After what was an overwhelming and severly emotional day yesterday, the tributes have continued to the late Walter Smith.
As darkness fell over Ibrox on Tuesday evening, the Copland gates, as expected, became a shrine to the club legend with flowers, scarves, shirts and flags left at the spot to honour the man who meant to much to so many.
With the game against Aberdeen tonight, those tributes will be multiplied several times with a capacity crowd expected.
Today, the club marked the situation in an appropriate way with several club figures laying wreaths at the John Greig statue.
This action was led by Steven Gerrard and Gary McAllister, with another dedication from James Tavernier, Steven Davis and Allan McGregor – the senior leadership in the dressing room and of course, the latter two played under Smith in their first spells at Ibrox.
The club’s directors, led by chairman Douglas Park, also appeared together with another floral tribute.
An emotional moment as Steven Gerrard, Gary McAllister, Steven Davis, Allan McGregor, James Tavernier and Douglas Park are among those who laid wreaths outside Ibrox in memory of Rangers legend Walter Smith💙pic.twitter.com/7uK7pexteT
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 27, 2021
On each of the wreaths, a message was included on the attached cards, including a particular heartfelt message from the current Rangers boss to the family of Walter Smith, as below.
It was a touch of class from Gerrard, a better man and football coach with the benefit of his experiences with the Ibrox legend.
Heartfelt message from Steven Gerrard to the family of Walter Smith.
Image via @ramanbhardwajTV pic.twitter.com/6K0HMi62Rw
— Vital Rangers (@vitalrangers) October 27, 2021
“To the Smith family,”
“I am really sorry for your loss. On behalf of me and my staff, I want to send our condolences. He was a huge support to us all, he will be sorely missed.Â
“Lots of love, Steven Gerrard.”