BARRY Ferguson is looking forward to another brilliant experience as he gets ready to lead Rangers out once again in this Sunday’s Weekend of Legends II match at Ibrox.
The club hero will captain a star-studded Rangers Legends squad who will take on a World Legends side that includes Robin van Persie, Jaap Stam, Emmanuel Petit and many more.
Speaking to RangersTV ahead of the match, the former midfielder is relishing the opportunity to wear the captain’s armband once again in front of the Ibrox crowd: “I am really looking forward to it. Obviously, we had the one last March, it is just great to see all your ex-teammates and talk about old stories, and it was round about the 40,000 mark that turned up. It was a brilliant day and one that I loved, and I know the boys loved as well. It was a brilliant experience and it can't come quick enough.
“I have seen the World XI; they are a young team, so we need to make sure we are ready because the last couple of games we have not managed to win so we need to start winning.
“You don’t see all your ex-teammates much because either they are in coaching, doing media stuff, or they have got other business interests. It is a great couple of days that we can go and spend and share memories, and obviously play a game of football in front of the fans.
“I know from my point of view it was a dream for me to play at Ibrox and in front of 50,000 fans, and it was the same for the ex-players, whether it would be British players or foreign. They loved the experience and last March brought that back.”
Ferguson is relishing the chance to relive his childhood dream once again, captaining the club that he supported while growing up.
He added: “As a young boy I think everybody knows that growing up I was Rangers daft. Obviously going and watching my brother with my dad, and to follow in his footsteps and go and play with Rangers and make my dad and my family proud.
“It was great for me, and to come back and experience that again because sometimes you take it for granted, playing in front of a massive crowd and playing at Ibrox, last March, brought a lot of memories back, and when this got announced that we were playing again I was really looking forward to it.”
The Gers legend is hopeful of another packed Ibrox crowd this Sunday and admits he was taken back the support in the stadium when he was asked to play in the match 12 months ago.
Ferguson said: “I couldn't believe it if I am being honest. I know it was an international break and you are expecting maybe 15,000 or 20,000, but when we came out at the start of the game and the stadium was packed, that just sums up the Rangers fans.
“They come and they want to support the team that is playing just now, but also they want to show respect to the guys who previously had really good Rangers careers. The atmosphere was just like taking me back 15 or 20 years. It is memories and it brings you back to realise what special people the Rangers fans are.”
The centre midfielder wants to be on the winning side this time round as he prepares to take the armband, insisting that all his teammates will be focused on coming out on top on the day.
He said: “It will be great, but I am not sure my teammates will enjoy that because I will moan too much probably! It is a good laugh before because you are seeing everybody but when you cross that white line every single one of us are focused and trying to do our best and win.
“You never lose that, even if you been retired a long time, when you put that Rangers strip and you cross that white line you want to win, so hopefully we can because we didn't last March.”
You can buy your tickets to the Weekend of Legends II match at Ibrox here.