Rangers kit out barking mad fan

Stafford Rangers fan Neil Collingwood reckons his football loving dog Misty is going barking mad over Greg Clowes’s Evo-Stik NPL Premier outfit.

The 11-year-old black and white Border Collie already sports Rangers colours and follows her heroes home and away. Now Stafford have helped their number one canine fan prepare for a winter on the terraces by having a specially made coat embroidered with the club’s logo made for Misty.

Her delighted owner, pictured with Misty, says her obsession for Rangers has turned her life around. Rescued as a neglected and timid puppy, she’s been transformed into an outgoing and normally well behaved hound who’s never happier than standing with the Marston Road faithful.

Collingwood, who’s been supporting Rangers for more than 25 years, says Misty was immediately hooked on Rangers after attending her first game five years ago when she found gaps in the advertising boards at Marston Road to watch the action through. Since then any mention of Stafford Rangers has Misty pricking up her ears and straining on her leash to get to the ground.

Misty’s proud owner said: "I’ve noticed that since she has been going to watch Stafford she’s become far more outgoing and accepting of strangers, to the point where she now expects everyone at games to make a fuss of her. She’s even friendly with the players and used to seek out our former striker Ben Mills in the social club after games because he used to feed her part of his post match meal!"

But Collingwood admits he’s still got a lot work to do training Misty to control her passion for Rangers so he can enjoy a pint at games and the players can train in peace.

He added: "I have to keep her on a leash when we pass the ground when training is on or she’s straight off to watch. On matchdays when’re in the bar before the game she is constantly edging towards the door to get into the ground. She then takes herself through the turnstiles to watch the pre-match warm up!"