Rangers give tickets to soldiers

Walter Smith and Martin Bain handed over the tickets at Ibrox on Thursday

Rangers Football Club has donated more than 1,200 tickets to members of the armed forces for its Champions League match against Unirea Urziceni at Ibrox.

The club made the gesture, worth about £50,000, after the Romanians decided not to take up their away allocation.

A Rangers spokesman said home tickets for the game had not sold out and would stay on sale until kick off on Tuesday.

The club said tickets were being given to soldiers "in honour of their service to their country".

The initiative is believed to be the first time a UK football club has donated an entire section of its ground to serving members of the armed forces.

It follows a number of previous visits to Ibrox and Murray Park by members of the Army and Royal Marines.

We are all hugely appreciative of Rangers generosity and wish them well representing Scotland in the Champions League Brigadier David Allfrey

Rangers chief executive Martin Bain said: "This football club is totally committed to supporting and recognising these brave individuals.

"Once we learned Unirea would not be taking up their allocation in the away section at Ibrox we immediately thought of donating the tickets to the army in Scotland.

"We all owe the members of the armed forces a huge debt of gratitude and our fans will give them a wonderful and deserved reception when they attend our European tie next Tuesday."

Brigadier David Allfrey, Commander 51 (Scottish) Brigade, said the gesture by the Ibrox club was greatly appreciated.

"This is an extraordinary gesture by any standards.

"Football is a major passion across the army and Scottish soldiers all have strong allegiances.

"We are all hugely appreciative of Rangers generosity and wish them well representing Scotland in the Champions League."