Annan Athletic are preparing for their biggest game in more than a decade as they get set to take on Rangers at Ibrox in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.
Wullie Gibson’s side sit seventh in League Two and take on Danny Rohl’s much improved Rangers who are looking to make it six wins in a row.
Speaking at Annan Athletic’s final training session before the match, manager Wullie Gibson described the mood around the camp.
Speaking to ITV Border, he said: “We are feeling excited. As a player and a manager you want to be involved in these games and they don’t come around too often. Everyone has had a lift from it and we are looking forward to it.
“The atmosphere and excitement around the place has been since the draw itself and the excitement starts to build. For the club it is a massive occasion, for the fans it’s a massive occasion as it is for the players.
“To be fair to the players I have asked them up until now to concentrate on league business and we have performed really well in the league since the draw.”
Gibson is not afraid to admit the challenge facing his side on Friday evening and the gulf between the two sides in terms of finances.
He said: “Getting a result would be absolutely massive but for the fans who come to Galabank every week it is a day out for them who will get to sample a big crowd, a big atmosphere, and that is the same for the players.
“It might sound a bit daft saying we will prepare exactly how we do for other games but we have done and the players are well drilled in the analysis side of things.
“We always look at the opposition and their strengths and weaknesses, systems, individuals, set pieces so we have done all of our homework. The only thing that is different is the level of opposition.”
Gibson has previously played at Ibrox and has a bitter sweet memory of a Queen of the South victory he was a part of.
He said: “I have been to Ibrox a few times and been on the wrong end of a few defeats, but when I was at Queen of the South when we won the double we beat Rangers at Ibrox on penalties. Unfortunately for me on a sour note I got sent off that night but the boys went on and completed the job.”
Financially the cup tie for the Galabankies will have an extremely positive effect on the club with a six figure windfall set to come from the match.
Gibson said: “It will help strengthen the club without a doubt but for me for the transfer window no. I spoke to the board back in September, October time that we will have to move players on if we were to get any in.
“You might then think drawing Rangers and the money that comes they’ll give them manager it but we are actually pretty comfortable where we are and have a good squad at the moment.”
Defender Scott Hooper is relishing the chance to play once again at Ibrox.
As a lifelong supporter of Rangers he is looking forward to playing in what he described as a “dream” draw.
He said: “I watched the draw with my wife and she would tell you I was absolutely delighted. It is what you want to play against Rangers or Celtic but I am just delighted to be playing at Ibrox again because it is something I dreamed of as a kid – and if you can beat them in the Scottish Cup then wow.
“I have played there with Queen of the South a couple of times, [I’ve] never won there but been close to it and I know how hard it is. You don’t get much of the ball but hopefully if everyone is on their game then maybe we can sneak a win or a draw and take them to penalties.
“I watch Rangers every week being a Rangers fan so hopefully I can use that to my advantage, but they’re million pound players and us in League Two aren’t million pound players so you have just got to do your best and take it from there.”
Hooper will be backed in the stands by his family and he insists that he and his teammates are going up there with the aims of getting a result.
He said: “I am optimistic and hopeful that we can put on a show for the fans that are going up. We don’t want to go just to make up the numbers but you have got to be realistic, and we are playing one of the top sides in Scotland so hopefully we are not like Exeter last week and more like Macclesfield.“
Annan Athletic are no strangers to embarrassing Rangers in their own back yard having defeated the Gers at Ibrox in 2013.
Former Annan Athletic defender Steven Swinglehurst played for the club for 12 years and was part of the side which triumphed 2-1 in Glasgow that day, and he spoke about his memories from that day.
Annan Athletic had their final training session on Wednesday evening before the match at Ibrox on Friday night. Credit: ITV Border
He said: “I still remember it like it was yesterday.
“I remember walking out for the warm up and there weren’t many fans there. Then when we were stood in the tunnel going out for the game ‘Eye of the Tiger’ was playing and I used to listen to that song to get me up for a game, and then I walked out to see a big crowd and flags everywhere and I was like wow.
“That game for us is what kids dream of, especially kids in Scotland.
“As soon as I joined Annan I wanted to play against the big teams, never in a million years did I think about beating them but looking back I just think I can’t believe we achieved that. Annan Athletic compared to Rangers – we should be nowhere near them.”
Swinglehurst will be travelling up to Glasgow to back the club in the stands and hopes to see the current side emulate the success that he and his teammates enjoyed 13 years ago.
He hopes that he can be part of the crowd celebrating a victory come the end of the game and has fond memories of the celebrations after their victory in 2013.
He said: “After the game we all went over and we celebrated the game like we won the World Cup. I had my mum, dad and sister come up for the game and we were stood in front of the fans celebrating for ages and when we got back in the changing room I don’t think anyone could believe it really.”
The current Annan Athletic side will be looking to emulate the success the 2013 side had at Ibrox. Credit: ITV Border
Goalkeeper Alex Mitchell played for Annan Athletic that day and also shares the same fond memories.
He said: “That game will always be my favourite I’ve been involved in and one that I will always talk about. I was close to not playing and had spent the whole night and morning of the game throwing up with a bug.
“I didn’t even get to do a proper warm-up but luckily I was okay to play and I had a decent game, made a few saves which helped us get the win, its a memory I’ll never forget.”
Alex said he has hopes that the current Annan side can achieve what he and his teammates did.
He said: “Enjoy it and savour every moment of it. It is an amazing opportunity for the players to test themselves against top class players and a chance for them to write themselves into the history books.”
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