Celtic on this Day – We remember the victims of the Ibrox disaster

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The Celtic Star

·2 de enero de 2025

Celtic on this Day – We remember the victims of the Ibrox disaster

Celtic on this Day – we remember the victims of the Ibrox disaster and look back on numbers New Year matches against both Rangers clubs…

The Ibrox Disaster, 1971. Photo The Celtic Wiki

2 January 1971

54 years on, we remember the victims of the Ibrox disaster. Leading to 66 deaths, including the lives of many children, and more than 200 injuries, the Ibrox disaster which occurred on Stairway 13 closest to the Copland Road stand was the worst football disaster until the Bradford stadium fire in 1985, and then Hillsborough four years later. Nobody should ever go to a football match and not return home. Today, we remember those who lost their lives in the tragedy and the heartbreak it caused on families, then, now and always.

OneFootball Videos

You’ll Never Walk Alone.

The Celtic View front page after the Ibrox Disaster on 2 January 1971.

Continued on the next page…

2 January 2011

2 January 2011, Rangers 0-2 Celtic. Samaras Sunday. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Rangers 0-2 Celtic. Samaras Sunday. Neil Lennon’s side stretched their lead at the top of the table to four points, but Rangers had two games in hand. It was Celtic’s first win at Ibrox in a New Years game since 1985. Remembered fondly thanks to the iconic commentary from Ian Crocker on Sky Sports, “Samaras is chasing this, and McGregor’s came way out, Georgios Samaras scores for Celtic. Happy New Year to the men in Hoops.” A legendary line that is revisited every year by supporters on social media. What is underrated about Sammy’s opener is the pass from Joe Ledley – sublime. Six minutes later, Samaras was brought down by Bougherra in the box, to which he tucked the resulting penalty kick away cooly. The full Broomloan sang, “oo ah Samaras, say oo ah Samaras!” It was the big Greek at his wonderful best, and surprisingly his brace was his first league goals of the 2010/2011 season. Simply unplayable on his day. Notably, prior to the game Billy McNeill and John Greig laid a wreath on the pitch to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Ibrox disaster in which 66 lives were sadly lost. A tragedy that should always be remembered and never forgotten.

Continued on the next page...

2 January 1998

Celtic 2 Rangers 0 – 2nd January 1998. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Celtic 2-0 Rangers. Outwith St Johnstone in the final league meeting of the season, this memorable victory over Rangers was not only the most important win of the 1997/1998 season, but of the entire 90s. It was a must-win for Wim Jansen given the Hoops were trailing their rivals by four points in the league. Three points for the visitors and it may well have been curtains for Celtic in their pursuit of ending Rangers’ coveted 10 in a row. Gascoigne tried to wind the Celtic support up by playing an imaginary flute. But it was the home support who would have the last laugh courtesy of Craig Burley and the exceptional Paul Lambert’ second half strikes. The result would evidently prove physiologically seismic for Celtic who kickstarted their run to securing the league championship for the first time since the Centenary season.

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2 January 1988

Celtic v Rangers, 2nd January 1988. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Celtic 2-0 Rangers. The victory was completely overshadowed by the disgraceful actions of a section of the Celtic support who racially abused Mark Walters and threw bananas at him. There was a backlash from the Celtic support as it was an anthesis to what Celtic stands for. It was Walters’ first match in a Rangers jersey, and he was the first black player in Scotland for generations. The abuse was unacceptable and led to soul searching amongst the support. On the football side, McAvennie was the hero again, grabbing a brace. A crucial victory on the way to a sensational league and cup double.

Continued on the next page…

2 January 1968

Celtic v Rangers, 2nd January 1968. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Celtic 2-2 Rangers. There had been a build up to this fixture for several weeks as Rangers found themselves two points ahead in the league. An all-ticket affair, 75,000 was the proposed limit set for in the ground. With Celtic initially leading twice in the match courtesy of Auld and Murdoch, Kai Johansen’s equaliser with two minutes of normal time to play was a huge blow for Celtic who deserved both points. Jock Stein’s side would of course go onto win the league, recording 16 wins from 16 matches thereafter.

Continued on the next page…

2 January 2023

Daizen Maeda scores Celtic’s first goal past goalkeeper, Allan McGregor of theRangers during the Scottish Premiership match between theRangers and Celtic on January 02, 2023 . (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Rangers 2-2 Celtic. Kyogo netted a late equaliser persevering Celtic’s nine point lead at the top of the table and summing up the never say die attitude of Ange Postecoglou’s Treble winning team. Maeda opened the scoring becoming the first Celtic scorer of the calendar year [like he has done in years 2022, 2023, and 2024]following costly errors from first Alfredo Morelos, and then James Tavernier. However, 100 seconds after the restart, John Beaton controversially awarded a penalty to the hosts after Carl Starfelt fouled Fashion Sakala. Tavernier converted and made it 1-1. Ryan Kent curled one into the top corner moments later to put Michael Beale’s side ahead in the game. But, it was Kyogo’s title-defining strike late on that gave Celtic a much-deserved point. Post-match Ange Postecoglou said, “it was a great game of football before we get to anything else, it was a cracking game. All eyes, not just in Scotland, but around the world were on it, and both teams at it — a proper derby.”!

Conor Spence

Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books. ORDER NOW WHILE STOCKS LAST!