It didn’t take long for Ronald de Boer’s first encounter with Jimmy Bell to take a wrong turn as the conversation got itself lost in translation.
But by the time the Dutch great had developed a common language with Rangers’ legendary kitman, they were able to communicate on a level that would survive the test of time.
So much so that when the former Ajax and Barcelona ace returned to Ibrox just five weeks ago for the legends match marking the club’s 150th anniversary, Bell was the first figure he sought out for a hug.
Nearly two decades had passed since de Boer departed Glasgow but the bond developed during his four-year spell at Ibrox remained as strong as ever.
But that was not unique, as illustrated by the outpouring of shock, sadness and grief as the stunning news broke on Tuesday morning that Bell had passed away aged 69.
Members of Gio van Bronckhorst’s current Ibrox crop joined stars from yesteryear in rushing to pay tribute to a man they claimed embodied everything the club represented.
De Boer was among those left reeling by the news but through the anguish he was able to raise a smile as he remembered a man he dubbed “the best kitman in the world”.
“I spoke with Dave Vos, Gio’s assistant, and he told me the sad news about Jimmy’s passing,” the former Holland attacker told Record Sport.
“It was such a shock to hear that awful news. I remember telling Dave when he agreed to join the club that he would meet the great Jimmy Bell.
“I remember the first impression he had on me when I joined Rangers myself. At that time my English was OK but the Scottish accent was not so easy to deal with.
“On my first day after signing from Barcelona I had to go to Jimmy and ask for some tracksuits. I went to his room and said, ‘Hey, they said you can help me out with some tracksuits?’
“But he was saying something I just couldn’t understand. It was just so quick but I couldn’t work it out.
“I had to say, ‘What?’. But he made the same noise he had before. We did this four times where he spoke so fast and I could only reply ‘What?’ before in the end I just said, ‘OK, Yes!’
“Thankfully that must have been the right answer and I got my tracksuits! That was my first encounter with Jimmy but what a guy. From there I picked up the accent and we had a great relationship.
“I remember a few months later I brought my brother-in-law over to the dressing room. Jimmy said something funny but my brother-in-law said, ‘Why are you laughing?’ – I turned to him and said, “What you can’t understand that?” It took a few months to tune in but then it was easy!”
Such was the length of Bell’s service over his 30 years at Ibrox, he operated under 10 of the 17 men privileged to have managed the club.
From Graeme Souness to Walter Smith and Steven Gerrard to finally Gio van Bronckhorst, he’s had a key to the inner sanctum and experienced moments that range from some of the highest highs to the deepest lows the club has ever gone through.
Bell was the thread that ran through Gers’ golden era of the 1990s, onto the bleak period that followed as the club was pushed to the brink of collapse by financial mismanagement and the resurrection that ended with last year’s title triumph.
For all the change, trauma and celebration that has happened down the years, it was characters like Jimmy which de Boer insists made Rangers the special institution that continues to lure former servants back to Ibrox long after their playing days have finished.
“Jimmy was not just the kitman or the guy who drove the bus,” he said. “He was someone in the dressing room who would come in and raise a smile and make a joke with the players, who all loved him.
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“Jimmy had a blue heart. Everything in his life was about Rangers. For me, he was the greatest kit man in the world.
“I worked with him daily for four years and for me he was the heart of the club.
“There were others like him, like Tiny in the kitchen, but Jimmy was close to the fire of the dressing room.
“I was back in Glasgow only a couple of months ago for the legends game and the first thing I did when I got the stadium was ask where Jimmy was so I could give him a big hug.
“There’s picture I posted on Instagram of Gio and I with Jimmy that day and you can see how happy I was to see him.
“I always had the feeling he was a father figure during my time at Rangers. A great personality.”
His famous gruff exterior often disguised the warm character beneath.
But there would also be times when his bark would match his bite.
De Boer added: “He was an incredible person. I never saw him angry. Of course he could be moaning if something was not right but in general he was always there with a smile and that makes me sad that he is no longer with us.
“But I also remember the time when Lorenzo Amoruso had the captaincy taken off him by Dick Advocaat.
“Amoruso was disappointed Dick had given it to Barry so for his first game after, he wore these Lotto boots with green flashes on them.
“But that’s against everything you stand for if you support Rangers and Jimmy especially was so passionate for the club.
“I remember he was quite pissed off with that one. It’s not the best idea to piss off Jimmy!”
