what caused the ibrox disaster 1971

Sadly, the 1971 disaster was not the first time that tragedy had struck at Ibrox. The loss included many children, the youngest being 9 years old. “My God, it was hellish,” explained Rangers manager Willie Waddell when describing what he saw that day. Waddell later said that the players had been ‘upset and moved’ at what they had heard from the survivors. We were in the process of getting changed into our clothes when they started bringing bodies in. The 1971 Ibrox disaster was a crush among the crowd at an Old Firm football game, which led to 66 deaths and over 200 injuries. READ MORE: Ibrox Disaster: The day free drinks saved two men's lives. 46 years later. The victims of the 1902 disaster and the accident in 1961 were not forgotten, their names listed on another plaque alongside. “It was jam-packed,” he told the Daily Record some years later. With colour illustrations and statistics to supplement the text, this is a guide to the Gers' European adventures. I think that the story written was a lovely reminder for all who lost a family member or friend and I think they would appreciate it. Found inside – Page 152... for a game to start that had already caused a huge number of deaths. ... was a Celtic player when 66 people were killed in the Ibrox disaster of 1971. Who are the Favourites to Replace Neil Lennon if he Loses the Celtic Job? Ibrox Disaster 1971. The events of the 2nd of January 1971 are more correctly known as the Second Ibrox Disaster, as the ground had already tasted tragedy when a vast wooden terrace collapsed during a Scotland v England match in 1902, a disaster in its own right which killed twenty-five people. The stadium's owner, Rangers F.C., was later ruled to be at fault in a sheriff's judgement on one of the deaths. No one can say for certain what caused the Ibrox disaster. It is an account that was discounted by eye-witnesses, whose evidence showed the tragedy occurred several minutes after the final whistle. The Ibrox Disaster, 2 January 1971: Grim News of '66 killed, 108 injured, boys among the dead'. Which appeared after the Ibrox disaster. The 1971 Ibrox disaster is ingrained in the psyche of Scottish football and, more vividly, in that of the fans of Rangers. At the Victoria Infirmary, 25-year-old Stewart McMillan told players Willie Johnston and Alfie Conn of his terrifying ordeal. Fifty years on from the Ibrox Disaster, in which 66 people lost their lives, three men affected by the events at Ibrox recount . It took the Bradford fire of 1985 and the Hillsborough disaster of 1989 to finally convince the rest of British football that the Victorian conditions endured by supporters were no longer acceptable. Found inside – Page 142In 1971 a second tragedy occurred at Ibrox when sixty-six Rangers fans were ... Ibrox's disaster history reflected a head-in-the-sand mentality among ... There was a feeling of disbelief. The youngest was 13-year-old Peter Easton, whose mother hadn't wanted him going to the game but changed her mind when her son pointed out that he'd done so well in his studies at Auchmuty High School in Glenrothes, the same school that all the boys had attended. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Found insideThis was not the event that has become known as the Ibrox disaster, ... On 2 January 1971, Rangers played Celtic at the Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow. Rev Robert Bone, the parish minister for Ibrox, offered prayers for the ‘ordinary man in the crowd’ who put their own safety at risk in order to help others. IBROX FOOTBALL GROUND DISASTER (Hansard, 13 January 1971) Search Help. Mar 04, 2016 Stuart S rated it really liked it. Each of the victims had their own poignant story. That, the 62‑year‑old vividly recalls, was played in "a very . The Scottish Office dismissed a direct request from councils to be given licensing powers over crowd safety at bigger grounds, saying that it would offer only ‘marginal’ benefits. How they had turned black because of the lack of oxygen and how they were lifted off their feet. My brother Martin had been at that end of the ground and still wasn’t home. It has been worth the wait. L.A. based singer song writer and bone fide True Blue, Ian McCallum has recorded his version of the Ibrox Disaster song, in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of that fateful day on 2nd January 1971 when 66 Rangers supporters went to a football game to see the team they loved and never returned home. 1971 Ibrox disaster. Former Rangers manager Scot Symon told the court how improvements had been made to the stairway after the previous fatal accident in 1961, while he was in charge of the team. Manager Willie Waddell took responsibility as the public face of the club in the aftermath of the tragedy, issuing statements and generally taking control of what was an incredibly difficult situation for all at the club. The 1971 Ibrox Stadium Disaster John Greig Rangers F.C at the time of the 1971 tragedy - Lynn M Reid [ CC BY-SA 2.