It’s not often someone becomes a Rangers legend despite never kicking a ball for the club, but in the case of Jimmy Bell it’s a moniker which is richly deserved.
The former Ibrox kit man spent over 30 years working with a number of squads at Rangers and forged friendships and relationships with some of the club’s most famous stars.
After passing away suddenly towards the end of the 21/22 season, Jimmy Bell’s passing inspired the Rangers team to go out and reach the Europa League Final against RB Leipzig.
Now, Rangers fans have begun establishing their own tribute for the legendary kit man with fans once again invited to take part in a retro kit day at Ibrox.
Jimmy Bell Retro Kit Day planned at Ibrox
Rangers fans have been invited to wear a retro kit in honour of Jimmy Bell for the upcoming Scottish Premiership clash with Kilmarnock at Ibrox.
In a message posted by the Broomloan Collective, Rangers fans have been encouraged to wear any Ibrox kit from the club’s history in memory of the legendary kit man for the match on Sunday May 5th.
This follows on from the same retro kit Jimmy Bell tribute taking place at the RB Leipzig match and again against Aberdeen at the end of last season.
The tribute will also be accompanied by a bucket collection on behalf of the Emmie Smillie Charity Foundation which will take place at Ibrox on the day.
The foundation helps those who have been affected by the impact of cancer.
“Broomloan Collective kindly ask all Rangers fans to show their support for Retro Shirt Day on Sunday 5th May at home to Kilmarnock,” reads a statement.
“This annual event in memory of our legendary kitman, Jimmy Bell, has proven to be a success over the past couple of seasons.
“This year, we will again be raising funds for the Emmie Smillie Charity Foundation. Donation buckets will be located around the stadium footprint on 5th May.
“Please dig deep and donate to a good cause that helps many people. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.”
Rangers legend left huge impact on club
Jimmy Bell left an impact on a number of Rangers players past and present and there are no end to the stories about the man many knew as the Kaiser.
Recently, Billy Gilmour was discussing a moment with the kit man when he left Rangers as a youth to go and join Chelsea south of the border.
After Jimmy Bell initially refused to give Gilmour his shirt from a match he was included in the Rangers squad, the kit man eventually relented and threw him the jersey before he made the switch down south.
“See with this kit, that top, Jimmy Bell was the kitman and when I was leaving to go to Chelsea, I tried to take my top after the game, Jimmy took it off me straight away – ‘you’ve not played a game for Rangers’,” said Gilmour.
“When I was leaving, he said, ‘going to Chelsea?’
“And I was like ‘aye’ and he was like ‘I’ve got a present for you’, and he gave me the top.”
This is just one in a number of stories about the great man, who also made Jermain Defoe break a lifetime of being teetotal to drink a whisky when the club won 55.
