So NARSA is 10 years old this year. Happy Birthday to you NARSA! To celebrate, the event went back to its roots to Windsor, Ontario, for the annual swallython and a right good do it was too. All the usual suspects were there, except for the Orange County mob who were conspicuous by their absence. I met McDougall in New York who mumbled a lame excuse about him having a baby at the same time!
As it was also the 30th anniversary of our only European triumph, the whole 1972 team were also in attendance. Unlike their Beggar counterparts, who celebrate the ' L' factor almost on a fortnightly basis and are as bad as the English for their obsession with 1966 and all that, there is a definite feeling that the 1972 team have not been given the credit they so richly deserve for their magnificent achievements that season. This was in fact the first time they'd all been able to get together since they stopped playing so it was a great time for them too. It was very noticeable that they looked a real TEAM as opposed to the current squad who look to be split into the Scottish players on one side and the foreigners on the other. The freckled one will do well to solve that problem to ensure team harmony remains good.
Anyway, NARSA 2002 kicked off with the reacquaintance party which ended up a heavy bevy session and a stand-up routine from Willie Henderson which is very good if you haven't seen it before. NARSA also received some free publicity as the TV commentators from CNBC who were covering the Stanley Cup ice hockey finals between Detroit and Carolina were staying at our hotel.
The top banana is a self confessed Scotty from Dundee called Don Cherry who,as the game was ending, launched into a full 5 minute party political broadcast on behalf of Rangers, NARSA, 1972 et al. Don, you are a star !
Friday began with the brave souls with very sore heads who braved the golf course in baking heat for a few hours with the only refuge being a golf buggy and a cool box full of Mick Jagger. Plunkett's brigade had an Irish pub crawl where they met in one pub and never moved an inch and got as full as a catholic primary school. Naturally, us sensible guys didn't over-indulge, had a nice lunch, a wee swim and a bo-peep to keep us fresh for the evening's rigours.
Friday evening continued with a loyalist parade, a celebration of our cultures and traditions and the locals of Windsor loved it. The walk took about an hour and was just long enough to build up a nice wee thirst for the night do, which again involved Christian music and a few sherbets. By this time, The Growler, The Legend and Shoogs from the FTP (Frog and Toad Pub) in Ft Lauderdale were in full swing, the Growler demanding to know the full version of A Wee Spot In Europe which was duly attended to.
Also, Cumbernauld High School former pupils had a special get together in the shape of myself, big Squawk (Houston, Texas), Nook (Melbourne, Oz) and Nipper (Wellington, NZ) who had a wee libation together for the first time in 25 years. Much bullshit and swally ensued and lasted well into the wee small ones. On the Friday evening, we also met Bro Whiskers QC, Donald Findlay who was as witty and funny as ever and is a great Rangers man, no matter what anyone says.
Saturday morning saw us all awake but extremely fragile and just about ready for the AGM which saw the Freckled One make his NARSA debut and very good he is too. He is very media friendly and answered all questions honestly and openly which went down very well with the assembled throng.
Saturday afternoon saw yours truly give in drink wise and headed for blanket bay in order to assure full fitness for the main banquet that night.
On the way back, I bumped into Scott Allan (Bramalea) who told me he had just become a daddy. I congratulated him but found it quite surprising as I'd just heard a story that he'd fancied a bit of stuff in Windsor but when he got close to her found out that it was a mannequin! Someone must have had it in for him!
The banquet itself was a splendid affair, the show being stolen by our compere Brother Whiskers. If our Donald ever gives up the Bar, then he has a glittering career ahead as an after dinner speaker as his patter is wonderful. He had the place in an uproar the whole night.
The Freckled One gave another moving speech and hugged the Scottish Cup as if it his first born, which in a way was true. A fine tightener was followed by a night of dancing and more bonding.
Les White from the Kearny club was a picture in his New York fireman's uniform, very smart big man! The official over, we adjourned to the hotel bar where a Sash Bash followed until 2-30 am , when were politely asked to retire to our rooms by the state troopers. We didn't argue with them too much!
Sunday was the end of another great Convention. Although Windsor was perhaps on the small side, it meant that any boozers visited contained at least a few Bears so there was always a good atmosphere wherever you went.
The only downside of the trip was perhaps predictably the Rangers sales team. Now the NARSA Bears are loyal and true, of that there is no doubt, but to charge $119-00 for a new Rangers top, which when you add on around $18-00 for Canadian taxes, comes to an astounding Sixty-Two pounds sterling just smacks of exploitation in my book. When I came home, I could buy a new adult top, any size, for thirty eight quid, a massive difference of twenty four pounds. Excessive is just one of the words I could think of.
So, Bears, next year its Houston, Texas where they say everything will be bigger and better. The word is the swally will be $3-50 a pint which is excellent and licensing hours will be extended. Yahoo!
Windsor was an excellent Convention in my view and thanks are extended to all those who organised it, especially Billy Ferguson and John Millar. Alex McDonald asked me through the pages of Follow Follow to pass on the 1972 team's sincere thanks for the hospitality and kindness shown to them by everyone. Wee Doddie is a real gentleman and it surprises me greatly that a man with his track record in management with great success under severe financial constraints at both Hearts and Airdrie cannot be found a billet at Murray Park. Lets hope that situation will be rectified soon as he is a great coach plus a true Bluenose who would surely teach the kids what it means to pull on that blue jersey. See ya in Texas !
THE MAJOR