A tribute to Andy Goram, my Rangers hero - Stevie Clifford

We have republished a tribute to The Goalie from Steven Clifford. Our thoughts are with Andy’s friends and family.

GROWING up in the small village of Caol in Fort William, many a day was spent down the ‘Canal parks’ playing football.

When the jumpers were thrown down you either wanted to be two players, scoring goals you were Ally McCoist. But if you had the gloves you were always first to say ‘I’m Andy Goram’.

Many an hour and many a day were spent diving about in the muck pretending (unsuccessfully may I add) to reproduce the kind of saves that Andy did on a regular basis. But he did inspire me somewhat to be a goalkeeper and win the primary school ‘B’ team league. The ‘B’ is important, I was always closer to Ally Maxwell than I was Goram but it never stopped me from pretending. Covered in mud I would run the gauntlet and try to sneak in my house only to be met by a mother, shouting 'get undressed in the street' so as not to trail mud through her immaculate house.

Andy gave me so much joy, he was integral to every early happy football memory. In fact, he was as much the reason Rangers clinched Nine in a Row as any other. Yes, you read that right, Brian Laudrup, Paul Gascoigne, Richard Gough, David Robertson, Bomber Brown, Ally McCoist, Mark Hateley, take your pick, Andy’s contribution was as big (if not greater) than any.

We’ve been lucky to have Allan McGregor who is a phenomenal goalkeeper and rightly there has been a surge in emotional posts claiming Allan is better than Andy or has a claim on being the best Rangers keeper ever.

The truth is he isn’t even close and McGregor is magnificent, Goram was just the best. At the height of his powers, 1992-94, Andy could easily have been the best in the world and I don’t say that lightly. He was a force-field around our charge to a whisker of the Champions League final, Just ask Leeds United. In fact, just watch the Leeds United away tie of 1992 and you will see for yourself.

But Andy did it everywhere, Pittodrie on a cold midweek in February 1993 remains one of his greatest, when he needed a stroke of luck, His backside would come to the rescue as Rangers sneaked a vital 1-0 victory.

But that’s not to mention the saves he made regularly in the big games. Cup finals, semi-finals and then the Old Firm games.  Andy single-handedly kept them out at every turn. His fingertips stopped John Collins, Paul McStay, Pierre van Hooijdonk and Phil O’Donnell with breathtaking moments over and over again.

Rangers would set up knowing they could sit in and Andy would keep them out. Now arguably his biggest ever moment would come against van Hooijdonk not once but twice. How can he have two moments? Well, he just can.

The first is a save that in my mind will never be beaten.

Better than Gordon Banks, In fact Banks isn’t even on the same page.

November 1995, Rangers 3 Celtic 3. Ghost goals, excitement back and forth and that save. At 2-2, a Tosh McKinlay ball across goal found Hooijdonk six yards out meeting it flush on the volley. Goram on the move to his left springs across and with his right hand produces the most sensational stop. Rangers would gain a point, largely thanks to the goalie.

Almost a year to the day in November 1996, Celtic had gone top of the league. Rangers' form had wobbled slightly and they went to Parkhead on a cold midweek determined to return to the top.

This game remains one of the most remarkable I have ever seen in this fixture.

Laudrup sprung clear to sweep home a 30-yard right-foot drive and Rangers were ahead. Then in a second-half dominated by Celtic, Rangers would contrive to miss the most incredible chances, Jorg Albertz twice through thwarted due to indecision and then Peter van Vossen missing the most incredible open goal.

Then with only minutes left Richard Gough was caught in a desperate defensive moment and he conceded a penalty. Van Hooijdonk had to keep his nerve to send his side top, but Goram produced again. 

Andy had done it and Rangers never looked back. Nine-in-a-row was completed and Goram’s legacy left unrivalled.

He may be remembered for Old Firm games, but the truth is that he made glorious stops in every type of match. I remember a glorious catch at the old Brockville Park in Falkirk, possibly from Eddie May, as he lept to his left and brilliantly held onto the ball. It wasn’t his best but the technique was incredible.

The truth is he did it everywhere we went, if it wasn’t for Goram nights in Bucharest, Gothenburg and Turin could have been so much worse.

Andy was a winner. His drive and determination as well as popularity in the dressing room made him a hero to everyone. As a goalkeeper he is unrivalled.

I got to meet him a few years back as Rangers played Midtjylland in the Europa League. I simply thanked him for giving me so much joy and we stood together for a picture, included above.

He was the best I have ever seen, a Rangers legend and a giant of our football club. 

Goram was my hero and I will miss him dearly.

My condolences to all his family and friends.

Andy Goram, simply the best.