TONY WALLACE has revealed his frustration at Rangers' shirt snub after he was left without a memento of Annan's Scottish Cup clash with the champions.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side eased into the last eight of the competition as Filip Helander, Kemar Roofe and Fashion Sakala netted at Galabank on Saturday evening.
Annan were ultimately no match for a line-up that contained the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Steven Davis as the Gers produced a professional performance to overcome their League Two hosts.
And midfielder Wallace had no joy in the end of game shirt swap as he was left empty-handed and without a token to remember the occasion by.
“I never," Wallace said when asked if he got a jersey. "I asked about six people but they said they couldn’t. They said a few boys had took them.
“That’s the only disappointing thing. You want something to show and you expect a club like that size to say, ‘You know what, every single person give your top away’.
“We’re disappointed. There’s a few boys who never got one and the kitman just kind of shut the door on us. They shut it but only two or three got the tops.
“You’d think a club like Rangers should be realising we might not get to play them again so give your tops away, let them have it. That’s disappointing for us.
“Ach, it would have been good to get one for the family but only a few got the tops."
Wallace was one of the unlucky ones that wasn't able to secure a keepsake from what was the biggest fixture in Annan's history.
The 30-year-old returned to Galabank for a second spell with Annan last March and would find himself pitched in against a star-studded Light Blues line-up.
Wallace has previously turned out against Celtic but he would complete an unwanted Old Firm double after again missing out on a shirt from a big name.
“At Morton we played Celtic but that was the League Cup," Wallace said. “But as this is the Scottish Cup I’d say it was the biggest game in Annan’s history and also the biggest of my career too.
“It’s something that might not happen again, that’s why we wanted the top.
“It happened to me last time too. I asked for Adam Matthew’s jersey. He told me he’d give me it in the tunnel but I never got it.
“So I’ve got nothing to show from any of them. I asked for Davis’ but Ando (Iain Anderson) had already asked him in the first half.
“I’d probably have taken any just for the memory. I’d even have taken one of the young boys, who may go on to become big, big players for them. But I did ask for Davis but Ando has asked early doors and got it."
Annan will return to action with a trip to Elgin on Tuesday night as they aim to maintain their push for promotion to League One this term.
And Wallace reckons Peter Murphy's side can take heart from their Rangers test after a committed showing against the champions.
Wallace said: “We wanted them to play their full strength team. Obviously they weren’t with the captain and Morelos not playing. But it was as good as with a lot of good players.
“You want to play against someone like Aaron Ramsey. You can see the quality he has with those wee touches.
“They will probably feel they didn’t need to get up to second or third gear but I thought we did OK considering we’re up against a full-time team.
“We had guys grafting away before the game but I think we can be proud.
“We’re part-time and train twice a week. If we were full-time, we’d be a lot sharper, stronger, fitter.
“But I thought we did well and we’re proud of that. But it’s quality to play against guys likes Ramsey and Davis."
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