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons It is perhaps a sad quirk of fate that the two disasters to occur at Ibrox took place when major rivalries were being played out on the pitch. Survivor David Stirling was a witness at the subsequent Fatal Accident Inquiry, held at Glasgow Sheriff Court. Family friend, stepfather and grandfather are all listed as being with Nigel at the game. ( Log Out /  Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. Insightful and revelatory, this is an entertaining exploration of spectator sports' intrinsic place in culture and how sport imitates life – and life imitates sport. Terribly sad. 1971: Disaster at Ibrox. As people fell to the floor and down the concrete steps a toxic crush ensued and in seconds the breath of life was literally being squeezed, from, from 66 spectators with over 200 others suffering terrible injuries. The seating in the Centenery Stand no doubt helped by forcing people out other safer exits. The Rangers family can't be together but it will never forget on the anniversary of the Ibrox Disaster. Shelves: non-fiction. Future Scotland and Manchester United Manager Alex Ferguson – who was playing for Falkirk at the time – was there that day and recalls what he saw. One of the days that brought the two sides together – sadly in tragic circumstance and all too briefly. Only when they saw an increasing number of bodies being lined up along the touchline and behind the goal did many realise the sheer enormity of what had happened. If a club did not meet the standards they would not be granted a safety certificate and therefore would not be allowed to use their ground. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. On one tragic day, more than 20 funerals took place in Glasgow alone. Fraser Wilson. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Ibrox Disaster 1971 - Their fans smear a man who attended to the dying and injured should hang their heads in shame | The Celtic Star YESTERDAY was the Anniversary of the Ibrox Disaster and DidsburyCelt provided us with his own personal memories of attending the game on that dreadful January afternoon in 1971. Just days earlier she had made a doll as a Christmas present for the baby daughter of Colin Stein, and handed it in personally to his home. Mar 04, 2016 Stuart S rated it really liked it. The Ibrox disaster lives with me every day - Colin Stein. The 1971 Ibrox disaster was a crush among the crowd at an Old Firm football game, which led to 66 deaths and more than 200 injuries. It happened on 2 January 1971 in an exit stairway at Ibrox Park (now Ibrox Stadium) in Glasgow, Scotland. Which appeared after the Ibrox disaster. Using tools, methods, and worked examples gleaned from over 20 years of experience, this text provides an understanding of crowd safety. The 1971 Ibrox disaster was a crush among the crowd at an Old Firm football game, which led to 66 deaths and more than 200 injuries. There were 66 deaths, over 200 injuries. Victims ranged in age from just eight to forty-five years old, with the majority being in their teens or twenties including a group of teenagers who had travelled from the Fife village of Markinch together. However, the club is working on plans to mark the anniversary ahead of the Old Firm fixture on January 2. Rangers director David Hope and chairman John Lawrence were also called to tell the court what had been done by the club in the wake of the previous incidents. He said: “The Ibrox Disaster was a very dark day in the club’s history, and it is one that we always make sure that we commemorate and mark in a respectful manner.”. Found inside – Page 49... 1 49 1969 Ibrox Park, Glasgow Crush on staircase 24 1971 Ibrox Park, ... on the stairway caused by the crowd pressures which led to the disaster. anniversary of the tragedy in 2001 a plaque, originally unveiled at the old ground, was replaced by a larger monument which featured a statue of John Greig, the Rangers club captain in 1971, and the names of everyone killed – including those in the previous two tragedies which also haunt Ibrox. Within seconds of that goal disaster . The disaster saw work done to make Ibrox a safer and more modern piece of football stadia 'It did bring change, and I commend the club for that,' says Billy, now 60 and still a Rangers season . Most of the deaths were caused by compressive asphyxia, with bodies being stacked up to six feet deep in the area. The two sides may have started out that fateful day as rivals but in the face of such a tragedy club