Tomorrow, 3 January 2026, Celtic take on theRangers at Celtic Park in the Glasgow Derby. Today however many older Celtic supporters who were following the team in the early 1070s will recall with great sadness an Old Firm game at Ibrox on this day in 1971 when so many supporters went to a game of football but never came home. Matthew Marr tells the tragic story of the events at Ibrox on this day in 1971…
When it comes to football, exaggeration is never far away. Sometimes teams can face defeats and have this described using hyperbole such as tragedy or disaster.
However, in the early 1970s – 55 years ago today – these words were entirely apt in a sporting context. A Celtic journey to face Rangers ended up being remembered for the most terrible of reasons.
This is the story of Celtic and the 1971 Ibrox Disaster
These events at Ibrox were not the first time that this venue had been witness to a stark reminder of mortality. Ten years beforehand, two Rangers fans had died in a crush on Stairway 13 following an Old Firm game.
And in 1902, a stand collapse at the ground during a Scotland and England game had claimed 55 lives and injured more than 500 people too.
Away from Ibrox, there have been numerous other occasions when a trip to the football has ended up in the mortuary. This has been often to do with a lack of regard for fan safety, with clubs and other organisations caring little for the experience of their working-class supporters.
In recent memory in the UK, the most infamous of these is the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, but there have been numerous other incidents too, including two in 1985 alone: the Bradford City fire and the Heysel tragedy.
However, in Scotland at least, thoughts of footballing catastrophe inevitably dwell on 2nd January 1971.
Old Firm games at New Year were a firmly embedded part of the Scottish football calendar. Since the 1890s, Celtic and Rangers had faced off at the start of each new year, usually playing on the 1st or the 2nd of January.
As such, 1971 was to be no different. On that occasion, the Celts made their way to Glasgow’s southside. The Bhoys were well ahead of their Glasgow rivals but still trailed Aberdeen in the championship race.
Despite the Bhoys’ League advantage, victory over the Light Blues was far from assured. The last time had Celtic had managed to win a Scottish League game at New Year at Ibrox was 1921.
80,000 fans watched what proved to be an enthralling encounter, albeit one that for the most of the 90 minutes did not feature any goals. In the first half, both sides had prominent chances, with the two goalkeepers making some impressive saves.
The second 45 minutes went much the same way as the first, and neither set of fans had a goal to celebrate. The incoming fog was making limiting visibility and at one point it even potentially threatened to prematurely end the game.
55years on and all both sets of supporters are worried about is the result of a game between two poor teams.
R I P.
Hail Hail.