THE Japanese sports writer who travelled 6000 miles from Tokyo to Elgin to watch Rangers wasn't the only one left disappointed by the late call-off.

Rangers great Lorenzo Amoruso had also jetted into the Highlands town from his native Italy to attend the Irn-Bru Third Division match last Sunday.

The former centre half, who played more than 200 times for the Ibrox club from 1997 to 2003, was also left disappointed when the match was postponed by Grampian Police amid safety fears after it emerged Elgin officials had over-sold tickets.

Amoruso said: "I have some friends in the area and they had invited me to enjoy their hospitality. It was good to see them and we enjoyed meeting up and having dinner. But, of course, the game wasn't on.

"I played a charity game in Elgin last year for a Rangers Legends team against a Highland League Select so it was good to see the people I'd met then."

The wasted 1500-mile journey has not deterred the Rangers Hall of Fame member from returning next month to take part in the club's 140th anniversary celebrations.

Amoruso will be one of a host of club legends at a dinner in the city centre on December 7, and the League game with Stirling Albion the following day. He said: "I am looking forward to it. Rangers is a big part of my story."

The Evening Times revealed the incredible story of football writer Daisuke Nakajima earlier this week.

He travelled for 19 hours from Tokyo to Elgin to cover last Sunday's game for football magazine Footballista.

Rangers gave him a guided tour of Ibrox yesterday after learning of his plight, and he has delayed his return home so he can be their guest at the Scottish Cup game against, ironically, Elgin City at Ibrox this Sunday.

Elgin were fined £25,000 by the SFL for the ticket foul-up.