Emotional Barry Ferguson paid his own tribute to Jimmy Bell and revealed the special bond they shared was so strong the legendary late kitman even named his dog after him.
The Record Sport columnist and former Rangers captain broke down after hearing the news of Bell’s death, aged 69, in the early hours.
Ferguson first met Bell when he visited Ibrox with older brother Derek who starred under Graeme Souness before getting to know him when he joined the club as a young professional.
And the 44-year-old said: “I have so many memories but I tell you what, the biggest compliment he ever paid me was he named his Labrador after me.
“I know how much he loved his dog and he named it Fergie. When I found out he’d done that I was absolutely buzzing.
“That’s when you know you were in Jimmy’s good books. Every memory I have from being with him was special to me.
“I was with him only a few weeks ago at the legends game at Ibrox and he had even put my strip out in the same spot I always sat in the dressing room when I was playing for the club.
“It’s wee things like that which sum him up. I’m devastated and numb. I’m all over the place.
“I’d probably known Jimmy since I was six years old when I first started going into Ibrox with my brother.
“It’s all come so suddenly. For the first time in my life, I’m lost for words because he meant so much to me.”
Ferguson revealed how an early morning phone call told him the news. He told Record Sport : “I saw my phone flashing at about 5am and I left it.
“But it was annoying me. I saw then I’d had a few missed calls and one was from Dave Laverty, the Rangers masseur, contacting me to break the news.
“To be honest with you, I broke down. I did. Everyone thinks Jimmy had this grumpy, moany exterior but I tell you what – he had a massive heart.
“He’d do anything for you and he certainly looked after me when I was breaking through at the club. We became really close and it was a special relationship.
“He’s part of the fabric of the club. I think of Rangers and I think of Jimmy Bell. He was the best. It’s easy to say that when someone passes away but he really was.
“Just the way he went about his business, his character. He was a proper man.
“My bond with him started when I was breaking through. I was a local lad from Hamilton and Jimmy came from Wishaw.
“When I was younger before I could drive he’d drive me home at night after games.
“We just hit it off. He had such a dry sense of humour but his one-liners would put you to bed.
“Some other players got it tight but never once did Jimmy chop me down.”
Ferguson expects the shellshocked players to rally as they go out all to secure a place in the Europa League Final in his memory.
He said: “I’m sure inside the training ground today it will be quiet. People will be so devastated.
“But I’m convinced more than ever that Rangers will win on Thursday because they’ll want to do it for Jimmy.
“And that’s all Jimmy would want, to see the team win. All he ever wanted was for Rangers to be the best.”
