The Blue Order

RGL- Roland Garry Lynch was his name but he used to kid on to the bears his real name was Rangers Garry Lynch , well why not for anyone that had the pleasure to know “big Garry” they’d tell you the same thing. That Gadger was The Rangers, as loyal as they come, as passionate as ANY football fan ever.

I was fortunate enough to know Garry having met him at various under 18 games and I’d have to say the man had a presence. One memory was of an uder18s Rangers game V the filth at Barrowfield I attended with a mate “Taggy”. As we got to the social club it was clear the locals had cashed their giros as there was a fair few of them and as we passed by the entrance the tunes of hate were playing full blast, it was there way to intimidate the bears  .Once we got to the park and had a look about and suss things out we noticed “Big Gadger” standing waiting on the teams come out.

 

Once we knew the big man was here to make it 3 bears in attendance it was great as we might have been in the minority by a few hundred but we were the majority!

That’s how big Gadger made you feel, “lets not worry about them, let them worry about us” was his attitude as he roared on the teddy bears. Then again when guys like John Grieg come over and cuddle and hug you then you must be special.

Garry went EVERYWHERE and ANYWHERE to see The Rangers at all levels, from bounce games in South Africa to reserve games on a Thursday night in Aberdeen, that’s why all the young players knew him and I’d think most of the first team players and managers to from the past 20 years.

His patter was second to none, in fact legendry! Everyone was fair game when facing his beloved Rangers and everyone could hear his voice roar like a bear.  Ask any bear worth his salt about big Gadger and they will have a story to tell you.

I met up with the big man last year at half time in Kilmarnock and enquired to how he was keeping, he informed me he had been in hospital for 3 weeks and had been very ill. He then tells me he had to get young Garry jnr to bring the “get a way car” to the hospital and not to tell a soul. Sure enough the big man sneaks out of the ward and “it’s off to the match he goes”. A classic tale from a Ranger that seen it all and done it all to not to mention wear the t shirt.

I first met Garry in Athens on a Euro trip 1994 but our paths met all over Europe time and time again, always stopping to say hullo hullo. Garry later on in his life became a member of the loyal Orange institution which meant our paths crossed on a more regular basis and I got to see that cheeky smile an update on the gers youth teams as that was his passion.

The Rangers support has lost an absolute legend of a FAN! The Orange order a brother, but more importantly his family lost a truly remarkable father.
Everyone at the Blue Order send their condolences to the Lynch family, and we thank God for the pleasure of having known a true blue loyal friend.

Garry’s funeral was attended by sports reporters, Rangers fc officials, ex-players and over 1,000 friends from all over the country, a mark of just how special this man was.

As I said, Big Garry was not called “Rangers Garry Lynch” but by heck he should have been!