Former Rangers youth coach and Scottish reality star Brian Matthews had a mad rush back from Dubai to make it in time for his new Ranger’s bar opening in Uddingston.
Brian, who already has Oswalds Rangers Bar in Oswald Street Glasgow has spent the last year over lockdown tirelessly transforming the venue into a ‘ museum and shrine’ to his beloved club.
Brian, had a ‘wacky races” style dart back from Egypt where he had to stay for ten days before his ten days quarantine in Glasgow.
He gave the Daily Record a first look at the new bar where he boasts a whole host of Rangers memorabilia and specially embossed floors and tables.
Brian, who also had to arrange the opening of his Glasgow bar Oswalds for this Monday, said: “My new Uddingston bar used to be called the Castle bar and Charlie Millar and his team mates celebrated nine in a row there in 1997.
I’ve kept the castle sign down in my cellar for good luck and the bar has a museum feel to it.”
(Image: Brian Matthew)
He added:”It was always a dream to open a Rangers bar and Oswalds was such a huge success and I got great support from the Rangers family.
“I was hunting for another bar in an area that suited Rangers fans.
Uddington was a top area that needed it and I have to pinch myself when I think I now have two Rangers bars.”
(Image: Brian Matthews)
He continued:”I can’t wait to open the doors on Monday after a difficult year for everyone.”
Brain has some sought after pieces of memorabilia in the new bar.
He said: “I’ve looked far and wide for rare Rangers memorabilia and have put the Rangers stamp on lots of our furnishings.
He also commissioned a touching painting of late players including Fernando Ricksen, Davie Cooper, David Hagen and Ugo Ehiogu.
(Image: Brian Matthews)
Brian said: “I got a special gold Rangers crest made by a welding company for the bar, and we have a one off wall dedicated to Rangers players who have sadly passed away.”
“It’s like a real shrine to those we have loved and lost.”
Every table top also has a crest from throughout the years and we have a 72 pendant and signed ball as well las the Rangers tartan wallpaper.”
(Image: Brian Matthews)
We’ve got blue lighting and blue signage and special staff uniforms and we have some cocktails named after Rangers players too.”
“We also have some very rare program in a case against the wall including the 71 program from the infamous Ibrox disaster.
(Image: Brian Matthews)
“For the launch of Lounge 72 Rangers bar at 11am this Monday, Alex ‘Doddie’ Macdonald will be cutting the red ribbon and Marvin Andrews, Ian Durrant and Lee McCulloch are also going to be there, while Alex Rae is cutting the ribbon of my other bar Oswalds.”
