Hall of fame honour for haunted Rangers’ record scorer

By Michael MacLeod

A RANGERS player wrongly blamed for one of Scottish football’s most tragic accidents is to be honoured in a hall of fame.

Striker Sam English quit football aged 28 after a fateful tackle killed Celtic goalkeeper John Thomson in 1931.

An official enquiry cleared English of any blame, but he was routinely booed by opposing fans and released by the Gers within a year.

But he still holds the record as Rangers’ top league goalscorer with 44 goals in 35 games.

Ex-Ger Adam mourns for death crash cousin

By Michael MacLeod

THE COUSIN of former Rangers star Charlie Adam has was among the victims of a horrific car crash, it emerged yesterday.

Donald Adam, 22, lost his fight for life at the weekend – 12 days after suffering severe head injuries as a passenger when a pal’s Honda Civic spun off the A92 near Montrose.

His mother Debbie – footballer Charlie’s aunt – said her son had “a heart of gold.”

Charlie Adam, 23, – who moved from Ibrox to English Championship side Blackpool in a £500,000 move last week – is expected to be at Donald’s funeral next Monday, along with younger brother, Grant, 18, who plays in goal for Rangers reserves.

The footballing pair were at their cousin’s bedside to say an emotional goodbye as Donald lay in a coma, hooked up to a life-support machine.

Bluenose parrot branded sectarian for singing Rangers songs

By Shaun Milne

A PET parrot has been branded “sectarian” for whistling Rangers anthems The Sash and Follow Follow at neighbours.

Rio, an African Grey parrot, was taught the tunes by his owner and Rangers fan Linda Gillies at her home in Whitburn, West Lothian.

RIO: The sash my feather wore?

But a brassed off neighbour was so angry at being taunted by the bird whenever it was let out into the back garden, they reported the matter.

West Lothian Council and her landlords at Horizon Housing Association both launched inquiries into the bird’s performance and visited her home to monitor the row.

Action

But both have now decided to take no further action at the address in Loch Linnhe Court where Linda has stayed for 10-years with Rio, daughter Lauren, 17, and cousin Mary Smillie, 57.

She could have been booted out if they had ruled her guilt of anti-social behaviour.

Instead Linda, 45, has decided to keep bluenosed inside to maintain the peace – but denies claims her bird is a bigot.

Globetrotting Scot dies in Vietnam

By ALEXANDER LAWRIE

TRIBUTES have been paid to a globetrotting Scot who has died after a fall in Vietnam.

Charlie Gallagher, 39, from Inverkeithing, Fife, is thought to have tripped and fallen while at home in Ho Chi Min City on June 7.

He was rushed to the city’s main hospital but died the following day after failing to regain consciousness.

Mr Gallagher had lived in the city, also known as Saigon, for around four years and had built up a large group of local and ex-pat friends.

His family has paid tribute to the adventurous Scot, while friends have set up a Facebook remembrance page which has been inundated with heartfelt messages.

Religious teacher struck off for showing kids sectarian Nazi film

By ALEXANDER LAWRIE

A RELIGIOUS Education teacher has been struck off after showing a sectarian Nazi film to impressionable young pupils in class.

Angry parents complained after one child later told about the shock video clip being played at Vale of Leven Academy, Alexandria.

Teacher Stephen McInally was already on his final warning at the West Dunbartonshire school after giving graphic accounts of sex games in a previous lesson.

He also admitted to allowing a pupil to bypass the school’s online security to access the offensive Youtube clip.

Now the 47-year-old’s career looks to be in tatters following a hearing of the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) in Edinburgh.

Senior Scottish minister blasts Old Firm thugs as “barbaric”

By Michael MacLeod

OLD Firm football thugs who beat their wives have been slated as “barbaric” by a senior Government minister ahead of Saturday’s potentially explosive SPL title deciding clash at Ibrox.

Communities Minister Alex Neil revealed yesterday that an advertising campaign will be run on TV before, during and after the Rangers v Celtic match being shown live on Setanta specifically targeted to highlight a proven rise in complaints of domestic abuse centred around the Glasgow derby.

Electronic advertising hoardings around the perimeter of the pitch at Rangers ground Ibrox hosting the match will also carry the message: ‘There’s no excuse for domestic abuse’.

MSP Neil revealed that shameful domestic abuse attacks jumped by a staggering 88 per-cent to 231 cases on the last Old Firm matchday in March, sparking demands from police to the Scottish Government that ‘something has to be done.’

CAMPAIGN: Alex Neil, Communities Minister

And Mr Neil, unveiling a new report yesterday, admitted he worries for the wives and partners of drunken football yobs.

Evidence

He said: “We are doing extra this weekend around the Old Firm game because we have very clear evidence that around the game there is an increase in domestic abuse, particularly in the West coast.

“We are deliberately segmenting the message to men and women before and after the game. There’s absolutely nothing worse than for a woman to live in fear of her partner and we take a zero tolerance approach to violence against women, especially drunken violence.

“This is the 21st Century, Scotland is a modern nation and it is absolutely barbaric to engage in domestic abuse, which is one of the worst forms of violence in our society.”

Child porn teacher struck off

By ALEXANDER LAWRIE

A FORMER sex education teacher at one of Scotland’s top private schools has been struck off after being convicted of downloading thousands of child porn images.

