'I’m aware of the deep divide' - Robert Duvall on the time he held a 'Keep Ulster Protestant' scarf outside Parkhead
A photograph of Robert Duvall outside Celtic’s home ground of Parkhead, holding a “Keep Ulster Protestant” scarf, remains one of the more unexpected images linking the Hollywood icon to Scottish football.
The actor – who won an Oscar for Tender Mercies – died “peacefully” at his home on Sunday, according to a statement by his wife Luciana Duvall.
Despite success on the global stage, Duvall starred in a film about Scottish football called ‘A Shot at Glory’, which was released in 2002.
Duvall prepared for the movie by attending the Scottish Cup finals in both 1998 and 1999 as Rangers lost the first to Hearts, before beating Celtic in the latter.
He was famously pictured outside Parkhead holding a "Keep Ulster Protestant" scarf.
When asked about the scarf incident by the Daily Record in 1998, he replied: "I'm aware of the deep divide between Catholic and Protestant. I know it's part of your culture.
"But it's not as bad here as in Northern Ireland, I don't think so anyway.
"It was just something somebody handed to me and I got my picture taken. But that's really what I'm here for. To learn more about soccer and the people who are involved in it."
In the movie, Duvall played the role of Gordon McLeod, the beleaguered manager of the fictional Scottish club Kilnockie, struggling to keep the team rooted in its home town amid threats from its new owner to relocate it to Ireland.
Former Rangers legend Ally McCoist, who was still playing as a footballer at the time, also performed a starring role as Jackie McQuillan, who signed for Kilnockie from Arsenal after previously being a club legend at Celtic.
Speaking on TalkSport about Duvall's death, McCoist said: “The first thing you have got to say is what an innings. 95.
“But what a guy. What a man he was.
“When we did that film, A Shot at Glory, we filmed it all over Scotland and it was just so much fun.
“The lads that we did it with, a lot of them were pros, Airdrie and Raith Rovers a lot of the boys played with and he just became one of the boys.
“He loved it. He absolutely loved it.
“Whenever there was a break, he’d set up a heady tennis court and he’d just pull up a chair and he’d watch the boys playing heady tennis.
“He’d love the craic, he’d love all the patter. He used to take all the boys to dinner."
Rangers supporters from Northern Ireland told the News Letter how they never even knew that the famous actor shared the big screen alongside their idol McCoist.
Richie Porter, who is a member of the County Armagh Rangers Supporters Club, explained: "I remember there were conversations about the movie being made more than 20 years ago.
"I'll be honest, I've never watched it as I'm not really a movie fan and I didn't realise he would have known a few Rangers players from the movie."
That sentiment was echoed by Stewart McPherson, secretary at the Castleroe Rangers Supporters Club.
He replied: "This is the first I've heard of it.
"I knew of Robert Duvall as an actor but I didn't realise he had a movie about Scottish football or he featured alongside Rangers hero Ally McCoist.
"He must have left a lasting impression as I've just read the tributes to him by Ally."