Andy Goram has said he has always been proud of his strong links with Rangers fans in the north of Ireland.
But he has rubbished claims that he sympathised with Loyalist paramilitaries and described allegations he took part in anti-Catholic behaviour as “nonsense”.
The 58-year-old former Rangers goakeeper, diagnosed with terminal oesophageal cancer, said Gers supporters in Belfast made him “feel relaxed” whenever he visited the city’s pubs, reports The Daily Record.
Now, those fans are backing him in his fight for life after doctors predicted Goram has around six months to live.
He said: “I’ve had more messages from fans in Northern Ireland than anywhere else.”
Goram regularly visited over 100 Rangers supporters’ clubs in the province, including Belfast’s Shankill Road – a Protestant and Unionist stronghold.
He added: “I’ve never condoned sectarianism. Just because I have close links with Northern Ireland and been to the Shankill Road doesn’t mean I support bigotry or terrorism.
“I’ve loved going to Belfast, where the punters have treated me tremendously.
“Why should I be ashamed of that?”
Goram said the wave of support he has had from fans in Northern Ireland since it was revealed he has terminal cancer has been overwhelming.
He said: “I’ve been to every supporters’ club in Northern Ireland and they’ve all sent messages since finding out I was ill.
“I really can’t thank them enough.
“I’ve had messages and cards from Rangers fans all over the world but the amount from Northern Ireland tops the lot. They’ve been brilliant.”
Goram first went to Northern Ireland with teammate Ian Durrant shortly after he signed for Rangers in 1991.
The club wanted to build a closer rapport with the fanbase and sent the pair to Portadown to hand out prizes at a five-a-side tournament.
It was the start of Goram’s 30-year relationship with the region scarred by The Troubles.
However the former Rangers No1 said religious bigotry did not influence him in his frequent visits to Belfast.
He said: “Rangers and Celtic players need to watch their shoulder whenever they go out in Glasgow.
“There’s always a risk someone will try and give it to you just because you play for one half of the Old Firm.
“I’ve witnessed it, it’s just a fact of life.
“I never felt that in Northern Ireland. I always felt relaxed around people.
“I love the fans and their banter. They looked out for me.
“Much has been made about my love of the place and going to the Shankill Road.
“Where am I supposed to go in Belfast as a Rangers player, or an ex-player?
“Do people expect me to go to the Falls Road? Come on.”
The Falls Road is a main road in Belfast which is considered a Catholic area and is just yards from Shankill Road.
Goram last visited a supporters’ club in Northern Ireland with ex teammate Charlie Miller and former striker Derek Johnstone three months ago – just weeks before being diagnosed with terminal cancer.
He added: “The reception was as good as it’s ever been, if not better.
“The fans are in great spirits because the club is back where they belong and the team are performing.”
Goram pointed out that his close friendship with Celtic idol Frank McAvennie was evidence he wasn’t a bigot.
He also said he wouldn’t have married second wife Tracey, who he met when he signed for Hibs in 1987, if he held sectarian beliefs.
Goram said: “People have tried to say I’m a bigot. It’s nonsense.
“I’ve got Catholic mates. Macca is one of my closest pals – my second wife, Tracey, was a Catholic.
“People can say what they want. They have their opinions.”
Goram became mired in controversy after it was claimed he wore a black armband in an Old Firm match in tribute to Loyalist terrorist Billy Wright.
Wright – nicknamed King Rat by his enemies – was the leader of the Loyalist Volunteer Force and had been linked to 20 Catholic murders.
The match against Celtic at Parkhead on January 2, 1998, came just days after Wright was murdered in Belfast’s Maze Prison by Irish National Liberation Army prisoners.
He was shot three times. Goram insisted the armband was in honour of his aunt Lilly who had recently died.
He said the game against Celtic was the first televised match since she had passed away.
Goram added: “I met Billy Wright once on a flight to Belfast.
“He sat across the aisle from me and we chatted about football.
“I had no idea who he was until someone told me.
“We weren’t friends. We didn’t know each other.
“The black armband was for my aunt Lilly who played a huge part in my upbringing, that’s the truth.”
He said: “When you spend as much time in Belfast as I have, you’re going to meet people who have been involved in The Troubles.
“A lot of the time you have no idea who they are.
“I’ve never approved of violence and never been interested in terrorism.”
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