Respected TalkSPORT broadcaster Simon Jordan has been singing the praises of Rangers fans and the Ibrox atmosphere as he spoke in the immediate aftermath of the 1-0 win over Celtic.
The former Crystal Palace chairman is a widely respected voice in British football and one of the most palatable pundits around, his straight-talking and eloquent style earning the respect of supporters from clubs up and down the country.
As the Rangers support continues to get kicked from pillar to post by salty Celtic-minded pundits, politicians, newspapers and fans in the aftermath of the Old Firm victory, Jordan’s comments are a timely reminder of how we as a fanbase can be viewed outside of this at times insular country.
The broadcaster was also given the VIP treatment at Ibrox as 50k fans cheered on their side in an iconic Old Firm derby victory.
“When I said to you, as I walked into the stadium, despite having been in boardrooms because that was my position, I’ve never enjoyed them very much,” said Jordan [TalkSPORT].
“But I actually found they were very friendly. The Rangers directors were very accommodating, it was very interesting to see their stadium.
“He (Stewart Robertson) took us around the trophy room, coming from Palace I’m used to a big trophy room… the size of a broom cupboard. But this was a fabulous trophy room.
“I got to speak to the Celtic directors, the Celtic people, I got to speak to Rangers chairman Douglas Park speaking about various things.
“I sat with John Greig, who was voted the greatest Rangers of all time, it was fascinating.
“And then you get into this stadium, I’ve been lucky enough to be involved in big games, playoff finals that have had real fervour about them but there is something very unique, it just crackles.
“Even without Celtic fans, just the whole electricity of this stadium, walking out on the pitch on Friday morning, seeing it in isolation, to seeing it alive with these fans.
“Whatever they are, whatever they aren’t, they are phenomenal fans.
“Put aside what people told me I was going to hear with certain chants, what you saw inside a stadium was fans who were only shouting at each other because there was no opposition fans to shout at, was an atmosphere I’ve not seen before. I’ve not seen an intensity or volume like that.”
Rangers defeated Celtic 1-0 to maintain their dominance over their Glasgow rivals with the signs positive for another successful season at Ibrox.
Meanwhile, Ibrox fans continue to enjoy the fallout with one tabloid’s latest transfer story sending bluenoses into stitches.