a Chelsea fan it was drummed into me at an early age and not because of any political beliefs.

Whilst the post that started this thread is clearly on a different level (a level im sure many of us do not comprehend) please do not tarnish all of us with the same brush - what has been posted over the past few days is out of respect for my second football team.

And if you find that 'distasteful' - well thats up to you mate. But im sure i speak for many of us here when i say your posts playing ball with Brian over the last few weeks have been totally dull and completely tedious.

Touche!

Touche indeed!!

Having read my post I can see why it may appear that I am tarnishing all with the same brush; I should have written some of the postings distasteful, not all. It is indeed great to see supporters of different clubs forging a special relationship. The dubious original links that you speak of though should not be allowed to raise their ugly heads. I just felt that the posts having originally been describing what was by all accounts and extraordinary day out were beginning to darken and were one step away from encouraging a sing along to "No Surrender".

I am sorry if the post appeared disrespectful.

The sectarian issue has always been my only 'concern' when it came to supporting Rangers or Chelsea's link with Rangers. However I don't see this as a reason not to follow them as in all honesty the vast vast vast majority of Rangers fans I know do not follow them because of religous beliefs or because of any sympathies with any political/terrorist groups.

Personally I started followign Rangers as my Scottish team when I moved to Scotland because I was 8, they played in blue and Chelsea played in blue. And that was all there was to it. I wasn't really old enough or wise enough to form an opinion on the less attractive side to the club. If I had moved to Scotland in the same era but been old enough to appreciate certian things then I would almost definitely have not followed either of the Glasgow teams,

However I now truly believe that both clubs are different animals now and although both will still have fans who long for the days of old I think the clubs themsleves have moved on - not as much as they need to but definitely moving in the right direction).

Personally, I have found all these "special relationship" threads somewhat distasteful.

Youre twisting my melons man ?

I think you will find that for many on the CSR and most Chelsea fans in general , the relationship (that was so wonderfully proven on Saturday) is one of pure footballing reasons - However dubious the orginal links may be.

I support Rangers because as a Chelsea fan it was drummed into me at an early age and not because of any political beliefs.

Whilst the post that started this thread is clearly on a different level (a level im sure many of us do not comprehend) please do not tarnish all of us with the same brush - what has been posted over the past few days is out of respect for my second football team.

And if you find that 'distasteful' - well thats up to you mate. But im sure i speak for many of us here when i say your posts playing ball with Brian over the last few weeks have been totally dull and completely tedious.

Touche!

Touche indeed!!

Having read my post I can see why it may appear that I am tarnishing all with the same brush; I should have written some of the postings distasteful, not all. It is indeed great to see supporters of different clubs forging a special relationship. The dubious original links that you speak of though should not be allowed to raise their ugly heads. I just felt that the posts having originally been describing what was by all accounts and extraordinary day out were beginning to darken and were one step away from encouraging a sing along to "No Surrender".

I am sorry if the post appeared disrespectful.

I dis-agree I sing 'No Surrender' at the Bridge and with England doesn't make me a luna-tron.

People may not like it but to be fair thats just the way it is.

I love Rangers and their fans........as long as I can remember I have seen them in our pubs,singing and having a good time.

Lets not get tangled up in politics,but we ALSO have a fair few ditty's that are close to the knuckle.

But you have to take it with a pinch of salt.

No one wants to kill anyone its Football culture,simple as.

PS ;Really enjoyed some of the debate on here recentley....thanks to the Mods for letting the opinions flow!!

This Chelsea rangers thing seems to be spiltting are fans , which I think is very sad , I myself have always supported just the one team and thats CHELSEA I've no interest in any others , unless its your National Team which is fair enough .

Both of the last two posts are on the money for me. I've been known to sing "no surrender" now and then, I never thought too much about the words in truth just that in my opinion I don't want to surrender to terrorists (I'm a simple man)!

But I don't support Rangers. I like anyone that supports Chelsea and if a load of Rangers fans want to come down to Chelsea for a good day out, then I'll drink to that. For me though, it's Chelsea and only Chelsea.

Having said that from what people have said about the match at the weekend I might have to get myself up there next time Chelsea go to town.

I was reluctant to reply here but after reading through the thread i changed my mind.

First of all i fail to see what the London bombings have to do with anything associated with Glasgow rangers or Chelsea , or sport for that matter.

Ive been to Chelsea games and heard fans sing no surrender to the ***, fair enough , we feel the same here . It wasnt an issue with me. People used to tell me that Chelsea fans [ small minority ] had links to hardcore groups within N.Ireland , and questioned my reasons for supporting them , the answer was easy , ive supported them since i was very young and nothing , not any religious divide , not any bigot or any thug with political views was ever going to change my mind.

Ive never had a problem with Glasgow Rangers or their fans , their songs or their image , it's not something i take offence to being Irish .

Barn sings No surrender because he dosent want to surrender to terrorists , and he's every right to feel that way , i think most people will have the same view . We've always had the same views here , we just couldnt express it in song in Southern Ireland but we made our feeling known for over 30 years .

What i cant understand is , the bitterness behind the original post , to me it gives off a bad image of Rangers fans takes us back 20 years .

And to you Chelsea players and fans?we have a saying in Scotland?a desire to see an old friend return soon?.

?Haste ye back?.

You will always be welcome.

RANGERS FOREVER.

Pah. You wouldn't have said that if we'd beaten you.