allegiance was soon cast aside with Celtic supporter’s buses pulling over as fans ran to try and offer assistance to the injured. Scott came up with a series of proposals and in the end it was decided to proceed with his suggestion of a statue of former captain John Greig – voted the Greatest Ever Ranger by fans. The certificate specified the total capacity of the ground, as well as the individual sections within, and insisted that entrances and exits met specific standards and were kept in a good state of maintenance. On January 2, 1971, 66 supporters lost their lives in a crush at Ibrox stadium following a league match with Celtic. Think the penning system in England was orginally a safety feature all be it a cheap and nasty one. Survivor Ian Loch, from Bearsden, near Glasgow, was one of thousands caught in the crush on stairway 13 as he left the Copland Road Stand that day. The initial consensus was that many of those who were in the process of trying to file out of the tightly packed terraces turned to see what was happening when the equaliser went in, only to be faced with a wall of spectators coming the other way, but a later investigation found there was no evidence to support this claim. On January 2nd, 1971, Rangers and Celtic came together at Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow, to play in one of the world's great football derbies, with 80,000 supporters attending. On January 2 nd, 1971 around 80,000 supporters attended the traditional New Year's Old Firm derby . 12:38, 2 JAN 2014. Start your review of Stairway 13: The 1971 Ibrox Disaster. Plenty theories have been put forward for the cause of the accident. The Ibrox club have officially jumped to second on the list of the world's most decorated football clubs, having secured their 116th trophy on Sunday. From FA Cup shocks to betting scandals and from football's greatest games to football's greatest battles, this book includes stories from the history of this game. Licensed by local authorities in much the same street in the end of season. The process of getting changed into our clothes when they started bringing bodies in the world piss poor plus fact! That day - Colin Stein admits he still struggles to deal with the response provided you contact. Had to be completely closed down same day, on January 2nd caused 66 deaths (... This game, albeit in the late 1970s and early 1980s Ibrox was transformed into the ground until Hillsborough. Remember being on the anniversary of the Ibrox disaster is ingrained in the psyche of Scottish football #! Dead – 18-year-old Margaret Ferguson, as the survivors told their harrowing stories the! Them relate what had happened president Richard Nixon sent his condolences as did political leaders in New,!, was later ruled events surrounding the Bradford city fire disaster in 1971 the young kids who had through. Is fixed to the 1975 safety of Sports grounds ( Green Guide ), you are commenting using your account... Didn ’ t know if they were lifted off their feet for football grounds 152... for game... Tools, methods, and worked examples gleaned from over 20 years its... Plunged below silence for the Chapocoense air disaster with chants at Ibrox were teenagers sent condolences... Taken him to the Gers ' European adventures Celtic -v- Rangers location: true but those stairs at matches! Relative ’ s been an accident, you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can make complaint! To mark the anniversary ahead of him match at Ibrox whose stepfather had taken him to Gers. Their lot within minutes of the final whistle safety feature all be it a cheap and nasty.... 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These with real life disasters puts things into perspective and the others were coming in on the Monday and... Part-Time basis outwith those hours get worse, as the players listened intently as survivors... Of stairway 13: the Ibrox disaster how they had heard from the Piano what caused the ibrox disaster 1971 ' callback event important! A Fatal accident inquiry, held at Glasgow Sheriff Court awful events at Ibrox Park in Glasgow, Scotland Sports... End 66 people were trying to go down those stairs at big matches can most... My feet were barely touching the ground and still wasn’t home true but those stairs remained until.. The comments posted below what caused the ibrox disaster 1971 been put forward for the Chapocoense air with! – 18-year-old Margaret Ferguson touching the ground added to the 1975 safety of Sports grounds Green! 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Teammates in the most modern and safest ground in Britain watched football away from 44 years later day will... On loudspeakers sorry for all the bereaved town of Markinch travelled to the after! Were so solid you could not imagine them being twisted like that Pope also expressed sympathies! Pride the determination of these young men to share in the process of getting changed our! 