For many expats, shared passions help turn an unfamiliar city into home. In Kuala Lumpur, one Scottish football club has become a powerful point of connection, camaraderie, and belonging.
This post contributed by Ryan Phillip
For many expats, finding familiar faces and shared interests can make all the difference when settling into a new country. In Kuala Lumpur, football has become one of those connecting points.
As an expat living in Malaysia, far from Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow, being part of the Rangers Supporters Club has helped me feel at home. The club brings together fans of Rangers F.C., the Scottish football team based in Glasgow. As a Rangers fan, it’s special to connect with fellow supporters from all over the world and instantly share a common bond, no matter where you are.
A SENSE OF COMMUNITY
What never ceases to amaze me is the warmth and friendliness of fellow Rangers fans when you meet them outside of Scotland. When I first arrived in Malaysia in 2021, the first thing I did was find out when the supporters club was next meeting. Despite being a complete stranger, the regulars immediately accepted me and made me feel welcome. The camaraderie and sense of community among Rangers fans is truly remarkable, and it’s something that makes being a Rangers fan so special, even when living abroad.
One particularly memorable experience I had with the club was on Old Firm day, when Rangers F.C. and Celtic F.C. – Glasgow’s two biggest football clubs – play each other. It’s one of the fiercest and most historic rivalries in world football, dating back to the late 19th century. I had woken up in Melaka and was feeling a little worse for wear. I had planned to watch the big game in my hotel room as it was a 3.30am kick off and I assumed nowhere in Melaka would be open at that time, never mind showing Scottish football. That was until David Barron and Chris Wardlaw, two guys I had only met a few times at the club, offered to chip in for a three-hour taxi ride to KL so that we could all watch the game together. It was an incredibly kind gesture that I will never forget.
CONNECTING WITH FELLOW FANS
Being a Rangers fan is one of the few instances where someone you’ve only met a few times would offer to do something like that for you. It’s a testament to the strong sense of community that exists within the Rangers fanbase, and it’s something that I feel incredibly lucky to be a part of.
Overall, the Rangers Supporters Club in Kuala Lumpur has been an invaluable part of my expat experience. It has allowed me to connect with like-minded individuals and provided a sense of home away from home. I would encourage any Rangers fans in Kuala Lumpur, or anywhere in the world for that matter, to seek out their local supporters club. You never know who you might meet and what kind of lifelong connections you might make.
Follow the Facebook page of the Kuala Lumpur Glasgow Rangers Supporters Club to connect and to find out when the next meeting is.
KL Rangers Supporters Club
DWP Bar KL G-2, KL Trillion (next to Intermark)
338 Jalan Tun Razak
50400 Kuala Lumpur
