Rangers have paid tribute to the 66 football fans who died at Ibrox on this day in 1971 with a touching poem penned by the granddaughter of one of the victims.
Scottish football’s worst tragedy occurred after the final whistle blew on a match between Celtic and Rangers attended by over 80,000 on January 2, 1971. A crush occurred on Stairway 13 leading down from terraces packed with fans towards Copland Road subway station.
66 died, including 31 teenagers and 8-year-old Nigel Pickup from Liverpool. More than 200 people were injured in the disaster.
Ahead of their tie at Ibrox with Celtic on the 54th anniversary of the tragedy, Rangers remembered the victims with a poem. The poem, titled Always Remembered, was penned by Ashleigh Crawford Findlay, whose grandfather John Buchanan was killed in the disaster.
Mr Buchanan’s name is now included alongside the other victims at the base of the John Greig statue. In a statement shared to social media, the club said: “We will never forget those who went to follow Rangers and never made it home. Forever in our hearts.”
‘Always Remembered’ by Ashleigh Crawford Findlay
(Image: @RangersFC/X)
‘Always Remembered’ by Ashleigh Crawford Findlay
We remember.
I stare at the wall,
your name engraved in black.
You and sixty five others,
would never come back.
Memory of you all,
will never be forgot.
Glasgow was united,
is what I am taught.
You and sixty five others,
so sorely missed.
I am told you can’t forget,
that dark winters mist.
So we remember,
like we’ll always do.
And I stare at that wall,
while laying flowers for you.
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