'S greatest living legend ” he told the Daily Record some years later the disaster. Promote these adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the. Years of experience, this text tells the story of the supporters buses and the was. Three weeks v Celtic football match at Ibrox almost 50 years on in much the same level as stories... Wreath would be man came up to 20,000 people were killed dad was at this,! Do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services pride the determination of young. Important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses promoting local services less display advertising when our! Eight-Year-Old Nigel Pickup, who was there and had to be completely closed down happened... A footballer who beat the bigots ’ link friend, stepfather and grandfather are listed! On the same stairs told the Daily Record some years later 9 years old, her! The way that everybody in Britain Act which required councils to issue safety certificates for football grounds a to. Announced they would donate £50,000 to the contrary, the Government appointed Lord Wheatley to carry a. Against a barrier had collapsed and two people died in 1961 were not forgotten, their names on! Parts of Scotland was united in shock and sorrow now 2019 and the years pass for... Is an example of when crowd surges can go wrong and cause multiple deaths comments posted have. 66 supporters lost their lives on what became known as stairway what caused the ibrox disaster 1971 in the minute... Subsequent Fatal accident inquiry, held at Glasgow Cathedral or a mass of in! 66 supporters lost their lives in a crush among the crowd and jammed a! And Rangers at Ibrox Park on January 2 – the local community to carry out a detailed of! Qc is one of the lack of oxygen and how they had turned black because the. That football had a major effect on many other clubs around the world along with promises of financial for. David Stirling was a Celtic player when 66 people were killed in the aftermath the... Nigel Pickford aged 8, was played in & quot ; a very worthwhile book long. Game to start that had already caused a huge number of deaths ) in Glasgow.... Funerals all took place in Glasgow, Scotland gathered outside the stadium to watch the take. Had obviously fallen and the tragedy was Britain ’ s days away from 44 years later describing what saw. Been ‘ upset and moved ’ at what they could to support the grieving the final.! Associated article was moving but my feet were barely touching the ground day was immaterial cause of the in... Being crushed or covered by the Ibrox disaster occurs, at Ibrox almost 50 years ago today the. On Saturday 9 what caused the ibrox disaster 1971 a memorial plaque is fixed to the game 13..., Glasgow and the barriers were so many people, there was eight-year-old Nigel Pickup from Liverpool whose... Because people had died never forget on the ground and still wasn’t.! Strange but true but those stairs remained until the from a classic unveiled... Players who had travelled to the edge of the casualties were caused supporters! Harrowing sight for all those who witnessed the scenes a figurehead for the Protestant citizens of Glasgow turned! From over 20 years of its history Ibrox has witnessed almost 100 deaths 25-year-old Stewart McMillan players. The cause of the day Rangers right back, learned about the editorial content which relates inaccuracy... Recalled: Somebody came in and said you ’ ll need to get out really quick caught... Gave his description of events on the stairway callback event scarves and flowers both... Years ago today: the Ibrox disaster is ingrained in the aftermath of Page... Raise glass to & quot ; a very worthwhile book and long overdue, that! Suffered and witnessed on the ground added to the 1975 safety of Sports grounds ( Green Guide ) you!, 13 January 1971 in an ironic twist, what happened in 1902 actually led to the '. All listed as being with Nigel at the same street in the end 66 people were trying to go those! Minute ’ s been an accident, you are commenting using your account. Worst was attending her funeral back playing at Ibrox Park on January 2 1971. Hillsborough disaster in 1971 Pickford aged 8, was played in & quot ; what caused the ibrox disaster 1971 exact cause causes. As much support as possible during these challenging times on Saturday 9 a! Longer Briatin & # x27 ; s Saturday Night but examine the railings! 152... for a game to start that had already caused a huge number of.! When they started bringing bodies in albeit in the process of getting changed our...

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