I’m an ex-Celtic youth and scored against Rangers but I built an eye-catching part of Ibrox that will last FOREVER
LEWIS KIDD did some of his finest football work on the pitch at Ibrox for Falkirk and Queen of the South.
But his finest handiwork is IMMORTALISED on the club’s iconic main stand, in tribute to the Gers’ 55th league title.
Kidd played for Queen of the South and almost helped Falkirk to the top flightMichael Schofield – The Sun Glasgow
Kenny Ramsay – The Sun GlasgowAs a youngster he played at Celtic in the Next gen Series and faced Ajax in the Uefa Youth League[/caption]
SNSBut he has a lasting legacy on the Ibrox main stand from his work away from football[/caption]
As a youngster he led the team out as a mascot, and he now has a lasting legacy that will stand the test of time at Rangers’ home on Edmiston Drive.
Ironically Kidd was a CELTIC youth player before stepping into the senior game with Queens, Falkirk and Edinburgh City.
But when Multimetals in Bellshill – previously owned by Gers supremo Sir David Murray – won a contract to create 55 Rangers crests for display at Ibrox, fabricator Kidd got to work.
He explained: “I worked there when I was playing at East Kilbride and Edinburgh City.
“We used to do big balconies and handrails, then we got a Rangers contract to make 55 crests – initially to go on the main stand.
“It was a case of who wants involved and I put my hand up.
“The first 55 went brilliantly, then we were asked for 1000 more and then more again, so we were making them up and sending the all over the world, Australia, USA, everywhere.
“The crests would be engraved then I’d put them together, it was tricky work and some days we’d have orders for 50 badges in a single day – so it was busy.
“But the feedback was special, the customers loved it when they were delivered. That was the best bit.”
One of his old team-mates also loved it – for a bit of dressing room banter.
He sourced Kidd’s picture on the company website where the aluminium crests would sell from £96 each, up to almost £200, depending on size.
And when the midfielder reported for training at Edinburgh City – he was in for a surprise.
Kidd told Sunsport: “I went into the dressing room and they had them all printed all over – I hated it!
“Some of my mates spotted it too and had some banter with it.
“We would go to Ibrox to promote the crests – and we did a special edition one for the club’s 150th anniversary too.
“We had a stall on matchday and a guy I worked with was a Celtic fan – so he’d always mention it to supporters coming for a look that I made them, but played for Celtic as a youth.”
Rangers refreshed the club crests on the front of the iconic standThe Sun
Kidd’s new badges overlook the pitch from the middle tierKenny Ramsay
He was keen to get involved in the contract – which went down well with customers
The badges still adorn the middle tier, though Kidd has moved on and begins a new career as a telecomms engineer next month – after becoming a dad to baby Brodie in August.
He’s still kicking a ball too, now at Dundee North End with old Celtic pal Lewis Toshney following spells at EKFC, Albion Rovers and Edinburgh.
He added: “I was at Celtic with Tosh but he was a good few years above me. He’d train with us and we played in the Next Gen Series together – Barcelona, Sporting Lisbon and Aston Villa.
“It’s going well – he knows what he’s doing and so does our co-manager Kev McNaughton.
“They’re very good and they’re a good group of boys. I just wanted some enjoyment back in football.
“I didn’t know what to expect but it’s a good league, the standard’s good.
“Bobby Linn is at Lochee United and he’s been a cracking player for god knows how long, so there is a good standard.
“We’ve got Johnstone Burgh next month in the cup – and they’ve got some experienced players like Lafferty and Dorrans in their team too.
SNSKidd led Rangers out at Ibrox as a mascot when he was four years old[/caption]
“It’s good to get back into enjoying it again.”
But Kidd has plenty of football tales to tell Brodie as he grows up – including scoring against the Gers and starring for the Bairns.
He’s also got a tale to tell of the iconic Ibrox main stand now too.
He added: “I played in front of that stand for Falkirk and QOS – we beat Rangers three times during my first spell at Queens, I even scored against them.
“Now there’s some of my work on the stand as a lasting legacy – and they’re still up there, so they must be solid enough.
“It was a good wee contract we had with Rangers – and the fans seemed to like them. They had a lot of eyes on them.
“And they haven’t fallen down – so I’ve done my job!”
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