Bengaluru FC were established in 2013 and since that time they have won three league titles, two federation cup titles and a super cup championship.
Based at the 25,000 capacity Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Jamie attended their 2-0 victory over Jamshedpur FC – thanks to goals from former Gretna player Erik Paartalu and one-time Rangers trialist Sunil Cchetri – and he put together an impressive video diary of his epic journey which can be viewed on the club’s YouTube channel.
During the two-year collaboration with Bengaluru FC, the Light Blues will enjoy a number of footballing and commercial opportunities.
A culture of knowledge sharing will also be fostered, with experiences and opportunities discussed across a number of different departments across both clubs.
The partnership also ties nicely into the club’s ground-breaking diversity and inclusion campaign ‘Everyone Anyone’ which was launched just last summer and Jamie, who works as a Technical Production Co-ordinator at Stirling University and also assists Rangers TV on matchdays, was delighted to visit India at the start of the year.
He raved:
“Stirling University were very kind and gave me the holidays to go and it really was a once in a lifetime experience.
“When I got home I was so emotional. Something like that will never happen again but I will definitely go back to India. It was amazing.
“The people I met were all really friendly. They were all really nice people and the welcome I received was unbelievable. Rakesh Haridas was my guide and he looked after me so well.
“It is such a huge city and Bengaluru FC are a great club. It was one of the best things that has ever happened to me. It was just amazing.
“I parked my car at Glasgow Airport on the Tuesday night and returned at 7.30pm on the Friday night so I managed to do as much in as possible during that time.
“The main day was the Thursday which was the matchday. It is a super busy city but it also has incredibly serene places with huge parks where people go to meditate.
“I met the head of Bengaluru media for a coffee and had a short car journey to see their offices at meet staff at their old stadium.
“They are all super passionate about their team. It has only been going for six years or so but they were telling me about some of their highlights so far. They play in the equivalent of the UEFA Cup in Asia and they have been to play games in places like North Korea and Bhutan so they have some really interesting stories to tell.
“I then went to Bangalore Palace then saw their stadium for the first time.
“I met some players, which included Erik Paartulu who actually played for Gretna against Rangers in 2007 – he came on as a sub at Ibrox when we beat them 4-0.
“Then it was time for the game itself. They had posted pictures of me on their Twitter feed and so many people came up to me to say hello and get pictures. It was surreal. People were queuing up for a picture with me, it was wild!
“The fans were all chanting Rangers FC at the game. It was some experience.
“They won the game 2-0 and played very well. Ironically Paartulu scored the first goal and Sunil Chhetri, who was on trial at Rangers a few years back, also scored too.
“After the game they presented me with the Crown of Bangalore and lots of club merchandise. They gave me strips, polo tops, programmes – they were just so generous.
“I have to say it was overwhelming at times and their generosity was incredible.
“Everyone looked after me so well and I can’t thank them enough. I also tasted some of the best food I have ever eaten in my life.
“I tried to pay for some of the meals and they kept saying no. They treat guests like they are God and it was an incredible experience.
“They also did a really cool thing in their matchday programmes. For every game a player picks a cause that is important to them. An environmental theme that means something to them. Whether it’s clean air, recycling or save the tigers and they have a feature on the subject. I really loved that idea.
Jamie started following Rangers in the mid-80s when his dad took him to games for the first time. Since then he has seen the Light Blues in action more than 1000 times.
The 43-year-old from King’s Park recalled: “My dad took me and my brother along to a game v Dundee in May 1984 and I was hooked.
“I remember watching the cup final when Ally McCoist scored a hat-trick against Celtic and we just to watch it over and over.
“The following season, my dad said he was going to the football one afternoon and he took me along. That was me signed up for life.
“I was in Australia for a couple of years but I have had a season ticket for about 25 years until I started doing some work with Rangers.
“I hit 1000 Rangers games at the recent Aberdeen game at Ibrox and that is some journey as I have been going regularly since I was at primary school.
“There have been some great games and great players at the club during that time.
“I remember the 2-1 Ian Durrant/Davie Cooper Cup final in the 80s that really set the Souness Revolution off.
“We had some great time with Souness and then Walter Smith as manager.
“I would say the season we beat Leeds Utd to get into the first ever Champions League was one of the best ever. There have been so many highlights though.
“The Dick Advocaat era was also enjoyable. The 1999/2000 season was probably one of the best teams I have seen and beating Parma was probably the best performance I have seen.
“Then there was the 2002 Peter Lovenkrands Scottish Cup Final. Just great days.
“I missed the treble-winning season in 2003 and when we won the league beating Dunfermline 6-1.
“But I was back from Australia three weeks before Helicopter Sunday in 2005 so that was a good one to come back for.
“Ally will never be bettered he is a legend. He is a real life super hero he could do anything.
“I also liked watching Michael Mols –he was incredible when he first signed and if he hadn’t got injured against Bayern Munich who knows what we could have achieved with that team.
“I also loved Brian Laudrup – like all fans – and legends like Davie Cooper, Ian Ferguson, Ian Durrant and guys like Nacho Novo and Dado Prso.
“Dado was a warrior I loved watching him. Rangers fans love his type of character. I was In Sydney when he scored against Celtic watching the game a massive cinema screen. So many good memories.
“I also love Alfredo Morelos – he is up there. I hope he can win something with us.
“He is a really interesting character and really humble when you meet him.
“It has been some journey for the club in recent years and I have got to visit so many stadiums in Scotland I would never have been in.
“It started a few years ago when I was at the University of the West of Scotland(UWS).
“They were looking to enhance their already excellent media coverage and were exploring the use of Go Pros. I was at the UWS and did some work with Go Pros so I got in touch with the club and had a meeting with the Rangers TV folks and it went from there. I was also able to bring up some students to games for work experience and I am happy to help my club in any way I can.
“I currently work at Stirling University helping students with technical support for media courses and I host workshops on editing, lighting and sound etc so it is a pretty cool job. I get to meet some really cool and interesting people and it was the same during my trip to India. The partnership with Bengaluru FC is really positive and was delighted to travel and document the journey.”
CLICK HERE to view Jamie’s trip to India.
CLICK HERE for more information on the Everyone Anyone campaign.
CLICK HERE for more information on the new Rangers Fans Charter.