Andy Gray knows exactly how Lawrence Shankland is feeling after the striker finally secured his move to Rangers, the club he supported as a boy growing up in Baillieston.
Gray himself only got the chance to pull on the famous Light Blue jersey at the age of 33, signing for Graeme Souness’ Ibrox revolution in September 1988 after a glittering career in England.
The Drumchapel-born forward had scored goals by the bucket load for Aston Villa, Wolves and Everton before his boyhood dream finally became reality.
He became the first person ever to be named England’s player and young player of the year in the same season, a feat only since matched by Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.
Gray won a league title at Goodison Park along with winners’ medals in the FA Cup, League Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup before his eventual switch to Ibrox.
He was playing at West Brom under Ron Atkinson when the call from Rangers came, and he never hesitated for a single moment before agreeing to make the move.
“I told Graeme I’d walk up to Ibrox if needed,” Gray said, recalling the conversation that changed his life. “I remember saying after I signed that I could die happy now that I’d officially become a Rangers player.”
Gray sees a clear parallel between his own story and that of Shankland, 30, who has moved to Rangers after years of speculation and three impressive seasons at Hearts.
“He must have thought when he hit 30, maybe his chances of playing for his boyhood heroes had gone,” Gray told Record Sport. “But you know what, not when he plays the way he plays.”
Gray believes Shankland has earned his opportunity through sustained excellence, lifting himself into the elite tier of strikers in Scotland over recent seasons.
“So I think he’s got what he deserves and I’m delighted for him,” he said. “And I’m delighted for us, because it’s something that we’ve needed for a while.”
The former striker also reflected on what his own time at Ibrox meant beyond football, describing how he was able to bring his three older brothers inside Ibrox for a tour they had never dreamed possible.
“I took them into the dressing room and out onto the pitch and you know what, it meant so much,” he said. “It was about what I could do for my family as much as what it was for me personally.”
Gray expects Shankland to experience the same surge of emotion when he walks out at Ibrox for the first time, but insists the hard work begins immediately after that moment.
“I don’t imagine he’ll be thinking, ‘That’s it, I’ve done it’,” Gray said. “Because now is when the hard work starts.”
The move has delivered a fresh blow to Hearts supporters, who were already reeling from a final-day title defeat at Celtic Park just days before Shankland exercised a clause to leave his three-year contract early.
Gray urged Hearts fans not to harbour bitterness toward the striker, insisting Shankland gave everything to the club during his time at Tynecastle.
“He’s been great for them, he almost took them to the league title this year,” Gray said. “I don’t think any Hearts people can ever accuse him of abandoning ship and ducking out.”
Gray is convinced Shankland can make an immediate impact and potentially shift the balance of power at the top of Scottish football next season.
“He might end up being the difference between us doing what we did this year or being closer to winning the title next season,” he said.
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