Shamed sir Peter Orr, 31, taught biology and sex education to kids at Lomond School, Helensburgh, but resigned from the school after he was caught with the horrific pictures.

The disturbed teacher, who is now thought to be working as a shop cleaner in England, was charged with downloading 4000 images but only admitted to half that number.

The court heard the ex-biology teacher first found the images after searching for information on puberty.

RANGERS STARS BANNED: Drinking Session Forces SFA’s Hand As Ferguson and McGregor Suspended

By ALEXANDER LAWRIE

RANGERS and Scotland football stars Barry Ferguson and Alan McGregor have been handed lifetime bans from playing for the national team after a drinking session just three days before a crucial World Cup qualifier.

Ferguson, the Rangers captain, and goalkeeper McGregor were informed by the SFA today (FRI) that their services would no longer be required for the Scottish national team.

An announcement was placed on both the Scottish Football Association’s and Rangers’ websites announcing the governing body’s decision.

Both players have also been suspended by the Glasgow giants following an internal club inquiry into the player’s conduct while on international duty.

Gordon Ramsay sells US restaurant

By Alexander Lawrie

JUST a year after the glittering opening of his new LA restaurant Gordon Ramsay has been forced to sell the flagship eaterie.

Situated on Hollywood’s famous Sunset Strip, A-list stars such as Halle Berry, Scarlet Johansson and the Beckhams have all been seen dining regularly at the exclusive restaurant.

But just 12 months in, Ramsay has flogged The London West Hollywood because on some days the restaurant’s staff outnumbered its customers.

And the Scottish chef has also been dealt a blow by one of New York’s top critics who claims Ramsay has become a “great big clown”.

Ramsay’s 110-seat LA restaurant has been sold to LXR Luxury Resorts, the owners of the adjoining London West Hollywood hotel, but the foul-mouthed Scot will be kept on as a “creative consultant”.

A source at the restaurant revealed: “The economy is hurting everyone and Gordon is no exception. When it opened, we were told he wanted to dominate the Hollywood restaurant scene because that would lead to his conquering America.

“In Hollywood, everyone expects the star chef to be there. Gordon was simply stretched too thin with his TV commitments and his other restaurants.

“People would come in and ask for him and it was embarrassing to tell them he wasn’t here.

“A lot of staff are unhappy. They gave up excellent jobs because they wanted to work for Gordon Ramsay in the jewel of his empire.”

Ironically, as the restaurant has been sold, Ramsay has been spending more time at the business as he films his latest Hell’s Kitchen show in the US.

Staff have been concerned for a while as the business has shown signs of failing.

And during one recent lunch hour only five tables were seen to be occupied.

The former-Rangers star borrowed over £4 million to finance his US expansion which includes restaurants in New York and Florida.

And Tim Zagat, publisher of the best-selling restaurant guide in New York, has slated the Scot’s New York business and placed it at number 38 in the overall food rankings.

This prompted New York Post food critic Steve Cuozzo to comment: “Gordo was once a great chef. Then he became a great businessman. Today he’s more like a great big clown, with daily headline embarrassments of one sort or another.

“If “rock-star” chefs have become a joke, then Ramsay is becoming the ultimate punch line.”

Ramsay’s UK empire has also been affected by the current credit crunch, with the Michelin-starred La Noisette restaurant closing and his contract with London’s Connaught Hotel ending last year.

Last week it was revealed his company, Gordon Ramsay Holdings, had breached its banking covenants made to secure a loan.

Callous Thugs Rob Grave

By Alexander Lawrie

A DEVASTATED grandfather has hit out at the callous thugs who stole from his son’s grave at Christmas.

Kenny Lonie, 50, has visited his son Kenny’s grave almost every day since he passed away last May.

But the self-employed labourer was left in tears when he realised the two Rangers football tops left by friends of his son were missing.

The dad of four is now calling for CCTV cameras to be installed at Hayfield Cemetery, Fife, after a spate of similar thefts in recent months.

Mr Lonie, from Kirkcaldy, said: “I’ve been going to Kenny’s grave almost every single day but I couldn’t believe it when I arrived just before Christmas and found the tops gone.

“At the funeral his two best friends took the strips off their backs and laid them at the grave side.

“It was a really special moment for me and they have lain there all this time.

“My partner even took them home a couple of times to wash them just so they looked nice.

“It’s our first Christmas without Kenny and I just feel totally drained.

“I’m disgusted more than anything else really.

“I mean how could anyone rob from a grave? It’s beyond me.”

After learning of the theft Mr Lonie was taken to hospital suffering from pneumonia, which he is convinced was brought on by the shock.

He said: “Since this happened I’ve heard that a lot of people have had mementos and flowers stolen.

“I think it’s high time Fife Council took some action and installed security cameras.

“They could be switched on at night when the staff have all gone home.

“Hayfield is a lovely cemetery but something has to be done about the scum who get their kicks stealing from people’s graves.

“I don’t think you could print what I would do to them if I ever got my hands on them.”

Liz Murphy, bereavement services manager with Fife Council said: “The subject of installing CCTV cameras has been discussed but for various reasons, including cost, manning it and privacy, it has not been feasible.

“We urge anyone who has had things stolen from the cemetery to report it to the police so they can get proper information on how big a problem it is.

“We have a person responsible for patrolling the cemeteries and we will ask him to increase his patrols around Hayfield which can often help to reduce any problems.”