Tributes pour in for 'out of this world' Goalie Andy Goram
Tributes have come in their masses from Ibrox legends, old rivals, and other admirers from the footballing world.
Last updated 3rd Jul 2022
Tributes have poured in for Rangers & Scotland legend Andy Goram after the club announced his passing yesterday.
The former goalie announced earlier this year he was diagnosed with oesophegal cancer, and after only a few months he passed away at the age of 58.
Within an hour of the announcement, the gates of Ibrox were already being covered in scarves, goalkeeping gloves and other tributes from both sides of old firm fans.
A day after the news broke, tributes have come in their masses from similar Ibrox legends, old rivals, and other admirers from the footballing world.
From Gary Neville to Jim White, from the First Minister to Marco Negri and John Hartson the number of people who felt Goram’s passing is endless.
One of those tributes is from close friend Alan Rough who told Forth 1 about his first encounter and favourite memory with the much-loved footballer.
He said: “Myself and Andy first came into contact in 1985 when Andy came to Hibs, and actually took over from me, and we spent a couple of years together on and off the park and had a good relationship, and then moving on to the Scotland set up where he was part of that as well. We formed a good partnership through all that time.
"He had more ability that anyone in that era, especially for someone so short in height. He made for it in everything - agility and short-stopping. If you get a chance to see his greatest saves some of them are out of this world
"I would probably say the Pierre Van Hooijdonk save in the derby game where he saves from point-blank range was his best but there were numerous great saves.
"Anybody who came into contact with Andy knew he was a very jovial person and liked a good laugh like most footballers do. He would mix with anybody: players or supporters - home or away. He was a fan's player, they really took to him."
"I used to win him up that I had more Scotland caps than him, but he was the better goalkeeper. We used to have a laugh about that. He was far superior to any goalkeepers than were playing."
The majority of fans who turned up at Ibrox to lay a personal tribute to the goalie all said that his save against Van Hooijdonk was the memory that will live with them forever.
Even the man himself posted a tribute on twitter to Goram.
He wrote: “R.I.P. Rangers legend Andy Goram. My condolences to his family.”
Derek Clark writes for the Rangers Review: "He won the fans over and he became an absolute legend. Everyone remembers the Van Hooijdonk save, of course."
"Rangers could be diabolical in some Old Firm games at times, but they always seemed to get a result and part of that was down to Goram.”
Goram was with Rangers from 1991-1998. He made 260 appearances, winning five league titles, three Scottish Cups and two League Cups. He won 43 caps for Scotland and was the number one between the posts for Scotland’s world cup 92 appearance and 96 Euro campaign.
Iconicly known as ‘The Goalie’, he is widely regarded as Scotland’s best goalkeeper and the benchmark for which all current and aspiring keepers compare themselves to.
Although best known for playing with Rangers, Goram clearly made a positive impact wherever he went.
The club social media pages of Hibernian, Manchester United, Ayr United, Dundee, Coventry City and Clyde FC all paid tribute Goram, who spent time at each club as either a player or coach.