A RANGERS fan has written a book on a club idol - after sending a request on Facebook.
Alistair Aird, 41, convinced Rangers and Scotland legend Davie Wilson to share his life story with a simple message on the social media website, and now the pair are preparing to release Wilson on the Wing.
Davie, who is now 83, is best remembered as the talented left-winger who served the Ibrox outfit from 1956 to 1967. His strike rate was 157 goals in 373 games.
Alistair said: "I have always had an interest in 60s and 70s football, and Davie Wilson is a prominent figure from that era.
"I noticed that he was on Facebook so I just took a flyer and messaged through Facebook.
"His granddaughter manages his Facebook page and she came back and said he was interested so it pretty much started there."
The pair started working together on the book last year with former players and managers contributing to the project including Sir Alex Ferguson, Walter Smith, and Denis Law.
Alistair said: "The book covers predominately his football career but there are elements in there that cover his early years growing up in a mining village called Newton just outside Glasgow.
"There is stuff in there as well about when he did his national service from 1958 to 1960 and also his family life and interests outside football."
READ MORE: Rangers legend Fernando Ricksen's last words in full as 10 matches 10 players is published
A player who made the prestigious Rangers Hall of Fame, Davie signed to the club from Baillieston Juniors in May 1956.
He was part of the Cup Winners' Cup run that took Rangers to their first European final.
He played in all eight games and scored an away goal that took them past Ferencvaros in the first round.
But Rangers went down to Fiorentina 4-1 on aggregate in the final which was played over two legs in May 1961.
Alistair, from Annbank, Ayrshire, said: "He played in a Rangers team that is one of the most famous in the club's history, guys from that era, the names of the players that played in that side just trip off the tongue.
"I was very fortunate Sir Alex Ferguson had a chat with me, I spoke to Denis Law and Walter Smith at the moment is doing the foreword so some very big hitters.
"They have so many kind words to say about the guy.
"I haven't had to do a lot of convincing to get these people on board and to get them to speak about Davie because that is the impact that he has made on people."
Davie, who still goes to games at Ibrox and is often recognised by fans, also had spells at Dundee United and Dumbarton.
He later moved into management working for clubs including Dumbarton, Kilmarnock, Hamilton Accies and Queen of the South.
Alistair, who has published previous books on the club, said: "He is 83, and if I am as half as sharp and half as fit and full of life as what Davie is at 83 I'll be very fortunate.
"He is down to earth and anytime I have spoken to him he has been more than accommodating with the time he has given me.
"It's is a privilege to have my request to do the book accepted."
You can pre-order the book, due out on May 11, on the official Wilson on the Wing Facebook page here or Amazon here
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel