Ibrox Disaster: Glasgow prepares to remember the 66 Rangers fans who never came home

However, January 2, 1971, will forever be remembered as one of the darkest moments in Glasgow’s long history. 

The city was rocked by the loss of 66 lives – the youngest a nine-year-old boy – following a crush on Stairway 13 at Ibrox Stadium in the aftermath of Rangers’ league match with Celtic. 

READ MORE: Reverend Stuart McQuarrie on the Ibrox Disaster and the importance of commemorating the 66 Rangers fans who died

At the time, the tragedy was the worst at a British football ground and half a century later the scars of the disaster remain for so many. 

In the years since, people from all walks of life have come together to remember “Absent Friends” and it has become tradition for a service to be held by the Light Blues outside their stadium at the statue of John Greig. 

However, that won’t be the case today due to Covid-19 restrictions and Rangers, who are planning a ceremony on par with that held in Glasgow Cathedral in 1971, have opted to postpone the memorial until fans can gather in person. 

Rangers said in a statement yesterday: “It is with great sadness that the Covid-19 pandemic has prevented us from being able to hold a full, traditional service to commemorate the anniversary.

“Before the impact of the pandemic took hold, we had planned to hold a service that would be similar in style and scale to the one held at Glasgow Cathedral in 1971.

Jock Stein, manager of Celtic, and Willie Waddell, manager of Rangers, have a word together after a memorial service

“However, as there are no options that allow us to be completely inclusive of all the families, survivors and representatives that should be present at such an occasion, we have decided to postpone a major event until circumstances allow us to hold a service that would reflect the significance and magnitude of the occasion.

“We know how important a service is not only in terms of an act of commemoration but also as a way for families to meet and comfort each other.

“In the absence of a service this year, additional digital and matchday tributes will be on display tomorrow and the club will continue to support and liaise with families via the Always Remembered communication channel.”

The club also asked supporters to stay away from the stadium due to current Level Four restrictions.

“We understand that normally a lot of people would visit the stadium on January 2 to pay their own tributes and leave a token of respect,” the statement continued. 

“Unfortunately we must respectfully ask supporters and individuals not to visit the stadium this year as government guidelines related to the Covid-19 pandemic restrict non-essential travel.”

Supporters who would normally travel to Ibrox have been asked to donate to St Andrew’s First Aid, who played a crucial role that fateful day in Govan. Fans can text SAFA to 70660 to pledge £10.

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard shared his own tribute ahead of the occasion. 

He said: “I certainly know what this disaster means to people and I want to send my full respects to all the families and the survivors.   

“I also want to pay my respects to the people who passed away. It’s a very special day, myself and the players are all aware of that.” 

The tragedy was Britain’s biggest disaster at a football ground until 96 Liverpool fans tragically died at Hillsborough in 1989.

Thirty one of the victims at Ibrox were teenagers. 

The loss included many children, five of them schoolmates from the town of Markinch in Fife.

READ MORE: Derek Pickup survived Heysel and Hillsborough and now remembers cousin Nigel on 50th anniversary of Ibrox Disaster

The youngest victim was a boy of nine, Nigel Pickup, who had travelled to the game from Liverpool.

One woman was among the fatalities. Margaret Ferguson, 18, from Maddiston, near Falkirk, had made a doll for the daughter of Rangers centre-forward Colin Stein and had delivered it to his home before Christmas.

A fatal accident inquiry found the 66 had died through being crushed or covered by the bodies of others.

The evidence suggested the accident was caused because at least one person fell or collapsed on the stairway when those who were descending were packed closely together and were being pushed downwards by the pressure of others above and behind them.

The tragedy led to huge changes in football stadia across the country.

It spurred the UK government into a review of safety at sports grounds and in February 1971, Scottish judge Lord Wheatley was asked to conduct an inquiry. It formed the basis for the Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds (Green Guide), published in 1973.

Remembering the 66 people who lost their lives in the Ibrox Disaster

Bryan Todd

Robert McAdam

Peter Wright

John Gardiner

Richard Bark

William Thomson Summerhill

George Adams

John Neill

James Trainer

Richard Douglas Morrison

James Whyte Rae

David Douglas McGee

Robert Colquhoun Mulholland

David Ronald Paton

George McFarlane Irwin

Ian Frew

John Crawford

Brian Hutchison

Duncan McIsaac McBrearty

Charles John Griffiths Livingstone

Adam Henderson

Richard McLeay

David Cummings Duff

David Fraser McPherson

Robert Lockerbie Rae

Robert Campbell Grant

John McNeil McLeay

David Anderson

John Buchanan

John McInnes Semple

John Jeffrey

Robert Maxwell

Matthew Reid

Alexander McIntyre

Peter Gilchrist Farries

Thomas Melville

John James McGovern

George Wilson

Robert Charles Cairns

Hugh McGregor Addie

James Yuille Mair

Margaret Oliver Ferguson

Robert Turner Carrigan

George Alexander Smith

Walter Robert Raeburn

Andrew Jackson Lindsay

Charles Dougan

William Mason Philip

Russell Morgan

Peter Gordon Easton

George Crockett Findlay

Charles Stirling

Thomas Dickson

James Graham Gray

Thomas McRobbie

Ian Scott Hunter

Nigel Patrick Pickup

Russell Malcolm

Alexander Paterson Orr

Thomas Walker Stirling

James William Sibbald

Frankie Dover

Walter Shields

Thomas Grant

William Duncan Shaw

Donald Robert Sutherland