Fernando Ricksen Tribute Match

[Sylar]

Regardless to what your thoughts on the old/current incumbents of Ibrox and those who associate with them, credit to the fans of Rangers today who have absolutely packed out Ibrox for the tribute match for Fernando Ricksen, who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease 2 years ago. From seeing the pictures around the ground, it seems there are a lot of fans of other clubs in attendance too, openly wearing their own team colours.

They're having a Rangers Select vs All Star match with some of the stars of past years at Ibrox vs a selection of other players with all proceeds going to MND Scotland and the Rangers Charity Foundation.

A horrible disease and it's a shame to see what it does to so many. I don't have any particularly fond memories of Ricksen as a player, as he was constantly a vicious, snarly and generally odious guy but he was a cracking player and is a young man with a young family - his case has been a sad one for such a fit young man to succumb to the effects of MND.

[Sir David Gray]

What's happened to Ricksen is a tragedy and my heart goes out to him and his family.

Motor Neurone Disease is an awful illness for anyone to get, never mind a 38 year old who should be in the prime of his life and it's something that I wouldn't wish on anyone.

I hope today is a massive success and that lots of funds are raised towards a worthy cause.

[3pm]

Is McCoist there?

Reports suggesting he was barred which was poor fettle bearing in the mind circumstances.

[21.05.2016]

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What's happened to Ricksen is a tragedy and my heart goes out to him and his family.

Motor Neurone Disease is an awful illness for anyone to get, never mind a 38 year old who should be in the prime of his life and it's something that I wouldn't wish on anyone.

I hope today is a massive success and that lots of funds are raised towards a worthy cause.

My thoughts exactly

[hibby6270]

Can't disagree with the OP comments and sentiment.

Debilitating and non curable diseases are a nightmare for all closely associated with the person who is ill. Personal experience with my parents sadly.

There was talk that the game was only half subscribed earlier this week, so good on the extra punters who have turned up.

[hibsbollah]

A rangers fan from work was going today, and I almost let him have both barrels about what a dirty ****er Ricksen was as a player (off the ball elbow in Riordans coupon springs to mind). I didn't know about his diagnosis so im glad I didn't. My aunt died of MND, a terrible illness.

[BOB MARLEYS DUG]

McCoist not in attendance. Hope today is a big success for them and my heart goes out to Fernando Ricksen and his family. The reception he got was marvellous (well deserved too) and he was in tears. He is a credit to their club and is loves by the fans.


Also good to see Celtic donating 10,000 aswell

[21.05.2016]

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Is McCoist there?

Reports suggesting he was barred which was poor fettle bearing in the mind circumstances.

Really poor if thats the case.

[CraigHibee]

hate both the old firm but I hope there is a good turn out for him and I hope a big amount is raised as well

[NadeAteMyLunch!]

Horrible illness. My neighbour died from it last year.
Ricksen looked so ill when he was walking out the tunnel.

[SteveHFC]

:(

[Winston Ingram]

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:(

That's heartbreaking.🙊

[Lucius Apuleius]

Some things transcend football rivalry. Anything that raises the profile of diseases that most are unaware of is good.

[bingo70]

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Really poor if thats the case.

I can understand it.

There's a chance it could turn into the ally mccoist show, some fans could end up singing his name as a way of having a go at the board and there'll be others that are bitter about him not taking a wage cut sooner or agreeing to walk away with no compensation. This games not about him so no need for him to be there.

Fwiw I hope ricksen makes a recovery (if his illness is something you can recover from? Excuse my ignorance). Must be a horrible thing for his family to have to deal with, can't imagine what they're all going through.

I don't think I'd ever be able to find it in me to give credit to their fans for anything though, disgusting football club and I absolutely despise everything they stand for.

[Pretty Boy]

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:(

I'm almost ashamed to say that after hearing about his diagnosis I really couldn't muster much sympathy. My abiding memory of Ricksen was as a thug on the park and not a particularly decent person of it. I obviously didn't wish him ill but I wasn't struck with sympathy.

But seeing the state he is in there and the emotion puts all that I said above in perspective. It's horrible to see and I wish him well for as long as possible.

[Broken Gnome]

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:(

There are many things in my eye right now...

[HIBERNIAN-0762]

Tragic to watch that regardless of what I think of him or his team.

[silverhibee]

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:(

Very sad indeed.

[Sir David Gray]

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I can understand it.

There's a chance it could turn into the ally mccoist show, some fans could end up singing his name as a way of having a go at the board and there'll be others that are bitter about him not taking a wage cut sooner or agreeing to walk away with no compensation. This games not about him so no need for him to be there.

Fwiw I hope ricksen makes a recovery (if his illness is something you can recover from? Excuse my ignorance). Must be a horrible thing for his family to have to deal with, can't imagine what they're all going through.

I don't think I'd ever be able to find it in me to give credit to their fans for anything though, disgusting football club and I absolutely despise everything they stand for.

There's no recovery from Motor Neurone Disease.

It's incurable.

[bingo70]

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There's no recovery from Motor Neurone Disease.

It's incurable.

Bloody shame. Can't be many things in life worse than that.

[JJP]

I was at Ibrox today. Credit to all those involved because it was a great attendance for a great cause. Bless Fernando and his family.

[Sylar]

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There's no recovery from Motor Neurone Disease.

It's incurable.

And sadly, terminal.

Harrowing to watch that but he'll remember that and hold on to it for the rest of his life.

[Frogga]

Anyone who doesn't know how hard this will be for him simply needs to watch 'Theory of Everything' (the film about Stephen Hawking). I feel for him but it's nice to see football being used to bring people together like this. God bless him.

[Sir David Gray]

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:(

Regardless of your football allegiances and your thoughts on Ricksen as a player, it's impossible not to be moved by watching that.

It's so sad seeing someone who was once so fit and athletic in such a bad way.

[kaimendhibs]

Truly heartbreaking.

[aljo7-0]

Yup - I really disliked him with a passion as a Rangers player. Having said that I wouldn't wish that on anyone - it is a truly awful disease for him and his family. I hope today helps him in some way and raises a lot of cash for a good cause.

[Thecat23]

Tears running down my face watching that. 😢

Keep fighting Ricksen everyone is behind you, God bless!

[Greencore]

So much respect for Fernando Ricksen. As a footballer and human being. god bless him.

[Aldo]

Someone posted the teams coming out followed by Ricksen with his kids on FB.

OMG This brought tears to my eyes.

Thoughts go out to him and his family. Well done to the 41,000 that turned up today!

[hibs0666]

Rangers should be proud of what they did today.