In some methods, Richard Gough reckons it’s for the perfect he by no means received the prospect to see previous pal Andy Goram one final time.
Now residing in California, the previous Ibrox captain had gone a few years with out assembly up with the person who he claims had “repeatedly saved my ass” along with his heroics in purpose throughout their days because the bedrock of Rangers ’ nine-in-a-row backline. He hoped to place that proper as he returned to Scotland for the Scottish Cup Remaining six weeks in the past.
After studying Goram was going through an more and more bleak battle in opposition to most cancers, Gough referred to as the previous Gers keeper asking if he may go to him. The reply he acquired was the identical as when he’d tried to rearrange a reunion with Walter Smith late final 12 months.
Each males, with their well being failing, advised their previous skipper to remain away and to recollect them as he knew them of their prime. And it’s these recollections Gough will now cling to following Goram’s tragically early passing aged simply 58.
He advised Document Sport : “We knew Andy was very in poor health. I don’t know if this stuff are higher to come back as a shock or to should dwell with the information it’s coming.
“Even so, all of it occurred in a short time. I had a superb friendship with him however sadly I hadn’t seen him for a number of years.
“I got here again over a number of weeks in the past to go to Seville after which the cup remaining in opposition to Hearts. I wished to pop in and see him within the hospital. However I by no means received to do it.
“The identical factor had occurred with Walter. I referred to as and advised him I’d like to go to however he mentioned, ‘No, hear Goughie, I’m not feeling nicely. Don’t come’.
“It was the identical with Andy. He textual content me to say, ‘I’m not feeling nice Richard’.
“Perhaps however that’s for the perfect. It means I keep in mind them being the robust males they had been.
“That’s the sensation I received from them too. Perhaps they didn’t need to see anybody both. They didn’t need folks to see them once they had been sick.”
It’s been a bitter interval for the Rangers household, with the lack of cherished kitman Jimmy Bell in between Smith and Goram passing one other brutal blow. However by the darkness, Gough has taken solace from the tributes and tales which have poured out from mates, team-mates, followers and even former rivals.
“It’s been a tough eight months with dropping first Walter, then Jimmy and now Andy,” Gough continued. “However the scenes we’ve seen following every of their deaths simply goes to point out how treasured that period was to the membership.
“I don’t assume we realised on the time how particular that nine-in-a-row facet was. We made recollections that lasted for such a very long time and it’s these recollections which everybody has been sharing.
“It’s simply very, very unhappy. Andy’s been taken far too quickly – 58 is not any age in any respect.”
Positioned immediately in entrance of the previous Ibrox No.1 for many of his Ibrox profession, Gough was blessed to have had a front-row view for a few of Goram’s biggest shows. Nevertheless it was his battle with Celtic striker Pierre van Hooijdonk which Gough says cemented his standing as Rangers’ biggest ever goalie.
The previous skipper mentioned: “That save from van Hooijdonk at Ibrox within the 3-3 sport is the one I’ll at all times recall. Tosh McKinlay has performed the ball in from the left and as I turned spherical, I noticed it heading straight for van Hooijdonk.
“He’s received an ideal volley on it and I simply thought, ‘nicely that’s a purpose, isn’t it?’. However Andy’s instincts kicked in and he’s in some way received a hand to it. I put my head in my fingers pondering, ‘how the hell has he saved that?’.
“There was one other one the season after at Parkhead. We’d scored early however with solely 5 minutes left, I gave away a penalty after diving in on Simon Donnelly.
“As van Hooijdonk is about to step as much as take it, I’m screaming at Andy, ‘Go left, go left!’ However the bugger went proper and saved it! I ran as much as give him a pat on the top however he simply advised me to prepare for the nook.”
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