The 1971 Ibrox Disaster: The new year opens with a tragedy

The new year opens with a tragedy…

Reeling from the recent loss of his parents, the second day of 1971 would see Harry play in a match which still sends a shiver through me 50 years later. The traditional Ne-erday fixture between Celtic and Rangers drew over 80,000 supporters to Ibrox on a foggy afternoon which those present will never forget.

As Jock Stein sought to maintain his challenge to League-leaders Aberdeen – now three points clear at the summit following their 3-0 victory over Dundee at Pittodrie 24 hours earlier, Celtic’s match with Clyde frozen off – he again left his captain Billy McNeill out in favour of George Connelly, Tommy Gemmell wearing the armband.

Willie Waddell’s response to the 3-1 defeat to Falkirk at Brockville on New Year’s Day – a sixth League defeat of the season for Rangers – was to hand German keeper Gerry Neef his first start of the campaign, as the following sides ran out at Ibrox on this fateful afternoon.

Rangers: Gerry Neef; Sandy Jardine & Willie Mathieson; John Greig, Ron McKinnon & Colin Jackson; Willie Henderson, Alfie Conn, Derek Johnstone, Colin Stein & Dave Smith. Substitute; Alex MacDonald.

Celtic:Evan Williams; Jim Craig & Tommy Gemmell; Jim Brogan, George Connelly & Davie Hay;Jimmy Johnstone, Harry Hood, Willie Wallace Tom Callaghan & Bobby Lennox. Substitute; Lou Macari.

In conditions which did football a huge disservice, the only goal action took place in the closing minute of the match. First Jimmy Johnstone followed up on a shot from his pal Bobby Lennox which beat Rangers goalkeeper Gerry Neef all ends up but crashed off the crossbar, the little winger then grabbing one of so many headed goals he would enjoy in these fixtures.

He would not have time to savour this one though, as a long, desperate free-kick from Dave Smith was propelled into the packed Celtic penalty area for Colin Stein to scramble past the tracksuit-bottomed Evan Williams. Celtic’s 50-year wait to savour the taste of victory at Ibrox in the Ne-erday fixture would thus continue – indeed, it would never happen under Jock Stein – whilst former Rangers striker Jim Forrest scored a late winner at Muirton Park, Perth which sent Aberdeen four points clear at the top of the table. Sadly, the weekend match details would prove later to be irrelevant.

My dad had decided, for his own reasons, that he was not going back to Ibrox, and as I was still considered in the ‘too wee’ category for such games, we were paying his brother a visit at his home in Barmulloch, as we did at New Year. Both men had teenage sons at the game, albeit not together, so when word came through of “trouble at Ibrox,” there was genuine concern for their safety.

Eventually, my cousin would arrive home, saying he had heard there had been “bother” at the other end, like most folk, I guess, assuming violence rather than the tragedy which later unfolded. I can recall watching the scenes on black-and-white television later that night – not sure if it was Scotsport or the news – then in the newspapers, bodies laid out on the Ibrox pitch and the expressions of Jock Stein, Neil Mochan, Bob Rooney and other club officials as they tended to the injured, with the thick fog and lack of colour only adding to the surreal scenario.

Irrespective of who was to blame and why, or what colour their scarves were, on Saturday, 2 January 1971, 66 supporters went to a football match and did not return to their families, almost half of those teenagers or younger. May they rest in peace.

Matt Corr

* An extract from Harry Hood: Twice As Good by Matt Corr

About Author

Having retired from his day job Matt Corr can usually be found working as a Tour Guide at Celtic Park, or if there is a Marathon on anywhere in the world from as far away as Tokyo or New York, Matt will be running for the Celtic Foundation. On a European away-day, he's there writing his Diary for The Celtic Star and he's currently completing his first Celtic book with another two planned.

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