A GRATEFUL Glaswegian has taken a trip down memory lane after being reunited with the man who took him to Rangers games when he was a child. 

Atif Rashid shared a heartfelt post on Facebook to find Springburn shopkeeper Samuel Johnstone after the UK voted last week to leave the European Union.

Read: Brexit: Son of migrant makes appeal to find Glaswegian shopkeeper who took him to Rangers games

In the post, he appealed to the public to help him find Mr Johnstone who owned a shop on Hawthorn Street - and now he has met the man who shared his passion for Rangers FC. 

He said: "Good news - with your help we found him! Thank you so much to everyone who shared my plea for help finding Mr Johnstone a few days ago - please share this again to let those people know they brought these great big smiles to our faces!

"I was surprised by the number of people who got in touch with well wishes and leads. It was overwhelming; he's clearly fondly remembered by many.

"In the end it was someone who had worked with him that passed on his number, and when I called Samuel this morning he said he'd already heard from his nieces that I was looking for him and he'd like to pop over for some tea. And sure enough, he did. Hooray.

"It was immediately easy to see why he's so well regarded. A true gentleman, warm, friendly, and full of chat. Sparkling bright blue eyes. The conversation was easy - it was great to be able to catch each other up and just chat.

Glasgow Times:

"At the young age of 79 he enjoys Latin American dancing and showed off his convertible, which "goes like a bomb!" I'm jealous - the man's got way more style than me!

"Turns out he had lived just down the road from us for many years, and passed our house often. I had no idea. He says he thought I'd have moved away by then so never stopped in, which makes me all the more glad that I had this opportunity to let him know his kindness had not been forgotten.

"When I told him this, he said, "I have a philosophy in life, which I got from my mother - she said, 'Samuel, always do a good turn'". I know I'm not the only person he did a good turn for - I think his mother would be very proud.

"I'm delighted that I was able to thank my old friend, which was only made possible thanks to the goodwill of so many people, and the power of social media. Thank you everyone!"

Glasgow Times:

The Evening Times had been contacted by a few people who remembered Mr Johnstone after he did the same thing for many other people in the area.

Atif originally wanted to get in touch to thank Mr Johnstone after the UK made the decision to leave Europe last week.

He said in his original post: "He was a good man who did an amazing thing for me in my childhood. To my regret, I did a poor job of keeping in touch. I'd like to find him and let him know how grateful I am.

"Here's why: all this ‪#‎Brexit‬ business has gotten me thinking about the divisions in our society. And it reminded me of times when I felt no such divisions, as a child growing up in north Glasgow. Then I realised maybe these divisions were always there but I just wasn't aware of them. And it got me thinking how extraordinary a thing Mr Johnstone did for me.

"My dad migrated here in 1962 with two pounds to his name, but by the early 1990s, he was an owner of a successful wholesale business employing over 20 people. Which was great, except that it left him with little time to be a dad. I wanted for nothing materially, but he just wasn't around much as he was always working.

"Mr Johnstone was a customer of his, and they must have struck up a good friendship. For somehow, they came to an agreement that Mr Johnstone would take me to see a Rangers game. I just didn't get to do things like this as a kid so this was a huge deal to me. I remember the excitement of just walking to the stadium, seeing all the crowds, the songs and the camaraderie of the fans, seeing my heroes in real life running around on the pitch! The crowding on Glasgow's subway. Sitting in the massive stadium. The whole thing was amazing.

"And, being a kid, I think I took it all for granted. But now I can see how odd it must have looked to everyone else there - here's white-haired, white-skinned Rangers fan Mr Johnstone with this random wee plump Asian kid in tow! And yet I never sensed any animosity or strange looks or rude comments from others. The race thing just felt 'normal' to me, but I realise now that it can't have been normal for him, or those around him.

"In the end I went to three games with him. Dundee Utd, Kilmarnock and St Johnstone. They were always a delight. He was incredibly kind to me - I don't know what motivated him to go to the trouble of taking someone else's kid to a football match.

"But I realise now that he displayed in this kindness the best of humanity. He did it just to make a kid smile. And skin colour, religion or whatever else meant nothing. How I miss those days!"