Rangers and Hamburg formalise fans friendship into club collaboration

By David Oliver
Published 10th Feb 2021, 14:53 BST
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 22: A general view outside Ibrox before a Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Aberdeen at Ibrox Stadium, on November 22, 2020, in Glasgow, Scotland (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group)GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 22: A general view outside Ibrox before a Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Aberdeen at Ibrox Stadium, on November 22, 2020, in Glasgow, Scotland (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group)
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 22: A general view outside Ibrox before a Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Aberdeen at Ibrox Stadium, on November 22, 2020, in Glasgow, Scotland (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group)
Rangers and Hamburg SV have built on historic links between the clubs’ fans to form a fully-fledged club partnership.

The Scottish Premiership leaders and Bundesliga II side made the long-standing friendship official in a ‘co-operation agreement’ which will see a series of joint initiatives and crossovers between the blue and white clubs of Glasgow and the northern German city.

Plans are already underway and Rangers’ commercial and marketing director James Bisgrove said he was pleased to “formalise a long-term friendship between two of the most passionate and loyal supporter groups in European football”.

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He added: “Both clubs have a shared ambition to enrich this unique official relationship and will be collaborating on a wide range of initiatives, including creating opportunities for supporters to unite between Hamburg & Glasgow in 2021 and beyond.”

The fans have been linked since the 1970s (Photo credit should read JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images)The fans have been linked since the 1970s (Photo credit should read JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images)
The fans have been linked since the 1970s (Photo credit should read JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images)

Links between fans from the Volksparktadion and Ibrox began in the 1970s but were re-established in the 1990s with Hamburg legend Jord Albertz signing at Ibrox under for Walter Smith birthday and becoming a firm fan favourite. His 50th birthday last month was one of the first initiatives with celebrations shared by both clubs and fan meetings on social media are next on the agenda.