THE Journey has been completed for Rangers on the park but progress can still be made off it. And Laura Fawkes hopes she has further steps to take as she looks to move from the stands to the top table.
The lifelong Light Blue followed the Gers on the road back to the Premiership and was one of thousands who backed their club through the darkest days in its history.
Now, Fawkes is amongst 15 candidates standing for election to the board of Club 1872 as the new fans organisation look to make their collective voice heard.
And she is determined to help supporters move towards a brighter future by helping the group exert its influence at Ibrox and beyond.
“I had a wee taster of being actively involved in Club 1872 through the Matchday Experience Working Group,” Fawkes told SportTimes.
“I made contact with the RST regarding concerns I had with the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act and I felt that Rangers fans needed a voice that would speak for them.
“At that point, the RST and RF were mostly focused on share acquisition and I felt that a fans group had to be a voice for the Rangers support and a support for the Rangers fans in difficult situations.
“I got involved in the Working Group once the merger was complete and I really enjoyed it.
“After everything we have been through in the last few years, it felt so good to be doing something that would benefit the Rangers support.
“When I heard the elections were coming up, I felt I had proved I was committed to the Working Group, I enjoyed it and I had more to give.
“I like the idea that fans who have troubles or concerns, or suggestions or ideas, about their experience as Rangers supporters have one point of contact.”
After joining forces to play their part in helping Dave King, Paul Murray and John Gilligan clinch the keys to Ibrox, several fan groups have now come together once again.
The formation of Club 1872 sees the Rangers Supporters Trust, Rangers First, the Assembly, the Association and the Fan Board unite as one as resources are pooled and shared.
A target of 50,000 members has already been set and Fawkes hopes there will be strength in numbers once again for the Gers support.
She said: “It is critical in terms of the share acquisition and strengthening our position in that respect.
“I think that for morale within the support and a feeling that we are moving in the right direction, it is so important. Unity at this stage is vital.
“I feel we have reached a point where we should leave our troubles in the past. I want us to move on and make a success of this.
“We have got the will and the motivation to do it and you have seen that over the last few years when the supporters came out in their numbers.
“If we could harness that support and that motivation and get people involved in Club 1872 then I think we could be a phenomenal force.”
After helping Rangers in its hour of need, the Light Blue legions now have a chance to shape its future and enhance their own Ibrox experience.
It is a chance the fans always hoped they would get and one that Club 1872 are determined to make the most of in the coming years.
Fawkes said: “I think there are Rangers supporters whose main experience of being a fan is just to come and watch the team, and that is the best thing. Getting behind the team and the club is the most important part of being a fan.
“I think if we could focus that will and motivation into another aspect as well then I think Club 1872 could be very powerful.
“There are many people that don’t realise that the potential is there in so many areas, so it is about contacting those people and bringing them on board.”
Voting for the Club 1872 board will commence on Thursday, September 22 and a seven person top table will be elected. The process will be overseen by Supporters Direct Scotland and the results announced on Monday, October 3. The full list of candidates is:
SHANE NICHOLSON
Proposer: Ross McAdam
Seconder: Gordon Stewart
WILLIAM COWIE
Proposer: Gary Carmichael
Seconder: Frank Chalmers
ALEX WILSON
Proposer: Malcolm Murray
Seconder: James Brockbank
JOANNE PERCIVAL
Proposer: Gordon Dinnie
Seconder: George Letham
LAURA FAWKES
Proposer: Chris Graham
Seconder: Margaret Cowie
IAIN LEIPER
Proposer: Robert Marshall
Seconder: Steven Tyrie
STEVIE SINCLAIR
Proposer: Mark Campbell
Seconder: William Paterson
CRAIG HOUSTON
Proposer: William Cowie
Seconder: Stevie Sinclair
JAMES BLAIR
Proposer: Robert Marshall
Seconder: Richard Gough
JOHNATHAN MCGOOKIN
Proposer: Michael Hegan
Seconder: Ian Gilfillan
SCOTT MCCULLOCH
Proposer: Robbie McAllister
Seconder: Colin MacIver
JAMES DURRANT
Proposer: Gordon Phimister
Seconder: John Brine
KELLY JOHNSTONE
Proposer: Johnathan McGookin
Seconder: Fraser Munro
BRIAN DONOHOE
Proposer: Gregory Campbell
Seconder: Malcolm Murray
IAIN MARTIN
Proposer: Robert Marshall
Seconder: Richard Scott
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