A grandfather was overwhelmed with emotion after receiving tickets to see his beloved Rangers Football Club in Seville - 50 years after he watched their victory in the European Cup Winners' Cup Final.
Jimmy Gilbert's priceless reaction was captured on camera by his family after they surprised him with the gift at his home in East Renfrewshire, Scotland, last night.
The 72-year-old flew to Malaga with his son-in-law Stephen Birtwhistle and grandson Alfie, 11, this morning, reports the Daily Record.
Tomorrow the trio will take a train to Seville to watch Rangers go head-to-head with Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League final at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.
In a bizarre twist of fate, Jimmy, then 22, was in Barcelona when he watched Rangers lift the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1972 after beating Dynamo Moscow.
He forked out just £45 for the three-day trip and ticket - a fraction of the £750 spent this time around.
With the numbers now reversed, daughter Sharon Gilbert told how the chance to watch his beloved team with his grandson by his side “means the absolute world”.
The mum-of-two said: “My husband Stephen booked tickets to travel to Seville after Rangers beat Borussia Dortmund back in February.
“So they all knew they were going to Spain but my husband luckily got the chance of tickets through somebody he works with.
“But they kept it a secret from my dad until Sunday night. That was the video of him getting the tickets with my son and his grandson Alfie. It’s gone viral.
“The tickets are like gold dust so they’re all over the moon.”
She explained: “My dad was 22 in 1972 when Rangers won the European Cup Winners' Cup - 50 years ago.
“Now, in 2022, he’s 72 so it’s the same numbers but the other way around. It means the absolute world to my dad to make memories with his grandson.
“Taking Alfie to Seville with him is a dream for my dad but to actually be able to go to the game together is amazing.
“He was so overcome with emotion last night. I can’t put into words what it means to him. My dad has been a Rangers supporter since he was a young boy.
“And when Alfie was born, he was always telling him that he had to support Rangers. So that’s why Alfie supports them - because of his papa.”
Primary 7 pupil Alfie is said to be “over the moon” and, unsurprisingly, isn’t too bothered that he’ll be missing his three-day taster session at Castlehead High School.
A video of Jimmy’s speechless reaction has been viewed more than 50,000 times after being shared on Twitter.
