IT was the end of the Ne’erday derby. The Old Firm had served up a fairly dull game that exploded into life late on with a goal for either side. And the players were heading to the dressing rooms baths - unaware that just a couple of hundred yards away, the worst disaster in the history of Scottish football was taking place. Huge numbers of fans had become trapped in a deadly crush as they tried to leave the Rangers end of the ground by Stairway 13. As they struggled to breathe, life was squeezed from their bodies. Many of the victims died standing up. One doctor told afterwards that he had not seen a drop of blood, despite the scale of the losses. Initially, it was reported the tragedy had been caused when hundreds of Rangers fans began leaving the match early - believing Celtic had won. Jimmy Johnstone had scored for Celtic with just a minute to go. But Rangers centre forward Colin Stein scored an equaliser for Rangers during injury time, causing a huge roar to erupt inside the stadium. According to some eyewitnesses, fans trying to get back up the stairs after hearing the roar collided head-on with those coming down. However, a public inquiry later discounted this version of events. It is now believed the crush was caused by the downward force of so many supporters leaving at the same time. The momentum of the crowd meant that once people started to fall, there was no way of holding the mass of bodies back. A police officer told the inquiry afterwards that bodies were “like a pack of cards that had been thrown forward, the lower ones were horizontal, others were semi-upright and the last were upright”. The disaster remains the worst in the history of Scottish football and is surpassed in British football only by the tragedy at Hillsborough in 1989 when 96 lost their lives. The then Rangers manager Willie Waddell acted as club spokesman and arranged for the club to be represented at every funeral and vowed to make Ibrox a stadium safe and comfortable. He embarked on an ambitious modernisation plan - and current Ibrox is a testament to the work he started after the tragic events of Saturday January 2 1971. Thanks to the Daily Record, if there is any problem in me using your paper report, drop a comment and I'll remove your editorial.

Shame on the people that gave this a thumbs down ! People lost there lives and family's lost there loved ones , show some respect

May all the victims RIP a terrible tragedy… from a Celtic fan.

I was in the Celtic End that Day.....15 years old Not the best of games....from what I remember Two late goals,on a cold and Foggy winters night .... I remember getting on the supporters bus going home, and the news came through of The Tragedy started to come through .... We where all shocked.... When I got home my mother told me more news about the death toll.... Till this Day, nearly 50 years later, it still hits me,when the New Year game is played..... When I know it could just as well have been at our end.... God Bless all the people that Died that day,may god rest there soul..... A lot of the Boys that died that day where about my own age, that’s what really gets me..... Makes you think ,.....really, Football is just a game ..... Again .....Respect to All....and there Families....

My dad was a Celtic fan it was his first time at Ibrox he was 13 years old he never spoke about the effects this game cause him, but he always said this will always have special place in his heart no fans should go to football and not return home god bless the 66 YNWA

From a Liverpool FC Supporter who know what it is like to suffer Football Ground Tragedy- YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE!!

My dad was at ibrox that day god bless them 🔴⚪️🔵

I was born in Glasgow and am a Rangers fan, but we all suffered a massive loss that brought us all together on that terrible day.

My father wasn't just the physiotherapist...along with Mr Waddel he came up with the plan for what stands today .My memories as a child ...drawings ...architects...going to Bob Mc Phails electrical shop after Sunday prep down ...designing what stands today ...dad created the blue print for modern football stadiums ...because he didn't want that to happen again .... Give my father the credit he's due RFC!❤

Always in our thoughts never forgotten 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧.

I was at that game, had been in the main stand and had left as the equaliser was scored, as I passed I heard the crush happen and ran towards to see if I could help. I was a soldier and was qualified in first aid, I pulled someone free and was shocked to find it was my dad, with the help of a policeman I got him to an ambulance, they told me he would be going to the Victoria infirmary, I didn't ggo with him, I stayed to try and help others with not much success. I was in shock but didn't realise it. It broke my heart. My dad recovered fully after six months. I'll never forget that day, I'm 72 yrs old now and I still cry. God bless there souls. GBNF.

The Ibrox disaster will forever be remembered. It's part of the club history. It's hard to comprehend the pain & suffering of all those involved on that tragic day. I went to games in the mid / late 70's, I always remember the crowd surge's exiting the Rangers end at Hampden & Celtic park, a mass of bodies slowly moving towards the exits, luckily no one was injured or worse back then ( several years after disaster). It did take a few years for change at Scottish football grounds. Fans should never have been put at risk. So much has been learned since then.

Absolutely heartbreaking no one deserves to goto a football game and not return home. Together we stand together ynwa 💚💙 Trying my hardest to hold myself together was horrible listening to this 😭😭

What's spooky is many of those cheering died, thats their voices frozen in time.

Moving Documentary.I Hope I Can Speak On Behalf Of The Vast Majority My Fellow Celtic Fans That We Shall Remember The 66 Rangers Fans Who Died At Ibrox In 1971. God Rest Them. I Will Say This Also, That The Lunatic Fringe Who Follow Celtic And Shamefully Disrupted A Mins Silence At Ibrox Should Be Banned From Celtic For Life.

Dalglish was present at 3 disasters. Not the first tragedy to happen to Rangers. So sad. That poor woman reflecting on allowing her son to go the game. Similar stories to Hillsborough.

My brother and I were there and left by the same stairway. We were the lucky ones by seconds.

R.I.P the 66😥⚘

Lest we forget always remembed them

6 people have gave this the thumbs down / sick in the head / and opposition fans mocking this are a absolute disgrace to humanity/ rip the 66

Peter the child that fell should be next to John Greig .....for us all who love Ibrox ...football ...make that happen .for all of us .memories are the hearts souvenirs. ❤

Don't stand beneath my grief and cry am not their i did not die 💔 powerful

Peter ❤

In loving memory of rangers fallen but never forgotten x

Thats my great gran

Terrible tragedy in 1971 Rangers it was a unbelievable tragedy rest in peace to the 66 people years on you see how it happened so sad stairway 13 never forgotten from Celtic fan ❤️.

Lest we forget

Was there.

May they all rest in peace❤🤍💙

Sad message

The largest sporting event is the Indy 500 at 400,000 people. As far as I know, no one has been killed getting in and out.

Never forget 🇬🇧❤️🤍💙🇬🇧

Only 23000 views? Disgraceful. I was only three in 71 but I remember my father telling me about what happened. I hate irreligious nonsense as a Catholic. God will rest their souls. Let us remember those left behind. Absolutely tragic.

Why have we got guys on a stairway that was absolutely no where near stairway 13... This is disgusting to try and make others think this is where the stairway was....Having watched a bit in.. We have a guy laughing that Willie Waddell offered him a drink while he was smiling.. This makes me sick... oh my god after watching recent and previous tributes, this one makes me sick.

Almost happened at Nottingham Celtic v forest

Y

i cant understand a word there saying 😭😭

ive just watched this documentary for the 1st time and i hope that the bigoted idiots on both sides watch this the next time they even think about shouting any abuse at opposition fans,i bet they wont shout abuse ever again.god bless those 66 'gers fans,and the ones that survived too.your friends at celtic are with you.