DONNY NO DAE THAT!

McCormack scored goal to help Gers into last 16 of Champs League and then got shipped off to English third tier! But at least his old man got to take in the rest of 2005 Euro adventure

- ANDY NEWPORT

ROSS McCORMACK scored the goal in Porto that put Rangers and his Celtic-supporting dad - on course for a dream trip to the Champions League last 16.

But all it earned the former Ibrox kid was a move to Doncaster Rovers! Two decades have passed since McCormack helped Alex McLeish's Gers make history in late 2005 as they became the first Scottish side in the modern era to reach the knock-out stages of UEFA's top tournament.

The 19-year-old only registered 14 minutes of groupstage action but that was all he needed to drill home the equaliser that not only saved embattled boss Big Eck from the sack but meant the Light Blues could qualify with just a point in their final match at home to Inter Milan.

A 1-1 draw put Rangers through but by the time the glamour last-16 clash with La Liga cracks Villarreal came round three months later, McCormack had been farmed out on loan to the English third tier.

But that still didn't stop his Hoops-daft old man Stephen joining Gers in Spain.

Speaking to Record Sport, Rossco laughed as he recalled: "I remember him telling me he was going to go to the game even without me! "He goes, 'A holiday in Spain? I'm not passing that up.

No chance!' "Obviously, he had booked up to go as soon as we qualified but we didn't know then that I'd be going out on loan.

"He had got his tickets sorted and his flights and his hotel for Villarreal.

"So while he was lapping it up in sunny Spain, I'm down in Doncaster, sitting in this tiny flat the club had sorted me with, trying to get the game on my telly.