By Mark Dingwall
It’s the ripple I remember most. It’s difficult to describe now – but if you were there you’ll know what I mean. On the those days, and especially nights, when he was right on his game it ran through the crowd – a rise in the noise level, people shifting in their seats. Anticipation. He was special and we all knew it.
In my mind’s eye I can still see him flying down the wing as the crowd rose to its feet, it seemed in games like that there was an electricity that went around the stadium as expectation rose – “Skin him Coop” was the cry. At speed, a shimmy of the hips and he was gone – to the bye-line for a cross or cutting inside to deliver a pass or a shot. Wonderful.
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And then there were the free kicks – especially at Hampden – that languid and long-legged run up, then bang. He had that knack of firing in a dead ball that seemed to accelerate the longer it was in the air.
My favourite memory is a league cup 2nd leg tie against Dundee United in 1984. I was was in the Govan Stand upper – so a perfect view – Davie at one time surrounded by three United players – he stands still, feigns one way, wiggles the other – they instinctively follow his movements and as a result all are rooted to the spot as off he sped. Wonderful.
Thirty years has come and gone in the twinkling of an eye. Yet for those who remember him in the flesh the memories remain clear, even if somewhat embellished by the passage of time.
It’s hard to escape the pathos of Davie dying with his boots on as he conducted a session passing on his skills to a new generation. I think that tragic aspect is one of the things that draws him to us.
I think we also need to be honest – part of the enigma is that at times he could be frustrating. Four or five games in a row he was a world beater then a few games where he was anonymous. I always think that he, Bobby Russell and Ian Redford were all a bit like that. That may not be everyone’s recollection but it’s mine and I think it’s always best to be honest.
Souness of course recognised him as a special talent and a testimonial match was awarded – against Bordeaux. In those early days of the Souness regime ticketing arrangements were not quite we are used to now and I found myself locked out of the game!
By all account he loved his home life with all his family nearby and that I think made it easier for him to remain at Ibrox when big clubs including continentals, came calling. He was asked in a TV interview if he regretted that and he said no, and in his now famous quote said-
“I think the Continent may have suited me with the amount of time you get on the ball.
“But I don’t look back – I was a Rangers supporter and I spent the bulk of my career at the team I loved.
“You take your chances – I had a great career – I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”
I’ve never been a great advocate of what one of my pals calls “insincere intimacy” – I don’t attend funerals of people I don’t know and don’t approve of roadside shrines however sad the circumstances. And yet I was drawn to the gates at Ibrox to look at the tributes – the crowds were big – and then later that day I was drawn out to his hometown to take a place amongst the huge respectfully quite crowds that lined the route of his cortege.
Lines from a poem written by the great American sportswriter Grantland Rice seemed appropriate then. And they remain appropriate now.
For when the One Great Scorer comes
To write against your name,
He marks not that you won or lost
But how you played the Game.
