What I’m about to write will not be easy.
It involves digging up old memories I mostly prefer to keep buried in my past. But I’m about to do it anyway to try to explain why the importance of the Rangers armband should never be underestimated or devalued. Either by those lucky enough to pull it on – or by those who get to decide who deserves that honour.
Obviously, over the past few years, James Tavernier has been the man with that responsibility – and he’s handled it superbly – but right now the club captain is going through a difficult moment. He’s 33. His body isn’t what it used to be.
And it does seem as if he can no longer be certain of his place in Philippe Clement’s starting XI which, in itself, is going to sting his pride. But – and believe me when I say this – the thought of maybe losing that armband for good will be every bit as difficult for him to get his head around. And, as someone who had it taken away from me twice during my own days, I genuinely feel for the guy.
Let’s start by nailing one suggestion that I’ve seen doing the rounds in recent days. The situation Tav is facing right now is not similar to the one I was in the first time I lost the captaincy. In fact, it’s actually an unfair comparison for one very good reason.
Regular readers must have realised by now I don’t enjoy rewinding the clock to that period in my life back in January 2007. So much so that I don’t even like mentioning Paul Le Guen by name. But he was the man who decided to strip me of that privilege and, to this day, it’s almost impossible to explain how I felt inside when he did it. There are all sorts of words – anger, shock, sadness – but most of all I remember feeling completely and utterly numb.
I had spent my entire life dreaming of being the captain of Rangers one day and now this man was taking that away from me like it didn’t even matter. In my head I was imagining that armband being tossed around the dressing room like a bag of sweeties. ‘Here, you played well last week. You take a turn,’ or ‘You did OK in training yesterday, do you want a shot?’
Le Guen even went on record as saying the captaincy of Rangers was not important. And I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. He wasn’t just wrong, he was slapping the face of some of the greatest players ever to have walked through those doors.
Men like Richard Gough and Terry Butcher who were guys I idolised when I was growing up as a kid. They knew how important it was. They understood the depth of the responsibility when you are the leader and the figurehead of such a monumental institution.
It’s a heavy armband to wear. It comes with all manner of responsibilities. As a young player I saw Lorenzo Amoruso take over the role and, even for a guy who grew up in Italy, it was obvious how much it meant to him. He knew it was a massive deal.
And that’s why there’s a big difference between my situation back then and the one Tav is experiencing right now. Unlike me, he has a manager who also fully understands the significance of the Rangers captaincy.
Clement isn’t disrespecting the armband by handing it around to anyone who fancies having a go. On the contrary, he has selected Jack Butland as the man to step up if or when Tavernier isn’t in the team.
And Butland has the personality and the intensity required to fill that mantle. I look at John Souttar as another who could fill the role if required. Maybe young Connor Barron could be a future Rangers captain if he continues to grow into the jersey.
But Clement is not flinging it around willy-nilly. Yes, he may be dipping Tavernier in and out of his team but he can only pick 11 players at any one time. If Tavernier isn’t one of them then someone else has to lead the team. You can’t expect to be bombproof just because you happen to be the skipper.
Big Amo found that out too during my time. He was stripped of the captaincy by Dick Advocaat and I knew at the time how much that hurt him. But, even so, when I was given the call to the manager’s office and offered the armband, it must have taken me less than 10 seconds to accept. I remember thinking, “If I turn this down I might never get the opportunity again”. So I grabbed it with both hands.
Yes, I felt sorry for the big man but I had to think about what mattered most of all. And what mattered was what was best for Rangers Football Club. I looked around that dressing room and saw guys six, eight or ten years older than me – people like Arthur Numan,Craig Moore, Ronald de Boer, Mikey Mols – and I knew I had experienced players who would help me carry out my duties.
I could even turn to Lorenzo if I needed advice. OK, I’d maybe go looking for one minute of his time and he’d end up giving me 20! But he was always willing to help. I was surrounded by leaders and they made it easy for me to take on the role at such a young age.
Of course, I got the armband back when Walter Smith returned from the club and reinstated me into the team. And, eventually, the same man would take it off me – and I knew at that point I would never get to wear it again.
But that was because I had let the club down off the field. It was all my own fault. I acted unprofessionally while representing Rangers on Scotland duty and I had to suffer the consequences.
I was hit with a hefty fine and suspended for what I did. And I couldn’t argue about any of it. But losing the captaincy was what really hurt me deep down and, you know what? Walter was spot on in doing that too.
It was a lightbulb moment for myself. It made me realise how badly I had disrespected that armband and I realised I’d have to leave and try to reinvent myself as a player at Birmingham which, I hope, I managed to do. But nothing compares to the pride I felt at being the captain of Rangers. I know how precious it is.
As a matter of fact, I’m about to jump in the car and make a four hour drive just to do it all one more time. By the time you read this I’ll have captained Rangers again in the Masters and I’ll have experienced that same sense of privilege.
It doesn’t matter if it’s the Masters, legends games, five-a-sides or tiddlywinks. If I’m wearing that shirt I want to win and be a leader. And that’s what makes a Rangers captain. It’s not to be taken lightly and never to be taken for granted.