A top UK Government official called for a 'unique' one-off friendly match between Rangers and Celtic in Belfast.
The match was proposed by Alastair Campbell and was to be played to drum up support during the final days of the Good Friday Agreement referendum.
The released Cabinet document was uncovered less than a year ago and shows, an email from the former Downing Street director of communications writing to then Prime Minister, Tony Blair in April 1998. It was also suggested that the two sides swap each others jerseys as a gesture of unity and that this would be 'very powerful'.
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An email, from Alastair Campbell, read: "It would be a unique event in its own right, but we could add to it by getting Celtic to wear Rangers strips, and Rangers to wear Celtic strips."
It went onto say: "One or two of the Rangers player to my certain knowledge, may have difficulty with this.
"However, both in terms of raising publicity for the campaign, and in sending out a message, it would be very powerful."
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The email went onto suggest that he had a "direct in" with Celtic while he could get the then Manchester United manager, Alex Ferguson to approach Rangers.
In the email headed 'Rangers V Celtic, An Idea' which was addressed to Prime Minister, Tony Blair, Northern Ireland Secretary, Mo Mowlam and Scottish Secretary, Donald Dewar and dated April 12 1998, Campbell queried if the idea was worth pursuing. However, there is no correspondence record of anyone getting back to him.
Alastair Campbell played a major role in the UK Government whilst Tony Blair was prime minister and became so well known that he was portrayed in movies and popular TV shows.
It has been said by many that the character, Malcolm Tucker played by Peter Capaldi in the BBC TV series, 'The Thick of It' was inspired by the chief spin doctor.
The Good Friday Agreement was signed a little over a year later on April 10, 1998 after intense negotiations between the UK Government, the Irish Government and Northern Ireland political parties.
It marked the end of the Troubles and led to the creation of the Northern Irish Assembly at Stormont.
It was viewed as a key success of Labour's early years in power after the party won a landslide victory at the 1997 General Election.
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