Rangers fan needs only one signature to have every nine-in-a-row player on his shirt

A FOOTBALL fan is within touching distance of completing an incredible challenge.

John Irwin has travelled the world trying to have every player who featured in Rangers’ nine-in-a-row campaign between 1988 and 1997 to sign his favourite football jersey.

Eighty-six footballers featured for the Ibrox side during that time and John needs just one more signature – but he has no idea where the player is!

The 65-year-old Glaswegian only needs to meet Russian striker Oleg Salenko, who had a brief spell in Glasgow in 1995, to end a seven-year adventure that has seen him travel tens of thousands of miles.

“The last I heard of him was three years ago when he fainted, live on Ukrainian TV, while working as a football pundit,” John said. “Since then I’ve heard nothing and no one seems to know anything.

“If anyone happens to have information, I’d be grateful to speak with them.”

In the past two years John has visited America, Dubai, Norway, France and Ireland, adding air miles to the well-used passport that’s previously taken him to war-torn Israel and Ukraine, Holland, Denmark and Sweden – not to mention hundreds of hours on the road throughout Britain.

“The trips are very stressful,” John admitted. “There’s often a language barrier and even though I try to arrange things in advance it’s still difficult, as is the travelling.”

Pensioner John works on a strict budget, funding his trips by selling football memorabilia including match-worn items given to him by current players such as Kenny Miller.

He also suffers from poor health, making journeys extra taxing.

“Basile Boli was recently made sports co-ordinator at Marseille, so I took the overnight bus to London on Friday night, flew on the red eye to Marseille on Saturday morning, travelled on several buses and metros in the city, and didn’t get home until 1am on Tuesday morning, exhausted,” he said.

“When I got to the stadium there was security around the perimeter, so I could only get into the ticket office, where staff took it for him to sign.

“I like to take a picture of each player with the jersey but they wouldn’t allow it, so I’ll have to go back another time for that.

“I waited outside the ground after the game until 1am hoping I’d see him come out.”

Other trips are more rewarding.

He visited Phoenix, where former defender Dave Robertson invited him to his house for dinner.

And when he went to Norway, former youth player Lee Robertson took him out for the evening and his wife drove John to the airport the following morning.

A trip to Australia to meet Stuart Munro was too much for John’s wallet or his health, so he posted the shirt instead.

“It took about a month to come back to me and the whole time I was nervous. It was a last resort because Stuart told me he wasn’t coming back here anytime soon.”

Once John has Salenko’s autograph, he wants to ask a relative of the late Davie Cooper to be the last signature.

He added: “The plan is to finish it before the 20th anniversary of nine in a row next year and my dream is to parade the strip on the Ibrox pitch.”

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