IAN CROCKER has been the voice of Scottish football for 30 years.
And during that time the legendary commentator has grown used to getting pelters from fans – particularly Rangers and Celtic.
3
3
Rumours have swirled for many years over where his allegiances lie, with fans of both clubs convinced he supports the other side.
But Crocker, 60, has once again rubbished those claims.
Addressing his football loyalties in 2019, the Sky Sports commentator insisted he is in fact the most neutral man in Glasgow, despite suggestions he secretly cheers on one of Celtic or Rangers.
Celtic-daft radio presenter Alan Brazil once branded him a “big blue nose” for his comments live on TV.
READ MORE FOOTBALL STORIES
Similar comments have been made by Rangers fans over the years but Crocker has slammed such accusations as “utter nonsense”.
He told The Herald: “It does make me laugh when I see one tweet saying, ‘ah he’s a Rangers man’ beside another saying, ‘no, no, he’s a big Celtic man’.
“A lot of the time you get people saying, ‘you sounded more exciting for their goal than ours’.
“It’s total and utter nonsense. Sometimes you might not go full pelt on a goal because you are wondering who scored it or it’s an own goal.
“It’s part of the territory, it will never change and you get used to it. I tell people I support my hometown of Weymouth or West Ham they look puzzled and say, ‘yeah but what Scottish team do you support?…”
Crocker once admitted he likes BOTH Rangers and Celtic when quizzed about his allegiances previously.
Gers supporters reckon his close ties with ex-Hoops stars Davie Provan and Andy Walker prove he has a soft spot for the Parkhead club.
But Crocker has pointed to the fact he was also friends with Rangers legend Walter Smith until his death in 2021.
He said: “Me and Davie just got on from day one. I hate commentators who crush each other, which seems to be a more common theme these days.
“After Davie, Andy Walker took over and we just became good friends.
“Both of those guys are just very good at what they do. The actual analysis is harder than the commentary because I’m just shouting out names while they have to figure out what’s right and what’s wrong and why a goal was disallowed.
3
“Walter Smith used to say, ‘ring me at 8.30am’ and he would fill me in on injuries and why they were injured et cetera.
“I’d probably still be on the phone to him at 9am before saying, ‘right I have to go to a game now’.
“Walter was different class to deal with and Craig Brown was the same with Scotland and Preston.
“The chats with Walter were fantastic. These days it’s a bit harder to get managers to give you the team and I kind of get that with the pressure they’re under these days.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
“But I always felt if Walter could trust me that was a decent recommendation but, lovely a guy as he was, I wouldn’t have wanted to cross him.
“I bumped into him at a game at Rangers a couple of years after he retired and I saw him in the tunnel where he said to me, ‘one of the worst things about not being involved in the game anymore is that I f****** well have to listen to you on the telly now….”
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
